Refill! A new guide to reusable cups and reducing waste
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Free trees available in Devon
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Launching the Devon Wildlife Community of the Year Awards
Devon Local Nature Partnership is launching the Devon Wildlife Awards to celebrate the excellent work going on across the county to address the ecological emergency.
Has your council, or a community organisation, been taking action to restore nature? Perhaps starting a project or initiative designed specifically to address the Ecological Emergency? Maybe the local school has worked on a wildlife initiative? If yes, then the Devon Local Nature Partnership wants to hear from you for the Devon Wildlife Awards!
Devon LNP is launching the Devon Wildlife Community of the Year Awards to celebrate parish and town councils, communities and schools that have been going the extra mile to address the urgent Ecological Emergency.
There are some fantastic projects and initiatives popping up all over Devon that deserve proper recognition for their fantastic work! Some examples we’ve featured include Brixham’s telebug hotels, Dittisham’s habitat plan to support biodiversity and Braunton’s wildflower verges but we know there are many more exciting projects all across Devon.
Examples of projects, initiatives and actions your council might have started…
- Taking action to save a rare species or habitat
- Started a new wildlife community group
- Managing public greenspaces more sensitively for wildlife (changing cutting regimes etc.)
- Creating a new nature reserve or habitat like a wildflower meadow or community pond
- Developing and implementing a new wildlife action plan
- Running a programme of wildlife training courses to help upskill local people
Winners will have a choice of exciting prizes which will presented at a Devon LNP event in Autumn 2022.
Devon Climate Challenge | #BackTheFuture
Sign up to the free, live-streamed #BacktheFuture Live: Devon Climate Challenge event on Thursday 8 July
Devon County Council has teamed up with Crowdfunder to award a share of £10,000 to three crowdfunding projects who are helping to tackle the climate emergency in Devon to help #BackTheFuture. This project aims to help your ideas a reality, helping us to make an impact on climate change.
After coming to the end of a unique 24-hours of crowdfunding, the three projects will present their ideas to a special panel of guest judges and compete for a share of the £10,000 funding on 8 July, 7 – 8.30pm.
The three projects are:
- the Earth Repair Shop in Ilfracombe, a community climate change advice centre helping families to live more sustainable lives.
- the Greenaway Project, aiming to extend the Wray Valley Multi Use Trail beyond Moretonhampstead to Chagford and onwards to the new railway station at Okehampton Parkway.
- the Sustainable Tiverton CIC, opening the Sustainability Hub in the centre of Tiverton to demonstrate the reality of the climate emergency and the need for an urgent response.
Find out more about the three projects and how to sign up here.
But wait, there’s more!
During the live-streamed event, attendees will also be able to find out how they can make their own planet positive idea a reality and get a slide of £30, 000 of match funding for their own Devon-based Crowdfunder project. Why not sign up to watch the live event and get inspiration from the people already raising funds to #BackTheFuture in our community? Have fun, get inspired and be part of a pro-active response to the climate emergency!
Wild about Devon! A wildlife network for parish and town councils
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Devon Climate Change Challenge
Devon County Council and Crowdfunder have teamed up to award £10,000 to three Crowdfunder projects who are tackling the climate change emergency and are ready to #BackTheFuture.
The event will be streamed live where selected people will have the chance to present their mission to a wider audience.
All you need to do to be considered is to follow the link below and tell us about your project in 100 words and then the Crowdfunder team will be in touch.
Parish Council Climate Response Survey
Devon Communities Together, in conversation with DALC, is committed to providing support to local communities in Devon to address the Climate Emergency
Devon Communities Together (DCT), in conversation with the Devon Association of Local Councils (DALC), is committed to providing support to local communities in Devon to address the Climate Emergency using an Asset Based Community Development approach.
To support this objective we have developed the following survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PCClimateresponse which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. We would be very grateful if it could be completed by the most suitable member of your team.
The Climate Emergency will require change on a broad scope which will affect all sectors and communities, but as we know, every community is different with different strengths and circumstances. Devon Communities Together has a long history of working with communities particular circumstances on parish and neighbourhood plans, via the provision of training and in a wide range of consultation and engagement activities. This survey aims to research the interest, existing activity and support needs of local communities in addressing the Climate Emergency. By understanding the current position of communities, and of local council’s responses, we can start to organise from a position of existing strengths. The data will be used to support our intention of hosting an initial (virtual) meeting early in the new year to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practice between those at different stages on their journey, and to explore the potential for forming an ongoing support network. The results of this survey will also inform our continued and ongoing response to the Climate Emergency.
In addition the consultation of the Interim Devon Carbon Plan is now live! The plan is a collaborative roadmap to creating a net-zero Devon where people and nature thrive and is Devon’s response to the global climate emergency.
