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Low Carbon Communities Flourish in Cheshire

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:39:24 +0000

Last week I was fortunate enough to spend time with some of the representatives of low carbon community groups in Cheshire and Warrington. I heard some amazing stories of community activism which inspiring and quite astounding in their ambition. You'll be able to hear more about these communities at the Sustainable Cheshire Forum meeting on 10th December 2008 at Crewe Alexandra Football Ground. You can get full details by contacting the Sustainable Cheshire Forum
I hope you'll be able to join us in a celebration of some of the best sustainability projects Cheshire has to offer.

Climate Change and Poverty

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:14:45 +0000

Today is Blog Action Day and so I'm going to say a few words about how climate change impacts the world's poor.
Poverty is not just a problem in the developing world, but right here at home and the UK's poorest continue to be the most socially excluded and disenfranchised group, the last to be listened to, the last to be consulted.
My feeling is that many of us have grown up in a world where we have absorbed messages such as "growth is good..more is better...faster is glamorous" . Far from making us happy this has led to many of us feeling unfulfilled and isolated. It has also had a negative impact on the world's poor.
Climate change is a real threat, I've been to several workshops and seminars recently where the talk has been about "mitigation and adaptation" or developing "climate resilience". I have heard little about environmental justice. Yet, "affordable" homes continue to be built on floodplains, and Oxfam's research shows that those with the smallest carbon footprints are paying the human and social costs for choices made by those with the biggest carbon footprints.
Environmental justice links to many concerns. Housing, urban regeneration and local service provision all affect quality of life. Public spending on these issues is likely to increase or decrease inequalities depending on where and how policies are developed and managed.
There has been some research recently which asks if it is possible to tackle social exclusion and environmental problems through integrated policies and developments.
I recently visited the Seedley and Langworthy Trust just outside Manchester. SALT has developed a strong track record of working directly with the community, responding to individual and group needs in a compassionate and understanding way. One of the main aims of SALT has been to make sure that local people's views, thoughts, fears and aspirations for the future are listened to at the most influential levels. Here in Chester the residents of Blacon were shortlisted in Nesta's Big Green Challenege for environmental plans which grew out of social regeneration. In both cases strong community cohesion grew as members of the community began to trust and respect each other. This led to projects such as development of safe play areas, which in turn led to reduced carbon emissions.
Environmental justice is about equity, I would define it as the fair treatment of people regardless of race, colour, national origin or income. Nobody should have to suffer a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences which result from social, industrial or commercial growth.
Oxfam may tell stories of women in Bangladesh who are directly feeling the impacts of climate change, but we hear little on the news of impacts closer to home such as the gas pipeline development in Rossport County Mayo, where one resident was driven to hunger strike before the world's media began to take notice of the social and environmental impacts of Shell's plans to increase the UK's "fuel security".
So, while pop stars may continue to sing about saving the planet, I'm for saving the people and I hope that more of us will consider the social impacts of our behaviours and lifestyle aspirations from now on.

New grass roots network for low carbon communities

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:16:29 +0000

The last few weeks have been busier than ever as we prepared for the Low Carbon Communities Conference in Llangollen last weekend.
But, it has been worth it as delegates voted overwhelmingly to support a network organised by and for grass roots low carbon communities.
Of course this probably means my workload is going to increase, but how exciting to think that Chester will be the home of the first network to support community groups working in partnership to communicate the benefits of a low carbon lifestyle and the need to support governments as they create robust climate change policy.
There were several Cheshire groups represented at the conference, including Nicola Percival from Bollington Carbon Revolution who spoke to a packed hall about the need for community groups to be informed and consulted by policy makers. It was a shame no formal representative from Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral could attend, but those of us who live in the village were able to share some news with other community groups and we promised to keep everyone informed of progress on the microgrid as we hear. Of course, no-one in the village really knows what's in store, but the planning applications that went in last month for 10 metre high weather measurement equipment would seem to hint that wind turbines could be part of the solution. Chatting to other residents in the village it would appear that there is some confusion about what a microgrid is and what it will do - the important thing is that the technological innovations it promises are accompanied by significant carbon reduction by residents.
Straight after the conference I travelled to Oxford University to take part in workshops on the theme of "Engaging the Public in Climate Change and Energy Demand Reduction". I came away with plenty of food for thought, particularly about the kind of language community groups use to communicate the threats we face as our climate changes. I'm going to be far more careful about using "carbon jargon" in future and make sure that the opportunities for living a more fulfilled and meaningful life are communicated by us all as we try to plan for what the Government is now calling a "climate resilient" society.
And if you have any ideas about how that might look leave a comment here. I have 2 copies of George Marshall's Carbon Detox" to give away to the most imaginative responses.

