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  • Cumbrian leaders pledge to work together to tackle climate change

    Cumbrian leaders pledge to work together to tackle climate change

    Senior leaders from key organisations in Cumbria have met at the county’s first leaders’ summit on climate change, to plan how they can play their part in tackling climate change.

    The 27 CEOs and chairs from businesses, local authorities and the voluntary sector acknowledged climate change as a key issue demanding urgent action. They outlined their organisations’ ambitions and high-level targets for reducing carbon emissions, and agreed to develop a coordinated Cumbria-wide approach.

    “There was a phenomenal response to the summit,” said Hazel Graham, chief executive of CAfS, who organised and chaired the event on behalf of the Lake District National Park Partnership, sponsored by Electricity North West and South Lakeland District Council.

    “There was a fantastic buzz in the room and a real sense of Cumbria being re-energised about climate change. It was particularly heartening to hear that a dozen or so of the organisations already have strong targets and ambitions for their operations to be zero carbon by timescales ranging from 2030 to 2050. There was a great deal of ambition to use their networks to influence others. Others had ambitious project ideas.”

    The leaders had inspiration from speakers including Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA); CAfS trustee Mike Berners-Lee, climate change author, professor at Lancaster University and founder of Small World Consulting; the LDNPA’s climate advisor, Dr Becky Willis; the leaders of the two Cumbrian councils that have declared a climate emergency (councilors Colin Glover, Carlisle City Council, and Giles Archibald, South Lakeland District Council), Steve Cox, engineering and technical director at Electricity North West; and Mark Cropper, chair of James Cropper and managing director at Ellergreen Hydro.

    “CAfS stressed the need to work collectively, aim high, work fast and start now,” Hazel said. “We proposed that we all commit to reducing our own organisation’s emissions to zero by 2030, and to a large-scale partnership approach, aiming to decarbonise Cumbria within the same timescale. We must truly understand emissions in the county and reduce them in a strategic way. Given the energy and expertise we had in the room, we can aim to be the UK’s first carbon neutral county.”

    Hazel added: “The next step is for us to begin developing a partnership bid to take forward large ‘economies of scale’ projects and an audit of Cumbria’s current carbon emissions. Every tonne of carbon emitted takes us closer to tipping points and costs lives.

    “We know that we have the technology and solutions we need to get to zero carbon by 2030, but what we need now is ambition, leadership and rapid, meaningful action and that’s why this leaders’ summit was so crucial. We need to pull our actions together at a county level and build the economy of scale we need to make the level of change required, because it will not be easy.”

    Low Carbon Lake District celebrates 10th anniversary

    The leaders’ summit was followed by a wider celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Low Carbon Lake District initiative, also organised by CAfS on behalf of the Lake District National Park Partnership, and sponsored by Electricity North West and South Lakeland District Council.

    The room was packed as a wide range of organisations and community groups from across the county came to hear about what’s been achieved and the challenges ahead.

    Richard Leafe introduced the event and reported on progress so far. Delegates then heard about the national context of climate impacts and adaptation from UK Commissioner for the Global Commission on Climate Change Adaptation, Emma Howard Boyd, who is chair of the Environment Agency.

    Paul Allen, director of the Centre for Alternative Technology and coordinator for Zero Carbon Britain outlined how a rapid transition to zero carbon is not only technically feasible, but brings a wealth of co-benefits.

    Dr Becky Willis and Mike Berners-Lee, mapped out a decade of progress in the Lake District on carbon reduction and discussed local priorities and opportunities. Hazel outlined inspirational projects and activity across the county and shared the high level of ambition expressed at the leaders’ summit.

    Delegates enthusiastically took part in a ‘postcards from the future’ interactive exercise, to develop a vision for a zero carbon Cumbria and the role they could each play in it.

    Can we become the first carbon neutral county? Could your organisation contribute something to making this transition?

  • Children show us the way at Cumbrian youth climate summit

    Children show us the way at Cumbrian youth climate summit

    Ninety young people and their teachers from thirty Cumbrian schools came together in April for the county’s first youth summit on climate change.

    Organised by the head teacher from Robert Ferguson School in Carlisle, it was a moving and uplifting event that gave young people a chance to voice their concerns about climate change and other environmental issues.

