Please forgive our appearance while we complete our upgrade. The image galleries will be unavailable while this is in progress.

Reuse is important because at the same time that it confronts the challenges of waste reduction, the resulting products brighten our lives and support a productive economy.

• Reuse keeps goods and materials out of the waste stream
• Reuse reduces the need for raw materials and packaging
• Reuse preserves the "embodied energy" that was originally used to manufacture an item
• Reuse reduces the strain on valuable resources, such as fuel, wood and water, and helps safeguard the environment

You know the deal by now! You bring clothes, you swap. You bring shoes, you swap. You bring accessories, once again, you swap!

So come and do it. It's fun, it's exciting and why the hell not in this lovely weather? You get to bring home a few new items for that gorgeous summer wardrobe.

Entry: £5

Swishing starts at 8:30, so you can sit around and have a drink while waiting!

E-mail: comeswishing@yahoo.co.uk

Bring your clothes, shoes, accessories and everything you can think of that can be swapped!

Entry: £5

Venue: Polar Ford New Car Showroom

E-mail: maureen.mcevoy@polar-motor.co.uk

10th September to 24th October 2009

Zest Gallery is delighted to announce Transformations, our first exhibition dedicated to energy-efficient art, in association with the London Design Festival. The exhibition focuses on makers who recreate glass art by recycling, reusing and remaking. It promotes the issue of sustainability in an accessible way by featuring the work of artists who are revolutionising the way glass art and glass products are created.

In partnership with Eco Design Fair, for the first time you will be able to enjoy an eco style make-over courtesy of leading eco chic style store Fashion-conscience.com The most fashion forward online eco boutique will be offering eco style and beauty make-overs in a special Eco Chic Street Area. Learn more about the best eco and vegan fashion labels, get advice on how to dress ethically for for your shape and any occasion and try new outfits from the most Stylish labels.

2009 marks TRAID’s tenth birthday – a landmark year for the charity which raises funds to fight global poverty through its clothes reuse and environmental activities in the UK. TRAID is committing half a million pounds to fund international development projects and invites UK organisations and their associated international partners to apply for funding.

TRAID will give preference to proposals demonstrating one or more of the following:

Projects combating the negative impacts of the textile industry on people and the environment

Saturday 20 June 12pm-2pm
St. Eugene de Mazenod Primary School,
Quex Road entrance, NW6 4LS
10.30am-11.30am
Bring along something you don’t need*
12pm-2.00pm
Take away something you do need - it’s all free!

What to Give & Take
*Household items in good repair – clean and ready to use, CDs, DVDs, tapes, toys, bric-a-brac, bikes, plants, kitchenware and electrical and electronic goods. All electrical goods will be safety tested on the day.

We will also be accepting good quality furniture at this event, but
you will need to arrange your own transport. Residents’

Retail guru Mary Portas is on a mission to transform Britain’s high street by reinventing the image of charity shops.

Her challenge is being documented in a three part series on BBC2: Mary, Queen of Charity Shops. Mary is managing her own shop in Orpington with the intention of overhauling charity shops in line with the retail sector.

Are you brave, bold, good and true? The slogan of The Caravan of Fairytales asked everyone to embrace their inner artist and improve their eco credentials, whether they wished to be Prince Charming, Rapunzel or even an Ugly Sister, there was an activity for them.

The Tate Modern, London, was the unlikely venue for The Caravan of Fairytales, a touring interactive event. Visitors made the works of art from recycled materials rather than simply viewing them. It turned out to be the perfect family outing for May Bank Holiday Weekend.