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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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Spotlight on the community |
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Free tree progress
Thank you to Sandra who sent in a lovely photo showing the progress of her crab apple which was collected from Druridge Bay last year. We want to see your tree progress. Drop a photo to freetree@northumberland.gov.uk
Don’t forget, there is still time to apply for your very own free tree for collection from 10 October.
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Wansbeck Restoration for Climate Change project
Working as a collective, Natural England, The National Trust, Environment Agency, The Rivers Trust, Farmers and Landowners have started to take action to help restore natural processes to the river Wansbeck.
Across five sites covering 144ha, 13 projects are currently underway to seek to store carbon and aid biodiversity. Ranging from peat restoration to woodland creation, these projects will explore and develop new finance models for landowners and assess what works, and what doesn’t when it comes to storing carbon. |
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| Click on the image below to watch a video explaining more about the work of the Wansbeck Catchment Partnership and the Wansbeck Restoration for Climate Change project. |
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Pioneering solar car port launched at our HQ
We launched our new £3.8 million, state-of-the-art solar car port array - the third biggest installation of its type in the UK. It includes a covered parking area with a canopy made from photovoltaic (PV) panels which will generate approximately 40% of County Hall’s usage requirements.
Over 250 tonnes of carbon emissions are estimated to be saved each year and between £100,000 and £150,000 is anticipated to be saved on energy costs each year, which can be invested in Council services.
We're planning to use this model to test the suitability of installing similar solutions in other public car parks in the county to reduce costs, meet carbon targets and improve the resilience of energy supplies.
The investment is part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 with match-funding from the council, which it plans to recoup through energy savings.
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Episode 3: The Great Northumberland Forest podcast Listen to special guest Judith Webb from Low Newton Hall talk about wooding small holdings. Trees offer huge benefits. If you are interested in planting more trees on your land, please get in touch with The Great Northumberland Forest team via enquiries.forest@northumberland.gov.uk
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New woodland path improves public access in Belford
Belford Woodland Volunteers have been working with Northumberland County Council to replace the old footpath through the Community Woodland to Belford Medical Practice. Weeds, grass, old stone and soil were removed by the volunteer group, and a weed mat, bought by Belford Community Group, was laid. The 16-year-old footpath has been replaced, and once walked on and weathered, will set like concrete, making it easier for families and wheelchair users to access the woodland area.
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Climate change workshops from RE:geon
Workshops are now available from RE:geon for community groups and individuals in the North of Tyne area to drive awareness around climate change and the impacts on our planet.
Workshops include:
- How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint - how to understand, measure and reduce your emissions from your lifestyle with better choices.
- Introduction to Environmental Awareness - shows learners what environmental wellbeing is, how this is connected to their overall wellbeing and how to improve your environmental wellbeing.
- How to Reduce your plastic use - showing learners how to understand, measure and reduce their personal plastic use.
- Sustainable Consumption Choices - how to reduce, repurpose, reuse, recycle and rot.
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Launch of climate resources for Northumberland schools
We have been working in partnership with the Ministry of Eco Education to launch the ‘Climate Change and Sustainability in Northumberland: Schools Resource Pack’.
Following a rise in climate anxiety amongst young people, the ‘Climate Change and Sustainability in Northumberland: Schools Resource Pack’ has been created by the climate change team at Northumberland County Council and aims to help school staff inspire students, alleviate climate anxiety and empower them to take action locally.
The resource explores issues and solutions at a local level, investigating topics such as energy, nature, water, society and policy, transport, food and waste in Northumberland.
Within the resource, staff can expect to find Northumberland-based information, ideas for local school trips and days out, tips on how to become a carbon neutral school and discussions around some of the big questions about renewables, recycling and nature. |
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| Climate Change and Sustainability in Northumberland: Schools Resource Pack: Launch event A launch event is taking place where all school staff are welcome to join to find out more about what is included in the resource and how they can make the most of it within their schools.
Date: Monday 9 October
Time: 4:15pm - 5:15pm
Location: Via Zoom
If you are a member of school staff in Northumberland and are interested in finding out more, please sign up.
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This email has been produced by the Northumberland County Council Communications team. |
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| You can also view this email online here if it doesn't display correctly |
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