More Trees for Chester?

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:03:42 +0000

A new initiative organised by Transition Chester could mean more indiginous and productive trees planted in the Chester area. In an exciting new project, volunteers hope to plant fruit and nut trees in a city wide initiative and are currently looking for funding to get the project underway. They already have the support of a number of local organisations and will be following in the footsteps of Transition Totnes (the first Transition Town) were dozens of volunteers planted nut trees around the town. Transition Chester hope this project will increase local biodiversity, educate local people about our native trees and provide a valuable edible resource for future generations.

Volunteers have already visited a garden run on permaculture principles in Llangollen and established links with local allotment groups in order to access advice and expertise. If you would be interested in getting involved, or simply finding out more about Transition Chester you can email transitionchester@yahoo.co.uk

Back to work ... and plenty to do

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:29:10 +0000

Seems like everyone in Chester has been busy gearing up their sustainability projects while I've been away on holiday. Life for me just seems to revolve around last minute promotion for the low carbon communities Conference on 4th October in Llangollen. This week we heard that the fabulous folk band "Seize the Day" have agreed to play at our post conference party. It's a couple of years since I last saw them play live, since then I've had to make do with downloads from their website.
The final list of speakers and presenters has been confirmed and includes the wonderful Penney Poyzer (presenter of BBC's "No Waste Like Home") not to mention George Marshall, Mark Lynas, and a host of really inspiring community projects such as Going Carbon Neutral Stirling who are still celebrating a very successful Big Lottery Award. Rachel Nunn will be telling delegates about the whirlwind year she's had since attending last year's conference hosted by Ashton Hayes Parish Council.
Meanwhile Transition Chester has been busy planning a series of Autumn meetings and talks which promise to raise the level of debate about climate change and peak oil here in Cheshire. Their programme includes a visit from the highly respected John Papworth (one of the original founders of resurgence Magazine). Then we have another meeting of low carbon community groups in Chester and Warrington in Rudheath, if your community group would like to know more about that leave a comment here and tell us all about your project.

Low Carbon Cheshire and Warrington

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:27:32 +0000

The number of low carbon groups establishing in Cheshire continues to grow and last Wednesday's first meeting of the Cheshire and Warrington Low Carbon Communities Network was a great success (at least those of us who debriefed in the pub afterwards thought so!)
Discussions centred around funding, community engagement and access to information. These will all be covered in future meetings of the group.
Supported by Cheshire County Council and chaired by Chris Mahon, Chair of the Sustainable Cheshire Forum this new group follows other successful regional networks such as Shropshire and ClimateX in Oxford. It seems many community groups are now seeing the benefit of working in partnership to share skills and experience. Action Climate Change Tattenhall has produced an excellent leaflet brought along by John Plummer and other groups shared updates of their group's progress. Sonia Mysko from Bollington Carbon Revolution shared news of two successful Eco Teams which have run in the area to support behavioural change among residents (and across Cheshire this initiative, supported by the Cheshire Federation of Womens Institutes has proved very popular).
Roy Alexander from the Ashton Hayes Parish Council Going Carbon Neutral Project sent his apologies as he was attending a public meeting elsewhere in Ashton Hayes to inform residents of plans for a village microgrid. I caught up with him later in the pub where he told me
"It was a great meeting, about 30 people turned up. They asked some interesting questions and there were offers to help with fundrasing and organisation".
These are exciting times for low carbon communities - but particularly for Ashton Hayes Parish Council who have set the bar high - not only will they be raising funds for the village microgrid, but also there are plans to take over the running of the village shop as a community enterprise and buy land to create a recreation field!
Several attendees at our meting on Wednesday have already signed up to attend the Low Carbon Communities Conference in Llangollen in October, here they will have the opportunity to meet with some very successful projects from other parts of the UK and listen to some inspiring stories of what ordinary people can achieve when they work together on a common goal.
I'm off on holiday now, but when I come back I'll have more news on Transition Chester and a sneak preview of an interview with Dave Hampton (Carbon Coach to the rich and famous).

Cheshire and Warrington Community Event

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:14:19 +0000

On Wednesday 16th July the Cheshire and Warrington Low Carbon Community Network will be hosting it's first event in the Village Hall in Ashton Hayes. This is an opportunity for low carbon and transition projects in the Cheshire and Warrington area to get together and share ideas. We hope this will be the first of many events. If you are part of a low carbon / carbon rationing or transition group and you have not had an invitation please let me know.
Many local authorities are supporting regional networking of carbon reduction projects and we're pleased that Cheshire County Council are supporting this initiative. At the Low Carbon Communities Conference in October we'll have representatives from other regional networks talking about the benefits of co-operation and collaboration
I'll be posting full details of the event later this week.

