![]() | COUNCIL PUBLISHES EMISSIONS AUDIT MARLOW Town Council in Buckinghamshire has shown its commitment to tackling climate change by publishing a first detailed audit of its greenhouse gas emissions. It is one of the most comprehensive audits carried out by a parish-level council in the UK. It counts all the emissions produced directly by the council, as well as emissions from contractors it employs, services it pays for but does not manage, and even products it purchases. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2021 |
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![]() | COUNCILLORS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES Cllrs Liz White and Carol Davis, members of HERNE AND BROOMFIELD Parish Council in Kent and both tree wardens, have planted hundreds of trees at the parish’s Broomfield Community Park. The trees were sourced via the Woodland Trust’s MOREhedges scheme, which subsidised 75 per cent of the cost, with the parish council covering the rest. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2021 |
![]() | RESIDENTS URGED TO GET PLANTING THAME Town Council in Oxfordshire has launched a new tree-planting project, having already planted 420 tree whips received in November. Coronavirus restrictions mean that it cannot organise planting parties at present, so instead it is offering support to residents willing to plant trees themselves, either in their own gardens or anywhere else that they have permission. It is aiming to bulk purchase fruit trees, and will pay half the cost of the trees and stakes and guards, with a total budget of £500. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2021 |
![]() | KEEPING WATCH ON COASTAL POLLUTION Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2021 |
DONCASTER Council in South Yorkshire has carried out an independent review of its tree management policy to bring it in line with its climate commitments. The council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency in September 2019 and since then has set up an independent Climate Commission representing key agencies and partners in the borough. From this, it has developed its own environmental strategy and priorities.
The mayor, Cllr Ros Jones, said: “Trees form a large part of our carbon and biodiversity commitments, and the revised tree policy will look to consider this when deciding on tree removal and the location of replacement trees.”
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2021
![]() | MARLOW Town Council in Buckinghamshire opened a new water refill station in late October, allowing residents and visitors to fill up their water bottles at no charge. The station, opposite the George and Dragon pub, was paid for using the Community Infrastructure Levy. The mayor, Cllr Richard Scott, said: “We’re hoping this will help reduce the problem of single-use plastic water bottles in the town.” Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2021 |
![]() | LAUNCH FOR GREEN LIVING PLAN THAME in Oxfordshire launched its Green Living Plan in early October, a 10-year plan for a cleaner, greener town. It has been developed to protect and enhance the quality of life for residents and includes over 180 recommended actions and projects to involve and benefit the whole community. Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2020 |
COUNCIL CELEBRATES CUTS IN CARBON USE
GODALMING Town Council in Surrey achieved a significant reduction in its carbon footprint in the year to 31 March, with its carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) usage down by 21 per cent year on year. The figure was contained in the council’s annual carbon audit, presented to the environment and planning committee on 17 September. The council calculates its emissions using the Carbon Trust Carbon Footprint Calculator, a tool designed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Reductions resulted from simple but effective changes, such as the replacement of old light fittings with new LED lighting, a new hot water and heating system in the Pepperpot building and more efficient hand dryers in public toilets. The council will complete the transfer of its energy contracts to renewable energy suppliers this month, meaning that all of its electricity requirements will be met from 100 per cent renewable energy, certified by UK guarantees of origin.
Cllr Steve Williams said: “This shows that simple changes make a big difference and that many other businesses in the town, as well as individual residents, could also reduce their carbon footprints and energy costs by following the same simple steps. Added together, these would have a greater cumulative effect.”
On 8 October, the council awarded its first carbon reduction and biodiversity grant, giving £3,000 to the Godalming Cycle Campaign to cover the cost of a feasibility and design study for a section of the Guildford–Godalming Greenway, a cycling and walking route connecting the two towns.
Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2020
WARMINSTER Town Council in Wiltshire has been consulting the public on its draft climate change strategy. Cllr Steve Jeffries, chairman of the climate change working group, said: “The council has already set out its Declaration on Climate Change, and the draft strategy sets out its strategic aims. Once the strategy is adopted, the council will also have an action plan which will set out how to implement it.” Both documents were available on the council’s website, with a deadline of 23 October to submit feedback.
Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2020
WITNEY GETS UK’S FIRST TINY FOREST WITNEY Town Council in Oxfordshire joined forces with environmental charity Earthwatch Europe to plant the UK’s first-ever Tiny Forest on 14 March. Staff, councillors and volunteers planted 600 trees on a plot the size of a tennis court. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2020 | |
VOLUNTEERS from community group Buckingham Table helped plant 12 saplings along the riverbank in Bourton Park in mid-March to improve the appearance of the area and help increase biodiversity. A small parcel of woodland was planted with clusters of black poplars (Populus nigra betulifolia) and alder (Alnus glutinosa). It is believed that a rare black poplar was given to the people of BUCKINGHAM by Queen Victoria to celebrate her visit to the town. Cllr Ruth Newell, chair of the town council’s environment committee, said: “We are grateful to Buckingham Table for their generous donation and for helping with the planting, which also contributes to our climate emergency action plan." Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2020 | |
![]() | A TEAM of volunteers planted six new fruit trees in Seymour Park in MARLOW in Buckinghamshire in early March. The day was organised by community group Transition Town Marlow (TTM) under the banner of Releaf Marlow, a new tree-planting project run in cooperation with the town council. The trees have expanded a community orchard started four years ago by TTM, and replace trees damaged by a traveller incursion. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2020 |
![]() | CHILDREN from SANDFORD School in Devon helped to plant 125 trees to mark the 125th anniversary of Sandford Parish Council in mid-March. They were thanked by parish clerk Malcolm Vallance, who also expressed thanks to the Woodland Trust for providing the saplings free of charge and to council chairman Cllr Jim Stephens and a team of volunteers for preparing the land and digging the holes in advance. He noted: “Another event for the parish records and for posterity has been achieved.” Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2020 |
![]() | FROME Town Council in Somerset got its Wild about Trees project off to a good start in February half-term with two tree planting days attended by over 500 volunteers. They planted more than 1,200 saplings at two sites, with a variety of UK native tree and shrubs species sourced from the Woodland Trust. These included common oak, rowan, wild cherry, beech, silver birch and hawthorn, providing a good mix of native woodland. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2020 |
COUNCIL SETS UP CLIMATE FORUM MEMBERS of GODALMING Town Council in Surrey agreed in February to establish the Godalming Climate Forum (GCF), following their declaration of a climate emergency in July 2019. Cllrs Jo Purvis and Shirley Wardell have been nominated as group coordinators and the GCF will meet quarterly, sharing ideas and expertise with environmentally concerned groups in the local area. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2020 |
COUNCIL DECLARES A CLIMATE EMERGENCY
GRIMLEY Parish Council in Worcestershire has declared a climate emergency. It passed a resolution in November 2019 recognising the urgency of the situation and aiming to inform residents and take all possible action to combat the threat of global warming. The declaration includes aims to help regenerate and rebuild parish ecosystems and to promote and support adaption measures to reduce risks. The council chairman, Cllr Dave Stanley, said: “Our emergency declaration is an opportunity to create a better and sustainable future for ourselves and our children.” Volunteers are being sought to join a working party, exploring ways for residents and the wider community to make a difference and suggesting projects to contribute towards a more sustainable and lower-energy Worcestershire. It is hoped that neighbouring parish councils and other local organisations and authorities will get involved, according to clerk Lisa Stevens.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020
ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE
MEMBERS of WARMINSTER Town Council in Wiltshire voted unanimously at a full council meeting on 20 January to approve a series of actions to help combat climate change. First, they resolved to set up a climate change working group to produce an action plan. The group will consist of three councillors and will be open to outside representatives. Other actions included conducting a green audit of council activities, taking on a leadership, education and information providing role on climate change action and continuing to support the work of the Neighbourhood Plan Review Working Group. In addition, the council will work in partnership with the Warminster Area Board and Wiltshire Council on their climate change agendas and will strive to become a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030. As a first step, it will switch to a renewable energy supplier for its buildings. Cllr Denis Brett was one of the three councillors nominated to the working group, along with Cllrs Steve Jeffries and Tony Nicklin.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020
![]() | PLANTING TREES FOR THE FUTURE THE mayor of SWANSCOMBE & GREENHITHE in Kent, Cllr Peter Harman, lent a hand with a tree planting project in Swanscombe Heritage Park on 4 February, supported by the town council. Twenty trees, including wild cherry, field maple and silver birch, were donated and planted by local company Optimum Power Services to help with the environment, and its staff were helped by volunteers from the North West Kent Countryside partnership. In addition, working with the Woodlands Trust, the council has taken part in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Project, according to town clerk Graham Blew. This has involved it purchasing and planting 45 cell-grown saplings, also in the Heritage Park. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020 |
BILLINGSHURST Parish Council is planning to plant 33 trees on highway land this coming autumn. The council will use £5,000 from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds and is asking residents to suggest where trees should go. It will work with the county council to choose suitable sites and varieties and to plant and look after the trees.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020
