The latest issue from Climate East Midlands' 'The Wrapper' is now available to download from their website, where you'll find an interesting mix of news, features and stories from around the region. Find out more about the UK's first gasification plant in Boston, Lincolnshire and the story of a lucky National Trust gardener from Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire who went to France to discover more about gardening in a warmer climate.

The Castle Donington Crew, with extra support from young people from the local estate, had a busy day at Bosworth Road on Thursday 21st October. Tim, the local Police Community Support Officer, donned his boiler suit and Council Housing Repairs staff gave a hand to pull out the old damaged fence on the site. The skip was filled in a matter of hours and the area was left looking great. A sign will be erected in the coming weeks to warn of flytipping in the area. Another successful project over school half term!

The community litterpick held in Kegworth on 17th October was very well attended by local residents, with more than 15 bags being picked on the day. Do you want help to run something similar in your area? Then call the Council's Street Scene team on 01530 454545.

The National Forest is growing all around Ibstock and Heather and there will be a thinning and management phase coming up shortly. A special evening is being run by Encraft and Mercia Energy Ltd at Ibstock Business Centre on Tues 26th October, from 6.30-8.30pm to highlight opportunities for local use of logs and wood chip. This free, informal meeting will explain what work is already taking place in The National Forest and provide specific information if you’re considering a project of your own. So, if you’re a local businesses, community group or resident in Ibstock and Heather, this is your chance to come along and find out more.

An apple a day helps to keep the doctor away! Why not put the old saying to the test by bringing along apples from your garden or a neighbours garden to Ashby Farmers’ Market on 16th October 9am to 2pm, to take part in the first ever Ashby Apple Day. An apple press will be available so that you can create your own juice, one carrier bag full of apples makes about a pint of juice and you will need to bring a container with you to take it away.

There will also be a number of varieties of apples available for people to sample, including some rare and favourite varieties. And a number of fun and interesting apple activities for young people to participate in.

The event is being run as part of the district wide Green Footprints Challenge, with an emphasis on promoting local food and seasonal produce. The event is being supported by Ashby Farmers’ Market, Ashby 2020 and The National Forest Company.

As part of the activities on the day we will be running a Apple Day Quiz, why not give it a go now, the questions and answers are below:

1) c, 2) True, 3) True, 4) a, 5) Various
6) b, 7) b, 8) True, 9) True, 10) a

Leicestershire County Council is calling for new volunteers for its Master Composters' programme. Master Composters work to promote home composting across the county. It's a great opportunity for people, particularly local students, to gain experience in environmental education, marketing, planning, event organising, promotional work and working with a local authority.

You will bring your own skills and interests to the opportunity, write articles, do interviews, give talks to community groups, in schools or to local students. Some volunteers put up displays, run competitions or do stalls at events. Some have even submitted proposals and worked with the Council on feasibility studies.

As a volunteer you are given a free two day training course and are paid for any expenses while volunteering. In return you are asked to complete 30 hours of volunteering in the first 12 months. This opportunity is open to anyone over 18 but may be of particular interest to students studying environmental or community based subjects.

The next intake of volunteers is planned for November with training due to take place on the 19th and 20th of November. For further information please contact the Leicestershire Waste Partnership on 0116 305 5839.

There's lots happening on the cleaner greener agenda in Kegworth during October. If you are interested in getting involved in any of these events please contact the Street Environment Team on 01530 454600.

• Litterpick with the Green Gang, Kegworth. The Street Environment Team will be working with the Green Gang in Kegworth to carry out a litterpick in the village on Sunday 17th Oct from 10 am to 12pm.
• Planting Day, Market Place, Kegworth on Friday 22nd of October 10am to 12pm. We will be working with local residents from 10am to 12pm to plant up beds with hardy perennials that will hopefully grow back year after year and help improve the appearance of the village centre.
• Big tidy up, Bosworth Road playing field, Kegworth, Thrs 21st October. All day event starting at 9.30am. Do you live near Bosworth Road? Are you fed up with flytipping? The Housing and Street Environment teams want to work with local people to target flytipping in the area. With help from the cadets and hopefully the Northern Area Youth Forum, the team will be calling at local homes to invite people to participate and to explain the seriousness of flytipping at the back of their houses. The group will also be erecting signage to deter flytipping.

If you haven't already registered, why not check out the Big Switch Off campaign website and pledge your support online. The campaign is running from 11-17th October across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and encourages everybody to switch off electrical items and lights that they don't need. Have a look around your house/school/office - have you left things on standby? Could they be switched off (not the fridge or freezer though!). Central Networks will be measuring electricity consumption across the three areas during Big Switch Off week and comparing it to the week before, so we will know if we have managed to reduce consumption. Please show your support by pledging online and ask your friends, family and colleagues to take part too. There are free community, school and business packs to download.

It’s the start of the new school year and a good time to clear the decks and refocus on what we’re doing to help the environment. All this week staff at North West Leicestershire District Council will be concentrating on reducing energy, waste and transport miles. This doesn’t just reduce our carbon footprint; it also helps us to save money.

Take our fun green driving quiz to find out how your family can reduce carbon emissions and save money at home and at work.

Moving Objects displays are available for loan to community groups and venues free of charge. The displays are housed in specially designed cases and have been created with the support of community groups and venues. All are suitable for public and community spaces and have been on show in a whole range of venues from libraries and community colleges to job centres and shops.