We're still collecting donations
On the 14th September 2024 we'd raised £1,700 with 43 supporters in 42 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Triple B (Butterfly Bottleoven Boxes)
by Chris Parr in Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom
Total raised £2,000
raised so far51
supportersImproving our garden habitats with BUTTERFLY BOXES, made by volunteers from recycled pallets to help the planet & create a circular economy.
by Chris Parr in Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom
New stretch target
Our stretch target will help Projects from Pallets CIC become more sustainable as a community business . Our staff and volunteers will be able to initiate and develop new ideas that helps nature, the environment and our planet while celebrating our local heritage through recycling. Most recently, these have included hedgehog homes, swift nest boxes and we have further ideas to help other creatures in decline such as bats and honey bees.
We are also looking at developing a community space where more participants can enjoy our activities and work on our increasing number of programmes to co-create wooden products. All helping to increase their own mental health and wellbeing.
OUR PROJECT
Butterflies are one of our important pollinators and they connect us with the magic of nature. The winged insects are brightly coloured, have an enchanting beauty with a brief but mesmerising dance that captivates our hearts as they flutter between a variety of garden flowers.
As well as nature, Projects from Pallets CIC just love creating models of heritage from recycled pallet wood and take great care of the local environment. So our recycling volunteers have initiated another ingenious way of celebrating all three:
- NATURE
- HERITAGE
- ENVIRONMENT
Working with youth organisations, community groups, charities and trusts, we are focusing on Stoke-on-Trent's Pottery Heritage by co-creating BOTTLE KILN shaped BUTTERFLY BOXES for gardens and outdoor spaces. Our community is known as the capital of the ceramics industry and we enjoy remembering, reminiscing and sharing stories around our local heritage.
STOKE-ON-TRENT'S INDUSTRIAL & POTTERY HERITAGE
Back in its heyday, there were up to 2,000 bottle kiln buildings throughout the City of Stoke-on-Trent. All producing pottery, tiles and bricks. The Clean Air Act of 1956 saw the beginning of the end for these iconic coal fired ovens as the local factories turned to gas and electricity.
Today, less than 50 kilns remain standing across our city and they are all listed buildings. Some of them have been restored - at the factories of Middleport Pottery and the Gladstone Pottery Museum (locations of the hit TV show ‘The Great Pottery Throwdown’) - whereas others are in very poor condition. However, they still remain part of our rich culture and heritage.
THE STATISTICS
We have already co-created over 500 products out of our initial 2,000 target which will save the local environment 37.6 tonnes of carbon emissions overall. This is the equivalent of watching TV for 47.7 years, charging 4,794,493 smartphones or driving 91,932 miles in an average passenger vehicle (three and a half times around the equator). ‘TRIPLE B’ will bring us closer to these figures by continuing to work with our local community while helping the planet.
Our BUTTERFLY BOXES are 40cm x 30cm x 12cm and have 3 openings for the winged insects to gain access to the inside compartment. Strips of bark are placed inside the box to provide perches for the hibernating butterflies.
Flat-packs are created by our recycling volunteers so that other groups, especially young people, can complete them while learning basic woodwork skills in the process. A truly intergenerational and community engagement project and experience for workshop participants.
A CHANGE IN THINKING & BEHAVIOUR
While other organisations buy in their timber to make products, Projects from Pallets CIC uses recycled material that was once used for another purpose. It does take more time to reclaim and process the wood needed to produce our products but we feel that recycling is something that we all need to think about and do more as individuals and businesses.
It is wise to look back and learn from the generation of the 1940s and the Second World War when our mums, dads, grans and grandads had to be resourceful. A ‘Make Do and Mend’ culture to repair and reuse…
Using unwanted pallets to make our butterfly boxes, from the waste of local businesses, is a preventative measure in tackling climate change. It stops this material being thrown into skips, burned as firewood that produces harmful carbon emissions. Keeping wood in use for longer than it was first intended to highlights the importance of creating a circular economy.
Activities will show our workshop participants that wood can be re-used to produce useful products that help nature. Providing the butterflies with a sheltered home will attract these insects to gardens and community spaces. They need to hibernate before feeding on nectar, collecting pollen and carrying it to other plants. This helps fruits, vegetables and flowers to produce new seeds and continues to produce habitats that increase the butterfly population as well as improving our own health and wellbeing.
TRIPLE B:
- Helps the UK’s butterfly population;
- Provides habitats for our native insects;
- Celebrates Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery heritage;
- Teaches young people about the local industry;
- Reduces carbon emissions;
- Creates a circular economy; and
- Delivers wellness activities.
DONATE TO OUR CHALLENGE
Our project lead is Chris Parr from Burslem (the Mother Town) in Stoke-on-Trent North Staffordshire, a BBC Environmental Award winner, a former Prime Minister’s Points of Light recipient 2215, multi award winning social entrepreneur and wood-craftsman.
READ MORE HERE: Points of Light Award…
Help Projects from Pallets CIC to reach our target in co-creating 2,000 products (including TRIPLE B - Bottleoven shaped Butterfly Boxes) for our community!
The more funds we raise the more workshops we can deliver with our community while helping the planet. To run our activities, we also need basic materials such: screws, nails, glue, wood treatment, fixings and replacement saw blades etc.
Thank you for your time…
READ MORE about the decline of UK butterflies and the importance of these pollinators in the world's biggest survey of butterflies: The Big Butterfly Count 2024…
OUR REWARDS & DISCOUNTS
You can give a straight donation to our recycling cause or receive one of our time-limited rewards and discounts below:
REWARD 1
REWARD 2
DISCOUNT 1
DISCOUNT 2
Rewards
This project offered rewards
£5 or more
Reward 1 - Bottle Kiln Keepsake
Receive a BOTTLE KILN graphic keepsake on recycled pallet wood. A thank-you and reminder that you are helping the planet by supporting our community project. Sizes 8cm x 8cm x 2cm.
£10 or more
Reward 2 - Garden Shed Plaque
Receive a GARDEN SHED PLAQUE with BOTTLE KILN graphic on recycled pallet wood. A thank-you and reminder that you are helping the planet by supporting our community project. Sizes 16cm x 8cm x 2cm.
£20 or more
Discount 1 - Your Own Butterfly Box Made By Us
A limited time offer to purchase your own Butterfly Bottleoven Box at a discounted price. Handmade by our volunteers from recycled pallet wood. Helping the UK's winged insects while celebrating Stoke-on-Trent's pottery heritage and reducing carbon emissions. Products are 40cm x 30cm x 12cm and have a medium oak finish.
£75 or more
Discount 2 - A Community Workshop Delivered By Us
A limited time offer to work with your group to make a batch of Butterfly Bottleoven Boxes at a discounted price. Handmade by participants from recycled pallet wood. Helping the UK's winged insects while celebrating Stoke-on-Trent's pottery heritage and reducing carbon emissions.