Middlesbrough Environment City

🪑🌱 Fancy creating something a little different this summer?

Join us and our good friends from Sawdust CIC for a FREE, hands-on workshop where you'll help build two unique Earth Chairs – living armchairs sculpted from cardboard, earth and grass seed that will become a lasting feature of our community allotment.

No experience is needed – just bring your enthusiasm, get your hands dirty, learn some new skills and be part of creating something special together.

📅 Thursday 14 August 2026
🕐 1pm–4pm
📍 Sandy Flatts Community Allotment
🎟️ FREE – but places are limited to just 10 people, so booking is essential.

To book your place, call 01642 579820 or email [email protected].

Tag someone who'd love to get creative outdoors! 🌿

Small charities really are the backbone of our communities! 💚

A recent blog from the Charity Commission highlights something many of us working in the sector already know – that while large charities often attract the headlines, it's small charities that are quietly making an extraordinary difference every single day.

The findings are striking:
• Around 61% of registered charities have an annual income below £100,000.
• Together, these organisations contribute billions of pounds' worth of social impact each year.
• They are trusted, deeply rooted in their communities, powered by volunteers, and often the first to respond when people need support.

The blog - 'Small but mighty: the backbone of our sector' - reminds us that small charities don't just fill gaps – they build stronger, healthier and more connected communities. They create opportunities, tackle inequalities, protect local places and help people thrive, often with limited resources but limitless commitment.

At Middlesbrough Environment City, we're proud to be part of this incredible network of community organisations. Every day we see the power of local action, partnership and volunteering to create lasting change. Whether it's improving health, reducing food insecurity, supporting families or helping nature flourish, small charities prove that you don't need to be big to make a big impact.

A huge thank you to every volunteer, supporter, partner and fellow small charity making a difference in communities across the UK. Together, you're the foundation of a stronger, fairer future.

Read the Charity Commission's blog here: https://charitycommission.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/25/small-but-mighty-the-backbone-of-our-sector/

🌳🌞 Feeling the heat? Trees are one of our best natural defences against rising temperatures in our towns and cities.

Here are just a few reasons why urban trees matter...

🌿 They cool our streets: Trees provide shade and release water vapour through a natural process called evapotranspiration, helping to reduce air and surface temperatures.
🏡 They reduce the 'urban heat island' effect: Concrete, brick and tarmac absorb and hold heat. Trees help counter this, making our neighbourhoods more comfortable during hot weather.
💚 They protect our health and wellbeing: Cooler streets are safer and more enjoyable for walking, cycling and spending time outdoors, especially for children, older people and those most vulnerable to extreme heat.
🌬️ They improve air quality: Trees help filter pollutants from the air while creating greener, more pleasant places to live, work and play.
🐝 They support nature too: Urban trees provide vital habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife, helping biodiversity to thrive alongside people.

As the summer heat rises, trees don’t just make our streets look greener – they help build healthier, more resilient communities for everyone. 🌳💚