The Big Green Map is one of the first maps to be completed in London as part of a city-wide initiative to map sites of environmental sustainability.
The map provides information about organisations and projects in the borough, and information about how people can make small changes to their lifestyles to improve the environment.
There are ideas about waste minimisation and recycling, energy efficiency, and where you can go to see nature and wildlife locally, or even join a 'friends' group to have a greater input into your local park.
There's even information about 'greening' local business, and starting social enterprise projects.
For the younger generation there's information about youth groups who do environmental work.
The map also provides information about the changing face of Barking and Dagenham as it takes a look at both the history of the area, and its current and future regeneration.
The Green Map provides insight into the area's history, for example the abbey ruins dating back to the 7th century, Quaker history, fishing heritage, as well historical buildings such as Eastbury Manor House and Valence House Museum and more recently the borough's industrial heritage.
The Green Map project was initiated in order to promote environmental awareness and celebrate success in the Barking and Dagenham community.
There are many excellent projects and committed organisations and individuals in the borough who are working towards making it a more sustainable place to live, work, and play.
The local community represented by the Cleaner and Greener group (the environmental subgroup of the Barking and Dagenham Partnership) recognised this, and wanted an easy to use source of information to find out about environmental projects and schemes, and about how to get involved.
A flow-on effect from the creation of the Green Map is the improvement in networking opportunities, for example between private, public and voluntary sectors, as well as within organisations, such as the council, in Barking and Dagenham.
The Green Map was also initiated to engage local people and encourage them to think about issues such as sustainability, and how they can make a difference in their everyday lives and to champion a more sustainable way of living.
In order to gather information we ran focus groups with the local community and interested groups for example young people's groups, Age Concern, the Cleaner and Greener group, and the faith forum.
At the Dagenham Town Show we engaged passers-by who may not have otherwise had an opportunity to participate in the map process. We encouraged people to map 'sustainable' (cleaner, greener, healthier) projects and organisations, and to show where their favourite parts of the borough are.
Information was also gathered from Council officers working in areas such as heritage, energy, parks, biodiversity, local economy, recycling, youth, sports development, social enterprise, and education.
The printed map will be available in libraries and council buildings throughout the borough.
The map with accompanying information can also be viewed at the big green map website.
Environmental Sustainability Team
3rd Floor
Maritime House
1 Linton Road
Barking
IG11 8HG
Supported by Barking and Dagenham Direct:
Tel: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 3774
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: environmentalsustainability@lbbd.gov.uk|
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm.
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© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470