There are some green homes projects locally that have been very successful but those are mainly in an urban setting. Try using this guide to set up Green Open Homes in a rural setting.   The idea is that people can visit a new energy efficient or refurbished home to see local homes that are warm, green and cheap to run and can find out about those features. 
Bath Green Homes has a website that can provide support.

1. Decide how many homes you are going to aim for and in which geographic area.
2. Decide on a date for the Open Homes.
3. Promote the idea and recruit homeowners of energy efficient homes on the given date.  Homes can be old or new, heritage to low coast.
4. Recruit responsible volunteers to act as stewards, helping with promotion, publicity and supporting the homeowners.
5. Each home will need an information sheet with details of its key features. These need to be printed and available for visitors on the day. These can be further used as case studies.  It should include  a heading describing the property; an overview of the property build materials and age etc; Key features installed/upgraded; an Introduction; a paragraph on each of the key features installed and any issues; details of savings made; contact details for the features installed and businesses involved.  Along with some images.  For more ideas look at case studies from Bath Homes or the Scottish Open Green Homes Network.
6. Try to encourage those businesses that have been involved in installations in new buildings or renovations to support or sponsor the project.  This might be by being on site answering questions or supplying information.
7. Prepare a press release and arrange for promotional materials to be circulated widely.
8. Make sure the information on access is clear. Is this a drop in session open to all or by appointment in which case a booking system will be needed.
9. Record the day's events in video, images and written feedback from attendees.
10. Evaluate the project and get the feedback of those who participated.  Do you stop now, keep it small, or build on your success.  You could join an existing network or build your own supported with a website and case studies online holding several events a year.

Other versions on this theme:
Green Farms Open Day, Green Business Open Day, Community Green Energy Open Day.  Green Fayres or Green Business Expos.

There are many ideas for Treasure Hunts for younger children in a safe environment.  The Net Mums website has several ideas for the younger ones.  Teenagers however are looking for something a bit more challenging.  So how about a scavenger hunt?

1. Participants can first be asked to make something to wear on their heads, from a hair-comb, to a fancy, a bonnet to a flat cap or trilby.  Alternatively make something special for the occasion like a mask or a waistcoat.  To promote the "mend and make do" ethos it could be only from recycled materials.
2. The organiser needs to make a list of items to make/collect or photograph.  These should then be written on scavenger hunt cards and given to the scavengers at the start.
3.  Items to collect/make could be: A daffodil; an Easter card; an Easter chick; a piece of ribbon; a chocolate bunny; a painted egg, novelty Easter earrings or bracelet; a poster or advert for a local community event; a DVD that refers to a rabbit and so on..
4. A list of things to be photographed with could be: An Easter bunny; daffodils; in a local coffee shop; at a local play area; by an iconic local site or heritage site; by the fire station/police station; in a local museum or library; on a local bus; by a church or village shop; by the oldest local building or tree and so on..
5. You could also choose to make the hunt a mix of collecting and photographing if that better meets your needs.
6. On the day on the scavenger hunt, properly attired (the best dressed might gain points, a prize or some small advantage), each person, pair or group is given the scavenger card with the list of things they are to collect or photograph. Mobile phone cameras can make photographing an easy option.  
7. All the scavengers start together at a specified time and place.  
8. If the scavenger hunt is collecting items, it may be necessary to give each group a fixed amount to spend.  
9. They should also be given a meeting point to return to by a specific time so the winners can be determined and for safety reasons.
10. Other ideas might be a treasure hunt where clues are given to find hidden objects or to follow a set route where photos are taken as proof that the route was followed.

The National Trust has Geocaching events, which is the modern version of a treasure hunt using GPS coordinates and there are other websites that run geocaching around the County as well.

The point is that each hunt can be tailored to meet your needs and is a great way to engage young people and get them outside.  So now that Spring is around the corner why not give it a try.

Step 1 - Find a venue
It could be your social space at work, your local pub, a community hall or even your garden.

Step 2 - Spread the word
Try promoting it by email, Facebook and twitter, text your friends and get them to spread the work or create an event poster for shops and noticeboards.  Don't forget parish magazines and local websites.

Step 3 - Pick your quizmaster
Find yourself a charismatic person, with a load clear voice and a sense of fair play, and then persuade them to be your quizmaster.

Step 4 - The questions
Some quizmasters prefer to write their own questions but there are sets available online.   The pubassist website has a large number of downloads. Make sure no-one else has access to the answers.

Step 5- Make some money
Decide whether you want to charge for entry by the person or get teams to pay a fee between them. Teams of four are the average. Whatever you decide make sure it is clear on the advertising for the event.

