South Lakeland Climate Conversations are back

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is launching a third round of climate conversations, as part of its ongoing commitment to addressing climate change issues and its belief that local people have a crucial role to play. You'll get an update on actions taken so far and the new report on the carbon footprint of Cumbria. You'll also hear the latest scientific information available and share practical ideas and develop action groups) to work together as a community to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
4 Mar: Supper Room at Coronation Hall, Ulverston
11 Mar: Assembly Room at Kendal Town Hall
17 Mar: Millennium Room at Marchesi Centre, Windermere
All the events will start at 7pm and finish around 9pm. Read more >

Grants on offer to tackle waste from electronics 

Got an idea for a project to reduce the environmental impact of packaging, batteries or waste electrical and electronic equipment? A grant from Ecosurety may be able to help. They're investing £1million in projects that aim to do this through innovation or research in the UK. Read more >

Webinars for parish councils on climate emergencies

The Centre for Sustainable Energy is running a series of webinars with the Society of Local Council Clerks to help parish councils understand how they can take practical action: from creating action plans, to ‘climate proofing’ neighbourhood plans, and how to engage their community along the way. Read more >

New paper to be launched on decarbonising heat

Regen will be launching the new thought-provoking insight paper ‘Decade to Make a Difference: Decarbonisation of Heat’ on 10 March. The discussion paper calls on policymakers to act now to shift heat onto the right route to meet our 2050 net zero obligation. Read more >

Take part in annual survey on low-carbon energy projects

Is your community organisation working on low-carbon energy projects? Community Energy England and Community Energy Wales would love to hear from you. You're invited to take part in their fourth annual survey, which will help them to investigate the activities and outcomes of community energy initiatives. Read more >

Community energy groups urged to get MPs involved

Community Energy England is asking all community energy groups to write to their local MP, congratulate them on their election, and ask them to be a champion of community energy in the House of Commons. Groups are urged to invite their MP to visit their project and to sign Community Energy England's Open Letter to the Prime Minister. Read more >

Carbon cutting neighbourhood planning guide refreshed

Neighbourhood plans can be a great opportunity to build in carbon reduction measures for an area, and the Centre for Sustainability Energy's revamped guide could help you do it. Read more >

Builders offered sustainable construction support on site

We've been really interested to see that builders in the west of England can now receive free, on-site training and gain vital skills in sustainable construction. It's all part of the Futureproof initiative by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, which is supporting homeowners and builders to carry out low-carbon home improvements and retrofits. Watch video >

Climate campaigners win Heathrow expansion case

Students call for schools to put the environment at the heart of education

Greta Thunberg in Bristol: schools shut as students join climate strike

New cars producing more carbon dioxide than older models

Your guide to petitions, campaigns and actions you can take to help tackle the climate crisis.

Take an action

Try the #FlungTogetherFood craze! Love Food Hate Waste encourages you to get creative with your leftovers and share your recipes for using up all the odds and ends in your fridge, freezer or cupboards.

Volunteer to help South Lakes Action on Climate Change to run a people-powered film screening. Teachers at Natland School have volunteered to generate the power to show the film using SLACC's clever 8-bike 'BIKE GEN'. Money raised is going to Sport Relief. They need volunteers to help set up, supervise and pack away in three shifts. Email [email protected]

Please get in touch with SLACC if you can offer vegetable seeds, seedlings or plants for the planters outside The South Lakes Foyer. They would also like large pots with drip trays and canes for planting tomatoes inside the foyer. Email: [email protected]

Get the knowledge

Climate change can be a scary topic, so it's important to remember there are lots of positive things happening around the world. Sign up to hear about the good stuff with Positive News magazine. Their #Hope 100 shines a light on the people and organisations bringing hope in 2020 across business, culture, society and the environment. Read more >

CAfS events: Keep an eye on cafs.org.uk/events for all our upcoming events, including our ongoing Green Building & Sustainable Living programme.

Sedbergh Environmental Market | Sat 29 Feb 2020, 10am-3pm | St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh | Run by Sedbergh Environmental Network.

Retrofitting for Energy Efficiency - Building Fabric | Wed 11 Mar, 6.45pm | Kendal College | Level 4 course for construction professionals & knowledgable self-builders on eco-friendly renovation.

AECB Cumbria Local Group (self building) | Wed 11 Mar, 7pm | Vats Bar, The Brewery, Kendal | You may have bored your family with talk of U-values and moisture movement, but we love talking about that sort of thing! Join us for a drink and a bit of a chat. Both members of the AECB and non-members are welcome.

Seedy Saturday & Gardening Freegle | Sat 14 Mar | Salvation Army Hall, Penrith | Get free seeds plus bring any gardening stuff you don't want any more & take away what you need.

Film screening: 2040 | Wed 18 Mar, 7pm | Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth | Green film series, in association with Riversmeet.

EARTH Fest 2020 | Sat 21 Mar | Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Plumgarths | Family arts and environmental festival. Organised by KASTLE (Kendal Activists Saving the Little Earth), a youth-led environmental sustainability and conservation network for businesses, organisations and individuals in Kendal. The festival will feature live music, 'pay what you like' food stalls, talks and panel discussions, a kids’ woodland trail, art exhibits and more.

Caring for our common home | Sat 21 Mar | St John’s Church, Keswick | One-day conference by Churches Together on why and how we should respond to environmental change.

Carbon & Climate Literacy training day | Tue 24 Mar, 9am-5pm | Carlisle College | An interactive day of delving into climate change causes and solutions, by CAfS  | Sold out - but please do click to join the waitlist to hear about the next date.

