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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 South Hams District Council and what things are going on around the District. 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.
Council Updates
Grounds Maintenance Review given the green light
In March last year, the Council launched a consultation to find out what the public thought about rewilding on 50 hectares (ha) of Council green spaces. The public responded overwhelmingly in favour of plans to increase biodiversity and wildlife value.
In response to this feedback, the changes to our grounds maintenance procedures has been agreed by the Council's Executive.
£46,000 has been committed from the Council's Climate Change and Biodiversity Earmarked Reserve to fund new grounds maintenance equipment and wildflower seed to rewild some of our own managed spaces. These changes will see around 2.5 ha of new wildflower areas of local provenance, all in aid of increasing biodiversity and supporting pollinators.
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South Hams District Council Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan scored well by Climate Emergency UK
Climate Emergency UK, who carried an assessment of every climate action in the UK, examined 28 comprehensive areas of each Council's Climate Action Plan. They also investigated whether plans went beyond cutting just a Council’s own carbon footprint, but also included reducing that of the whole area through partnership working with communities.
Our Action Plan scored 66% compared to the average UK district council score of only 43%. As well as being ranked one of the top performers in the Measuring & Setting Emissions Targets category.
The Council’s Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy only covers one aspect of climate action within the District. As proud partners of the Devon Climate Emergency, SHDC are working with partners across Devon (including Devon County Council) to create a carbon plan for the county that they will have a role in delivering. Some of the background work completed by the partnership provided much needed evidence and data for the District Council’s own plan. SHDC’s Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy will be reviewed once the Devon Carbon Plan is finalised to ensure all actions are consistent and aligned.
You can find out more at the Climate Emergency UK’s Scorecard website here:
https://councilclimatescorecards.uk
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Town and Parish Council Guide to Net-Zero
In case you missed it in last month's newsletter, our Town and Parish Council Guide to Net-Zero is now live.
The guide was published on 18 January 2022 on our Climate Change website here.
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New South Hams District Council Fund
Following on from a proposal to update our funding mechanism that was presented to the councils Executive in December 2021, we have been working on the details around the new grant scheme.
Towards the end of February we will be launching the Climate Engagement Fund and it will be open for 4 weeks. It will start with an expression of interest round and the aim of the fund will be support community engagement and behavioral change projects to help the district reduce its carbon emissions.
In order for the district, county, and nation to become net zero a degree of behaviour change is critical. The Climate Change Committee reports in its 2020 report ‘Local Authorities and the Sixth Carbon Budget’ that nearly 60% of the changes in the pathway to the sixth carbon budget rely on societal or behavioural changes and notes that local authorities have a role with the public and puts us at the heart of developing and replicating local solutions. Equally, we require people from all backgrounds to contribute and in light of this the Climate Engagement Fund will hope to assist in this, by investing in district wide engagement activities or fostering replicable ideas or methods for behaviour change. Ideally we would be looking to fund proposals that seek to engage with the general public or provide replicable solutions for others too follow.
The funding pot will have £50,000 available, we may select one or more applications.
We are not yet able to provide an exact launch date just yet, but do keep an eye out for a special bulletin and posts through out social media channels among others.
Next month, Devon Climate Emergency will be running a public consultation on the actions developed following our Citizens' Assembly in summer last year.
Assembly members were asked to consider onshore wind, building retrofit and transport. They came up with fourteen resolutions, with conditions.
The Devon Climate Emergency Partnership, which includes South Hams District Council, have been working hard to transform these resolutions into actions to include in the Devon Carbon Plan.
The DCE partnership will want to know if you think we have responded reasonably and effectively to the Devon Climate Assembly.
This consultation will help to make sure that the actions are fair, democratic and help us achieve net-zero.
If you would like to have your say in the consultation, you can do this either online here or at your local public library.
To keep up-to-date with the latest news you can do this now by clicking here to our website, and follow @devonclimateemergency on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Available Funding
Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund - 31 January to 31 March 2022
The Devon Net Zero Innovation fund is in place to enable collaborations between Devon enterprises and University of Plymouth academic researchers. The aim is to help Devon enterprises to develop new products or services for the low carbon sector, with funding of up to £7,500 per enterprise.
More information is available here: www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/sustainability-hub-low-carbon-devon/devon-net-zero-innovation-fund
Sources of Funding for tree planting in Devon
As of publishing this newsletter, there are over 20 different sources of funding for tree planting in Devon. The Devon Local Nature Partnership manage a list of funding sources which is available here:
www.devonlnp.org.uk/our-work/trees-for-devon/sources-of-funding-for-tree-planting-in-devon
South Hams Climate Action and Biodiversity Fund - Open until allocated funds are spent.
We have partnered with Crowdfunder to encourage and support projects and ideas that will help the District become carbon neutral, improve its biodiversity and create climate resilient communities.
If your organisation fits with the criteria of this fund you could get an extra cash injection of up to £10,000 alongside what you raise from the crowd. Full information, including eligibility and guidance can be found by clicking here.
South Hams District Council Climate Change and Biodiversity Locality Fund - Open until 31 March 2022.
This fund provides each District Councillor with a budget to enable them to support a wide range of projects to help us tackle our Climate and Ecological Emergency Declarations. The project should meet one of the objectives in the South Hams Climate Change and Biodiversity Strategy.
For more information and how to apply, go to: Community-Grants-Funding.
NFU Online Webinar: 'Delivering Net-Zero Together' 17 February, 11a.m. - 12:00
This is an NFU-led webinar for public sector caterers to learn how work that British farmers are doing can help the public sector to deliver climate friendly supply chains and help towards net zero commitments.
