Green Living: Be prepared

The event is taking place at Gilwell Park in Chingford which, as well as acting as a great conference venue, also has another life as one of the main homes of the Scouts in the UK.

It's now just over 100 years since Robert Baden-Powell began the Scouting movement and it holds a special place in the hearts of many.

I can still recall the thrill of getting badges for such worthwhile activities as football training, knot tying, and being comprehensively beaten at chess. All character building stuff.

The Scouts have not stood still over the years though, and like many organisations they now have the environment firmly on their agenda.

With a UK membership which is still hundreds of thousands strong, the Scouts are well placed to encourage a sustainable mindset in their young members.

One such project which launched this month is a partnership between Scouts and recycling centres.

The scheme awards a badge to those Scouts who have shown an understanding of recycling issues and have shared their newfound skills and attitudes with friends and families.

A resource pack is also available to help Scouts become more proactive in organising local clean-ups.

It's a shame to think that we rely on groups like the Scouts to help clean up after us. One of the reasons many in Tower Hamlets feel uneasy about joining their local "green teams" is the sense that they're already paying their council tax to pay for just those services.

It's also a simple fact that if no-one dropped litter then our streets would be much nicer. But getting back to the real world it's good to see the Scouts playing their part. Without even asking for a Bob at the end of it.

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