Climate Change / Environment
 | FARMERS URGE COUNCILS TO CUT BACK ON PRO-VEGAN POLICIES The farming community is fighting back after a county council urged residents to go greener. GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council suggested that residents could swap cow’s milk for vegan alternatives, while the county’s Children and Families Commissioning Hub asked families to consider a plant-based diet to reduce their carbon footprint. However, the council was forced into a U-turn after it was pointed out that Gloucestershire is predominantly rural with a plentiful supply of local meat and dairy products, while processed soy and oat-based ‘healthy’ foods are mainly processed abroad, increasing food miles and damaging the environment more. The county council backtracked following an outcry from local farmers and agriculturists. A Gloucestershire County Council spokesman said: “We didn’t mean to cause offence or to suggest people shouldn’t support their local farmer and we actively encourage buying local.”. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025 |
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Nada Colclough and Andy Burgin present a cheque to the Nottinghamshire hospice’s Lisa Todd, centre. | CREMATORIUM RECYCLING SCHEME BOOST FOR HOSPICE A recycling scheme for metals at MANSFIELD and District Crematorium has resulted in an £11,600 donation to a hospice. The Sir John Eastwood Hospice Trust, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, was given the funds from money received from metal recovered from cremations, where bereaved families have given permission for it to be sent for recycling. The crematorium signed up to be part of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management’s Recycling of Metals Scheme in 2011. A specialist company is used to sort the metals collected. Crematorium and cemeteries manager and registrar Nada Colclough said: “When someone is cremated, the remains often contain various metals. They come from the coffin and also from replacement hip and knee joints. Some of this high-grade cobalt steel is quite valuable in terms of recycling and can be made into new orthopaedic implants. “We always ensure any metal is only sent for recycling if we have the written consent of relatives prior to a cremation.” Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025
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Dorset county councillor Clare Sutton, Weymouth Mayor Jon Orrell, and Weymouth town councillor Mike Sewry with children from Holy Trinity CofE Primary School.
| RISING TO THE OCCASION Children in a Dorset town are united in a call to make their town less polluted. Mayor of Weymouth Jon Orrell praised local schoolchildren for their suggestion of a new message to be read out when the town bridge rises. He met children from Holy Trinity School and councillors from Dorset Council and WEYMOUTH Town Council after the youngsters requested that the announcement is amended so that as well as the usual safety messages, drivers are also requested to turn off their engines while waiting. The Mayor discussed it with Weymouth’s harbour master and, working in partnership with Dorset Council, was delighted to inform the children that the new announcement is now in operation. He said: “We hope drivers will listen to the message and take action for the benefit of the environment in this picturesque part of our seaside town.” Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025 |
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Hertford town councillors pictured next to the River Lea. | RIVER CHARTER GETS MULTI-AGENCY BACKING Support has been declared by HERTFORD Town Council for the town’s rivers. It will be supporting River Action’s Charter for Rivers. Rivers have been essential to Hertford’s development over the centuries and today the town has a community of barge dwellers and visitors moored along the Lea Navigation. Sea Scouts, Herts Canoe Club and other groups regularly use the rivers at Hartham, as do wild swimmers. The rivers at Hertford are part of the Middle Lea catchment, which includes the Lea and its tributaries, the Beane, Mimram and Rib, which form a network of chalk stream rivers that are globally rare and ecologically significant. The biggest challenge faced is pollution, along with over abstraction and the Rivers Trust’s state of our rivers report identified that none of Hertford’s rivers were rated as ‘good’. The council agreed to do whatever is in its power to support the town’s rivers. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025 |
 | A TOWERING LIVE SUCCESS For true pillars of the community, look no further than DUNSTABLE. The Bedfordshire town has enhanced its urban environment and boosted biodiversity by introducing LivingPillars. Installed along High Street North, the three eco-friendly columns are a groundbreaking addition to the town, providing biodiversity corridors that help pollinators navigate between green spaces. In collaboration with urban greening experts Scotscape, the LivingPillars are designed to support the town’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. With recirculating irrigation, powered by solar, each column is planted with a variety of plants that will attract and provide a habitat for bees, butterflies and other insects, fostering a healthier, more vibrant ecosystem within the urban landscape. Nesting and insect boxes will also be included. These LivingPillars will also play a pivotal role in supporting the Dunstable In Bloom campaign. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025 |
A ‘SUPER’ RESERVE
SEAFORD Town Council has agreed to become a core partner in a new ‘super’ nature reserve. The proposed Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Sussex is part of His Majesty The King’s series of national nature reserves. A council spokesman said: “The creation of the super reserve would not only protect the unique biodiversity of the region but also contribute to cleaner water, improved air quality, and climate change resilience. “By restoring and connecting habitats, the project aims to enhance the natural environment for both wildlife and people.”
