More about Green Zones
The Green Zone scheme was started by Lorraine Skinner, a local resident and StreetWatcher who wanted to do more to improve her local environment. In 2007 her street became Brent's first Green Zone and since then, four more streets have become Green Zones. The scheme has proven successful in getting residents to understand recycling and environmental issues, empowering local communities to make a difference.
Lorraine Skinner, describes her Green Zone idea below:
Setting up the scheme
"My idea was to make my street a Green Zone. I would do this by speaking to my neighbours directly by knocking on their doors, informing them of what can be recycled and encouraging them to improve the energy efficiency of their home. We would be declared a Green Zone if my neighbours demonstrated a high level of environmental behaviour. I decided to contact the council with my idea. We put together a questionnaire to prompt responses at the doorstep.
Becoming a Green Zone
Before I began my project, I was also given some health and safety tips and advice about how to door knock successfully. In September I door knocked 33 households in my street. In the process I got to know nearly all my neighbours, everyone was really friendly. When I had spoken to as many of my neighbours as possible, I gave the questionnaire back to the co-ordinator and she collated our results. I found out that many of my neighbours recycled and were interested in environmental issues. Some simply didn't have a green box. For those who didn't, I gave their details to the co-ordinator who ordered one for them.
Living in a Green Zone
"My neighbours are recycling more and some, including myself, now have smaller rubbish bins so we send less to landfill. The other week a resident who before the Green Zone project had asked for her green bin to be taken away because she put nothing in it came and said to me that she now puts so much in her green bin and box that she wants to change to a smaller landfill bin! We have installed more low energy lightbulbs in our homes and some of us have even installed insulation in our lofts. Now that we have made small changes to our homes, we are considering larger improvements that can be made, one of my neighbours is even seeking to install solar panels.
"When I first thought of the Green Zone idea, I had no idea of the impact it would have on my street, in fact we have become a Green Zone community! I can now see my neighbours at their garden gates chatting and waving to each other as if we lived in the countryside!"
Project Partners
The Green Zone scheme is supported by:
- Brent Multi Faith Forum