Tackling climate change is a key priority of Uttlesford’s new Local Plan.
Uttlesford District Council has produced a guide outlining measures to help owners and occupiers of historic buildings improve energy efficiency, helping to save money, improve comfort and reduce emissions.
It covers listed buildings, conservation areas, Scheduled Monuments and more.
The guidance includes an overview of the permissions that may be required and how to adopt a ‘whole house approach’, with practical advice and next steps.
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The government has announced increased grant funding as part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to replace LPG or oil-fired heating systems with heat pumps, beginning 21 July.
The new grant value of £9,000 (previously £7,500) can be used towards air-to-water heat pumps or ground-source heat pumps. The grant remains at £7,500 for homes currently with coal-fired or other fossil fuel heating.
Essex County Council is running its first ever EV experience event to help people discover more about electric vehicles, e-bikes, solar power and battery storage.
Run in partnership with Let’s Experience Electric, the free event is taking place at Colchester Park and Ride on Saturday 18 July, from 10am to 3pm.
Test drive a range of electric cars and bikes, talk to current EV owners, meet EV retailers and find out about local EV car share schemes.
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The Love Essex Fund
For project-ready groups – short deadline! Apply by 28 June. Grants of up to £500 available to support local organisations, groups and schools with projects that help to reduce household waste.
The Bupa Foundation’s Green Community Grants
For project-ready groups – short deadline! Apply by 30 June. Grants of between £500 and £2,000 will fund practical projects which improve both people’s health and the health of the planet.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our first Uttlesford Big Green Festival! From community groups to local businesses and passionate individuals, your creativity, energy and commitment brought the festival to life across the district.
The festival has helped spark conversations, build connections and show what’s possible when we work collectively towards a greener Uttlesford.
The enthusiasm and dedication shown goes far beyond a single week of events, and it’s that ongoing effort that continues to drive positive change in our communities.
Neil Reeve, SU’s Chair, summarised his experience: "I've covered around 22 events in the Uttlesford Big Green Festival and my big take-away is a simple one: what I've learnt this week is what an amazing number of people we have in our district, doing some amazing things. The range of activities I have been privileged to go and see is stunning. Thank you for being part of it and for everything you do to support a more sustainable future."
The Global Justice Project is a collective research initiative developed by the World Inequality Lab to shape a fairer, more democratic and sustainable 21st century.
Its main conclusion is simple: it is possible to reconcile planetary habitability and high well-being for all, but only if the transformation rests on three pillars simultaneously.
Fast decarbonisation of energy systems and a major shift toward sufficiency over continuous growth, sustained financially and politically by a drastic reduction in inequality of income, wealth and power both between and within countries.
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Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are leading a campaign calling the UK government to ban the neurotoxic pesticides neonicotinoids.
Since 2023, the government has consistently granted ‘emergency authorisation’ for the use of pesticides containing banned neonicotinoids in response to industry lobbying.
People can add their name to an open letter calling for a permanent ban on neonicotinoids, without exception, addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is inviting battery installers, manufacturers and community energy groups, among others, to share their views on the case for community batteries in the UK: opportunities, benefits, delivery barriers and ensuring safety.
It is an attempt to understand whether batteries could and should be scaled up to provide benefits beyond individual users to whole communities, including those that cannot be reached by domestic batteries, for technical or financial reasons.
This call for evidence closes on 30 July.
The Trust in Citizen Science project is a Europe-wide study which examines the relationship between participation in citizen science projects and trust in science.
Current and former volunteers from citizen science projects who are willing to share their experiences and perspectives in a short online survey will be entered in a prize drawer for Amazon vouchers worth €50 each.
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Between 1995 and 2020, the Swift population plummeted by 60% in the UK and has declined by a further 24% since 2020.
Churches can provide ideal nesting sites for Swifts due to their elevation (Swifts typically nest at heights of five metres and above). However, many traditional nesting sites for Swifts in church belfry towers have been lost due to renovation or mesh and netting being fitted. The simplest solution is to install swift nesting boxes.
UK Action Network is a free platform for community projects, charities, schools, environmental groups, social enterprises and local campaigns making a positive difference.
It helps local changemakers connect, share ideas, showcase projects and learn from one another across the UK.
The platform aims to inspire young people, improve project visibility, support volunteer recruitment and strengthen collaboration by identifying regional gaps and opportunities.
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Add or update your group or project listing on our website. Showcase your work and keep it updated with your latest progress. Help people find your work, and find nearby sustainable and environmental projects.
The project directory lets you explore and benefit from all the current and historic work done by communities in the district.
Learning what works and what doesn’t, and getting a significant head start for any similar projects a group might undertake – and even find your next collaboration!
The Sustainable Uttlesford website is a resource for everyone in the district to find information, expertise and groups that care about our planet and want to protect it.
Explore local groups and projects, learn more with events and meetings, and find grants and other funding sources for your community project.
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