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025
■ AN event to celebrate the Earth is being held in RODBOROUGH on Sunday, 27 April. It will look at how to promote sustainable ways of living to keep the planet healthy. There will be a wide range of stalls for people of all ages, including a variety of local and Gloucestershire-wide organisations. Speakers will include Dr Simon Opher, MP for Stroud, a famous local environmental entrepreneur (TBC), Stroud District Councillor Gill Thomas talking about Clean Environment, Paul Gibson, with an update on solar panels, and other local wildlife experts. Rodborough Repair café will be mending zips, darning holes and hemming trousers for donations and teaching how to repair clothes.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025
A LOW TECH WAY OF MAKING HI-TECH LAST LONGER
The teams at DonateIT and Somerset Council’s FIXY project are celebrating another successful tech amnesty at FROME Town Hall. A tonne of devices, cables and accessories was donated, including 153 phones, 113 laptops, 60 tablets, 20 pc towers and 206kgs of wires, cables and chargers. DonateIT founder Simon Barfoot said: “Most devices have a functional life of about 10 or 12 years, but people are upgrading or ending contracts in four or five, or even sooner. “So, there’s a product out there that can still do a job for people in need.” Cllr Anne Hills of Frome Town Council said: “The DonateIT and FIXY teams do such a brilliant job. The environmental benefit of reusing tech devices is obvious but it’s more than saving waste. We know that many people in our town feel excluded, or priced out from the digital world. Getting a re-purposed smartphone or tablet opens up opportunities and really can change lives.” The DonateIT team will be in the car park at Frome Town Hall again on Sunday, 8 June, 10am-1pm, during Great Big Green Week.
Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2025
CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER PORTLAND DECISION
Members of two Dorset councils have united to express their concerns about Government approval for an incinerator at Portland. PORTLAND Town Council chair Sue Cocking, Mayor of WEYMOUTH Jon Orrell, Weymouth Town Council leader David Harris and the council’s environment and services committee chair Matt Bell have written in response to a letter received from Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Homelessness and Democracy. That was in response to a letter sent by the councils to Angela Rayner MP, expressing their concerns about the decision by the Government to grant planning permission for the incinerator. It stated: “The councils are disappointed with the response. It disregards the request that the decision to grant planning permission is revisited after the Government have determined their national policy position on incinerators and the call on the Government to impose a moratorium on the building of waste incinerators. The correspondence also ignores the councils’ and community’s views opposing the incinerator plans for environmental, economic, aesthetic, and health reasons. “The two councils continue to object to the proposal and remain vehemently opposed to any suggestion of the waste incinerator development proceeding.”
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2025
■ The West Yorkshire landscape has 15 hectares of new woodland thanks to the combined efforts of Kirklees Council, community groups, and volunteers. The Kirklees Council Woodland Development Team, as part of The White Forest programme, engaged the local community in planting the equivalent of 21 football pitches with a mix of native broadleaf species. Almost 1,000 volunteers planted trees across 50 sessions in various places, including BATLEY EAST, BIRSTALL & BIRKENSHAW, COLNE VALLEY, HOLME VALLEY SOUTH AND KIRKBURTON & NEWSOME. Kirklees Council has been the lead organisation and accountable body for the delivery of the White Rose Forest programme since 2002. The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire, working with communities, landowners and farmers to plant trees where they are needed the most.
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2025
■ Tree planting has begun in CROWBOROUGH as part of the Sussex community’s orchard project. The orchards celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and support tree planting projects nationwide, honouring the King’s dedication to preserving the natural environment. Funding for the project was allocated to Wealden District Council by the Government through The Coronation Living Heritage Fund. The Crowborough Community Orchard community group at Herne Road was among the first successful applicants to begin planting, starting with 20 of their funded 42 fruit and nut trees, including apple, plum, pear, walnut, almond and cobnut varieties.