    CAfS chief executive Hazel Graham went along to take part in a question panel and to listen to young people’s views and the actions they want to see.

    “It’s so obvious that young people have a good grasp of the science behind climate change,” Hazel said. “Children expressed fear, anger and frustration at the summit and set out some clear ideas for the action they want to see. They feel they are being let down by leaders and they have a strong desire to meet with people in power and share views with them.”

    Students from each of the schools gave a short presentation. They flagged their main environmental concerns: the impact of climate change, plastic waste, deforestation, loss of habitat, approval for a new coal mine in Cumbria and pollution.

    Here are just a few of the students’ comments that sum up the feelings they expressed:

    “We live in an amazing world, full of amazing animals, beautiful blue oceans, interesting towns and cities, beautiful woods and forests. Will it still be beautiful when we are older? We can save our world but we all need to do something.”

    “Lack of action on climate change is making us unsafe. If an adult does something that makes you feel unsafe, what do you do? Tell a trusted adult. Call for help. We all need to shout as loud as we can for help.”

    “There is too much time dwelling on differences. The planet is what unites us all. Let’s save our world.”

    “It’s scary to think that our future generations will never see the world as it is now. Speak up children. We hope to inspire people today to reduce pollution.”

    “Our biggest concern is that we destroy other habitats. Our precious world is dying in front of our eyes. It is up to us to protect it.”

    The momentum from the summit looks set to continue. Two students from Cockermouth who attended the summit have now set up a new climate change network for young people from across Cumbria. Read more >

    Nationally and internationally, youth action continues this month, with the next youth strike for climate taking place on 24 May.

  • CAfS supports exciting Fellfoot Forward project

    CAfS supports exciting Fellfoot Forward project

    CAfS is taking part in an exciting landscape programme that will benefit communities in the north east of Cumbria.

    We’ve been asked to share our expertise on improving the energy efficiency of community buildings and supporting community energy, as part of the Fellfoot Forward project.

    The project aims to “forge creative connections between people and landscape, conserve habitats and key species and celebrate this beautiful area with its communities”. The area stretches along the Cumbrian side of the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark, reaching out as far west as the River Eden, and running north from Melmerby to Hallbankgate.

    CAfS will carry out audits at five community-owned buildings, looking at how the building fabric and energy efficiency can be improved, and how the wider community could be involved.

    We’ve also been asked to explore options for community-owned renewable energy in Castle Carrock.

    Fellfoot Forward is run by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

    To find out more about the work we’ll be doing, visit our Fellfoot Forward project page.

    There’s more information about the overall Fellfoot Forward scheme on the North Pennines AONB website.

  • Students launch youth climate network for Cumbria

    Two students from Cockermouth have set up a new network for young people in Cumbria who want to help prevent climate change.

    The group, UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN) Cumbria, has three main aims, to:

    • reduce the use of single-use plastics and other non-reusable materials in schools
    • discuss the impacts of the proposed new coal mine with the community and Cumbria County Council, and encourage them to take the necessary steps to prevent it going ahead
    • pressurize Cumbria County Council to declare a climate emergency

    Students from several schools across the county have already joined the group. The organisers, Isabella and Clare, would love to see as many young people as possible get involved.

    They envisage that the network will meet online initially, and they’re already planning their first activity to raise awareness about the group – a county-wide poetry competition for schools.

    The group is linked in with the national UKSCN, which will offer some support to the Cumbrian group.

    Isabella and Clare are encouraging any other young people who’d like to take part to get in touch with them via Instagram (@ukscn_cumbria) or email [email protected].

  • Food-growing plans for Alston Moor take root after drop-ins

    Food-growing plans for Alston Moor take root after drop-ins

    A community orchard and a community farm have emerged as the tastiest options for food growing on Alston Moor, after residents shared their views at drop-ins organized by CAfS in April.

    The two sessions at Alston Town Hall attracted a constant flow of people who are keen to see opportunities for community food growing.

    The consultation was part of the Alston Moor Greenprint, run by CAfS and funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

    “The consensus is that there’s real enthusiasm to get community growing projects up and running, as opposed to private allotments,” said Roe Baker, Greenprint manager.

    “The most popular option was a community orchard, which has the advantage of being relatively low maintenance and would provide the community with hard and soft fruit that people could freely harvest. Any surplus could be used for jam and chutney making. Training in pruning and grafting would be provided and there could be annual events.”