Step 6 - Make it your own
Each team could for example register a name - like Rhona's Romans and appear in fancy dress.  Or there could be mini prizes for the fastest answer or specific questions that are harder or more technical.  What about a speed section? A separate answer sheet would be best for that handed in after the set time.

Step 7 - Name that team

Get people to write their team name on the top - bonus point for the one voted the best.

Step 8 - Work out the winners

Hand out answer sheets or read out the answers.  Have another team mark the answers or designated people to collect them in.

Step 9 - Celebrate success

Announce the winners and the amount raised and what it is for.

The Toads on Roads project has been running for over twenty years and we know of around 880 toad migratory crossings.

Common toads are very particular about where they breed and often migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds each year. They follow the same route, regardless of what gets in their way, which sometimes leads to them crossing roads. Where we get this toad vs. traffic scenario, the toads inevitably come off worse.

The Toads on Roads project registers these sites as 'migratory crossings' and helps coordinate local Toad Patrols, who can apply for road warning signs to be installed and actively help the toads across the road.

Part one of this project is to check if your local Toad Crossing has already been registered and if not register it.

1 Check the active map for your crossing

2 Check the map of unknown sites for your crossing

3 Check the map of inactive sites for your crossing

4 If your crossing is not on any maps then you can register your crossing via the Froglife/Toads on Roads website with the Department for Transport database.

5 To register the site you will need to know the road name and, preferably, a grid reference (otherwise a postcode), plus a brief description of the site itself including the length of road the toads are using.

6 It's important you know how many toads, and/or other amphibians, you saw so the size of population can be determined. Unfortunately small populations may not warrant registration.

7 Your contact details will be required - that way a confirmation letter can be posted  to enable you to keep in touch with updates and newsletters; your details will not be displayed on the Toads on Roads website and will only be passed on to potential volunteers to man Toad Crossings with your permission.

The Froglife, Toads on Roads website contains further information and guides to projects. As part 2 of this project you can download a  pack for setting up and running Toad Patrols.

Dawn

Forming a Flood Action Group
 
Forming a community based flood action group to work on behalf of the wider community in finding ways to reduce flood risk, has proved very effective across England and Wales.
 
Flood Action Groups are a representative voice for their community and their aim is to work in partnership with the Agencies and Authorities whose work involves flood risk.
 
Through these 'grass-root' groups, communities are able to;
 .address their concerns over malfunctioning assets/and other issues
 .be constantly in touch with what is intended for their community
 .know procedures that are already in place regards routine maintenance
 .have a voice as to the future flood risk of their community through consultation.
 .Instigate 'flood watchers'
 .Create awareness of flood risk to the wider community
 .Prepare to reduce the impact on the community should a flood event occur
 
The National Flood Forum supports communities in the formation of Flood Action Groups, gives tools to ensure their success and sustainability and initiates the first meeting with all the right professionals needed.
 
We believe in simplicity, realising that we all have lives to live and spare time is short.

Use the link to find the 10 step guide in setting up your Flood Action Group.

In partnership the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and North Wessex Downs AONB has been successful in winning £140,000 of Government funding to deliver an exciting new project called Stepping Stones.

This project will take place on the Pewsey Downs and the West Wiltshire Downs. It will run from 1st October 2012 to 31st March 2015. The Stepping Stones objectives are:
. To connect high quality wildlife hotspots, such as County Wildlife Sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves, by  creating habitat links and stepping stones of habitat so that individual creatures and species can hop from one to the other, thereby expanding their range.
. To enhance the areas around the best wildlife sites, buffering valuable habitat.
. To create spaces for collaboration and sharing best practice.
. To gain the involvement of local volunteers and organisations in the design, delivery and monitoring of the project.

Help us to create Stepping Stones between Wiltshire's wildlife hotspots

If we can work with people to reconnect the landscape by creating functional links between high quality habitats, then we will be able to reduce the ecological isolation of habitats such as species rich chalk grassland and populations that are at risk, such as the marsh fritillary butterfly. We have started identifying key areas where links will have the greatest ecological impact so that we can start working with landowners to establish appropriate management within an effective corridor.
There are many ways to get involved. For instance, we will want to enhance some areas with wild flower plant plugs grown from seed of local provenance. You might be a local gardener who would like to help us do this, or you may be part of a Garden Club, Horticultural Society, school or community group which might like to be involved?
It is expected that we will be establishing voluntary schemes with farmers on the intervening arable land between areas of high habitat quality, or we may use Environmental Stewardship options, to create corridors and stepping stones. On-going agronomic advice and support will be part of the package so that these corridors and nodes of habitat are maintained and managed well.  For more from the Cranbourne Chase AONB Autumn Newsletter click here.
To get in touch, call David Blake at the AONB Office.