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2025
NEW VAN POINTS TO GREENER WAY
In a significant step towards enhancing sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, NEWBURY Town Council has bought a fully electric van. Climate emergency working group chair David Harman said: “This marks a pivotal milestone in the council’s comprehensive environmental strategy, which aims to ensure our activities are carbon neutral by 2030 or before, and to ensure a greener, healthier future for the Berkshire community.” The van will be used for various activities, including maintenance work
Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2025
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One of Dunstable’s solar-powered benches | TAKING A VERY MODERN SEAT DUNSTABLE is adopting innovative sustainability solutions with the installation of solar powered benches. The initiative has been made possible by the town council, who secured funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Central Bedfordshire Council. The installation of the solar benches is part of a broader effort by the town council to promote green energy, modernise the town’s infrastructure and commitment to sustainability. Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2025
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| Sevenoaks Mayor Libby Ancrum signed the purchase papers in the summer to save Longspring Woods and has received congratulations from King Charles. | ROYAL BACKING FOR CAMPAIGN A successful campaign to save Longspring Woods for Sevenoaks has received a surprise message of congratulations – from His Majesty King Charles III. SEVENOAKS TOWN COUNCIL received the message on headed paper from Buckingham Palace ahead of celebrations of the purchase of the ancient woodlands. It read: “His Majesty was deeply touched to hear of the community effort involved in preserving this ancient woodland for public use and hopes that you will be so kind as to convey The King’s warmest thanks and good wishes to everyone who was part of this important initiative. “His Majesty, trusts that you, the town councillors, and residents of Sevenoaks, will enjoy a most memorable celebration.” The appeal for funds, launched in January, had a magnificent response from the Kent community with pledges coming in from £5 up to £50,000 to buy the 14-acre site. More than £100,000 was pledged in 23 days, which was matched by the town council with £100,000 from its funds from a previous sale of land. Those who were unable to donate pledged help in kind, including litter picking, gardening and manual labour. Conveyancing work for the purchase was given free by Warners Solicitors and Mayor of Sevenoaks Libby Ancrum signed the purchase papers in the summer. The Mayor said: “The purchase of Longspring Woods is an important contribution to the greening of Sevenoaks town and the pathway to Net Zero carbon reduction plan. It is great to see the community benefit from this council initiative in its 50th anniversary year.” Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2024 |
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The Prince and Princess of Wales are keen to raise awareness of the benefits of parks and green spaces. | PRINCE CHAMPIONS A GREEN FUTURE HRH The Prince of Wales has become the patron of FIELDS IN TRUST. His role will be to advocate for the crucial role parks and green space play in the nation’s towns and cities and he succeeds his grandmother, Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was patron for 70 years. Trust chair Jo Barnett said: “The Prince of Wales has championed the importance of creating a better future for parks and green spaces since 2013 and we are honoured and delighted that he will now become patron. “We believe parks and green spaces can be pivotal in addressing some of the biggest challenges we face. His Royal Highness has been instrumental in helping us raise awareness of the importance of these spaces for health, wellbeing and the environment; issues that are all close to his heart.” Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2024
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Temujen Gunarwardena painting the mural. | ARTIST GETS TOWN INTO THE FLOW A mural, painted by Frome-based artist Temujen Gunawardena, showing the local water cycle and its relationship with the River Frome, has been added to the former Shoe Zone unit in the Market Place. It is the latest element of Frome Families for the Future’s River Vision Project, a collaboration with Frome Future Shed via Green and Healthy Frome, and supported by FROME Town Council. The project’s aim is to foster a closer connection between the people of the Somerset town and the river, with benefits for mental health and well-being, creating opportunities for play, and increasing awareness of the river’s vital role in our ecosystem. Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2024 |
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Drayton Meadows has been transformed into a haven. Picture: Elizabeth Johnston. | COMMUNITY WILDLIFE AREA MAKES NET GAINS Pride of Place grant funding from East Cambridgeshire District Council has led to SOHAM TOWN COUNCIL turning a community wildlife area into an internet attraction. The town council bought a piece of land two years ago with the intention of making it a wildflower meadow and well-being area for residents and Drayton Meadows has been transformed from a piece of waste land into an area where residents can walk, sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. Native trees and hedgerow have been planted with wildflower seeds and plug plants attracting birds and insects. Bird and bat boxes will be put up and members of the local Men’s Shed group have made an owl box. A wildlife camera has been erected to enable residents to watch from afar via a website. An introductory guided walk saw 20 residents in attendance, with two town councillors and a volunteer on hand to provide expert knowledge. Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2024
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■ Children from several schools across an area of West Yorkshire have been contributing to a greener future by teaming up with KIRKLEES COUNCIL to create new woodland areas. Pupils from Fieldhead Primary Academy, Netherthong Primary School, Kirkburton CE First School and Newsome Junior School helped to plant more than 7,000 trees.
Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2024
■ Two parks in NEW MILTON have been upgraded as part of a programme to enhance local green spaces in the New Forest. Improvements in Carrick Wood and Ashington Park, include new seating areas, better and accessible footpaths and bridge, and new planting to support and enrich wildlife habitats as part of the Green Way recreational mitigation programme in Hampshire.
Clerks & Councils Direct, November 2024
■ A Wiltshire school’s request for support to help keep their local environment clean and tidy has reaped rich reward. WARMINSTER Town Council litter pick champion Jack Jones visited The Avenue Primary School to deliver 10 litter pickers to pupils after the school wrote to Wiltshire Council to ask for support in keeping the area in and around the school litter free.
Clerks & Councils Direct, September 2024
■ Sunpower Services and Swanley Town Council have joined forces in an eco-friendly alliance to help transform SWANLEY into a leader in sustainable energy, whilst saving money. This progressive partnership has commenced with the completely free installation of state-of-the-art solar panels at Swanley Park, where the rooftop of the soft play area and cafe now showcase cutting-edge renewable energy innovation, in the form of PV solar panels. A greener future is welcomed, as Sunpower Services lights up Swanley with the power of the sun.
Clerks & Councils Direct, September 2024
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Attention2Place’s Sophie Evingar | CELEBRATING RARE STREAM’S BEAUTY A year of events centred on a rare Somerset winterbourne chalk stream culminated in a glorious summer celebration of its unique beauty and ecology. Prompted by the stream’s deteriorating quality, BISHOP’S SUTTON Parish Council invited Sophie Evingar and volunteers, from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to give a series of presentations. Villagers learned about the wonder of the stream and their impact on its ecology, particularly through wastewater from cesspits and septic tanks. Financed by the trust and Heritage Lottery Fund, activities continued with a series of events run by Attention2Place, a partnership of independent scholars who engage in place-responsive education and community projects, which encouraged people to interact with the stream in many creative ways. Clerks & Councils Direct, September 2024
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 | DUNSTABLE GOES GREENER Thirty climate-tolerant trees have been planted at the Mentmore Recreation Ground by DUNSTABLE Town Council. Council officers joined the grounds team, Mayor Liz Jones, councillors Richard Attwell and Nicholas Kotarski, local volunteers and Central Bedfordshire councillors Eugene Ghent and Nigel Young in planting the final phase of a tree and hedge planting project. Over the past two years, in collaboration with Central Bedfordshire Council’s sustainability team, Earthwatch Europe and The Woodland Trust, the town council has made different initiatives a reality. That has included the Queen’s Green Canopy for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, establishing a tiny forest, a native hedgerow, and planting a further 30 trees. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024
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 | TRUSTING PUPILS TO ‘BEE’ SO FRIENDLY Pupils from Oakfield Academy and Critchill School have worked with the Bee Friendly Trust to prepare a number of planters with pollinator-friendly plants. The planters were installed ahead of FROME Town Council’s 18-month Safer School Streets trial in April. Also included as part of the scheme are ‘walking buses’ with Mojo Moves, Dr Bike cycle repair clinics and BMX stunt shows. Ten-year-old Jacob, a Year 5 pupil at the Somerset town’s Oakfield Academy, said: “It was fun getting the planters ready and it’ll be great to see the bees and other insects enjoying what we made with the Bee Friendly Trust. “I completed my Bikeability training to get ready for the trial and I’m looking forward to riding my bike to school without so many cars.” The planters created by the Bee Friendly Trust with Oakfield and Critchill children were placed along Oakfield Road as part of traffic-calming measures. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024
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 | HUNDREDS OF NEW TREES GIVE NEW LOOK TO TOWN Oaks, limes, walnut, cherries and other trees have been planted across BUCKINGHAM thanks to funding from the Local Authority Treescapes Fund as part of the town council’s commitment to offset carbon emissions by planting more trees in the parish. The fund provided £4,349, following a successful joint application by the town council and Buckinghamshire County Council to plant hundreds of new trees, expanding on established woodlands, gapping up hedgerows and replacing dead or dying trees. The council’s environment committee chair, Fran Davies, said: “Town council staff, councillors and other volunteers set about planting 229 whips and 24 larger trees and thanks go to our incredible green spaces team, the Forestry Commission and Buckinghamshire Council.” Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024