Yoosk - you ask the questions

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:26:16 +0000

The Low Carbon Communities Network are presenting at a conference in London this week. I'm really excited because Yoosk, the interactive interview magazine have allowed to use their site to ask questions about peak oil and climate change. We're putting together a great panel of experts to answer youur questions - including me!
So go on, ask me a question...

The Low Carbon Home...

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:19:18 +0000

I was going to call this week's post a tour of the Transition Home but I decided to stick with low carbon. Believe me, walk into the home of anyone involved in a Transition project and you'll notice just the same actions being taken to reduce energy consumption.
Let's remember that low carbon / transition living is not about being told to give things up, it's about choosing to live differently.
Briefly my home has:
Thick lined curtains at all the windows, foil panels behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room, energy saving light bulbs in all light fittings, an extra thick jacket on the hot water cylinder, tightly controlled timers on the central heating (which we hardly use because we have a woodburner), cavity wall and loft insulation in excess of recommended minimums. I could go on, but to be honest your best source of information here in Cheshire is Energy Projects Plus who gave my family excellent advice when we wanted to improve the efficiency of our home.
Recently I attended a training day at their office in Winsford. Together with representatives from Tattenhall and Blacon I learnt how to use a thermal imaging camera which helps residents see where there may be potential heat loss in a building and build up a picture of the thermal efficiency of a home. EPPLUS hire the camera to community groups at low cost (from £10.00 a week) and give advice on how it should be used. This resource is available to any community group in Cheshire and I'm pretty sure that members of Transition Chester will be interested in borrowing it as well as low carbon groups such as Bollington and Tattenhall who have already put their names down to borrow it.
EPPLUS are also organising the first Renewable Energy Exhibition to be held in Cheshire (at the Crewe Campus of Manchester Metropolitan University) on 5th July 2008. Anyone interested in wind turbines, biomass, heat pumps, solar power etc will be able to come along and get free advice from installers and renewable energy specialists. It should be well worth a visit. Michael Flood who works at EPPLUS in Winsford told me:
"Anyone can come along between 10am and 4pm. We're delighted to be holding this event, it's the first of its kind in Cheshire and will really help bring the community and renewables installers closer together".

Conserving energy is easy, but it takes time to work out where savings might be made. Renewable energy can be very cost effective if chosen wisely and believe me it is possible to reduce your energy consumption and live comfortably if you take appropriate advice. I recently visited Church Stretton in Shropshire where residents can visit their local library and take part in carbon footprinting classes which are followed up by energy advice and in Totnes residents are encouraged to fit solar thermal panels as a part of a community challenge.
Residents in Ashton Hayes were encouraged to save money by reducing energy and Barry Cooney, the much missed landlord at the Golden Lion would cheerfully tell of saving over £200 a month on his fuel bills by taking simple energy saving measures. Think of saving carbon instead of money and it's easy to see how we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and live comfortable lives. If you do save money as result invest the savings in renewable - but make sure you take advice from EPPLUS before parting with your hard earned cash!
If you want advice give EPPLUS a call on 0800 512012

