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Welcome to your monthly Climate Change update.
Northumberland County Council is committed to making our county carbon neutral by 2030 and we need everyone to do their bit to help reduce carbon emissions.
How can you help make a difference? 👇
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We want to say thank you...
We know there is an immense amount of work going on in the community to help make our county cleaner and greener. As part of volunteers week, our climate change team want to say a huge thank you to all of you who are playing your part and volunteering your time to protect and improve our environment.
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A message from Chief Fire Officer Paul Hedley on wildfires:
"The current spell of dry weather means we are very much at a heightened risk of wildfires.
“And while we want people to come and enjoy our beautiful county, we’re asking all residents and visitors to treat the countryside with respect.
“Our advice is simple - please do not light any fires whilst out and take a picnic rather than use campfires and BBQ's, which can be devastated by an easily preventable fire.
"We want you to enjoy the beauty of Northumberland, but we want you to do it safely."
If you see a fire while outdoors, call 999 and ask for the fire service. The sooner the fire service know about a wildfire, the easier it is to put it out, and the safer it is for everyone involved.
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Spotlight on the community |
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Restoring woodlands with Creswell Pele Tower
Cresswell Pele Tower is a community project set within the curve of Druridge Bay which has an army of volunteers helping to restore the 14th century tower, woodland and historic walled garden. In this video,volunteer Barry Mead and Volunteer Coordinator Steve Lowe talk about how our free trees are helping to build the surrounding woodlands.
Click the image to watch the video: |
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Energy upgrade funding for eligible homes
We have been successful in securing £12.4m as part of the Government’s Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) to install energy efficiency improvements to properties which are not connected to mains gas and are using resources such as oil, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), inefficient electric heaters or coal. Eligible households in the county, including owner-occupied and privately owned properties, can apply for energy saving upgrades which may include loft, cavity wall, internal wall, or underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps or solar panels, helping households, keep warm, become more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.
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| Funding to restore storm-damaged woodlands in Northumberland We are thrilled to announce that we have received funding from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to enable the Great Northumberland Forest team to support landowners in restoring and enhancing approximately 300 hectares across the county over the next two years.
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Educational partner announced for Blyth's new learning facility
Bede Academy has been named as the first educational partner at Blyth’s new Energy Central Learning Hub, which is being delivered as part of the £70m Energising Blyth Programme to grow, renew and connect the town. The partnership brings industry led T Levels to the town for the first time and will set students on the pathway to the latest skilled careers in the technology and engineering sectors.
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Pupils WOW with their great strides in walking to school Schools across Northumberland celebrated Living Streets’ Walk to School Week in style with events taking place to share the benefits of active travel.
Pupils from Malvin’s Close Academy in Blyth were joined by Ian Levy MP and Northumberland’s Director of Education, David Street, who came along to find out more about WOW – the walk to school challenge from charity Living Streets, which sees pupils record how they get to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker.
Families are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.
On average, WOW schools see a 30 per cent reduction in car journeys taken to the school gates and a 23 per cent increase in walking rates.
The switch aims to improve physical and mental health, while also helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions.
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Vape recycling in Northumberland
We are among the first local authorities in the country to offer vape tube recycling bins at our Household Waste Recovery Centres (tips). The devices, commonly used as an alternative to real cigarettes, contain lithium batteries which can be highly flammable and should never be disposed of in general waste. The vape tube bins, now in place at all the council’s household waste facilities, will help tackle the growing environmental issues the devices cause.
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£250 up for grabs through our school sustainability logo competition Can your school help us in creating a logo for the Northumberland Schools Sustainability Network (NSSN)? First, High, Middle, Primary, Secondary and Special schools are invited to take part in creating an iconic logo which will incorporate the essence of the network and give it a unique identity. Schools are being asked to think about what sustainability means to them and the actions we should be taking on climate change in Northumberland. Please submit one design per school by Friday 21 July by scanning and emailing a copy to climate@northumberland.gov.uk
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International Tree Foundation - UK Community Tree Planting Programme
The UK Community Tree Planting Programme supports projects run by community groups and voluntary organisations that engage communities in planting and caring for native species of trees.
The Programme supports community projects that will:
- Conserve, restore and protect indigenous trees and woodlands, forests, habitats and associated biodiversity.
- Support community engagement in tree planting to promote reforestation and to increase awareness of the importance of trees and forests to environmental and human well-being.
- Encourage social cohesion and inclusion.
- There are two tiers of funding available:
- Grants of up to £1,000 are available for projects of up to one year.
- Grants for large-scale projects ranging from 1000 to 10,000 trees with a maximum price equivalent to £1.50/tree (inclusive of tree protection).
Who Can Apply
Applications to this round will be accepted from organisations that are community-based, such as a school, community group or non-governmental organisation.
- To be eligible, applicants must have:
- Signed permission from the owner or manager of the land indicating that their project meets legal requirements.
- A bank account in the organisation's name.
Deadline: 15 December 2023 |
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Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants
Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available for registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools, local authorities and social housing providers for practical projects which help with both people and planet health.
Priority will be given to the regeneration of green spaces for community use, however other examples include:
- Improving green spaces for community activities to improve wellbeing
- Tree planting to improve air quality and biodiversity
- A school wanting to create an outdoor classroom or forest school
- A community group who would like to create an allotment
- A voluntary organisation wanting to install sustainable equipment, such as a heat pump.
- This is not an exhaustive list and other project ideas are welcomed.k
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Introduction to Community Energy event
A detailed and practical introduction to community energy from Ewan Boyd of Teesdale Environmental Consulting (TEC Ltd.) and VONNE's Going Green Together programme. The event will cover the options available, where to begin, what the process involves, and how to make the most of community energy schemes.
Date: Thursday 22 June 2023 Time: 11am -12noon Location: Online |
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Everything you ever wanted to know about…Renewable Energy
Hear from Brian Watson (Domestic Carbon Reduction Officer from Community Action Northumberland). Listen to three householders who’ve already installed renewable energy technology and ask the panel everything you’ve wanted to know about about installing low carbon heating and making your home more energy efficient. Free tea and coffee from 10am.
Date: June 24th Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm Location: Swarland Village Hall, Coast View, Swarland, Morpeth, NE65 9JG |
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What a Wonderful World Festival: Alnwick
Let What a Wonderful World Festival inspire you to take action on climate change. The uplifting songs of Karine Polwart are a profound reaction to the pressures we are putting our life support systems under. Alnwick Playhouse’s own Damian Crudden will lead Imagining the Future - what we could achieve if we can meet the challenges ahead, while environmentalist Ross Lowrie leads the discussion in a Deep Dive into Water.
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This email has been produced by the Northumberland County Council Communications team. |
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