Garden Party not to be missed

I've just heard from Richard Hannah who says that on Saturday 10th July at 2 pm, More Hall Convent Residential Home there will be their Annual Garden Party. While you enjoy strawberry and cream teas, there will be entertainment from Ragged and Old Morris and the newly formed Uke Stroud ukulele Orchestra (see photo) as well as Musical entertainment from Norma Mills and The Bees Knees!

Richard writes: "If you go down in the woods in the grounds of More Hall you may catch a glimpse of the teddy bears having their own picnic and you could follow the Teddy Trail to win a prize. There will be various stalls for all ages featuring teddy bears, plants , bric-a-brac etc. and skittles. Amongst the food on sale will be the Sister’s rightly renowned Samosas which always sell like hot cakes! UkeStroud is a group of musicians who meet regularly at Pitchcombe village hall to play Ukuleles and perform many different types of music and song not usually associated with the instrument. Their performance has been described by one critic as “stunning”. Ragged and Old are, despite their name, a local young Morris side who dance at pubs and village events round the area all summer and meet to practice at Bussage."

For those not local More Hall is in Townsend, Randwick, at the top of Cashes Green Road, the gated entrance is on the right, just in the road to Humphrey’s End. For more information on More Hall or the Garden party please contact Sister Elsy - Change the (at) to @ in email: moorehallconvent(at)tiscali.co.uk

The Cove plays at The Space

The Cove (12A) got an Academy Award for Best Documentary of 2009 and by all accounts deserves a watch. It plays at The Space on Sunday July 4th. Doors open 7:30pm Film 8:00pm.

See The Space Cinema Club and details of The Cove here.

Here's how it is described: "Led by one-time celebrity dolphin trailer Ric O'Barry, an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers embark on a covert mission to expose how a small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action."

I've not seen it yet but have been told it is very good - although I personally have concerns (and remember I've not seen it yet!) that the film might be a US hero versus bad Japanese fisherfolk....as one guy who saw the film a month or so ago said to me there is a whole 'dolphin culture thing' that seems to see dolphins representing some sort of simple life that they we now miss as human beings? Well I'm not sure about that...

The film certainly has brought to attention that the number of dolphins killed in the Taiji dolphin hunting drive is several times greater than the number of whales killed in the Antarctic, - reports are that some 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year in the country's whaling industry.

However some good news - remember the petition I blogged about - see here - Well the proposal to legalise whale killing went down in flames in Morocco. Avaaz and others managed to build the biggest whale-saving petition in history - 1.2 million of us signed worldwide. It was delivered directly to key delegates at the International Whaling Commission meeting. In the end, the 24 year old whaling ban was upheld. Great stuff indeed.

Strong watchgog for supermarkets needed

The UK government eventually committed to a supermarket watchdog and is now currently considering what form it should take and what powers it will have. Supermarkets will be lobbying for a weak, passive watchdog that allows them to carry on with business as usual. Sign War on Want petition here as we need to have something with teeth otherwise all the campaigning on this issue will have been largely wasted. Please consider signing.

See here previous blogs and link to my letters calling for a watchdog. See also the link to the cartoon series about supermarkets here.

Letter to press re Budget

Some may have read my initial budget comments to press here and comments here to Cameron's spending cuts. I can only see this budget increasing tensions within the ConDem alliance.

I have deep concerns about whether many of the cuts are really about the deficit - the so-called 'Shock Doctrine' has been a tool of Conservative and Neo-Liberal Governments around the world where disasters are used as an excuse to push through radical right wing policies. In Britain, over the last 18 months, the Conservative Party has used the recession as an excuse to build a case for massive cuts to public services.

Photo taken from: www.noshockdoctrine.org.uk

The new British Government has now announced massive and un-needed cuts to our public services. Britain has massive assets, long term debts, and very low taxes. There is no need to destroy the public services it has taken 100 years to build up in this country, and on which the majority of us depend. Let's also not forget the richest 1000 people have seen their wealth increase by 30% in a year – half the value of the deficit!!

Well here is my letter sent yesterday to Gloucestershire press:

The economy is in a mess, but the budget was unnecessarily grim. Lots of pain and no gain. Public services will be slashed. VAT will be hiked. Benefits are facing big cuts - but Corporation Tax is cut to the lowest level.