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| One of the stalls at the | FESTIVAL GOERS ARE FALLING IN LOVE WITH WEYMOUTH More than 120 people braved the wet weather to visit the first Love Your WEYMOUTH Festival. As well as talks on topics from climate change, to how to reuse, recycle and repair items, there were 16 exhibitors from environmental support organisations. They all shared their knowledge and networked with festival goers and stallholders to see what can be done to help reduce the impact of climate change in Dorset. Tips on reducing food waste were shared, as well as energy saving ideas. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024
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| Last year’s Great Big Green Meet Up | FROME GOES BIG FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WEEK Event submissions are flowing in for FROME’S Great Big Green Week, part of a national celebration of biodiversity, sustainability and caring for the planet, which runs 8-16 June. Events can be for any age, free or ticketed, indoor or outdoor, and organised by any individual, group or organisation. The only criteria is that the event has an environmental, biodiversity or climate-friendly theme. The Somerset town has been part of Great Big Green Week since 2021 and the programme has featured a range of events, including a river festival, planet-friendly family picnic, walks, talks, workshops, clothes swaps and bike rides. Cllr Fiona Barrows said: “This week is always so uplifting and focuses on the small things we can all do for a greener world.” Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024
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Neil Hooper, chair, Purton Parish Council | SMALL CHANGES MAKE ‘BUG’ IMPACT Small changes are making a ‘bug’ impact at PURTON in Wiltshire. The parish council has installed 25 bird boxes, 25 bug houses, 25 bat boxes, utilising the services of a local community group, giving much needed experience and support to adults with learning difficulties. Clerk Debbie Lawrence said: “We have already seen the benefits of the bird boxes with nesting fast approaching and the ‘splatterings’ of noticeable activity. We are currently awaiting the building of hedgehog homes.” The latest project, having seen a ‘bug hotel’ advertised for sale, was to use its own grounds team to make some. “This is not just another bug house but an 11-storey bug hotel,” said Debbie. “Most of the materials were salvaged and sourced locally with minor cost for each hotel. Our head groundsman worked his magic and produced something that was beyond our expectations and a welcomed sight throughout our village and of huge benefit to the bug community. We now have three installed. “Our plan is to create more. It is an amazing addition to our carbon neutral plan, something for all to view and offering a hop, flutter and jump for our bug community. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024 |
| CHILDREN GET A GREEN MESSAGE ABOUT RECYCLING More than 1,000 children in ROSSINGTON, South Yorkshire, have been educated about a targeted recycling project in their village as part of the local authority’s efforts to improve its levels of recycled materials. In partnership with waste partner Suez recycling and recovery UK, City of Doncaster Council launched a pilot campaign to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste in blue bins, which currently costs the council more than £300,000 a year. All five primary schools in Rossington – St Joseph’s, Grange Lane, St Michael’s, Pheasant Bank and Torndale Infants – were visited as part of the council’s delivery of educational messages about waste and recycling. A bin tagging scheme is being rolled out to other areas of Doncaster with bin crews leaving tags on any bins that have the wrong items in them. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024 KNODISHALL Parish Council has replanted trees in the Scattered Orchard that were destroyed in a fire on the Suffolk common in the summer of 2022. Nine extra trees were also planted with Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape paying for all the trees and protection. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024 WATER WAY TO REDUCE PLASTIC LUDLOW Town Council has joined a water refill scheme, aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices. As part of the initiative, the council has invited businesses across Shropshire to join the movement. Refill is a nationwide campaign dedicated to advertising locations where water bottles can be filled free. Businesses will display a sticker to show they are part of the scheme. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024 GREEN ENERGY LIGHTS ROUTE TO ECO-FRIENDLY TRANSPORT LINKS Access to public transport from the Cambridgeshire village of HAIL WESTON is becoming easier, thanks to new lighting on the Sustran 12 route between St Neots and Grafham Water The parish council was awarded funding from Cambridgeshire County Council as part of their Local Highway Improvement Complex application to provide solar lighting for walkers and cyclists in the winter months, not hindering highway traffic or wildlife. The lighting uses ‘green energy’, via a ‘solareye’ product, which is bat friendly and enables all year-round use of the mile-long cycle path. Clerks & Councils Direct, May 2024
