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Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. This is a place for us to update you on what we are doing at West Devon Borough Council and what things are going on around the Borough. It will tell you what's going on nationally and things you, our residents and businesses, can be doing to reduce your carbon footprint and manage your land to improve the environment and its biodiversity.
If you have anything you would like to include in this newsletter then contact our Climate Change Specialist by email here and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
New Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest
Thousands of new trees will be planted across Plymouth and South Devon, after the area was chosen to become England’s 11th community forest.
The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest will stretch from the heart of the city to the edge of the moor, encompassing 1,900 hectares of land to form a mosaic of different forest habitats.
Unlike traditional forests, community forests aren’t geographically restricted to one place. Instead, they are a spread out across a mix of community woodland, private woodland, on street, urban woodland, wooded habitat corridors and hedgerows.
It is envisaged that by connecting the rich ecosystems and habitats of Dartmoor and the wider South Devon area and bringing them into the city we can improve our connection to, and enjoyment of nature for future generations.
Delivering the community forest for future generations is a core part of the proposal in recognition of young people’s voices in recent climate emergency discussions and the recovery from the impact of Covid.
The opportunities that the community forest creates will ensure skills development and job creation will be relevant to today and tomorrow’s young people and generate a sustainable natural asset for future generations.
Furthermore, the planning of the community forest fulfils an action on the Climate Emergency Action Plan, allowing the Council to play a leadership role by working with partners and the local community across the city to raise awareness and understanding around climate change.
The proposals have been drawn up by a broad initial partnership between Plymouth City Council, National Trust, Woodland Trust, South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council, the Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Devon Wildlife Trust, Plymouth Tree Partnership and Dartmoor National Park and is funded through the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs’ Nature for Climate fund.
Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in such a brilliant and important project.
“The new community forest will not only compliment our commitment to tree planting and the continuing greening of our City, which is important post COVID, but ties in perfectly with our plans for education and skills training.
“I look forward to the delivery of this project and the community’s involvement.”
Councillor Neil Jory, Leader of West Devon Borough Council adding: “This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the link between people and their local environment, for work and skills, but also much needed play and relaxation.”
With the forest funding now approved, the partnership will begin work with the next phase of the development.
This will involve appointing a project delivery team, consulting on and developing the forest plan and identifying sites for the first year’s planting.
If you are interested in finding out more please email PSDCF@plymouth.gov.uk
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Webinar Highlights
Climate Justice: A just transition - 7th July
Organised by the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), on 7 July, CAT lecturer Scott Leatham and CAT student Tanya Hawkes will explore the theory and practice of the just transition movement in the UK. For more information and to register, click here.
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Creative Practices that Tread Lightly on the Earth: Workshop to Develop a Sustainable, Low Carbon Studio
Wednesday 7 July, 16:00 -18:00
- Are you a maker, designer, crafts person, artist, creative?
- Do you want to learn how to create a sustainable studio?
As part of the Green Maker Initiative launched by Low Carbon Devon and Devon Guild of Craftsmen, join our free online workshop to learn from national experts; Caro Overy, Creative Carbon Scotland, Lauren England, University of Dundee, Julian Leedham, designer-maker, fabricator and hosted by Polly Macpherson, Associate Professor of Design at the University of Plymouth.
Click here to find out more and register.
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Inspire Ambition: Purposeful Business
Thursday 15 July, 16:30 - 18:00
What does purposeful business look like? How can we put purpose before profit for the good of the planet and people? Join guest speakers and panelists to explore how purposeful business can catalyse action on climate change and enable a shift towards a zero carbon future
Click here to find and more and register.
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Join the Devon Rewilding Network
Ambios Ltd are working in collaboration with The Woodland Trust and Rewilding Britain to help facilitate a network of people based in Devon, who are interested in rewilding.
The first phase of this forum will be to act as a notice board, where the most recent and relevant events and content on rewilding in Devon will be posted
Click here to find out more and to join https://devon-rewilding-network.mn.co/
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The Great Big Green Week, 18 – 26 September 2021
West Devon Borough Council's Climate Change and Biodiversity Forum invites community groups and town and parish councils to join a national week celebrating action on climate change, with events and actions that suit the local context. Tamar Energy Community (TEC) and Transition Tavistock have come up with some initial ideas, and will help co-ordinate publicity.
A main focus of the week locally will be around ‘’Moths to a Flame’’ https://www.mothstoaflame.art/ - a creative community activity which joins local messages about tackling climate change into an art display at COP26 in Glasgow this November.
Art & Energy, supported by TEC and others can work with interested parish councils, schools and groups to develop their Moths in the lead up to Great Big Green Week, and invite venues to host mini-installations for communities to hang their moths during the week. This could be shops, halls, gardens: anywhere that can contribute to visibility. If you would like to be involved in this or have any suggestions contact kate@tamarenergycommunity.com.