The evidence is that the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities will be hit hardest, yet this crisis was caused by the finance sector. We are not all in this together: some had more responsibility for this crisis than others, and some benefited more from the boom that preceded it.

Professor Danny Blanchflower, a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, says this budget could set us on a course for double-dip recession and rocketing joblessness. Increasing unemployment will particularly hit young people. Already almost a million are struggling to find work. It is likely that the tax received will actually decline and the deficit could very well get worse.

Cuts are not an economic inevitability. They are an ideological choice. We should be asking those best able to pay, to foot the bill through fairer taxation. The UK is currently one of the most unequal societies in Europe.

Greens have released a new report showing how cuts can be avoided. For example tax avoidance - that’s deliberately breaking the law to not pay tax - is estimated to be as high as a staggering £100bn a year! Instead of the tax office cutting 20,000 workers this should be reversed to tackle this abuse.

We are also missing an opportunity for a Green New Deal – a major investment package to rapidly modernise the UK economy for a low-carbon future, while seeing off the recession through large-scale job-creation. The calls for fair taxes, not cuts, can only increase.

Cllr Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe ward

Meanwhile G20 is getting going. See initial Green comments here:

European Green Party on G20 -
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/25-06-2010-european-greens-g20.html

UK Green MEP's on G20 and coal subsidy -
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/26-06-2010-coal-red-card-g20.html

Making a Green Roof on my shed

A while back I started to try and cover a small shed in my garden with a green roof - they are meant to be great for insulation and personally I think they look great.

Sadly this first photo is not my shed - but a great pic from an excellent slide show by Grist - see it here with a roof that also has vegetables growing on it!

The next series of photos though is me at work in the garden. First up the solid timbers - all from a local skip (with owners permission) - about 5 inches high edge around using a corner bit of lathe to fix - hey you can tell I'm not a carpenter - then a liner - it needs to be something that can cope with some moisture - next up the butyl pond liner.

Then depending on the angle of the roof you will need gravel - I had a couple of centimetres depth - then a layer of weed suppressant material - this lets water through but not the soil. Then I needed to make a good waterproof fix with the wall - used flashing tape that you peel off the back and it sticks wonderfully - in a few places used some gutter sealant stuff that I had left over from a previous job.

I did also add a hole in the roof for the water to go into a water butt - it is working OK but I will need to make some adjustments - basically rain goes through the soil and membrane into the gravel then filters it's way to the corner where it goes down the pipe - see photo.

Next up the growing medium went in - organic soil conditioner and compost with lots of vermiculite. Then a wildflower mix without the deep-rooted stuff and hey presto...had thought about sedums like the photo below but they take a time from seed and are expensive to buy - not sure about adding grass next year or trying something else?

There are many sources of info on the net - this pic left was one I took at the CAT centre in Wales where they describe one of their green roofs.

Some useful design websites I found include:

Green Roof Forum

Natural England

Green Roof Centre

Grass Roof Company

In other countries green roofs are much more common - I hope they take off more here as I think they look great - it has certainly softened the look of our shed.

Gloucestershire Gay Pride photos and more

What a great day today. The sun shining and lots of goodwill - I remember the first Gloucestershire Gay Pride march in 2006 - then the Green party was the only visible political party but today saw two Tory MPs attend the speeches before the march - and Tony Melville the new Chief Constable made a speech at the beginning - along with Peter Bungard, the Chief Exec of Glos County Council who has been supportive of equality issues unlike some Councils.

Chris Marsh, organiser was also there and opened the event with a speech and held a minutes silence for Forces Day - he has done wonders again to pull it all together.

From the steps of Shire Hall we set off up through the shopping centre - many supportive shouts from the crowded shopping centre. I even had one older woman ask what it was all about - when I told her she said 'that is good'.

Photos: Chief Constable, Chris Marsh and Peter Bungard

As we walked there was a chance to talk to other marchers - I even had a talk with the Chief Constable about 20 mph zones and our desire to have one in the village - trying to impress that we need that change of culture. I did also of course welcome his support for this event.

As we came out of the City shopping area we moved towards the docks where there must have been some 30 stalls from various organisations, charities and stalls selling everything from underwear with 'Spank me' on it to some T-shirts with slogans like "I am the Pink Sheep of the family".