RESIDENTS of WEYMOUTH in Dorset helped to plant 105 trees at the Links Road open space on 22 February, including English oaks, common hawthorn, rowan, field maples and hazel. The town council has declared a climate emergency and has committed to making its activities net zero carbon by 2030. Planting trees is one of the many actions it is taking to achieve this. The mayor, Cllr Graham Winter, said: “Planting trees helps to offset our carbon emissions and promotes biodiversity within our open spaces. This is a great opportunity for us to work together with the local community to make a positive difference and create a greener environment for all to enjoy.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020
A PROJECT in THAME gave away trees free to local residents for planting on 15 February. Thame Trees, under the 21st Century Thame initiative, has committed to be part of the “1 million trees” Woodland Trust campaign, National Tree Week and the Big Climate Fightback, and has pledged to help plant 500 trees in the Oxfordshire town in 2020. The initiative is sponsored by a number of local businesses.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020
COMMUNITY ATTAINS PLASTIC-FREE STATUS
SEAFORD in East Sussex has been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of its work in reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment. Resident Claire Sumners started the campaign in March 2018 after running beach cleans. Registering with the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement, she pulled together local organisations and businesses to draw up a five-point plan. A community-led steering group was established to promote education and encourage businesses and other organisations to minimise their use of disposable plastics. Members have spoken at various clubs and events, and the group is collaborating with Sussex Wildlife Trust. Local schools took part in a Plastic Free Week in May 2019, after which there was a big increase in children and families attending beach cleans. Claire Sumners said: “It has been a labour of love at times as it does take time, effort and multitasking to make ourselves heard but, as we start a new decade, I know it has all been totally worth it.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020
![]() | WATER FOR ALL MARLOW Town Council (MTC) and Wycombe District Council (WDC) have joined forces to provide a new water refill station for the Buckinghamshire town. Cllr Suzanne Brown used her WDC ward budget to pay for the installation in Higginson Park, while WDC paid for the connection. Phil Irving, a member of the environment working group who championed the scheme, said: “It’s becoming easier and easier to carry a water bottle and refill it. And that means fewer bottles bought, drunk and thrown away.” People are also able to refill bottles free of charge at cafes, bars, restaurants and other businesses displaying Refill window stickers. The photo shows Cllr Brown with Jane Hack from the environment working group Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020 |
PARISH JOINS THE REFILL REVOLUTION Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020 |
![]() | ELECTRIC CHARGING POINT GOES LIVE Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2020 |
BRIDLINGTON Town Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Woodlands Trust worked with local schools and colleges over a week in late November to plant hundreds of trees, as part of the Big Climate Fightback. An event to celebrate the partnership was held at Jubilee Woods on 30 November and was attended by the mayor and councillors, along with volunteers and children. By the end of the first week of December over 600 trees had been planted in Bridlington as part of the Northern Forest, with the hashtag #everytreecounts drawing attention to the initiative.
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2020
COMMUNITY EFFORT TO PLANT MORE TREES
A NEW community project to plant more trees in and around MARLOW in Buckinghamshire was officially launched at the end of October. Releaf Marlow aims to increase the number of trees as part of the #sustainablemarlow initiative launched by the town council in July. It is a joint project with community group Transition Town Marlow, and is supported by a group of volunteers. It was kickstarted with a £1,000 donation from the Marlow and District Wine Circle. Council leader Jocelyn Towns said: “Releaf Marlow is a great example of the community working together towards the vision of a more sustainable town.” Nick Rowcliffe of Transition Town Marlow added: “As the project develops, we hope to plant a variety of species in a range of locations, from larger trees at gateways to the town to orchard planting in community areas.” The project is being run in close c-operation with Wycombe District Council’s tree officers. In the first phase, volunteers will identify spaces where new trees can be planted, while the second stage will be to secure permissions from landowners and additional funding from sponsors. Residents are being encouraged to get involved, as sponsors, tree planters or tree wardens.
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2020
![]() | GOING GREEN Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2020
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SUSTAINABILITY IS TOP OF THE AGENDA
SEVENOAKS Town Council has made climate change and carbon neutral initiatives its top priority. It recently resolved to formally recognise government and Kent County Council declarations aiming for zero carbon and to integrate these into its emerging Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) and its general operations. It has started work on an Action Plan to review the way it works. Among other ambitions, it will aim to reduce traffic, particularly school traffic, encourage increased use of public transport, install electric car charging points and recommend 20mph one-way systems. It will make all new council buildings as sustainable and ecofriendly as possible and improve existing ones, will plant more trees, especially fruit and nut trees, and will promote initiatives such as the Refill Scheme and Sevenoaks Plastic Free Pledge.
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2020