Devon Climate Emergency (DCE) partnership wants to hear your views on key actions which outline some of the transformational changes which are required to create a thriving net-zero Devon. The Interim Devon Carbon Plan will be updated to a final plan after the Citizens’ Assembly, now in 2021 due to Covid-19. The actions cover a broad range of topics which will allow us to build back better.
Addressing the climate and ecological emergency is an opportunity to create a fairer, healthier, more resilient and prosperous society. DCE is requesting feedback from Devon’s citizens to indicate to what extent they agree with the proposed actions. Have your say at: www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/interimcarbonplan and book onto webinars specific to your area of interest here https://www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/interim-devon-carbon-plan-webinar-series/ (happening in January).
New solar panel group-buying scheme launched in Devon
Devon’s householders have the chance to help the county become net-zero by joining Devon Climate Emergency’s (DCE) solar panel group-buying scheme.
DCE is made up of Devon’s principle public and private sector organisations, and they have joined forces to draw up a Carbon Plan, the county’s roadmap to carbon neutrality.
The DCE’s latest project is Solar Together and, with group buying experts iChoosr Ltd, they are offering homeowners the chance to buy high quality solar PV more cheaply than if they were buying alone.
Led by Devon County Council, the scheme is partnered by 10 of Devon’s planning authorities, who are all members of DCE’s Response Group (DCERG).
The scheme’s partners are East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge and Torridge District Councils, West Devon Borough Council, Exeter City Council and Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities.
Solar Together is one of the ways the DCE is helping local people take a positive step to reduce their own carbon footprints.
Research by the University of Exeter shows that 19 per cent of all Devon’s carbon emissions are created by our homes, with more than half of those by grid-supplied electricity. Installing solar panels will reduce the amount of grid-supplied electricity needed for things like hot water, with a transfer to more eco-friendly solar energy.
This scheme follows four similar projects run across the country last year which promise to deliver over 1,300 installations, saving an estimated 28,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from being produced.
If you are interested, the first step is to register for free HERE – by registering, there is no obligation to install panels.
A ‘reverse’ auction involving pre-vetted suppliers will then take place this autumn and the winning bid will be the most cost-effective one for registered residents to then consider.
Registered households will then receive a recommendation, specifically tailored to the details they submitted in their registration.
If they accept the recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey and then a date can be set for installation.
Dr Phil Norrey, Chairman of the DCERG, said;
“The DCE is committed to ensuring that Devon is net-zero by 2050 at the very latest.
“To achieve this, changes will have to be made at all levels, by everyone and every organisation.
“We will all have to take responsibility for our own carbon footprints, work together as a community and make the most of the opportunities that new technologies offer in areas including generating electricity sustainably.
“Solar Together brings together these three key elements, and by investing in a solar PV system, you will be part of the solution and will own your own solar ‘power plant’ which will continue to help reduce emissions and save you money for at least the next two decades.
“I would encourage any of our residents interested in cutting their energy bills and contributing to tackling climate change to register.”
Marie-Louise Abretti, iChoosr UK Solar Manager added “With residents of Devon looking for opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions and save on energy bills, the Solar Together group-buying scheme offers a straightforward way to make an informed decision and access a competitive offer from a trusted provider.”
To register, click HERE.
Broadhempston plants a community orchard
We recently heard from Broadhempston Parish Council who planted a community orchard at the end of November. This initiative links with the parish council’s climate emergency declaration and was embraced by local residents.
Children from Broadhempston Primary School planted 38 trees, with community volunteers helping to fence and protect the trees. The community will continue to plant trees and lay hedges over the winter. In the future, they will be adding seating, a shelter, BBQ areas and pizza oven. To increase biodiversity they will be hanging bird boxes. The new community space will be used to host wassails, blossom festivals and other annual events.
Cllr Nicholas Wright said: “the parish council really wanted to make something of the paddock that the parish could enjoy. We are so lucky in Broadhempston to enjoy many different spaces and resources including our fantastic new village hall facilities, our recreational ground and pavilion at Headlands, two small playgrounds, a vibrant community village shop, a thriving annual village fete and many excellent clubs and societies. The Community Orchard provides another very different kind of resource with quiet corners and open group spaces with amazing views of the surrounding hills. The fruit will be available for everyone and we have chosen a large range of species including local, regional and a few international varieties. We want to see this space being used by people as well as encouraging traditional rural skills and natural habitat. John Hoyle, Jane Collings and Peter Stevens have been instrumental in pushing this project forward in time to plant this year and it would not have been possible without all their hard work, though this is just the beginning!”
Thank you to Broadhempston Parish Council for telling us about your project. If any other members have a project that they’re especially proud of, then please contact us to let us know; we love hearing from you!