Our Climate Emergency Strategy is reaching the halfway point in its lifecycle, and in 2025 we'll be launching a refreshed version. 

Hearing what you think about climate action in North Kesteven is hugely important so that we can best reflect the issues and concerns in our area. We're looking for responses from residents and local businesses.

As an added incentive, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a draw to win one of three £30 shopping vouchers!

Please take a few moments to complete the survey and give your views on a wide range of climate-related topics, which will help to shape the future strategy.

The survey closes on 30 August. If you require a printed copy of the survey please contact ClimateAction@n-kesteven.gov.uk and specify whether you are completing it as a resident or for a business.

Discover how sustainability can boost your business at ‘Prosperity, Potential, Planet: Solutions for your business’, on Thursday 12 September at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln.

Highlights for the event include:

• Networking breakfast: Starting at 8am, free for all to join, but places will be limited!
• Exhibition: Open from 9am, with 25+ exhibitors
• Expert speaker sessions: Gain insights from sustainability experts and local businesses

Plus, join the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce for a networking lunch at 1pm followed by a free guided walk to explore the Bomber Command Centre.

Reserve your free place today: https://ProsperityPotentialPlanet.eventbrite.com

You can also book onto Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce’s event at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolnshire-chamber-of-commerce-networking-event-tickets-953397165587

This event has been funded by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, being delivered by North Kesteven District Council.

We're making every effort to make the event itself as sustainable as possible. If you can, please consider travelling by public transport, cycle or walking. There's information on journey planning on the IBCC website.

Nominations are now open for you to champion and celebrate those people you think your community just couldn’t be without.

The NK Community Champion Awards look to say ‘thank you’ to those people who enrich our lives through their voluntary contributions, operating selflessly, tirelessly, charitably and consistently in carrying out tasks and functions which enrich our communities – from litter picking or running sports clubs to enabling art and creativity to flourish, supporting the health and wellbeing of others, actively promoting positive climate action, being a good neighbour or an inspirational young person, or just embodying community spirit in all that they do.

Across the categories, the Council and its sponsoring businesses want to extend a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributes to our District of Flourishing Communities through their voluntary actions.

There are two categories that may be particularly of interest to readers of this newsletter: Contribution to Climate Action and Contribution to a Better Environment.

See www.NKawards.org for details and to make a nomination (or several!) The deadline for nominations is September 16, working towards an awards celebration on November 27.

If a business would like to complete the sponsors’ line-up for this year, playing a vital role in ensuring the good work of our amazing volunteers is celebrated and championed, please contact champions@n-kesteven.gov.uk.

Flooding is a damaging potential impact of climate change, and we've already experienced some in North Kesteven in the last two years. The Environment Agency is currently in the process of looking at the future of how they manage the rivers in Sleaford to help mitigate flood risk.

There are two community drop-in events in Sleaford to be held as part of this, on:

• Thursday 8 August 2024, 11am - 6pm
• Friday 9 August 2024, 11am - 5:30pm

You'll spot the team in a bright pink gazebo on the grass outside The Hub. It's an opportunity to meet with members of the project team, and discuss:

• The River Slea Flood Resilience Project
• Future of the rivers in and around Sleaford
• Flood risk in and around Sleaford

You can also keep up to date with project progress through their Citizen Space web page.

Our team spent the weekend at Heckington Show recently to engage with and hopefully to inspire our residents. 

The centrepiece of the Council's display was a giant bee, which was highly effective in drawing in the passing show-goers. This was complemented by a focus on biodiversity inside the marquee and even representatives in beekeeper costumes handing out wildflower seeds.

There was an opportunity for residents to participate in an engagement exercise on the review of the Climate Emergency Strategy, and more than 250 people directly engaged in the activity.

Our main innovation this year was to offer a series of mini talks on a variety of topics - 18 talks in all - including climate action, biodiversity, energy efficiency for listed buildings, retrofitting homes, plastic-free lifestyle choices, the Sleaford Castle excavation and more. Attendees found the sessions interesting and useful, and had the chance to ask questions, which many did. 

As always, the team relished the opportunity to engage with residents, share information and help people as much as possible. If you came along we hope you found the displays interesting and gained some new ideas.

There's a video roundup to enjoy here, too.

Farmers, land owners and managers are being asked their opinions on how wildlife can be best conserved and enhanced across the landscapes of Greater Lincolnshire.

Your opinions will help develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) that shapes how we recover nature, and which guides opportunities for funding to work with or restore nature on your land through Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS).

With your help, the strategy has the potential to steer opportunities for nature-based solutions such as flood risk management and sequestering carbon through new trees, woodlands and healthier soils.

Want to contribute to nature recovery and diversify your revenue streams? LNRSs give you an opportunity to identify places where nature recovery will have the most benefit and direct future funding.

We need you to ensure The Greater Lincolnshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy is realistic and achievable, while still protecting food security for future generations.

Have your say by completing this short 15-minute survey.

Visit Local Nature Farmers and Landowners Survey | Let's Talk Lincolnshire to complete the survey before 2 September 2024.

Find out more about the Greater Lincolnshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy at www.glincslnrs.org.uk.