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The Eisteddfod 2008

Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales were at their sustainable house at the National Eisteddfod showing people just how easy it is to create a sustainable lifestyle, with green and ethical tips. Thanks to support from the Welsh Assembly Government, Ecotricity, Draig Technology, Ecover, Innocent Smoothies and a whole host of other sponsors the stand looked just like a home - complete with a back garden! Thanks to our sponsors!

Built from FSC plywood, it demonstrated features such as insulation and inside was full of inspiring ideas to help people make sustainable lifestyle choices, from fair trade and organic to energy and waste saving ideas.

Enter the competition, 'Give Us Your Small Change', and you could win a year's supply of green energy. Along with guests for tea, music, Q&A and practical workshops, there was always plenty to get involved with and no need to book in advance.

Download the full event programme.

Monday 4th August

Give Us Your Small Change Competition Launch

Our Give Us Your Small Change competition was launched with a TV weather presenter and four pupils from two schools in the Rhondda Valley and Cynon Valley. This autumn, the four pupils will be seen creating a green revolution in their square mile on S4C's Cwm Glo Cwm Gwyrdd.

Competition launch: 11-12pm, Monday 4th August

WWF Welsh Language Ecological Footprint Calculator

WWF Cymru were inviting people along to fill in their brand new Welsh language ecological footprint calculator. This gave the Welsh speaking public the opportunity to unearth accurately their consumption levels and to read and learn about how to live greener lives and to complete the calculator in their native language.

WWF Calculator: 12-3pm, Monday 4th August and 10am-1pm, Wednesday 6th August.

Tuesday 5th August

Everyday Welsh

Draig were asking people to drop by and find out about Welsh language software for your home or office computer with Draig Technology Ltd.

Everyday Welsh: between 11am-1pm, Tuesday 5th August.

Tackling Climate Change Together - DVD

We worked with the Welsh Assembly Government to make a film to show how people across Wales are working together to tackle climate change and to inspire you to join them in taking action.

Tackling Climate Change Together (17 mins.): repeat showings 2-5pm, Tuesday 5th August.

Wednesday 6th August

WWF Welsh Language Ecological Footprint Calculator

WWF Calculator: 12-3pm, Monday 4th August and 10am-1pm, Wednesday 6th August.

Organic Pest Control

The Riverside Real Food Market and Garden Allotments volunteers were giving lessons in organic pest control for your garden veg.

Organic pest control: between 2-5pm, Wednesday 6th August with Ann Bateman and Cat Siveter.

Thursday 7th August

Natural Paint Making

Learn to create your own healthy paints and wood stains from purely natural ingredients, using traditional recipes and techniques. Simply combine organic ingredients such as milk, eggs and natural mineral pigments to achieve healthy and colourful finishes in your home. All materials were provided!

Natural Paint Making: between 11am-1pm, Thursday 7th August with Anna Haslock, Rounded Developments Enterprises.

Gai Toms

A drum kit made from old bits of junk and an album produced in an eco-friendly way - just some of the ways Gai Toms is proving that the music industry can clean up its act too! Gai played a few songs from his album Rhwng y Llygru a'r Glasu (Between the Pollution and the Greening), songs reflecting the singer's concerns about the environment and mankind. Gai was also happy to answer questions after the show.

Gai Toms music session: 2-3pm, Thursday 7th August.

Friday 8th August

Nappuccino

We held a relaxed coffee morning to find out more about real nappies. People enjoyed a cuppa and found out all the pros and cons. There was plenty available for you to see and touch, with their Velcro or popper fastenings and range of materials, colours and prints including pastels and animal prints. Children joined in the fun too, with S4C's Cyw and other children's TV presenters.

'Nappuccino' Real Nappy coffee morning: between 11am-1pm, Friday 8th August with Sian Dando and S4C's Cyw and gang!

Ethical Shopping with SUSSED

SUSSED is a community based co-operative that educates, promotes, inform and supplies environmentally friendly and ethically sound products and services. Stock includes a wide range of goods: gifts, clothes, homeware, jewellery, books, and eco friendly products.

1-5pm, Friday 8th August with Sussed.

Saturday 9th August

Charity Shop Chic: a Hands-on Guide to New from Old!

People were invited to discover creative ways to give old clothes and charity shop buys a new lease of life, using only basic craft supplies and odds and ends from around the home.

11am-1pm, Saturday 9th August with Roz Robinson and Lynsey Jackson.

Our Sponsors

Welsh Assembly Government: Main Sponsor
The Welsh Assembly Government is the devolved government for Wales and is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Wales, including the economy, health, education, and local government. Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales' sponsoring Minister is Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing.

Ecotricity: Premium Sponsor
Ecotricity is an electricity company with a difference. As green energy pioneers, Ecotricity is dedicated to building new sources of renewable energy to fight climate change, investing more per customer than all the other UK suppliers put together. Switching is easy and it's the biggest single step you can take to reduce your emissions and protect the environment.

Draig Technology Ltd.: Workshop Sponsor
Wales-based Draig Technology is a client focussed, high quality provider of IT solutions based on Microsoft technologies. The company is Wales’ only Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for SharePoint and software development. Eisteddfod-goers may be familiar with To Bach, which simplifies the typing of Welsh characters, and Draig's work with the Welsh Language Board, Microsoft and Cymen developing Welsh versions of Windows and Office.

S4C for its support throughout its Green year of programming in 2008. Look out for S4C's contribution to our week of events and keep an eye out for weather bulletins broadcast directly from the stand during the week.

RDE and Unique Woodworking for the excellent design and build of our sustainable home and interpretive materials. RDE is a not-for-profit company that champions the development of sustainable building in Wales by raising awareness and sharing knowledge through educational activities, developing supply chain networks and facilitating and supporting the implementation of projects. RDE also run Wales' only dedicated Sustainable Building Centre with paints and materials available online and from the Centre in Splott.

All Freecyclers and eBayers out there who prove that one person's junk is another's treasure! Visit www.freecycle.com and www.eBay.com.

Ecover have kindly donated a number of ecologically friendly household products to dress our sustainable home and give away in our competition.

Innocent Smoothies have generously donated a prize for our competition - lots of their delicious smoothies.

Clipper have generously donated a prize for our competition - a bag for life full of tea!

Marks and Spencer kindly donated gift vouchers to give away in our competition.

Leekes have generously loaned highly rated energy efficient kitchen appliances to dress our sustainable home, free of charge.

Brightwater have generously donated energy and water efficient bathroom plumbing to dress our sustainable home.

Lovells have generously donated kitchen worktops to dress our sustainable home.