Food Waste Exploration Day

The food waste issue

“If global food waste were a country, it would be third largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the US."

The key facts:

• Recent analysis in Hertfordshire shows that 24% of the average household rubbish bin is made up of avoidable food waste, much of it still in its packaging.
• This results in wasted energy from the production and transport process, as well as emissions released in landfill when the food breaks down.
• £14 billion worth of food is needlessly binned each year in the UK, around £60 a month on average for a family of four, at a time when the cost of food is rising.

So we all need to do our bit to reduce food waste, and Three Rivers District Council along with Hertfordshire WasteAware and Sustainable Hertfordshire are seeking your input into how we can support residents to do just that. We are launching a large-scale project across Three Rivers aimed at helping people to waste less food.

A new initiative to tackle avoidable food waste

Based on a survey and focus groups we have developed a series of interventions to tackle the food waste issue in Hertfordshire. We want your help to decide the best way to communicate these interventions to your communities.

Our launch venue

Woodoaks Farm is the perfect place to launch our food waste initiative. Recently donated by its owner to the Soil Association Land Trust, Woodoaks has been a working farm for many years.

On the farm you will find:

• A largely arable farm
• The Teashack for visitor refreshments
• Creative Juices Brewing Company - a microbrewery in the old milking parlour

You will be able to join a guided tour of the farm to find out more about their work to introduce more sustainable farming and land management techniques while helping people to make healthier food choices.

Refreshments will be provided; if you have any specific dietary requirements please email sustainable@hertfordshire.gov.uk with your request.

Getting to Woodoaks Farm

Woodoaks Farm, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, WD3 9XQ

Cycle and foot: As befitting the starting point for the 2022 Tour de Ricky cycling event, Woodoaks Farm is cycle accessible from central Rickmansworth – or it’s a forty minute walk.

Car: Near Junction 17 of the M25. Parking is available. Please car share where possible.

Public Transport: On Sundays buses 320, 724 and W1 pass the entrance to the farm on Denham Way to and from Rickmansworth Town Centre – check times by visiting Moovit Rickmansworth - Woodoaks

Agenda for the day

Please ensure that you arrive for a prompt start at 9.30am.

The day will include:

Welcome and introductions from Woodoaks Farm and the Hertfordshire Waste Partnership

Breakfast will be served during the morning. Please email sustainable@hertfordshire.gov.uk if you have specific dietary requirements.

A presentation on the food waste issue in Hertfordshire

Outline of our project so far and our plans to deliver interventions.

A guided walk around the farm

Detailed timings will be emailed to attendees closer to the event.

Terms and Conditions

We are limited to 50 participants, so we ask for a maximum of two attendees per organisation. We will prioritise spaces for those who have capacity to actively share the interventions once roll out of the campaign begins in late spring. A summary of the event will be shared afterwards to everyone on the invitation list, and we’ll be in touch again once the details of the messaging has been confirmed so you can help maximise the impact of the project.