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All the latest community climate change news for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Community Climate Action Email February 2018

Welcome to the February edition of the Community Climate Action newsletter. There are lots of exciting events in the area in the next few months. We hope to see you at some of them.
 
Get news throughout the month:
 
www.everybodys-talking.org
Twitter: @CCANNetwork
 
Got Any News?
 
Most of the items in this newsletter are contributed by readers. If you have anything you’d like us to include in the March e-newsletter please send it to ccan@mea.org.uk by Monday 26th February
 

The Wedding is in Nottingham and Derby this month

Local Events


The Wedding
1st Feb - 3rd Feb, Nottingham Playhouse
8th Feb - 10th Feb, Derby Theatre
Post show Panel Q&A: Fri 2nd Feb in Nottingham and Fri 9th Feb in Derby
Book tickets: http://bit.ly/2kqiISu

The Wedding, a new theatre production created by Amit Lahav and presented by Gecko, is coming to Derby Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse in February 2018. Do you feel you’re out-of-line with the direction the world is heading in? Do you want to make a positive change in your community? Then this is the show for you.

There will be a post-show Panel Q&A in Nottingham on Fri 2nd Feb and in Derby on Fri 9th Feb for anyone who would like to explore the issues raised in more detail or who is interested in making a positive change in their community. See also the item below for some workshops taking place. Book tickets: https://tinyurl.com/yas7h7pp

 

The Wedding Workshop
Saturday 3rd Feb, Nottingham 
Saturday 10th February, Derby
Both: 1pm-4pm
FREE

If you’ve been inspired by The Wedding (see above item) and/or would like to see change in your community, come along, meet new people and join Gecko in exploring your feelings and ideas.
  • How do we make change happen? 
  • How do we take part in the positive shaping of our local communities? 
  • What is our vision for the future and what legacy will we leave for the next generation?
This free workshop will discuss the show’s themes of integration, social cohesion and change, led by Gecko’s Artistic Director Amit Lahav. Book online: https://tinyurl.com/yas7h7pp

Basket Making Workshop
Saturday 3rd-4th February, 10am-4pm each day
Derbyshire Eco Centre, Middleton-by-Wirksworth
£88
 
Use fresh cut willows and hedgerow stems to make spectacular and functional baskets for indoor and outdoor use. To book call 01629 533038 email ecocentre@derbyshire.gov.uk
 
Frack Free Notts Alternative Market Stall
Sat 3rd Feb, 11am-3pm
Sneinton Vegan Market
 
Drop off your spare pallets, building supplies, firewood, food donations and pennies for Misson Springs Protection Camp. Free anti-fracking info for every visitor. https://tinyurl.com/ya26w7jb
 
Nottingham Repair Café
Saturday 3rd February, 2pm-5pm
Sherwood Methodist Church. Devon Drive, Nottingham
Free, donations welcome
 
Bring along your broken household items and a happy band of repair volunteers will help you to fix them. http://bit.ly/2A7lMIe
 
Hedgerow Basket Making Course
Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th February, 10am-4pm both days
Derbyshire Eco Centre, nr Middleton-by Wirksworth
£88
 
Use fresh cut willows and hedgerow stems to make spectacular and functional baskets for indoor and outdoor use. Book your place: 01629 533038 or ecocentre@derbyshire.gov.uk.
 
Hedgelaying Course
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th February, 10am-4pm both days
Derbyshire Eco Centre, nr Middleton-by Wirksworth
£78 (concessions of £70 and £39 available)
 
Learn to lay a hedge in the traditional Derbyshire style, for the benefit of wildlife and the landscape. Book your place: 01629 533038 or ecocentre@derbyshire.gov.uk.
 
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop
10th February, 10am-2pm
Whistlewood Common
£35, including delicious home-cooked lunch and refreshments
(a limited number of concessionary places are available)
 
Sarah Spencer and Graham Truscott, both experienced Permaculture designers, will guide you through the practical aspects of fruit tree care and pruning. They will also look at how to grow fruit trees using permaculture principles, to create healthy, integrated systems. You will get hands-on (supervised) experience of pruning some of Whistlewood’s 150 young fruit trees. The morning session will take place at a local, more mature, orchard. You will experience formative, maintenance and renovation pruning. http://bit.ly/2qagUSV
 
Dry Stone Walling – Lantra Level 2
Thursdays & Fridays from 23rd Feb-18th May, 9am-4:30pm
£590 (concessions of £550 and £290 available)
 
Develop your existing dry stone walling skills by learning how to build a wall end to a high standard. Book your place: 01629 533038 or ecocentre@derbyshire.gov.uk.
 
Talk: The Strutts and Waterpower
Sunday 11th February, 5pm
No.28, Market Place, Belper
£4 per person, booking essential
Organised by Strutt’s North Mill
 
Ian Jackson reveals his most recent discoveries on how Strutts used water to power their mills and how power is still generated today. Book: admin@belpernorthmill.org.uk or 01773 880474.
 