Going Low Carbon - Don't Buy less - Buy Different

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:00:01 +0000

Over the next few weeks I want look at ways we can live differently, and make positive choices towards a low carbon lifestyle. Wherever you live in Cheshire there is bound to be a community project near you that can give advice, but here are a few things you can do as an individual. This week:
Food Shopping
I'm a working Mum and sometimes a late night trip to the supermarket is the only way to keep food on the table, mostly I prefer to make shopping a part of my routine. It might take a bit longer to wander up and down the high street, but it's far preferable to wheeling a shopping trolley round the air conditioned aisles of the supermarket, buying pre packaged food from goodness knows where.
Today I went to Frodsham, my local market town. First stop the Cheese Shop run by Gordon Meek. I tasted several different cheeses before settling on a couple of tasty goats cheeses, Cornish Yarg (a favourite of mine) and a block of Plain Old Cheddar (yes, it really is called that)! No fancy plastic packaging destined straight for the bin here, just a piece of greaseproof paper and a sticky label with the price on. Then on to Hales for fruit and veg popped into paper bags (which will go on the compost heap) and finally the butchers for a locally reared chicken and some home produced sausages (of course the carcass will be used to make stock for homemade soup before being composted)!
On Saturdays my daughter has a dance class in Hoole, so I combine the trip with a visit to the fantastic fishmongers there. Hoole is full of small independent retailers - there's usually queue at the butchers on a Saturday morning -surely an indication of the quality and high regard local people have for the produce.
I don't think this way of shopping costs me more than a trip to the supermarket, by combining car trips I reduce the number of miles I drive and I am able to take advantage of buying fresh food in season. No need to buy shrink wrapped green beans flown in from abroad, I can buy Cheshire asparagus or spinach from Staffordshire. My family eat well because I choose to buy fresh produce in season to supplement what we grow ourselves. The supermarkets might be about to entice the carbon savvy shopper over the threshold with new carbon footprint labels, but take it from me - a trip to your local high street - or farmers market can provide you with produce that has travelled less miles, has less packaging, probably a lower carbon footprint - and more of your money is likely to stay in the local economy.
If you are addicted to the convenience of the supermarket, take things slowly, try going to the local greengrocers instead of buying all your food at the supermarket, or take the family to a Farmers Market this weekend.
As the price of oil continues to rise the price of our food will inevitably go up too, the further the food has to travel, the longer it spends in storage the higher the carbon footprint becomes and the more expensive food will be. Buying fresh local produce will become a sensible choice, but one that will only be available if we support our local retailers. So, go make friends with your local butcher, baker, greengrocer or village store and make low carbon living a part of your weekly routine.

The Future of Shopping

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:04:40 +0000

In a village which has cut it's carbon emissions by an average of 20% over the last 12 months you would hope the village shop would be valued as a community resource. Shopping locally can be a great way to save petrol and support the local economy.
Here in Ashton Hayes, we face changes in the way our village shop is run, the Post Mistress is "unable to operate both the Post Office and the shop" on her own * and has offered to work with the Parish Council to establish a community shop. A meeting has been organised and the whole village has been invited to listen to what's planned and to find out how we can all be involved.
Of course, we all like the idea of a village shop, but what is really needed right now is practical action. A commitment from residents that they will use the shop for more than just newspapers and cigarettes. For people like me who don't always have access to a car, the local shop is an essential service, over the past few months I've bought the usual - bread, milk, veg, eggs - and emergency items like icing sugar for my daughter's birthday cake. There has also been the odd mad dash just before closing on a Friday night when friends drop by and one of us cycles (or if it's me walks) down to the shop for a bottle of wine. Not to mention the regular Sunday morning trip for newspapers and bacon.
Of course, this kind of shopping can't sustain a business unless enough people use the shop on a regular basis. If the shop were to close then the only option would be to jump in the car and drive to Kelsall - only a couple of miles - but just a bit too far to walk when you run out of milk and the children are waiting for breakfast.
That's why I'm hoping the Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral Project (a sub group of the Parish Council) will put all it's energies into the future survival of our local shop. Here is a great opportunity to showcase local producers of meat and cheese, to stock fruit from nearby orchards, sell local honey and apple juice while also providing the community with the everyday essentials we need on a regular basis.
We've recently been gathering data for the Parish Plan, which asked householders what kinds of services they want in Ashton Hayes, an ideal starting point for consultation and proof, if it were needed that a local shop is an essential service.
I only live 5 minutes from the shop, but no trip is ever that quick, I chat to my neighbours, admire colourful front gardens, pat dogs, smile at people looking out of their living room windows. It might sound idyllic, but think how isolating it could be if all that interaction was lost to be replaced by a 5 mile drive to the supermarket...not to mention the increase in the villages carbon emissions ...

(*Letter from the Parish Council delivered to local households)

The Vicar's Tea Party Talks Climate Change...