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 | LIGHTING UP WITH UPGRADE BROSELEY Town Council, in Shropshire, has invested £55,000 to convert 55 of its street lights to low-energy LED units. The project will also include replacing the concrete columns with galvanised steel ones. Acting town clerk Jenna Munday said: “Having declared a climate emergency, we are upgrading our street lighting to LEDs to support carbon reduction and cost savings in the longer term. “This work is an important part of our plan to reduce energy consumption, carbon usage, and ongoing street lighting maintenance costs.” She said using LEDs would be more energy efficient and reduce energy consumption, the lights would last longer and reduced the likelihood of faults, minimise light pollution into homes and gardens by directing light on to the road and pavement and they are programmable, so they can be dimmed when appropriate. The new lights can be dimmed, according to use from midnight until 5.30am. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 Town Mayor Cllr Andy Taylor and Deputy Mayor Cllr Caroline Bagnall with Cllr Ian West |
| TREE WEEK GRANT AID FOR ORCHARDS Town or parish councils, residents’ groups, environmental groups or voluntary organisations or schools in part of East Sussex can seek funding for fruit trees to create community orchards. It comes after WEALDEN District Council was awarded a £27,756 grant to support tree planting initiatives as part of National Tree Week. The fund will support the purchase of trees, protection measures, establishment costs and commemorative signage. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 | |
 | A NOBLE WAY TO CELEBRATE BIODIVERSITY The Friends of Noble’s Rest have received £500 from KENDAL Town Council’s dedicated biodiversity and nature recovery fund. The money will be used to fund an educational noticeboard, to help residents and visitors learn about wildflowers and to provide two semi-mature trees to replace trees that have died. A damson tree will be planted in the community damson orchard in the corner of Town View Field, and an oak will provide shade and scenic value in the park. Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Julia Dunlop said: “It’s fantastic to have such a committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers caring for this oasis in Kendal. Noble’s Rest is a joy to visit in any season, and the work carried out by the Friends of Noble’s Rest is invaluable.” Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 The Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Julia Dunlop presents a cheque to the Friends of Noble’s Rest |
 | BULBS READY TO LIGHT UP SPRING SCENE Community members, schools, volunteers, and local organisations came together in Buckingham in a collaborative effort to enhance the beauty of the town and promote environmental sustainability. BUCKINGHAM Town Council’s community bulb planting events took place across the parish and saw participants of all ages help plant 3,300 woodland bulbs in areas around Lace Hill, Railway Walk and Bourton Park. The events were led by Buckingham Town Council with the assistance of Lace Hill Academy, Railway Walk Conservation Group, town councillors and office staff, residents and tree wardens. Environment committee chair Cllr Fran Davies said: “It is so important to look after our pollinators, especially in the springtime when flowers can be few and far between and this initiative enhances our green spaces, adding colour after winter.” The council also replaced summer planters and baskets in the town centre with winter themed displays, coming into flower ready for the spring. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 |
 | POWER MOTORS ON IN BILLINGSHURST BILLINGSHURST Parish Council, West Sussex, has acquired its first vehicle and gone green at the same time. The new all-electric vehicle was delivered by Epowertrucks to environmental operatives employed by the council. With a top speed of 50mph and able to last for 30-40 miles on a single charge, it was considered ideal to enable the team get around the parish, collecting litter and undertaking minor works in parks and play areas and tending to street furniture. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 Neil Holt with Cllr Doug Waller and Colin Ellis and the new council vehicle |