Green Business Breakfast Meeting | Thu 26 Mar, 8.30-10am | Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal | Learn about cutting your carbon footprint, grants for green business tools, and a chance to share learning. Run by Lake District Foundation. Also: Thu 30 Apr.

Shap Freegle Give and Take | Sat 28 Mar, 9:30am-12:30pm | Shap Memorial Hall, Main Street | Give and get some freebies. Please bring small items to give away (no items larger than a TV).

Kendal People's Cafe | Sat 4 Apr, 11:30am-2pm | South Lakes Foyer, Blackhall Road | The cafe takes food that could have gone to waste from local supermarkets, wholesalers, shops, cafes and restaurants, turning it into delicious meals for everyone to enjoy. Pay what you can. Future dates: Sat 2 May & Sat 6 Jun (both 11:30am-2pm).

The Confluence: A Collaborative Journey into Relocalisation and Self Help | Sun 29 Mar | Danaway Permaculture Homestead, Eaglesfield, CA13 0RY | Email Rick Cross: [email protected].

Introduction to growing your own fruit & veg | Sat 4 Apr, 10am-12pm | Appleby Heritage Centre | From soil improvement to plant care. Booking essential.

Talk: Kate Rawles - Riding a bamboo bike the length of South America exploring climate change & biodiversity plus South Lakes Action on Climate Change AGM | Thu 16 Apr | Email [email protected].

Film premiere: David Attenborough's A Life on Our Planet | Screenings around Cumbria |  film With a live Q&A with David Attenborough by satellite.

Penrith Freegle Give and Take | Sat 9 May, 2pm-4pm | Eden Arts, The Old Fire Station, Bridge Lane | Give and get some freebies. Please bring small items to give away (no items larger than a TV).

Inspire 2020 | Sat 13 June | Rydal Hall, Rydal | Gathering for Cumbrian sustainability groups. Talks and Q&A sessions on diverse topics (from social care to highways and waste management). Email Dianne Standen: [email protected].

Further afield but worth knowing about

Short courses in everything from off-grid sewerage to renewable energy | Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales.

Communities and the smart energy revolution | 3 Mar, Birmingham | Being smarter and more flexible with our energy use is key to tackling the climate emergency. This interactive forum for community energy groups, local authorities and local energy stakeholders provide the opportunity to collaborate and help develop local energy projects. Run by Regen.

Ecobuild Conference | 3-5 Mar | London.

Annual Community Energy Conference | 13 Jun | Sheffield.

Community Energy Fortnight | 13-28 June | Nationwide.

Farmers' markets

If you're trying to cut down on plastic packaging while supporting local food production, please use your local farmers' markets and regular veg stalls.

Carlisle - First Sat (With 'free stuff' stall 10am-4pm)
Cockermouth - First Sat
Brampton - Last Sat - 29 Feb & 28 March (With Give & Take stall)
Brough - Third Sat
Houghton - Second Sat (village hall, 9am-1pm)
Kendal - Last Fri (plus veg market stalls on Weds & Sats - Market Place & Stramongate)
Kirkoswald - Third Sat
Milnthorpe - veg market stalls on Fridays
Orton - Second Sat
Penrith - Third Tue 
Ulverston - veg market stalls on Thursdays

Environmental & plastic-free markets

Sustainable Pop-Up, The Hub, Market Place, Cockermouth. Second and fourth Saturdays, 9.30am to 12.15pm | Stock up on pantry staples, refills, handmade cloths, toiletries, cleaning products & breads. Plus TetraPak recycling and Give & Take stall.

Keswick Plastic-free Market | Last Sunday of the month | Methodist Church | 2.30-5.30pm | Plus: Tetrapak recycling drop-off point, vegan soup, scones inc gluten free for sale

Sedbergh Environmental Market | Sat 29 Feb, 10am-3pm | St. Andrew's Church, Sedbergh | Run by Sedbergh Environmental Network

Sustainability networking

Carlisle: Conversation Café | Third Sat | 12-2pm | Cakes & Ale Café
Cockermouth: Danaway Gatherings | First Sun | 10am | Danaway Permaculture Homestead, Eaglesfield, CA13 0RY
Penrith: Green Drinks | First Thu | 7.30pm | General Wolfe Inn, Little Dockray
Keswick: Keswick Green Get Together | Mon 11 May, 7pm | Quaker Meeting Hall

Repair cafes

Bring along items that need fixed and volunteers will do their best to help. You might even learn a few skills along the way.

Alston Moor | Sun 19 Apr, 10am–1pm | Nenthead Village Hall | Part of the Nenthead Big Breakfast 

Penrith | Plus bike repairs with specialist mechanics | Sat 14 Mar | 10am-1pm | Old Fire Station (Eden Arts), Bridge Lane

Keswick | 1st Sat of month | 10am to 1pm, Riverside Bar (Cons Club), 14-15 Penrith Rd

Ulverston | 1st Mon of each month, 6.30-8.30pm | Booths cafe

Kendal | Simply Repair Pop-up Workshop | Tue 3 Mar 2020, 4.30-7pm | Castle St Community Centre

Shap Repair Café | Sun 19 Apr, 10am-1pm | Shap Memorial Hall, Main Street

Beach/river cleans

Help cut down on the plastic and other litter in our oceans. There are periodic beach cleans by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. For Solway area beach cleans contact John Gorrill: [email protected].