Fri, 23 May 2008 13:53:48 +0000

Well, to be fair it wasn't a tea party, but they were vicars and we did drink tea. I was sitting in the vicarage here in Ashton Hayes sharing lunch with a group of vicars from across Cheshire who all serve rural parishes. The discussion followed a showing of the Ashton Hayes film made for Live Earth last year, which features some lovely footage of the parish - and a particularly full Sunday congregation!
Initially the conversation was about the community becoming carbon neutral and the role played by the church, but quickly moved on to more general rural issues, which for me are part of the debate about a low carbon lifestyle.
Of course it's the "right" thing to shop local - but how easy is that when new housing estates are designed to make life easy for car drivers and not pedestrians? When Cheshire farmers can't get a decent price for their milk and the supermarkets are full of European semi skimmed when I live half a mile from a dairy farm? Living a low carbon life is about making informed choices in order to reduce our impact on the environment and our neighbours. Living low carbon is about choice, not self denial and so this weekend I'll be tucking into ice cream made here in Cheshire - no designer label but equally delicious, butter and milk from local farms and eggs from a small holding in the next village. I'll be drinking Cheshire apple juice and Weetwood's Eastgate Ale while I share a meal with friends who will have traveled to Ashton Hayes by train.
Going without? Giving up a decent standard of living? Not me - shop local, support your community and reduce your carbon footprint all at the same time. Try it yourself - if you still have a village shop - try walking there this weekend and buying provisions for lunch, seek out your nearest farmers market or farm shop or even arrange to have local food delivered direct to your door instead of an internet supermarket. You may be surprised what Cheshire has to offer.

Westminster Park is Going Low Carbon...

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:45:49 +0000

There are a number of low carbon groups across Cheshire, all working hard to engage their communities in the low carbon message. I've been speaking to Brian Westcott, who lives in Westminster park. he told me
"The Westminster Park Low Carbon Group was set up in September 2006 and is part of the WP Forum, a residents' association covering 1200 households. We have carried out a survey to determine the extent to which houses are insulated and equipped with energy saving devices, as well as residents lifestyles in terms of travel. Carbon footprints (ranging from 3 to 50 tons of carbon per household pa) have been calculated and fed back to respondents to the questionnaire.

We have involved the local school - the eco teacher works with the children to raise their awareness of climate change and is on our committee. We have held a number of events on the school premises including an exhibition of insulation/solar heating products, a Green Transport day and a Recycling Day. We are having a showing, and discussion, of "An Inconvenient Truth" and have other events planned to raise residents' awareness of climate change and its consequences.

We are developing an action plan - our main aim is to encourage WP residents to take actions in their personal lives to help solve the problems that increasingly confront us all".

Another inspiring example of community action to reduce a community's impact on the climate. Want to share your story? Leave a comment below

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:36:10 +0000

Blacon Community Trust has been shortlisted in the Big Green Challenge. The Challenge is a national competition established by National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and The Daily Mirror to involve local people in reducing energy consumption and find new ways to make communities sustainable. If the Trust becomes a finalist for the Big Green Challenge, it will receive £20,000 in September for one year to make further progress. Whichever organisation wins the Challenge ultimately receives £1 million.

In addition to people being encouraged to save energy and have more energy efficient buildings in Blacon, there is the possibility of generating heating and electricity from the natural environment from natural (or "renewable") sources and distributing it among residential, commercial and community buildings in the redevelopment of Blacon Parade currently being led by the City Council. The Trust will consult local people on these plans in September. A recent study undertaken by energy specialists at EA Technology Ltd. at Capenhurst for the Trust with support from Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance identified a number of other possible sites for further use of renewable energy technologies for community benefit for discussion with local people and agencies. There are already other steps being taken to improve Blacon's Green Spaces by local residents and agencies.

Using renewable energy in Blacon, an area with a strong community identify and where agencies and communities work well together, will add to efforts to make Blacon much more sustainable and help address concerns about the rising costs of energy. It will also help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and combat Climate Change.

"Blacon is a great area to live and work in and we want to make it better," said Ged Edwards Environmental Coordinator at Blacon Community Trust. "Local people and organisations are concerned about energy prices and how we can do our bit for the environment. We will work with them and with our partner agencies involved here to make a Blacon a Sustainable Community and develop an environment that will attract people to the area."
Pictured here are residents and staff involved with the Blacon project (photo courtesy of Chester Chronicle), many of whom attended the recent Action Planning for Community Energy Saving Projects workshop at Trafford Hall

How many low carbon events can Cheshire hold in one week?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:22:23 +0000

Well, at least for this week, the answer is 3.
Kicking off on 23rd April with the Chester Launch of Energy Projects Plus new Practical Action for Climate Change toolkit at Chester Town Hall. Followed by a screening of The Power of Community by Transition Chester at Alexander's Jazz bar. Then on Friday, I'm off to learn how to use a thermal imaging camera courtesy of Energy Projects Plus.
One year on from the first grass roots conference for low carbon communities hosted at University of Chester things continue to move forward at a rapid pace. Over in Shropshire last Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited to attend an event hosted by Stretton Climate Care, who were delegates at last year's conference. After listening to a presentation by Mark Lynas I was able to give them a sneak preview of this years event - and if you want to more about that you'll have to wait until I blog about it here, or catch up with all the news on the Low Carbon Communities Network here.