 | A PROPER AIR BNB DESTINATION Aerial summer visitors to Cumbria have been given new homes thanks to a collaboration between KENDAL Town Council, a community-led group and Lidl supermarket. Nestling under the eaves of the new store in Beezon Road are six swift boxes, awaiting the return of the ‘air’ B ’n’ B in May. Lidl have also installed three boxes for sparrows, and a bat box. Ros Taylor, of Kendal Swifts, said: “When we saw that Lidl were intending to do extensive refurbishment of the building, we saw an opportunity for the builders to include swift boxes.” Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 Cllr Doug Rathbone at the Lidl store |
 | 100 TREES PLANTED TO REMEMBER LOVED ONES NEW MILTON Town Council celebrated National Tree Week by planting trees for local residents. The scheme encourages community participation and contribution to enhance the Hampshire town’s green canopy, while remembering loved ones, special anniversaries, or just for the love of trees. The space next to the play park at Doe Copse Way was chosen by Mary Lunnon and Lynne Ball, who paid for silver birch trees in memory of their husbands. More than 100 trees were planted by the council’s estates team, including hawthorn, crab apple, flowering and wild cherry. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 |
| MAYOR LENDS HAND AT CHARITY PLANTING The Mayor of Newbury, Cllr Nigel Foot lent a helping hand as NEWBURY Town Council’s green spaces working group, together with the HSS Sewa (Hindu Swayamesvak Sangh) charity, planted more than 60 trees at Hutton Close in the Berkshire town. Sewa Day celebrates acts of kindness, without the expectations of any rewards and the Newbury planting was part funded by the proceeds of a coffee morning at the Town Hall. Forty more trees will be planted at allotment sites. Clerks & Councils Direct, March 2024 | |
| CLIMATE SCORECARD RESULTS ANNOUNCED Climate Emergency UK released the full results of the Council Climate Action Scorecards on 18 October. The scorecards include 91 questions across seven sections: transport, buildings and heating, governance and fi nance, planning and land use, biodiversity, collaboration and engagement, and waste reduction and food. These cover actions that councils have control or influence over, which have a big impact on carbon emissions and biodiversity loss (with some council types having fewer questions due to their differing powers). All councils, single tier, district, county and combined authority were assessed. The results show that the average score across all councils is 32%. Only 41 councils nationwide received 50% or more and only one single tier organisation was in the top ten – Bath & North East Somerset Council. Climate Emergency UK is a not-for-profit cooperative that has been working with councils and residents since 2019 to share best practice about what councils can do to tackle the climate and ecological emergency and to encourage effective action. The data used to create the scorecards is compiled from three main sources: volunteer research of publicly available information, national data from the UK and devolved governments and national organisations and Freedom of Information requests sent to councils. The Scorecard website – https://councilclimatescorecards.uk – enables you to filter the scores by various factors to see which council scored best. Filters include current political control of a council, how urban or rural the council is, whether a council is district, unitary, borough, county etc., and by each question and section. This will help councils to learn from each other about specific climate action they could take. Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2024 | |
| TOWN COUNCIL AHEAD OF CARBON REDUCTION TARGETS NEWBURY Town Council has reduced its carbon footprint by 44% since it declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. The Council is well ahead of its target to be carbon neutral by 2030. Cllr David Harman, Chair of the Climate Emergency Working Group said: “I am delighted with our progress towards our aim to be carbon-neutral by 2030. These results have been independently verified by Carbon Footprint Ltd. “We will continue to drive down our carbon footprint by installing further solar panels on the Town Hall roof. We will also achieve carbon credits through our agreement with Newbury Cricket Club, following our grant aid for their solar panels. Those panels are proving to be of tremendous benefit to the Club and to Loose Ends who run a drop-in centre from the Cricket Club, serving food to the homeless and vulnerable.” Clerks & Councils Direct, January 2024 | |
| OXFORDSHIRE County Council (OCC) is planning to plant thousands of trees on public land across Oxfordshire. They are seeking help to take care of the young trees, which need daily w |