Find out how British farmers and public sector caterers can work together for a sustainable future.
To find out more and to register, click here.
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The Big Bike Revival Community Cycling Events:
Sunday 20th February, 10 a.m. at the Watermark, Ivybridge
Join in with the Big Bike Revival for three family cycle rides around Ivybridge! Trained cycle leaders from Big Bike Revival will lead the 2 mile ride, and each cyclist will receive a £1 voucher towards breakfast at the Watermark afterwards!
Children must wear helmets and be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.
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Totnes Bike Hub Workshops and 'Bike Kitchens'
Throughout February, the Totnes Bike Hub are hosting workshops to help you learn valuable bike-maintenance skills, as well as 'Bike Kitchens', where you will have the chance to repair your own bike with help and advice from the team.
'Tune-Up Tuesdays' - Tuesday 1 Feb: Adjusting Brakes Tuesday 15 Feb: Indexing gears Tuesday 1st March: Repairing Punctures
This month's Bike Kitchens will be on 5 and 16 February .
Creation Myth Puppets - The Talking Forest - Throughout February
Creation Myth Puppets are holding three workshops for 8 - 16 year olds to create their own high quality puppet animal and help produce a film about climate change. This event was in part enabled through grants provided through our Councillors as part of their Climate Change and Biodiversity Locality Grants
There will be events at:
 21 and 22 February - Dodbrooke Parish Hall, Kingsbridge 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 24 and 25 February - Totnes Civic Hall 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
26 February - Totnes Civic Hall grand finale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets must be bought in advance, from East Gate Bookshop in Totnes, Kingsbridge Information Centre or online, visit:
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Breaking the Ice: Exeter Science Centre Pop Up – Exeter Science Centre March 11 - 14 and March 18 - 21
For two long weekends in British Science Week (March) 2022, we’ll be showcasing an amazing exhibition in Maketank in Exeter, for people of all ages to meet the local scientists involved in some inspiring research, and get involved with our plans to make a STEAMM discovery centre in the city.
The exhibition is centred around climate modelling– which not only helps us to understand our own climate and how it is changing, but also the climates on other planets! We’re also working with Space Youth Services to create a ‘Youth Voices on Climate’ window display, and climate scientists in Exeter to understand their perspectives on climate change.
You can find out more by clicking here.
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Calling all Citizen Scientists! - Weather Rescue at Sea
Researchers are looking for anyone to help transcribe ship weather logbooks written in the mid-19th Century to help better our understanding of changing climates.
If you're interested in helping out then you can find out more by clicking here.
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Volunteers needed for Wildlife Conservation Project
A new project is underway to restore and enhance Hangar Marsh, North Sands as a valuable wildlife site. With reed bed, pond and woodland scrub habitats, the marsh is an important haven for birds, small mammals and insects.
Working on behalf of ourselves as the landowner, ParkLife South West is coordinating volunteers from the community with regular conservation work parties over the next five years, starting from this month:
Tuesday 8 February 10-2
Wednesday 2 March 10-2
Friday 11 March 10-2
If you’ve an hour or two to spare, why not join us? Tools provided.
If you’re interested in coming along, please contact:
parklifesw@gmail.com
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Volunteers needed for various tree planting and habitat enhancement projects throughout the South Hams
ParkLife are also seeking volunteers for lots of other activities across the District, See below for details;
Friday 18 February – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follaton Arboretum Habitat Enhancement
Wednesday 23rd February – 10am to 2pm – Longmarsh Wildflower Meadow Improvement
Saturday 26 February - 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. - Woodlands Park, Ivybridge - Tree Planting
Friday 4 March – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Follaton Arboretum Habitat Enhancement
Wednesday 23 March – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Totnes Cemetery wildflower Meadow Improvement
Please wear wellies, old working clothes and bring waterproof gloves. All tools provided.
If you’re interested in coming along, please contact:
parklifesw@gmail.com
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Small gardens are as important as big gardens for conserving bees and other pollinators in UK urban environments, according to a new research article published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
Surveys were carried out in 59 residential gardens in Bristol at monthly intervals, reaching a total of 472 individual surveys. The research found that;
- Individual gardens have differing levels of nectar, and although production is higher in more affluent neighbourhoods, this wasn't always in the larger gardens.
- Nectar supply is dominated by non-native species, while shrubs are the main source contributing to the supply.
- Pollinator friendly management is more important that the size of the garden.
- it's recommended that planting nectar-rich shrubs with complementary flowering periods and prioritising flowers with an open structure in late summer and autumn occurs.
This research underpins just how important gardens can be for pollinator conservation where the combined action of many individuals can have a major impact on foraging resources at a landscape scale.
The full research article can be found here:
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.14094
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The rate carbon-dioxide is being added to the atmosphere needs to slow by around 20% over the next five-year period if global warming is to be limited to 1.5°C, says the Met Office in its annual CO2 forecast.
The Met Office forecast suggests that relative to 2021, the rise in the atmospheric concentration of CO2 in 2022 will be 2.14 ± 0.52 ppm
However, they state that the long-term rise in CO2 concentrations comes from human-induced activities. Nature also has an influence in the rate of rise because of variations in the strength of so-called natural carbon sinks – features like vegetation and the oceans. These variations are driven by climate variability and show a strong correlation with the El Niño – La Niña cycles in the tropical Pacific.
You can read more by clicking here.
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