We also had a Green party stall with a steady flow of people asking stuff about our policies - I also managed to visit many of the other stalls and hear about various projects locally.


Of course there was also music and I did join those dancing in the heat - some great singers - wish I could credit them but didn't get all their names - see many of the acts here. Ms. Kelly Wilde was the host (see left left) and also got me dancing to her songs. The former Eurovision entrant apparently has her own Management company which she was using to source many of the artists! Laura Harding (see left right) was another that had us dancing.

Photo: Some of the Greens at our stall

I wasn't able to stay on into the late afternoon as wanted to catch a school fair and then tonight it is Midnight Magic in Randwick. Anyway I've just been throwing together some words to send to the press...

GAY PRIDE IN GLOUCESTER

Ebley Mill flies Rainbow flag in support

Philip Booth, a Stroud District Councillor who initiated Stroud District Council being one of the first rural Council's to fly the Rainbow flag at Ebley Mill in support of Gloucestershire Gay Pride, said: "Pride is all about promoting acceptance of our diverse community, celebrating our differences and putting an end to the discrimination like homophobic bullying in our workplaces and schools. Some 60% of lesbian and gay children still experience homophobic bullying. This is unacceptable."

Government shelve Equality Act

Liz Hilary, a Stroud Green party member who joined other Greens on the march said: "It was a great positive atmosphere on the march. However we still have a way to go in terms of equality. We welcome that two Glos Tory MPs were at the speeches before the march, and Camerons recent speech on gay rights holds some hope. However he has made a number of serious gaffs about equality issues and their are new concerns this week as the Government have shelved most of the Equality Act. They will announce which measures are to go but these could include the provisions to make it illegal to discriminate against someone for being gay or disabled."

Well that's the draft....I may think of something more to say...Of course it wasn't so long ago that Tory MEPs - last year in fact - refused to support a motion that condemned Lithuania’s homophobic policies. Infact the Tories don’t have any official lesbian and gay rights policies. The Conservative Party annual conference has never voted for gay rights and gays rights policies do not feature in any Tory policy document!

St Petersburg's first gay pride march which was due to take place at the same time as the Gloucester march, has been banned by city officials. Gloucestershire Pride have sent a letter of support, but as of last week our Government had still not sent a message of support to marchers. InterPride, the International Association of Pride organisers and the IDAHO Committee slammed the ban which they claim goes against the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I have left a message of support to Petersburg on one of their public websites.

Photo: Smoking smurf and Liz with our Green party banner - really need something a bit more colourful.

It is 41 years since the first Pride march in New York. The first in Gloucestershire was in 2006 which was attended by members from Gloucestershire Green party.

I will have more pics sometime but wanted to get this up today before I'm out tonight - I am sure there will soon be more at:
http://www.gloucestershirepride.org.uk/

Budget comment

Dear oh dear this blog has suffered in recent week as too many meetings - can't poss catch them all here - and really do you want to know about the meeting regarding new IT security systems for councillors?

More interesting was last week's scrutiny where I may get an inquiry into how the Council decides priorities re funding housing - tenants want fuel poverty number one but we seem to be spending more on decent homes standards....another meeting already briefly mention was looking at equalities in the Council (talking of which it is Gay Pride tomorrow - meet 1 at Shire Hall for the march). Another was our monthly Green party meeting while another was a policy panel at the District Council looking at the self-financing options for Council housing?

But hey I'm distracted I wanted to comment on the budget - already late on that! Well late for a blog but the press release below went out at the right time - although sadly press so far have covered mostly other party views....anyway first the press release then more comment....

BUDGET APPROACH IS WRONG

This budget has no answer to the dominance of the free market gamblers responsible for this recession but makes the people who are the least to blame suffer the cuts: public sector workers, those who receive their services and those on the lowest incomes.

Cllr Philip Booth says, “The Government claims the cuts are fairest to the poorest but these are the very people more likely to use the services that will be affected. This will also weaken the economy as businesses lose profits, people lose their jobs and consequently pay less tax. The ability to pay off the debt will be seriously affected too. Governments tried to solve deficits by cutting in the 1930s and 1980s: it didn’t work then and it won’t work now.”

