Youth Training Graduate Katy Mae Cockburn shares her Energy Garden experience

My name is Katy Mae Cockburn and I’m a seventeen year old East Londoner, living in Walthamstow. I attend Sixth Form in Leyton, commuting by bus twice a day to and from school. Being a resident of London my whole life, the city’s environment is deeply important to me. This is the main reason I was so keen to join the fantastic opportunity London Energy Garden provided.

 

The work looked both useful and enjoyable, with the AQA accredited courses only making it appeal more. As a young person applying for University I am grateful for the ability to add these qualifications to my applications. Being able to do something of such a wholesome nature for the city felt meaningful, and is something I’d always find fun. Being passionate about ecology and environmental conservation furthered my interest in the programme. I was keen both to learn more about these topics, and to apply my newfound knowledge in a way that made a difference.

The experience ended up being even better than I had initially anticipated, and continued to impress me throughout. One of my favourite experiences was visiting a local anaerobic digester. Learning about the inner workings of something seemingly so complicated was not only interesting but felt useful to know. Similarly, I liked learning the details of solar panel making. Everything we learned felt practical and of good use, nothing felt unimportant.

 

Of the many things I gained during this time, one of the best would have to be these practical skills. Another is definitely the motivation and guidance to become an activist. Learning how to advocate for the things I care about is invaluable to me. I came away from the programme feeling entirely capable of making change, and felt the same attitude being displayed by my peers.

Our next Youth Training programme will begin in 2019. For more information, please click here or send a query to info@energygarden.org.uk

 

On Saturday 20^th January, Energy Gardeners braved the elements to view what one another had been up to. It’s one thing to make the effort on your own station but checking out what your Overground neighbours are Energy Gardening is a hot topic now that 30 gardens are complete!

This time round we started at Kew Gardens, a station that homes the oldest gardening society in UK, and is blessed with good earth space for plants along both platforms. Designed by Kew Gardeners this elaborate yet, urban chic garden looks fab through the British winter and summer

 

Caroline and Sue from the Kew Society, brought their newly made placards for all of us to help put into the beds. These placards are the first step in drawing attention to our work, as so many people don’t realise the greening is managed and delivered by local community groups and Energy Garden.

The next station on the tour was Acton Central. A station not blessed with green areas or vast quantities of space but has managed to create a lovely Energy Garden nonetheless. We discussed the garden with the staff present on the platform and were thrilled with their enthusiasm for the project.

Michael Woods showed us around at his local station, Willesden Junction. A maze of platforms and train tracks, with many potential sites for Energy Garden to use. Beyond a rich history, Willesden Junction has a great community group, green space for planting as well as a water supply on its platform.  Making it the envy of other groups who have been struggling with access to water.

Brondesbury Park, where it all started, was the next stop. The moment we stepped off the train, we were greeted by large, open, green space that was cleared and planted. Patti, lead Energy Garden champion of Brondesbury Park Energy Garden, brought out a delicious homemade, blood orange cake to tantalise the taste buds. Alluring some of the group to help fill the compost with some dead foliage.

Next, we went for high tea at Hampstead Heath station with Jonathan who has created the Hampstead Heath Peace Garden (a garden just adjacent to the station). He and Miki warmly welcomed us with teas and coffee to wash down Patti’s cake and fend off the winter chill. As the lead Energy Garden Champion of Hampstead Heath, Jonathan presented us the impressive vegetable garden, where commuters are welcome to go in and pick themselves a lettuce, tomato or even swiss chard.  We discussed improvements for the station and building on his prince trust scholars and ideas to merge with the Energy Gardens schools programme.

As we passed by the living air quality wall at Caledonian Road and ended up at our final stop, Hackney Downs. There were many planters on the platforms and with a little bit of TLC they will be blooming with colour in time for spring.

The next Hop on Hop Off Tour will be along the northern part of the line, remember to follow us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all things Energy Garden.

Thank you to everyone who came on the tour, hope to see you on the next one!

Please note Energy Garden is recruiting for its paid accredited training.

Please email info@energygarden.org for more information.

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Over the last two years, Energy Garden has been working to create a community-owned company that supports a city-wide greening project on London’s transport infrastructure.  We needed to find a new way to raise millions of pounds in a structure that would not change our core principle of equitable treatment for all members. Energy Garden is proud to present our Community Bond Offer which upholds equitable treatment of both individuals (retail investors) and organisations (institutional investors) and will allow all investors to be repaid their interest and capital at the same rate. Energy Garden is currently in discussions with a number of parties regarding their investment in the programme.

 

The £16,500,000 Energy Garden Bond Offer will allow members to participate in:

 

• A London-wide community energy and gardening society
• Acquiring and developing renewable energy assets
• Greening London’s transportation infrastructure
• Empowering communities to take positive action
• Educating and training young people in food growing, healthy living and energy
• Improving air quality and biodiversity
• Earning a projected 4% per annum return on investment

Investment in the Community Bond Offer will help Energy Garden to deliver community gardens and well-being programmes for the next 20 years. Energy Garden investors are forecast to receive a 4% per annum return on their outstanding investment as well as seeing a high rate of social return on their investment.

The money raised through the Community Bond Offer will allow Energy Garden to purchase a portfolio of solar photovoltaic (PV) sites (roof- and ground-mounted) across the country. In turn, these sites will generate revenue streams through the sale of solar energy.