    There was also support for a community farm or enterprise. This would be a longer-term project on a site that could support fruit trees, soft fruits, polytunnels for vegetable and salad production and the development of biomass for coppice. Growing mushrooms could also be a possibility.

    “There’s a need for training in vegetable growing and how to grow in polytunnels,” Roe said. “We’ll offer some training sessions during the CAfS Cumbria Green Build Festival with visits to growers included in the programme. The great thing about community growing is that we can learn from each other and share skills.”

    The consultation also revealed that growers would benefit from a way of connecting with each other. One idea is to create an online space where they could swap information about shared land and garden options, offer to share tools and equipment and take advantage of economies of scale in joint purchases for materials like top soil.

    The drop-ins were part of a feasibility study on community food growing and enterprise. The study is nearly finished and the findings will help decide on a way forward, including applying for funding to make things happen.

    Community food growing, in whatever form it eventually takes, is identified in the Alston Moor Community Plan and will be embedded into it.

    To find out more, visit the Alston Moor Greenprint section on our website or contact Roe Baker: [email protected].

  • On the road again for food study team

    On the road again for food study team

    There are lots of different ways to grow food as a community, and some of them are being explored as part of the Alston Moor Greenprint, with a view to setting up community-led food growing in the area. Lynn Barnes from Vista Veg, who’s leading on the research, has been out visiting interesting sites around the region, along with enthusiastic volunteers from the Alston area.

    The group headed to the south of Cumbria for their second day of visits, on 20 March 2019. Roe Baker, the Alston Moor Greenprint manager, tells us more…

    A group from Alston Moor Greenprint gets a tour inside the polytunnel at Growing Well“Our first stop was at Growing Well, at Low Sizergh Farm near Kendal, to look at the well-established veg growing project and crop share scheme that supports people recovering from mental illness (using a referral scheme). The project also delivers accredited horticultural training, cookery courses and educational visits for schools and community groups.

    Growing Well made for a really inspiring visit, beautifully maintained growing spaces and lovely staff. James Smith gave us a lot of his time and expertise while showing us around. There was a lot of learning for us on Alston Moor about the initial set up, making sure that infrastructure is in place to accommodate growers comfortably, including undercover meeting spaces and a strong social aspect, with collective meetings and shared responsibility.

    It was off to Ford Park in Ulverston next.  We had a lovely lunch in the Coach House Café and a look around their kitchen garden, where food is grown for the café. Ford Park Community Group is the charity that manages the resources in the park.  It has a paid, experienced gardener in charge and a volunteer work force, and invites in school groups. There’s a fantastic view over Ulverston from the garden!

    Lower Allithwaite Allotments was our next port of call. It’s a lovely small allotment site in Lower Allithwaite, right in the heartA view across the Lower Allithwaite Allotments, with veg patches and greenhouses of the community and next to a play park area – akin to potential for community growing at Nenthead Play Park and Fairhill.

    Our last stop was at Grange-over-Sands Community Orchard. We met Judith Shapland a representative from South Lakeland Orchard Group, on site to talk about how the orchard was established and managed. The orchard was planted in 1998 by Grange Civic Society. The orchard is managed organically and wildlife is encouraged by allowing areas to grow as a wildflower meadow and by planting native hedging with hawthorn, sea buckthorn and hazel along the walls. There are over thirty varieties of apple tree, damsons, plums, pears and medlar. It’s such a great site, right in the heart of Grange-over-Sands. It would be a fantastic low-maintenance option for Alston Moor.

    A huge thanks to all the sites and James and Judith for their generosity in showing us around and offering so much advice and encouragement.”

  • Alston Moor food group takes to the road

    Alston Moor food group takes to the road

    The team behind the feasibility study into community-led food growing on Alston Moor has been out on the road looking at some inspiring community food-growing sites and potential management models we could replicate.

    Veg growing at Gibside Community Farm

    The Alston Moor Greenprint manager, Roe Baker from CAfS, tells us more…

    “A group of us visited Gibside Community Farm, Burnopfield, near Gateshead on 8 March, to look at a community-supported agriculture scheme on National Trust land. At the community farm, everyone who works takes a share of the crops produced. For just £52 a year or £1 a week you can take home a fresh seasonal veggie bag.