Cllr Martin Whiteside, Green Party parliamentary spokesperson, says “The Government should redress the imbalance in UK society, not by cutting vital services but by fairer, more progressive taxes: applying the 50% tax rate to incomes over £100,000, abolishing the upper limit for national insurance contributions, raising capital gains tax to the recipient’s highest income tax rate and helping lower earners by reintroducing the 10% tax band.”

Cutting tax offices around the UK is also a huge mistake as HM Revenue and Customs themselves admit that around £68billion in tax was either avoided, evaded or simply unpaid in 2009. We need more tax officers working to collect that tax and reduce the deficit.

Martin adds, “The biggest missed opportunity with the budget is the failure to tackle the real issues that will face our country and our economy in the next 5 to 10 years: energy security, pressure on resources and climate change. We urge the government to adopt the Green New Deal to create a million new jobs in the UK and to really prepare the country for a low carbon economy. The cost of not doing so will be enormous."

I have to note that I am gravely concerned to see so many wide-ranging cuts to public spending. The effects of this announcement will have a massive impact on local government and communities. The enforced freeze on council tax is a crude attempt by central government to shift the blame for soon-to-be disappearing public services onto local government. Not only is the Government desperate to avoid criticism for their own ruthless economic policy, but they’re limiting the flexibility for local councils to be able to manage fairly the cuts the Government is demanding.

The public sector pay freeze which will affect many locally, which on the face of it may seem reasonable to some, will in fact amount to a pay-cut to some of those on lower incomes once inflation is taken into account.

The whole approach to tackling our problems is wrong - as Caroline Lucas said: "Cuts are not an economic inevitability. They are an ideological choice." And as for green measures well they seem to have been ignored....maybe more on all that but have to rush now....

See Green party "Callous Cuts" report here. See also here my comments re Cameron's challnge re spending launched this week.

Air Tattoo to be cancelled?

It is no secret that I do not think the The Royal International Air Tattoo is a good thing! See my blog here on 2008 event and here Green party view on 2007 event. I can't deny there is for me excitement to see aircraft fly at such high speeds - but I cannot detach this from the fact that these are killing machines and that so many still suffer their effects.

Of course these planes can play a role in peacekeeping but this celebration is about showcasing weapons in all their 'glory'. Whether or not any deals are closed on the weekend is not relevant - this is about selling and making the use of force more acceptable. Add to that CO2 and we surely should be asking if this event should be taking place in this form at all.

It was then with a smile that I came across this link today:
http://www.rafcte.org.uk/airtattoo.htm

Of course sadly on closer reading it must be a spoof but hey for a moment I could hope! The links include 'depleted uranium', 'ocean acidification' and 'climate wars'. I've enclosed the letter that is on the front page as I can't imagine it will stay there long - it surely must be a spoof? Comments welcomed from Mr Prince. Update July 2010: Yes the website was a spoof and the letter below cannot be attributed to Mr Prince! As if there was a doubt!

About the Air Tattoo
Important message from the Airshow Chief Executive - Tim Prince OBE
Dear Airshow Visitor and Supporter,
It is with great regret that I must announce that this will be the last airshow we will be running.

The science is now clear and the evidence before us is equally clear - runaway climate change has all but started. Latest scientific evidence demonstrates that we must reduce our atmospheric CO₂ to 350 ppm, yet at present we are at 450 ppm (CO₂ equivalent) and the CO₂ level is rising at an increasing rate. With the current rate of increase, by the end of this century we will face global average temperature rises of potentially 10 deg C. This will lead to the loss of all life on the planet.
We have reluctantly accepted that this airshow and others like it create unacceptably large amounts of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases. This is especially unacceptable when they serve no useful purpose. Furthermore, they give the impression that we can tackle climate change whilst maintaining business as usual - this is wrong and we will not support this falsehood.
We are also unhappy with some airplane manufacturers that will be at our show, such as Airbus. Airbus have claimed to be working to reduce greenhouse gases, but have taken orders to supply A380 Super Jumbos to Middle East customers for use as private jets. As a responsible organization, we can not support duplicitous companies such as this and we will not allow ourselves to support their Greenwash.
You are all being urged to cut your own emissions and you face rising electricity costs to tackle climate change. Many of you will face unprecedented economic hardships in the years ahead due to peak oil and climate change. We thus recognize in these circumstances it is morally unacceptable to continue this event, especially when it is largely tax payer funded.
The recent disaster of the Copenhagen agreement shows how the planet's future is dependent on international cooperation on a scale that we have never seen before. This is already difficult, but will be made impossible if we continue to point guns towards each other.
The American Department of Defense recognizes the immediate and pressing danger posed by climate change. They forecast large scale wars and social unrest due to resource shortages, drought, famine and mass migration in the near future. They also acknowledge the vital importance of taking a lead in making massive CO₂ cuts. We aim to help them by eliminating the need for their planes to fly over here.
The only hope for planetary survival is an immediate move towards a zero carbon economy. This is a challenge that is unlike any other and we will rise to it by canceling all future shows and working with other organizations around the world for similar cancellations.
If your find this information disturbing and you conclude that you no can not longer support this years airshow we will be delighted to offer you a full refund if you have already bought a ticket.
I trust that you will support us with this difficult but necessary decision.
Tim Prince OBC
Chief Executive Fairford Air Tattoo

