green

June 2, 2014

Explore new playgrounds in Oxford: Bury Knowle Park

Bury Knowle BLOG3Are you looking for a change?  Do you feel like trying some exciting new slides or games? We recently went on a bike excursion to the Bury Knowles Park in Headington! Wait a minute, don’t lose interest… Headington is not that far away from Oxford as you might imagine… Frankly, this playground is worth seeing! Everything is about the atmosphere here. When you get in, you are not just crossing a gate, you are walking through a wardrobe as in Narnia’s story…
You will find that the playground games are full of fun and very imaginative: unicorn and crocodile see-saws, great swings and slides and a pirate ship immersed in sand with a water game area. I couldn’t resist trying a special spinning swing with my other half, the kind where you fly around in seconds… our children just howled on!

What? The Bury Knowle Park -London Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9HX

How can I go there? Several busses coming from Oxford’s City Centre stop nearby. You can also cycle there: take the Morell Avenue to avoid the Headington hill, then the Gipsy Lane which leads onto Headington Road.

Suitable for Babies and Toddlers? Bury Knowle BLOG2Yes! The playground is divided in two main parts: one of them –enclosed by yellow gates- is more suitable for the younger ones, up to toddle age. Outside this area (see picture) you have some exciting playground games for older or more adventures children (spinning swings, zip wire, climbing spaces).

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March 4, 2014

Do you know SOAP?

SOAP 2

What’s for sure, during these sunny/drizzling, chilly and still muddy days you will need soap (and warm water) after having had fun at SOAP!
SOAP stands for South Oxford Adventure Park and is located close to Abingdon Road and Hinksey Park. An immense playground in a splendid green area with a lot of places to climb, run, explore wooden castles, shiny slides and other funny play corners – as far as the eye can see. It’s a special place, a charity, run by volunteers – a new group just started – with a lot of workshops to stir the younger ones’ creativity. SOAP 1

For whom? I would recommend for kids from 3 years onwards. They will have a lot of fun discovering some slides, swings and a little climbing castle. The older ones have a lot of other spaces to let off steam : football field, giant wooden fort and a zip-wire… lots of others things to explore! It’s “the place to be” when you have siblings!

Good to know This playground is especially for kids coming after school. You can go there alone when you’re about 7 years old (there is a registration). The under 7s should be accompanied by a grown up. Continue Reading

February 28, 2014

ReFashion – the review!

I loved it and two other mums I met there, too!
Here is my feedback with parental touch and hopefully useful observations.

A Family friendly event? Yes and no! Children up to 4-5 years will love watching the fashion shows, which are incredibly realistic. Moreover, there was a nice cake stall from Donnington Doorstep Family Centre – yummy!
You can spend an excellent moment with your kids (around 1 hour) at ReFashion–also a good opportunity to show them the Town Hall: simply stunning. The different stalls are lovely – the handcrafted things can stir their creativity, some of them are nice Birthday gifts for friends, or if they have some spare pocket-money! Finally an educational point (sic!): it’s a good place to make them aware of the impact of recycling!

For younger children and to be honest, even for me, the music is definitely too loud and, as so often, the place is overheated (which isn’t a very “green state of mind”). I would recommend a stall with some crafts for the children, so that the parents can go for a little spin.

Mums or mums to be will like this event, thanks to some baby clothes to swap (you can swap one piece of adult clothes with one for a baby), or some very nice pieces sold by the Donnington Doorstep Family Centre for only £1! Good to know: Changing facilities and pushchair access.

Don’t forget! To take clothes you don’t wear anymore from the entire family – you can swap them! It’s a fun experience and there were a lot of nice pieces especially for women. I was expecting more children clothes (from 3 years onwards)… but this depends entirely on the visitor’s donations, too! Take some money to buy some handcrafted things or clothes (very nice selection!) from Charity shops (Helen&Douglas House Vintage and British Heart Foundation).

February 25, 2014

27.02.2014 – ReFashion in Oxford

I just saw a notice in a shop window on Cowley Road. This seems to be an amazing event, I would love to go to… hopefully the naps won’t be too long on Thursday so that I can pop in…

ReFashion

 

 

 

WHEN? Thursday 27 February, 1pm to 7pm
WHERE? Oxford Town Hall
HOW MUCH? Free

INFORMATION  (thanks to http://www.oxford.gov.uk/townhallevents)
Visitors are invited to bring along their unwanted clothing and textiles where they can donate, swap, mend or upcycle them into something new. One of the highlights of the ReFashion event will be the catwalks shows, where local students and schoolchildren will be showing off their inspiring upcycled fashion items. Charity shops will also showcase their pre-loved outfits.ReFashion brings together businesses, charities, students, volunteers and community groups aims to highlight the problem of disposable fashion whilst having fun at the same time.

Twitter #refashionoxford @RecycleForOxon.

February 21, 2014

Le compost en ville, ça marche!

poubelle (1)Il était une fois un comté… non, ce n’est pas un conte, justement !
C’est ingénieux, pratique et a le mérite qu’on en parle. Il s’agit de la poubelle de déchets organiques. Chaque maison possède un petit duo : la poubelle maison (7 litres) et celle qui est devant la porte (23litres). Mini formats, maxi compétence. Elles accueillent dans un sac spécialement conçu pour être biodégradable des déchets style épluchures de patates, cartilages de poulet, marc de café… poubelle zoom
Dans notre rue (East Oxford), le camion poubelle “food recycling” passe une fois par semaine. Toutes les petites poubelles devant les portes sont vidées dans une grande et hoppla le tout part une semaine sur deux au géant compost qui produit de l’engrais pour l’agriculture locale ! Et l’autre semaine, la transformation des déchets organiques génère de l’électricité pour 8000 foyers dans l’Oxfordshire.
Autre point fort de ce tri des déchets : la poubelle dite « classique » est plus vide (d’environ 30% dixit les collectivités locales) et en conséquence la benne n’a rendez-vous avec elle que tous les 15 jours ; l’autre semaine c’est au tour de la poubelle de recyclage (cartons, verre, boites…).
Maintenant il ne me reste qu’à comprendre… pourquoi cette poubelle-là est bleue, et non pas verte ?!

Pour les plus curieux, faites-un tour sur ce site :
http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decER/Foodwasterecycling.htm