Last updated 12th April 2020

We are in challenging times and the coronavirus has disrupted our lives. This has had many impacts on the way we live our lives and the environment. We have compiled this list of tips and services still operating during this emergency. Let us know if you have tips or service updates to add. e-mail ecocolchester@en-form.org.uk

Please note some companies (highlighted in red) are no longer accepting new customers or orders at the present time so please do not contact them as they are struggling with demand.

Other Facebook groups to keep you informed are:

Colchester Borough Emergency Coordinators Group

Food storage

Please ensure your store your food correctly to reduce food waste. Check out this handy guide.

Consider donating food and toiletries to the Colchester foodbank –

Food Supplies and delivery services in Colchester

Check out Isolation deliveries

Food supplies (dry food, cupboard food)

H Gunton Ltd. Located at 81-83 Crouch Street Colchester Essex CO3 3EZ. To place orders, call on either 01206 572200 or place orders through the letter box between 9am-12pm for same day pick up. Or text orders to 07543679640 or email orders to  info@guntons.co.uk. They are offering deliveries for locations within walking distance. Their website is: https://www.guntons.co.uk/acatalog/More_Info.html

REco store (Refill shop)– Located in Tiptree – Open Tuesday to Saturday the shop will still be open, operating at safe distance. Click and collect still available and home deliveries to the following villages. TIPTREE, KELVEDON, FEERING, COGGESHALL, MESSING. with a delivery fee of £2., Tel: 07508505270. https://www.facebook.com/therecostore/

An ethical Life (Refill shop) – Taking orders for delivery online via www.shop.anethicallife.co.uk & over the phone on 07340 363701. You can also email them at anethicallife@yahoo.com

Colchester Food Coop – join the food coop and have access to food when you need it, collected from the en-form office. https://www.facebook.com/ColchesterFoodCoop/Food Coop 

Un-sealed – located in Clacton, offering local delivery within a 3-mile radius with some exceptions  email lovinglifeun-sealed@outlook.com   Facebook page:

Food Supplies Fruit and Vegetables (Greengrocers)

J Burgess and Sons The shop is open: 8am – 5pm Monday – Friday 8am – 1pm Saturday
Only allowing 4 customers in the shop at once. Offering some local deliveries. Located 197 Old Heath Road, Colchester, Essex, 01206 795929 and on Facebook:

​M Bruce Fruit and Veg Suppliers – No longer accepting new customers  Offering fruit and veg deliveries and collection from Boxted.

Birchwood Farm Shop – Located in Dedham, Open Monday – Saturday 8am – 5:30pm, Sunday 8am – 4pm collection and local delivery (Langham, Boxted, Dedham, Stratford, Ardleigh, Lawford, Highwoods, and St John’s ) – only offering set boxes.
Place orders by phone: 01206 323797 Facebook:

Bumbles Greengrocers – Located in Brightlingsea. Offering local delivery and collection from shop which is open 1-3pm. Contact number is: 07914 496681

Food Supplies – Milk (Glass bottle milk)

Colchester Dairy:  email enquiries to: enquiries@colchesterdairy.co.uk

Milk and More: No longer accepting new customers they have had to temporarily stop taking new customer, but hopefully they will be able to recruit more staff and resume again soon. You can register your interest.

An ethical Life (Refill shop) – sell glass bottle oat milk anethicallife@yahoo.com

The crafty goat – selling goat milk, cheese and meat located in Abberton, Colchester

Lazy Daisy Dairy – A traditional dairy farm, using traditional methods, with cattle being fed on a grass based diet. Contact details: best by phone: 01255 870323 or Jane.shipton@virgin.net

Re-useable cloth nappies and wipes and toilet paper 

Colchester Cloth is an advice and information service around reusable cloth nappies. They will be providing support and live videos through their Facebook page:  ​

Try cloth nappies and get a £30 refund at Love Essex  ​

The Nappy Lady advice, information and buying new and pre-loved cloth nappies:

Cheeky Wipes Re-useable wipes, sanitary pads and toilet paper still operating and shipping:

Re-useable sanitary Wear 

Reusable Menstrual Products Colchester chat is a local group designed to encourage period positivity and inform people of eco-friendly alternatives.

Albert Postlethwait are a local homemade supplier of re-useable sanitary wear:

The Nappy lady are selling re-useable sanitary wear

Ethical Superstore are selling re-useable sanitary wear

Breastfeeding support

La Leche League Colchester is a friendly group that offers support and information to breastfeeding or expectant mothers, it is currently offering virtual chats through their Facebook page.

Gardens

Compost bins and water-butts – Discount compost bins and water butts for Colchester https://getcomposting.com/

Beth Chatto Gardens – Offering deliveries; place orders via their website. They are accepting online orders, with a minimum 6-plant order, and current delivery times are within two weeks

Growing your own food:

The following local Facebook groups may be helpful:

• Gardening Items And Surplus Produce in Colchester

• Essex Wildlife Trust Abberton Reservoir are sharing great videos and posts over Facebook:
  

• Allotment and Vegetable Growers
• Colchester Allotments:
• Colchester Foraging Network:
• SE Essex Organic gardeners:

Perrywood Garden Centre – Online information for growing your own food.

Family home gardening – A blog about home growing and gardening by a local Colchester family:

Reducing your recycling (in response to reduced Colchester Borough Council recycling collections. Other Essex Councils are currently operating a recycling service)

Please do not create waste and recycling at the present time.

Reduce paper 

Go Paperless. Now is a good time to review your paper bills and go paperless. You can change to paperless billing foe most bills such as Energy, Water, Council Tax, Business Rates and Benefit accounts. You can also convert your bank and credit accounts to paperless.

​Reduce your Junk Mail.  Follow this 11 step guide for getting less and unnecessary junk mail. ​

Colchester Borough Council have advice on reducing and re-using and storing recycling waste:  https://www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/residents/recycling-and-rubbish/?id=&page=how–to–reduce,–reuse–and–store–your–recycling#how–to–reduce,–reuse–and–store–your–recycling

Green waste 

Composting and re-using green waste advice from Perrywood Garden Centre: https://www.perrywood.co.uk/gardening-tips/composting-at-home/

Love Essex – tips for reducing waste and composting https://www.loveessex.org/?fbclid=IwAR2AqTPI4jF2HxTOrd5dXzbkUUiLA5ab2BKEzvfgFa3luBMinWncH5lb45k