Nibley music, Eco-Homes, Whiteshill garden, Open Studios controversy and more

All sorts mentioned in this blog entry - from a minor controversy at the Open Studios to a complete random collection of stuff starting with the North Nibley Music Festival on Saturday, July 3 - a stunning location and great music - it is quite an exclusive event as tickets go fast - have been told there are still some left and this year they have a green chillout tent where hopefully there will be some posters and stuff advertising the Eco-Renovation Open Homes this September.

Photos: Open Studios starting with singer Martha Tilston's great wolves pic, Yola Quinn's work, more textiles and Liz Lippiatt's flag. I also liked some of Aimee Lax's sculptures on the wall, Maggie Shaw's paintings then we go into the Whiteshill garden, the dog at Riffs and round the corner from Riffs Jrools' new Food Emporium.

Infact this week have been sorting out the launch of a Sustainable Housing book in the Transition series - author Chris Bird will be at the installers fair at the Open Homes in September. We also have over 20 homes lined up to open their doors plus a talk on feed-in tariffs.

Last weekend I got to more of those Open Studios - as I've said before huge thanks to all for a wonderful month - there has been loads of positive feedback from people attending and exhibiting - although I've had a couple of comments regarding the 'missing' sample exhibitions - I understand that in previous years at both the Museum and the Sub Rooms there have been a chance to see a piece from each artist - this year only 25 artists seem to have been selected for the Museum and the drawing exhibition is in the Sub Rooms instead.

I have spoken with organisers and have been told that this is partly due to wanting to raise the standards and that previous feedback on some of the sample exhibitions hasn't been so great - indeed artists did not always select their best work - however for me part of the charm is the very varied collection of pieces and something about the equality of so many artists sharing the same exhibition. I have in the past enjoyed seeing the variety of the artists as it is never possible to visit all during the two weekends. A couple of artists were disappointed at not having a chance to show their work in the 'sample' exhibition. All artists do get a mention in the guide book....maybe next year a venue can be found for sample exhibitions as well?

Anyway another highlight last weekend was the Open Garden for charity in Whiteshill - on the Main Road past the old Woodcutters Arms. Wow what a spot and what views and a great deck to sit and enjoy tea and cake - plus a bat cave and beautiful flower gardens - great stuff and money raised for charity. See the photos on this post - ioncluding what must be the biggest ash tree in the village?

Love this dog looking out of Riffs in Stroud - something else I wanted to mention was the project “As I walked out………” - an eight week epic journey with four donkeys, chickens, carts, children, young people and artists walking across the six districts of our county. Fairgame Theatre are inviting people from all walks of life to join the journey, public camps and workshops. It sounds lots of fun. Their website has more - I did wonder if they had plans for anything like that seaman who recently made the longest sea journey in history - see here - 1,152 days and during that time he sailed in patterns that at one time made the shape of a whale! I did ask if we were getting donkeys in Gloucestershire but no...

Ah well last mention here is a welcome to the new Food Emporium just opposite Iceland supermarket - it also does coffee - it is making it hard in Stroud with so many good places - still favorites include Woodruffs and Star Anise but do like the quiet of Jrools at times (pictured) - good luck with the new venture - I liked their window sign below when they were shut! Ah well I've rambled long enough...

