March 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to our March Charnwood Eco Hub Newsletter!
Welcome to the March Edition of the Charnwood Eco Hub Newsletter!
Spring is on the way and it’s shaping up to be a creative month at the Eco Hub. We’ve got some fun upcycling workshops coming up, including Sock Monsters (perfect for transforming lonely old socks) and Sari Jewellery, where beautiful recycled fabrics get a brand new life.
As always, thank you for supporting the Eco Hub and helping build a more sustainable community. 🌱
BBQ Season Starts Here 🔥
With spring finally arriving, it’s the perfect time to dust off the barbecue and enjoy more time outdoors. To help you get ready, we now have BBQ coals available in the shop at Charnwood Eco Hub - at a great price!
Whether you’re planning a relaxed family cook-up or a get-together with friends, our coals are a great way to get your grill going. As always, we aim oals available in the shop at Charnwood Eco Hub - at a great price!
Whether you’re planning a relaxed family cook-up or a get-together with friends, our coals are a great way to get your grill going. As always, we aim to stock more sustainable options, so you can enjoy your BBQ while being mindful of your environmental impact - our charcoal bags have been diverted from landfill.
Pop in, stock up before it runs out, and make the most of the longer days - because nothing says spring quite like cooking and eating outside!
Loughborough Birdbox Festival is bringing colour, creativity and community spirit to the streets and trees of the town! Organised by the Rectory Wildlife Garden, the festival invites residents, schools, artists businesses and community groups to design and decorate unique birdboxes, which are then displayed throughout Loughborough town centre.
Each birdbox is transformed into a miniature piece of art – from bold and bright designs to thoughtful reflections on nature, wildlife and sustainability. As you explore the trail, you’ll discover dozens of imaginative creations tucked into shopfronts, windows and public spaces, turning an everyday walk into a joyful treasure hunt.
The festival is about more than just art. It celebrates local creativity, supports independent businesses, and encourages people of all ages to connect with nature. Birdboxes also serve as a gentle reminder of the importance of protecting habitats for our feathered friends, especially in urban environments.
Whether you’re an art lover, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for something uplifting to do, the Loughborough Birdbox Festival is not to be missed. Keep an eye out as the trail pops up across the town – and don’t forget to share your favourite birdboxes with friends and family!
More information: https://www.rectorywildlifegarden.com/birdbox/
Join us at a Workshop!
Get creative, get sustainable, and get stuck in at our upcoming Eco Hub workshops! We’ve got a brilliant line-up designed to turn everyday items into something special. Give new life to beautiful fabrics with our sari necklace making session, and help support local wildlife with hands-on seed bomb and bug hotel making—ideal for brightening up gardens and green spaces. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, reduce waste, or just enjoy a relaxed, friendly activity, there’s something for everyone. Come along, have a go, and leave with something you’ve made yourself!
Sari Necklaces - Turn beautiful reclaimed fabrics into unique, statement accessories in our relaxed and creative sari necklace workshop—no experience needed, just come along and enjoy making something special.
Seed Bomb Making/Bug Hotels - Get hands-on with nature by making your own seed bombs and bug hotels—simple, creative activities that help support pollinators and provide safe spaces for insects to thrive.
Charnwood Toy Library: Play, Share, Sustain
Did you know that right here in our community we have a fantastic resource helping families save money, reduce waste and support children’s development through play? Charnwood Toy Library, based at Fearon Hall in Loughborough, offers a wide range of toys, games and educational resources that families can borrow—just like a traditional library, but for play.
From baby toys and sensory resources to puzzles, role play and outdoor equipment, the Toy Library provides something for every age and stage. It’s a brilliant way to keep playtime fresh and exciting without the cost and clutter of constantly buying new toys.
Affordable, Accessible and Sustainable
One of the key aims of Charnwood Toy Library is to make play accessible to everyone. Membership and borrowing costs are kept low, making it an affordable option for families, childminders and carers. At the same time, it plays an important environmental role - encouraging reuse, reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable approach to consumption.
Powered by Volunteers
Like many community projects, Charnwood Toy Library relies on volunteers to keep its doors open. From helping families choose toys and managing stock, to organising sessions and supporting events, volunteers are at the heart of everything it does.
If you have a few hours to spare - whether regularly or occasionally - getting involved is a great way to meet people, gain experience and make a real difference to local families.
Find Out More
To learn more, become a member, or get involved as a volunteer, visit:
🌐 https://charnwoodtoylibrary.co.uk/
📧 info@charnwoodtoylibrary.co.uk
Borrow, Don’t Buy: Gardening Equipment for Hire
Did you know you can borrow a wide range of gardening tools from our Library of Things? Whether you’re tackling a one-off garden clear-out, starting a veg patch, or just keeping things tidy through the seasons, hiring instead of buying is an easy way to save money, reduce waste, and try out new equipment without the commitment.
At Charnwood Eco Hub, our Library of Things is designed to make practical, sustainable living more accessible. Gardening equipment can be expensive, bulky to store, and often only used a few times a year - so why not share instead?
We have a growing collection of tools available to hire, including essentials like spades, forks and rakes, as well as more specialist items such as hedge trimmers, lawn care tools, and equipment for bigger jobs. Whether you’re pruning, planting, digging or tidying, there’s something to help make the job easier.
Borrowing from the library isn’t just convenient—it’s better for the planet too. By sharing resources within the community, we reduce the demand for new products, cut down on manufacturing emissions, and keep perfectly good equipment in use for longer. It’s a simple shift that can make a real difference.
It’s also a great way to build confidence. If you’re new to gardening, you can experiment with different tools before deciding what works best for you. And if you’re a seasoned gardener, you can access higher-quality or occasional-use equipment without the upfront cost.
Hiring is straightforward, affordable, and open to everyone. Plus, our friendly team is always on hand to offer advice or point you in the right direction if you’re not sure what you need. You can check out our range here.
So next time you’re planning a garden project, think twice before buying - borrow instead, and be part of a more sustainable way of doing things.
Coming up
March
The Fixit Group 23
Repair Cafe
Sun 29th March, 10AM-1PM
Mountsorrel Memorial Centre
LE12 7DB
April
Charnwood Eco Hub
Easter Activity Day
Sat 4th April, 10.30AM-1.30PM
Clarence Street
Loughborough
LE11 1DY
Charnwood Eco Hub
Sari Necklace Workshop
Sat 18th April, 11AM-1PM
Clarence Street
Loughborough
The Fixit Group 23
Repair Cafe
Sun 19th April, 10AM-1PM
Mountsorrel Memorial Centre
LE12 7DB
Transition Loughborough
Repair Cafe
Sat 26th April, 9.30AM-12PM
Fearon Hall
Loughborough
LE11 1PL
Don’t forget to let us know about your upcoming events so that we can feature them!
Where to find us
Opening Hours:
Wednesdays 4-8pm (access via Clarence Street, opposite Travis Perkins)
Thursdays 10am-2pm (access via main SOFA entrance)
Saturdays 10am-2pm (access via main SOFA entrance)
Please note that the Eco Hub is on the first floor of the SOFA building, and the lift is currently out of order - if you have any access requirements, please contact us before visiting.
Address: Clarence St, Loughborough LE11 1DY
Website: charnwoodecohub.org
Email: info@charnwoodecohub.org
Phone: 01509 447075