A washing machine-sized data centre, provided by start-up Deep Green, is being used to heat a public pool in Exmouth Leisure Centre.

Computers inside a box are surrounded by oil to capture the heat and the hot oil is pumped into a heat exchanger to warm the water in the pool. Enough heat is produced to heat the pool to around 30C 60% of the time. Around 96% of the heat generated by a Deep Green ‘digital boiler’ is recycled.

This innovative solution will reduce the pool’s gas requirements by 62%, saving LED Community Leisure, who manage the centre on behalf of East Devon District Council (EDDC), over £30,000 a year and reduce carbon emissions by 25.8 tonnes.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) have launched their new resilience plans at the NFU Conference 2023.

Resilient farms are crucial as the occurrence of extreme weather events increases due to climate change. Plus, climate-friendly farming can increase efficiency and lower costs while improving the sustainability of food production.

The resilience plans map out sector board priorities for the combinable crops, dairy, horticulture and potato, livestock, sugar and poultry sectors.

The Devon Food Partnership have publicly launched the Devon’s Good Food Strategy 2023-2028 at a launch event.

Representatives from across the food system have collaborated to identify priorities for Devon’s food and farming sector, including tackling the climate and nature emergency through sustainable food and farming and an end to food waste.

The “Option 6” Beach Management Scheme has been agreed to by the Advisory Group for the Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan.

The scheme will include an offshore breakwaters/island and a replacement splash-wall among other features.

The scheme will lead to 113 residential and 70 commercial properties being better protected from increased flood and erosion risk.

Communities can nominate their 'wildlife heroes' for a Wild About Devon award by the end of August to celebrate groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond to tackle the ecological emergency.

Wild About Devon is a Devon Local Nature Partnership initiative focusing on supporting local communities to restore and improve habitats for nature across our diverse landscapes. Support is given through advice, signposting, networking platforms, and via a grant scheme.

Three winners will be chosen in each of four categories: Wildlife Community of the Year; Wildlife Parish and Town Council of the Year; Wildlife School of the Year; and Outstanding Individual.

Winners will receive certificates at an awards night and prizes to help their conservation efforts.

New survey data finds that the more serious climate change is perceived to be, and the more reliable evidence on climate change is thought to be, the more opposed respondents were to natural gas extraction in the UK. Climate change beliefs increasingly predict opposition to gas.

The study, published in Nature Climate Change, used repeat annual surveys of the same 1,000 UK residents from 2019-2022 to provide a more robust estimate of changing public opinions over time.

This could have significant implications for extracting natural gas for use in the UK energy system.

Community groups working on environmentally-conscious activities like repair and reuse, food redistribution, and biodiversity projects can now take the Community Action Group (CAG) network survey, supported by Resource Futures.

Devon County Council want to hear from you to learn how best to support community action and expand the CAG Devon network. The goal of this survey is to better understand the challenges groups face and possible solutions to ensure the CAG Devon service is shaped by the needs of the community.

Completing the 10 minute survey will enter you into a prize draw to win £50 for your community group. The closing date is Tues 11th April at 5PM.

Environmental consultants RSK have handed over the final draft of the Adaptation Strategy to the Climate Impacts Group (CIG). The Adaptation Strategy reflects months of collaboration between the CIG and RSK, including a workshop series reviewing climate change risks and opportunities as well as adaptation options. 

The Adaptation Strategy is intended to help communities across the Southwest to better understand the risks their area might face in future, as climate change increasingly affects the UK. It will also help them to adapt to these changes, by identifying the parties responsible for ensuring community safety. 

The CIG is now preparing for a public consultation on the Adaptation Strategy later in the spring, more detail will be shared in the May newsletter.

Devon Climate Emergency continue to meet with existing groups and partnerships who have been identified as well placed to monitor progress on priority actions in the Devon Carbon Plan.

Groups we have met with so far include the Devon Low Carbon Energy and Transport Technology Innovator project board (DELETTI) who are delivering electric vehicle charging across the county; the Cosy Devon board, who work on energy efficiency improvements to homes, and the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, to name but a few.

It is expected that the groups identified will report back on progress in Devon towards specific priority actions in the Plan on a quarterly basis, including issues stalling action. These issues can then be taken to the Response Group so they can be resolved.

NEED Spring Connect Event; Kingsley School Devon, Northdown Road, Bideford, EX39 3LY; Tuesday 4th April, 9:30am – 12:30pm

This Network of Environmental Educators in Devon (NEED) event is an opportunity for environmental education practitioners to get together in person to share best practice and make connections. You'll get to network, talk about your projects, discuss relevant topics and go on an optional tour of North Devon sites.

Broadclyst Community Tree Nursery - open day; Heathfield Farm, Station Road, Broadclyst, EX5 3AR; Friday 14th April, 10:00am – 12:00pm or 1:00pm – 3:00pm

SW Agritech Showcase; Exeter Racecourse, Denman and Best Mate rooms, Kennford, EX6 7XS; Thursday 20th April, 8:30am – 4:00pm

Climate Storytelling - A Catalyst for Climate Action and Solutions; Online or Laver Building LT3, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4PY; Wednesday 26th April, 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Building on the legacies of Climate Stories (NERC funded), One Chance Left for COP26 and We Still Have a Chance for COP27, these stories co-created by scientists, academics, health professionals, activists, writers, and artists invite audiences to engage and explore how we can use the power of storytelling to generate new climate stories connecting facts, findings, and feelings to imagine new possibilities for a liveable future. In doing so, stories become a vehicle to humanise our climate and ecological crises and act as a driver for positive change to forge a sustainable, healthier, and socially just world.

The stories have been translated into different languages and brought to life through the arts including theatrical performances, large-scale murals, music, recordings, poetry trails, live storytelling events, artwork created by children and artists, and digital visualisations. 

Electric Transition Workshop; South Devon Marine Academy, Noss on Dart Marina, Bridge Road, Kingswear, TQ6 0EA; Friday 28th April, 8:50am – 3:30pm

The workshop will help to support the transition to electric propulsion and clean technology in the South Hams marine leisure and tourism sectors. Attendees will discuss and engage in activities surrounding electric propulsion in the marine leisure, recreation and tourism sectors. The itinerary includes talks and live on water demonstrations. 

ShareFest Totnes; Totnes Civic Hall, Market Square, High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5SF; Saturday 29th April, 10:00am – 4:00pm

Celebrate all things related to sharing, repairing, swapping and making! This free (donations welcome) and family friendly event will have a host of activities to showcase projects from across Devon, including:

• Repair Cafe
• Skillshares
• Pay What You Feel Cafe
• Inspiring Talks
• Children’s Activities

The event is organised by the Share Shed in collaboration with the Network of Wellbeing and Shareable, and will be one of over 50 ShareFests held around the world.

Forest Rising Workshops; Plymouth, South Devon, West Devon and Dartmoor; April – July

The free Forest Rising programme gives 16-28 year olds the opportunity to get involved with the creation and running of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest. They will develop ideas, design woodland habitats and activity they want to see, sit at the table with decision makers and implement their ideas in relation to nature recovery.

The programme includes several workshops and a final event to bring everyone together. See the full list of dates, times and locations on their website.