Bicester Green Centre for ‘skills, sustainability and second-hand stuff’ opened in June 2013 and aims to prevent bikes, wooden furniture and small electrical items from becoming waste.

Manager Emma Gordon works with a team of volunteers to repair, refurbish and give a new lease of life to donated items which are then offered for resale both directly and via the adjacent Sobell House Charity Warehouse.

Donations and volunteers to help with restoring furniture, repairing bikes and fixing electrical items are always very welcome.

The centre is also a hub for all things related to sustainability in Bicester, and has a busy summer schedule of events. The centre offers special ladies’ DIY sessions, where women are tutored in a friendly environment to become more confident in using basic tools.

It holds led bike rides following the eco Bicester routes.

The 5km bronze route on June 3 invited less confident cyclists to come together and get to grips with cycling in a town, while the silver route held on July 15 focused on bike maintenance.

Bicester Green was also asked to curate the Reuse Tent at the Tandem Festival which took place from June 20-22 at Hill End, just west of Botley, Oxford.

Bicester Green arranged workshops led by both volunteers and also invited various characters to share their making skills with the festival audience in the form of interactive workshops.

All festival goers were encouraged to arrive by bike and were kept busy by the abundance of activities on offer over the weekend.

Closer to home there is also the Bicester Bike and Family Fun Day now confirmed for August 30 to look forward to. The event is free and open to everyone in Bicester.

There will be fun stalls like bicycle hoopla and a bicycle obstacle course. Local cycling groups will be on hand to offer advice and support and there will be food and drink as well. Everyone attending is encouraged to cycle to the event.

Bicester Green is located in unit two of the McKay Trading Estate, OX26 6BZ and opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 5pm.

n For further information on Bicecter Green or any of the events above visit bicestergreen.org.uk, call Emma on 07591 754 787 or email info@bicestergreen.org.uk