    It was a work day for the Gibside volunteers, who were on a mission to get things planted, despite it being a very cold and blustery day! We are very grateful to Mick Marston, part of the growing collective, who gave us a tour and talk about the project, which has been going for five years. Gibside Community Farm is constituted as a Community Interest Company and organised as a worker’s co-operative.

    The co-op attracts a diverse demographic, including young families, and they are establishing vegetables, fruit and also biomass and mushrooms on the 14-acre site. They have future plans to develop an inspirational covered courtyard area for storage, community gatherings and cooking and training, built from old shipping containers.

    We enjoyed lunch in National Trust café at Gibside and took a look at the walled garden, where there are crops by the community farm. It’s a beautiful setting.

    The greenhouse at Ravensworth Nursery heated by biomassFrom Gibside, we headed to Ravensworth Nurseries, near Scotch Corner to visit their greenhouses, which are heated by a biomass boiler fuelled by waste wood from shipping pallets. The boiler also supplies heat to four dwellings adjacent to the site, on a district heating scheme. It was a long and fruitful day, lots of inspiration, shared ideas and conversations.”

    Watch this space next week, to find out where the team’s next fact-finding visit took them.

  • Try Cockermouth’s new plastic-free market

    Shop from a wide selection of plastic-free products, household and kitchen goods, cleaning products, skincare and clothing at the plastic-free market in Cockermouth. The Sustainable Pop-Up is on the second and fourth Saturdays, from 9.30am to 12.15pm in The Hub in Market Place.

    Goodness and Grain offers store cupboard goods sold by weight (bring your own containers). Enyo offers a range of environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. Rose and Hawthorne sell organic and Fairtrade baby and children’s clothing as well as their own range of clothing and sanitary and household items. Zora-Lou Organics sell handmade organic and vegan skincare using plastic-free packaging. Deodorants, moisturisers, dry shampoo, shampoo and conditioning soap bars, soap and bath salts. Cumberland Flower Farm brings seasonal flowers to the market, organically grown less than 5miles away, sold with plastic-free packaging.

    There are also visiting businesses including two different bakers (breads and cakes), vegetable market gardeners, ready meals providers, craft makers and artists depending on the time of year, space and availability. Tea and coffee is available, along with toys for the kids, information on initiatives in the area and a free table for people to swap and pick-up stuff, all with a very warm welcome.

    Visit the Sustainable Pop-Up page on Facebook for more details.

    There is also a farmers’ market on the first Saturday.

  • Crowdfunding campaign powers up for solar schools

    Crowdfunding campaign powers up for solar schools

    Alston Moor Community Energy (AMCE) needs your help to install solar PV at Alston’s schools. Although too cloudy for a commercial share offer, a solar array would have huge benefits for the schools and AMCE has launched a nine-week crowdfunding campaign to ensure the project goes ahead. Installing solar will save the school budget over £1,000 a year, as well as cutting 9 tonnes of carbon a year and teaching the pupils about climate change.

    CAfS has supported AMCE from the beginning, helping them get established and facilitating access to grants from the Postcode Local Trust and from the Alston Moor Greenprint project. The crowdfunding campaign is aiming to raise £35,000, with a minimum of £22,000 needed to go ahead. To date, over £18,000 has been raised, and they need your help to get them over the line.

    Find out more and donate >>

  • Reinventing Retrofit: How to Scale Up Home Energy Efficiency in the UK

    Green Alliance has recently published Reinventing Retrofit, a new report as part of a three-year strategy to decarbonise the heating and transport sectors. The report takes a closer look at a new and innovative approach to improving home energy efficiency called ‘Energiesprong’ (Dutch for ‘energy leap’). It’s a one-step approach to retrofitting homes, resulting in a home that’s virtually net zero.

    The authors argue that adopting this approach could cut domestic peak heat demand in the UK by forty per cent and help decarbonise the heating system at a lower cost than current options. They recommend to the government a ‘commit and review’ approach to Energiesprong, offering innovation support on the condition that the cost per retrofit comes down over time, removing the need for subsidy.

    Read the report

    The report was funded by the Zero Energy Buildings Catalyst (ZEBCat) project, with support from the European Regional Development Fund.