The revenue from the Community Bond Offer will support Energy Garden as it continues to install community gardens across the Transport for London’s (TfL) Overground network over the next 20 years, and generate a financial return for investors. These gardens act as a community hub as well as brightening up people’s daily commutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To date, Energy Garden has:

 

• Transformed 100’s of square metres of rail-side tracks on 24 stationsinto food growing sites;
• Engaged 67 community groups in our well-being programme;
• Created biodiversityrefuges for hedgehogs, bats, bees and birds;
• Established the first air qualitymonitoring programme on the TfL Overground;
• Provided a paid accredited training programmefor 10 young people;
• Educated over 1,500 school childrenin 37 schools;

If you are an institution, sophisticated investor, or a high net worth individual (all within the definitions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000), please contact info@energygarden.org.uk to request a copy of the Community Bond Offer document or for further information regarding the financial and/or social return on investment.

Please read the Community Bond Offer Document before investing and seek professional advice, if necessary.

Please note Energy Garden Community Bonds are long-term investments. If you invest part or all your original invested capital may be at risk and interest and capital repayments are dependent on the success of Energy Garden Ltd. Although the Community Bonds are transferable, you may not be able to sell your Community Bonds for the price you bought them for.

 

On the 6^th November at City Hall, Energy Garden launched its Community Bond. Set at the top of the City Hall in the ‘Living Room’, with its spectacular views of London through translucent solar panels. The venue was decorated with cabbages, carrots, apples and Brussel sprouts, harvest for the occasion.

 

The event began with an in-depth session on investment. Directors Liv Harder, Niall Ridell, Errol Stryker and Agamemnon Otero unpacked the financial model, risk, return and Social Return on Investment (SROI). Sharing that sophisticated investors, with a minimum bond investment of £5,000 would receive a 4% interest return and 100% capital repayment from their investment over 18 years. Investors would also see their stake matched in terms of SROI.

 

The project SROI of £2.04 for every £1 invested into Energy Garden is based on an analysis of:

• Perceived mental health
• Perceived physical health
• Perceived competence, engagement and purpose
• Sense of trust, belonging and safety
• Learning new things
• Self confidence

Financial return: £1 = £1.04

SROI: £1 = £1

Total return: £1 = £2.04

 

 Following the finance session, as more guests arrived for the main event, there was an opportunity for all in attendance to network and enjoy the locally grown and sourced food and drink.

 

The main event had good turnout from Energy Gardeners, Transport Partners, Volunteers, Young Interns, Directors, Investors and representatives from the GLA. Energy Garden founder Agamemnon Otero got proceedings under way with an introduction on Energy Garden’s background and recognised all the community gardener’s hard work. So far Energy Garden has engaged 67 community groups across 24 Energy Gardens. There are due to be 40 Energy Gardens by the end of 2018.

 

 

The socio-environmental benefit of Energy Garden is what makes this project so significant for all parties involved. Air quality is improving, biodiversity is increasing, community-cohesion and wellbeing is naturally growing, education is provided; from primary schools to internships for young adults and maturing adults.

 

Asant Agyare, a member of the first Energy Garden Internship cohort, took to the stage to share her story. She illustrated her journey from solar panel making to gardening through the AQA accredited course which led her to enrol in a Masters in Urban Development Planning at UCL.

Following the presentations from Agamemnon and Asant, there were two panel discussions. The first of which saw Emma Fenton, representative of the GLA Air Quality team; Matthew Frith, Director of Conservation at the London Wildlife Trust and Robbie Erbmann, Head of Housing Strategy for TFL discussing the future of sustainable cities. The second panel, discussing decentralised energy, was comprised of Felix Wight, Technical Director at Repowering and Vincent de Rul, Head Of Business Development at EDF Energy.

 

Both sets of panels expressed promising words for the development of London of as a sustainable city. Support from all corners for the Energy Garden project was received.

 

As the event drew to a close the guests tucked into a delicious range of organic food. The food was lovingly prepared Energy Gardeners, and beautifully presented on bark plates and cabbage leaves. There was even a chance to try the much sought-after Energy Garden Ale. A delicious beverage, heartily brewed by Energy Garden members and perfect for quenching thirst after a hard days gardening.

 

The event bar was kindly sponsored by Ashden who’s continued support, alongside The Peoples Postcode Lottery, is most greatly appreciated.

 

This Monday, 6th November, Energy Garden will launch its Community Bond at City Hall. The event will be attended by Energy Gardeners, Transport Partners, Volunteers, Young Interns, Directors, Investors, representatives from the GLA and more.

 

The Community Bond launch will take you through our journey, our current projects and our future plans. As well as this, the event will play host to panel discussions on the future of decentralised food, energy and transport. Above all else, the event is our chance to thank our dedicated members and showcase the amazing work they have done so far.

 

To date Energy Garden has:

 

• Transformed 100’s of square meters of rail side track on 24 stations into food production space
• Engaged 67 community groups in our wellbeing programme
• Created biodiversity refuges for hedgehogs, bats, bees and birds
• Established the first air quality monitoring programme on TFL Overground
• Provided a paid accredited training programme for 10 young people
• Educated over 1500 school children in 37 schools

 

But we’re only just getting started….

 

Investment in our Community Bond and Public Share Offer will allow the Energy Garden project to grow over the next 20 years. The community bond for sophisticated investors is the first of two investment opportunities with Energy Garden. There is a share offer launch opening public investment scheduled for early December.

It’s not too late to book your place at the 6th November event through the eventbrite link here.

 

 

Energy Garden is continuing its fantastic work alongside its partners TFL and Groundwork London. The work continues to gain momentum and is being recognised more and more. TFL’s internal magazine ‘Upfront’ recently published an interesting piece about the Brondesbury Park Energy Garden. The article contains interviews with station and Energy Garden staff who are both thrilled with the impact the works have had on the local community. Station Service Delivery Manager Alessandra Deal Scala notes how there has been a noticeable change in the community and their feelings towards the station. Energy Gardens very own Luke Jones also commented on the increased feeling of community around the Brondesbury Park station and added how Energy Garden is perfectly aligned with the Mayors pledge to create a greener, cleaner London.