Devon County Council sent this bulletin at 02-08-2024 01:29 PM BST
Devon Climate Emergency | August 2024
Welcome To Our August Newsletter!
There are many actions already taking place across Devon that are successfully reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience and implementing the Devon Carbon Plan and Climate Adaptation Strategy. Here are our picks for the month!
You can see more positive actions and stay updated throughout the month by visiting the Taking Action page on our website.
Free Energy-Efficiency Retrofit Advice Available To Homeowners
Local Community Energy groups in Devon are offering free Retrofit Advice home visits until the end of March 2025. You can arrange for one of their qualified Retrofit Advisors to visit your home and advise you on how to make your home healthier to live in and cheaper to run.
North Devon Council Celebrates Air Quality Improvement
North Devon Council has revoked the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for Braunton, marking a key milestone in the district’s efforts to enhance air quality. Braunton has seen consistent air quality improvements over the past five years, driven by reduced transport emissions largely due to vehicle technology and increases in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Whilst air pollution, particularly from diesel vehicle particulates, remains a concern, this achievement is a significant step forward. The Council will continue working with residents and businesses to build on this success.
New Bus Lane Will Shorten Bus Travel Times In Exeter
Devon County Council commenced work on a new contraflow bus lane in Exeter city centre on Monday, 24 June. The project will require some night-time road closures, and once completed, it will improve bus journey times in the city.
Biodiversity And Community Boosting Improvements Underway In Lower Hoopern Valley
Works are underway to improve the Lower Hoopern Valley, a 38 acre plot to the south of the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus.
Habitats are being restored to maximise wildlife, including work on a pond, clearance of invasive species, and removal of litter. Additions of paths, bridges, entrances, and seating will increase the availability of green spaces for the community.
Teignbridge Climate Hub has been launched by Teignbridge District Council, so the public and businesses can find out how they can contribute to a net zero Devon. Each idea is rated out of three starts for impact and ease, allowing visitors of the platform to choose the best options for their circumstances at a glance.
Torridge District Council To Establish New Community Woodland
Torridge District Council has been consulting the public on plans to establish a community woodland at the Gatefield Amenity Grassland in Bideford. In person consultation events have been held, as well as an option to input online.
This initiative is part of the council’s commitment to plant 10,000 urban trees by 2025. The woodland will support wildlife and capture carbon from the air as the woodland grows.
The Progress Report against the Carbon Plan and Adaptation Action Plan (the short term priorities within the Strategy) have been updated on the website. There is lot happening across Devon against the plans, though there remains much to do.
In July, the Tactical Group discussed progress against the Built Environment actions and explored further opportunities for partnership collaboration, which they will continue to look to develop. The Response Group considered progress against the Adaptation Action Plan, as well as hearing an update on the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas Scheme.
July's meeting of the Climate Impacts Group explored plans for an Extreme Heat workshop to be held by the Local Resilience Forum, as well as opportunities to collaborate around landscape recovery at a catchment scale.
Organisation Spotlight - Croyde Ocean Triathlon
We are delighted that Croyde Ocean Triathlon is a signatory of the Devon Climate Declaration.
Croyde Ocean Triathlon have developed a climate action plan and are working towards being net zero by 2027. They told us about the things they are doing to help address the climate emergency:
"As a large organised outdoor event we have a responsibility to do things right, here is what we do:
encourage train use and offer free collections from the station;
make our own medal ribbons using old beach tents that we have helped collect;
make sure our medal has a dual use and is not simply a "medal";
take steps to change our bank;
100% of single use cups on site are recyclable via a bio digester, also used to recycle food waste and veg ware plates;
use reusable cups for our water stations;
give 100% of our profit to local charity Plastic Free North Devon;
use home made volunteer made food with zero packaging;
never over order merchandise, source it VERY carefully, make sure it is made from recycled plastics or organic cotton;
be strict regarding vendor sustainability standard compliance;
and support ethical local suppliers."
We are delighted that environmentally conscious organisations have supported our Climate Declaration as we work to deliver the Devon Carbon Plan and Climate Adaptation Strategy.
If you would like to learn more about signing the Declaration, please visit our website, following the link below:
Find out about upcoming events, funding and opportunities across Devon below.
Take part in the Big Butterfly Count 2024
Till the 4th August, Butterfly Conservation need people of all ages across the UK to get outside and count butterflies.
It's lots of fun and the information you provide helps experts understand how butterflies and day-flying moths are doing, and how we can help protect them for the future. This information helps assess how butterflies and moths are responding to a changing climate, in combination with other threats such as habitat loss.
Have your say on the first Tree, Hedge and Woodland Strategy for East Devon
Closes 6th September
East Devon District Council (EDDC) is working towards becoming carbon neutral by 2040. To help achieve this, EDDC is preparing a district wide Tree, Hedge and Woodland Strategy and is calling on local residents, community groups, landowners and businesses to share their views.
Wild About Devon Community Wildlife Grant Scheme The Wild About Devon grant scheme 2024 is now live. Communities can apply for up to £500 to fund initiatives that support local wildlife and biodiversity. This could range from gardens and parks to churchyards, orchards, window boxes, ponds and ditches, buildings and more. The scheme is running from 5th June - 1st October 2024. All information on the scheme can be found here.
Devon County Council: Locality Budget Applications can now be made to Devon County Council’s Locality Budgets 2024/25, with funding available for projects that benefit local communities in Devon. Each County Councillor in Devon has a Locality Budget grant allocation of £8,000 that they can use to respond to local needs in this financial year (April 2024 to March 2025). Funding is to be spent or allocated by 31 March 2025. Details here.
Growing Communities Fund
The Growing Communities Fund is intended to support proactive, effective, measurable, and sustainable actions to enable individuals and communities to build self-reliance, community resilience and improve mental health and wellbeing as well as tackle the current cost of living issues through reducing food and fuel inequalities.
Projects should have a clear and direct community benefit as well as consider the environment during this climate emergency.
Grants are commonly between £500 and £1000, and up to £3000 for exemplary projects.
Projects can:
link to already established work and add value
be new and in response to an identified need
use innovation to improve efficiency, reach a wider range of people and improve provision