Joining Camerons' "Spending Challenge"

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have written to public sector workers asking for their ideas on how the Government can do more for less. Well, as a public sector worker, I've not had my letter yet and I'm not sure if this is a real consultation or just more PR to deflect from the savage cuts that we face? Below is my submission but before that other stuff....

Cartoon from The Observer

I remember back in February when it was claimed on the Conservative Party website that David Cameron has quelled his desire to slash public spending by saying that he would not make ‘swingeing cuts’ if the Conservatives win the general election. In an interview with the BBC at the time Cameron said that he would be ‘making a start’ to reduce the current deficit which has been interpreted as a more sedate tone over cuts. Well if these cuts proposed are not swingeing then I don't know what is.....

The so-called ‘Spending Challenge’ website claims to be "aimed at engaging the country in thinking about public services and how they are provided." It is claimed all serious ideas will be considered by the Cabinet Office and Treasury and passed to departments to consider how they might be implemented. A summary of the submissions will be published later this year. Well let's see if they take account of potentially the most important move they can make....see my submission below...I have to say I have my doubts when I hear today that the Equality Act has been withdrawn - see here - apparently they will implement the bits of the law they like and not the other bits- this is a real failure to understand the issue.

Ironically I was at the District Council today talking about equalities with a policy officer when I heard this news....I was trying to see how we could ensure how equalities is given a higher profile - I am concerned that there is still a lot of misunderstanding about why it is so important and at a time of cuts it maybe the sort of area that is not seen as a priority...anyhow to my submission.....not one I spent hours on as noted above I do wonder how much they consider these issues....

My submission:

There is one radical answer that will have a significant impact on many of the problems faced by public services. One approach that does not need to cost more yet will cut obesity, cut crime, cut prison populations and more. The evidence is overwhelming.

I recommend reading the research collated in 'The Spirit Level' by Wilkinson and Pickett or for a summary see The Equality Trust website: www.equalitytrust.org.uk/

We must build a more equal society. Britain has become one of the most unequal societies in Europe. It is not just the poor who suffer from the effects of inequality, but all of us. For example incidences of mental illness are 500% higher in the most unequal societies. We also see more drug abuse, alcohol abuse, obesity, teenage pregnancies, more consumerism, shorter lives, less well educated children, more crime and more people in prison. Researchers have checked the relationships between inequality and these issues: internationally among the rich countries, and then again among the 50 states of the USA. In almost every case they find the same tendency for outcomes to be much worse in more unequal societies in both settings.

We need to start now to put in place policies that will create a fairer Britain. That means:

• smaller differences in pay before tax (like in Japan) and/or
  
• redistribution through taxes and benefits (like in Sweden)

If these cuts proposed by Lib Dems and Conservatives lead to greater inequality then we will only be adding to our expenditure. We should not forget that a more equal society benefits the vast majority of the population including the more wealthy.

The public sector phase of the Spending Challenge will end on 9 July and the process will then be opened up to the general public. Well I'll be writing a bit more on the cuts and budget v soon but also want to note Green party view here which has a response to the budget and a link to a report on the cuts.

I'm now saving 18 litres of water per day

Well actually I'm not sure if that is true but the makers of tap inserts say that they can save up to that amount - I fitted one at the weekend and certainly I have a smoother flow with less water - but not so noticeable as the spray is faster if you see what I mean - anyway I think they are well worth it - almost any saving will start to pay for itself in terms of savings on hot water especially if folk don't use a washing up bowl.

Tap inserts - see photo of me installing above - takes less than a minute and fits 85% of taps - see the brief video here about how to install.

Free showersave - at the moment both Wessex Water and Severn Trent (and maybe other water companies) are giving away free showerheads - see Severn Trent here - these are not the same as the whole showerheads - see next item - but do still save up to £40 per year - again well worth installing. The photo left shows the small device screwed into the shower - it takes 10 seconds to install!

Eco-Showerheads - well I've already fitted one of these a long while ago - and rave about how much I have saved of hot water - see photo left - it looks just the same as any other showerhead and takes about 10 seconds to screw off the old head and screw on the new - although my Eco-Camel at about £20 has now been outperformed by the NordicEco shower with a higher price tag - see a review here - if it saves all it says then the higher price is worth the money saved....

See the previous excellent summary of water saving hints here that we wrote for the Ruscombe Brook Action Group - and here previous blogs on RBAG.