There are more ideas, resources and publicity tools on https://greatbiggreenweek.com/. It would be great to have a range of enjoyable activities around the district to share, in or around 18th - 26th September. These may of course be a climate or nature focus within a regular event. If you're thinking of getting involved, do let us know (with the Great Big Green Week in subject line) by contacting us at ClimateChange@swdevon.gov.uk, and for events in the Tavistock area, info@transitiontavistock.org.uk.
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Looking for a new and exciting role, that not only helps local residents with energy efficiency issues but also tackles climate change at grass roots?
Community energy groups across Devon are expanding their domestic energy efficiency and retrofit services. Read on to learn more about flexible work opportunities with Tamar Energy Community.
The Role
Due to the success of home energy projects across Devon, and an increasing awareness around climate change and energy efficiency, community energy groups in Devon, including TEC, are seeking additional Home Energy Advisors (HEAs) to work on various existing and new projects. Immediate start date.
HEAs are required to provide tailored advice and support on a 1:1 basis, helping residents to cut costs and energy consumption and help make homes warmer. Work is carried out via telephone assessments and Home Energy Visits. Participation at drop-in energy advice clinics in the community, talks to community groups, training sessions with frontline workers and partnership building with key local organisations are other activities that make up this role.
This is a paid self-employed role with Tamar Energy Community with hours to suit the successful applicant’s needs and availability.
HEA’s play an important role in the overall aims and objectives of Devon’s Community Energy Groups, working as part of an innovative team, directly helping to improve the lives of those living in our local community, as well as promoting a low-carbon life style.
There will be opportunities to progress to ‘Retrofit’ roles for those interested in developing a long-term career in this industry.
The skills and requirements:
- IT literate and own laptop or tablet
- Have own vehicle/access to vehicle for carrying out visits
- A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required.
- Enthusiasm, dedication to problem solving, and ability to build rapport with residents and colleagues in the community
- A team player, able to work on own initiative with limited supervision
- Have previous experience of working with the public
- A caring and understanding approach and ability to show empathy
- Excellent written and oral skills
- Experience is preferred, but not essential, as training can be provided to the right candidate. A willingness to study and take a few exams would be required.
Full Role Specification is available on request. Download a pdf with this description here.
Community power from the sun at Mount Kelly Swim Centre
Tamar Energy Community (TEC), working in partnership with Mount Kelly, has recently installed 100kW of photo-voltaic solar panels on the roof of the Mount Kelly Swim Centre.
The Swim Centre rooftop installation on the roof of the 50m pool adds to those already in place on the 25m pool and the Sports Hall. Together these three installations increase Mount Kelly’s on-site generation by 100% to 200kW.
The success of the solar installation is a great testament to the excellent collaboration with TEC, Mount Kelly, West Devon Borough Council and ZLC Energy. We are also very grateful to Devon Contractors, who installed the 50m pool, for all their support and assistance.
The community solar installation at Mount Kelly Swim Centre is the seventh installed locally by TEC, which are now generating a total of 427kW.
Mount Kelly and TEC are working together on an ambitious project to assess the potential for a carbon neutral heat network for the School’s many buildings across their 160-acre site.
17% of the UK’s carbon footprint is accounted for by the use of gas and fossil fuels to heat buildings (more than the amount used in construction or air travel). The aim of the project is to demonstrate the role that renewable heat can play in keeping us warm without adding to climate change.
Tamar Energy Community would be interested to hear your views on renewable heat, by completing a short survey by clicking here https://tamarenergycommunity.com/mount-kelly-renewable-heat-project
To see how much power is being generated from the sun at Mount Kelly and to find out more about the renewable heat project please visit https://www.tamarenergycommunity.com
The Mount Kelly Swim Centre is now open to the public and details of opening times and bookings can be found by clicking here
On 24 June, the Climate Change Committee published its independent assessment of UK progress to reduce emissions and adapt to Climate Change.
Some key messages were;
- A Net Zero Test would ensure that all Government policy, including planning decisions, is compatible with UK climate targets.
- An ambitious Heat and Buildings Strategy, that works for consumers, is urgently needed.
- Delayed plans on surface transport, aviation, hydrogen, biomass and food must be delivered.
- Plans for the power sector, industrial decarbonisation, the North Sea, peat and energy from waste must be strengthened.
- The big cross-cutting challenges of public engagement, fair funding and local delivery must be tackled.
- Only five of 34 sectors assessed have shown notable progress in the past two years, and no sector is yet scoring highly in lowering its level of risk
To read the report in full, click here
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The UK Government is required, under the 2008 Climate Change Act, to publish a Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years. In June 2021, an Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk was published.
Alongside mitigation, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaption is needed, as whilst the climate changes, further changes are inevitable as a result of historic greenhouse gas emissions.
Since the previous Climate Change Risk Assessment 23 risks from climate change in England have increased in urgency score.
The assessment found that there is increasing evidence that risks from extreme heat are greater in England than elsewhere, this will affect health, infrastructure and the natural environment.
The potential for water scarcity and subsidence also appears to be a greater. Flooding (coastal and inland), storms, lightning and high winds also at increasing risk.
To read the reports in full, click here.
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