Do you like to Knit?
Teddies for Tragedies aim is to create a central location where charities and volunteers who want teddies can ask for them.
It puts teddy knitting groups in contact, to better fulfil the needs of charities wanting teddies.
It helps knitters and groups find homes for their teddies (and other knitted items).
Teddies for Tragedies is not a charity, it is a knitting pattern.
Since its inception in 1985 hundreds of thousands of teddies have been knitted and given to charities and volunteers to bring a smile to children.
Teddies and other items are usually knitted by local groups and given to charities operating locally.
There is no national organisation, and no need of one, anyone can knit a few teddies for a cause near their own heart.
To find out more about the patterns and those looking for knitted items click here.

To complete this project.

1. Find out who needs teddies, or other knitted items in your locality and by when.
2. Recruit local knitters who can follow the pattern and instructions.  This may form the basis of a knitting club where older people pass on their knitting skills.
3. Ask for donations of wool that fit the pattern requirements.
4. Find a suitable venue, and time for the group to meet.
5. Start knitting and keep track of who is doing what.

Autumn is here and the nights are drawing in. So many people will spend their time watching TV or surfing the net or with social media. Here is an idea for social engagement in your community that will bring people together for some fun that doesn't have to cost very much.

Board Games Clubs can be simple or more complex depending on the games you choose to play.  It could be an after school club were young people play and learn social skills as well as strategy by learning to play Checkers or Chess, Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders. Alternatively, adults playing complex games such as Lord of the Rings or Ticket to Ride on large tables, or old favourites such as Cluedo and Scrabble.  The fact is there is a huge choice and many of us have one or two stashed in a cupboard.

So what do you need?

1. A venue with tables and chairs and probably some refreshments available.  It might be a pub with a large room, a village hall, a school, or someone's home or barn.  With public venues you might negotiate a lower rate of hire if you are bringing in customers on a quiet night.  If it is a community not for profit venture then a community venue might be offered at cost. 
2. Next you need players.  Decide if this is for a specific age group such as 14 to 19's or for everyone old and young.  Many clubs take 14 years old and upwards. 
3. You will need to let people know what you are planning.  Be clear about what games are to be offered, start and end times, fees (if any) and whether people should bring their own games.  It might be that this is run as a trial during school holidays, as a mid-week low cost chill out for working folk, or as a lunch club.  Whatever you decide communication with the possible game players is important.  
4. Advertise via leaflets, noticeboards, free papers, parish magazines, email, social media and websites.  You could ask your local PTA, milkman or paper delivery person to help spread the word.
5. Decide what games you will have available and make sure someone knows how to play and can pass on the rules.  The whole idea is that beginners can learn from knowledgeable players.  Some visitors may choose only to watch for a while.
6. You may need some method of deciding whose turn it is to play a popular game.

The variety of games is huge even without including card games!  The club is what you make of it. So why not give it a try? 

There are some clubs in Wiltshire.  There is a Board Games Club in Frome for more click here.  Also in one in Chippenham for more click here.

The top of the line is a club called the Triple Helix Wargames Centre that developed into a business in Westbury and won the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce Wiltshire New Business Competition 2010/2011. Visit here.

A Scarecrow trail/competition can be as simple as judging the best creation usually based on a given theme or developed into a full blown trail with a quiz and a prize.
They can be held at any time of year, incorporated into a flower show, carnival or fete, or used as a traffic calming measure!  They can be developed as a marketing tool and draw in visitors giving the economy a boost.  Or they can simply generate a feeling of community and fun.

Approach the Town or Parish Council, School, Village Hall committee, Chamber of Commerce who can support the idea and provide funds for printing and advertising etc. if needed.

Form an organising committee.

If you need more information research a school or village near you that has already run one.

Decide on a theme.

Decide whether this will be a free bit of fun or if you are charging an entry fee and giving a Prize.

Arrange for marketing, advertising and information leaflets or an entry form.  Perhaps via a website.

For quiz trail scarecrows generally have to be up by a set date, be photographed and remain in situation for at least 2 weeks to qualify for a prize.

If it is to be a full blown quiz trail delegate a person responsible for writing the quiz and route.  A bit like a treasure hunt.  You might like to present 2 versions under 15's and Adults.

For quizzes make sure you have scrutinised the questions and answers and have them available for the competitors to check after the event.

If the event is not about raising money as a Charity event, funds can still be generated from the sale of the Trail Maps and Refreshments and used to cover costs or donated to good causes.

For more ideas on rules and options please go to our resources page.