Democratic, Decentralised and Decarbonised Energy Systems
Energy Technologies Building, University of Nottingham Innovation Park
Tuesday 13th February, 12:30pm-6pm
Organised by Regen and Western Power Distribution (WPD)
Free
 
This interactive event will explore:
  • What the shift from DNO to distribution system operator (DSO) means to you
  • How we can best work together to achieve a more democratic system
  • The latest WPD innovation projects and how you can get involved
  • The learning from inspirational and innovative community energy projects
  • Local energy market platforms – what they might look like and how you can help shape them
Speakers will include Ben Aylott from Carbon Co-Op, Dr Lewis Carmeron from the University of Nottingham and Yiango Mavrocostanti from WPD. We will also be talking with members of Project SCENe regarding their new housing development in the Trent basin that will demonstrate a new and scalable model of doing energy and housing more sustainably and equitably. Register here.
 
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop
Sunday 4th March, 1:30pm
Inspire Community Garden, Chesterfield
£2
 
A demonstration, discussion and some practical pruning of established apple trees and the apples, pears and plums planted last year in the garden, which were two-years old at the time of planting. Book your place: info@inspirecommunitygarden.org.uk  
 
Bird Box Building Workshop
Sunday 11th March, 1:30pm
Inspire Community Garden, Chesterfield
£2

A demonstration, discussion and practical building of different types of box for specific birds and bats. Book your place: info@inspirecommunitygarden.org.uk
 
Propagate, Prosper, Preserve - A series of Workshops
10th March, 10th June, 9th September, 11.00 am to 4 pm
Whistlewood Common with Ryan Sandford-Blackburn
Cost: £35 per workshop or £95 if all 3 are booked
Includes handouts, some plant takeaways, food and home-cooked lunch at all 3 workshops.
(a limited number of concessionary places are available)
  • Propagate - Sat, 10th March. The underlying theme of the first workshop will be proliferation. It will cover planning your growing space and plant propagation.
  • Prosper - Sunday, 10th June. Bring life to your soil to grow healthy food for you, your family and friends. This workshop will cover ‘no dig’ garden beds, composting and mulching and green manure.
  • Preserve - Sunday, 9th September. Plan what to do with your harvest. Learn about making preserves and juice, as well as drying fruit. We can also cover setting up social systems, like small community groups, to help preserve and share abundant harvests.
http://bit.ly/2CrZCqi

Visit one of Britain's first community-owned renewables

Featured Local Events


Torrs Hydro Study Tour
Saturday 17th March, 10am
Torrs Hydro, New Mills
Organised by Marches Energy Agency/Community Climate Action Network
Free.
 
A chance to visit one of Britain’s first community-owned hydro projects and hear from those who made it happen. Torrs Hydro is owned by more than 200 local shareholders, sells the power it generates to the local Co-operative supermarket and has given grants to many local community projects. Come and meet ‘Archie’ (the single archimedes screw turbine) and hear from some of the volunteer Directors who make the project happen. This tour is specifically aimed at those who are thinking of starting their own community-owned renewable project (whatever source of power you’re thinking of using) and would like to get inspiration and advice from those who have already done it. Book your place: https://tinyurl.com/y8uvgwbn
 
We have a small fund available to assist with travel costs to the event, if travel costs would otherwise be a barrier to your attending. Please email Caroline Harmon for more information: caroline.harmon@mea.org.uk
 
A case study of Torrs Hydro will be available on our website soon: https://tinyurl.com/ycytzh64

 

East Midlands Community-Owned Renewables Conference
Saturday 28th April
Hockerton Housing Project
Organised by Marches Energy Agency/ Community Climate Action Network
FREE, including lunch and refreshments

A one-day conference for community groups in the East Midlands that are interested in setting up a community-owned renewable project. The emphasis will be on helping communities navigate and overcome barriers created by recent policy and funding changes. Speakers announced to date include:
  • Emma Bridge ,Community Energy England
  • Jeremy Thorpe, Share Energy
  • Sustainable Hockerton
The day will include engaging speakers, inspiring project examples, interactive workshops and time to meet others who are considering similar projects. There will also be a chance to hear more about 121 tailored follow up support available for a limited number of groups to help them move to the next stage of their project.

Book your free place: https://tinyurl.com/y9nhzft8

Local residents will have their views on fracking heard at a council meeting

Local News


Public Given Chance to Speak at Fracking Meeting
 
Planning committee members at Derbyshire County Council will hear the views of interested groups, including local residents, at a meeting on 5th February before deciding on the council's position over a proposal to explore shale gas reserves near Eckington − which is subject to a planning appeal.
 
Oil and chemical firm INEOS wants to erect a drilling rig up to 60 metres tall and drill around 2,400 metres below the ground off Bramleymoor Lane, in the village of Marsh Lane, to investigate the suitability of the rock for 'fracking'. The proposals − which are to carry out underground investigations only, not fracking − are already set to be considered by a Planning Inspector at a public inquiry on 19th June as part of an appeal. The appeal was started by INEOS in December because it was not prepared to allow more time for the council to make a decision on its planning application. 

Mike Ashworth, Derbyshire County Council's Strategic Director for Economy, Transport and Environment, said: ’We're aware of the depth of feeling about this planning application and have reviewed our approach to the meeting next week so that the committee has a chance to hear views from relevant parties speaking for and against the proposal.’ More: https://tinyurl.com/ydysws3e

Big Energy Saving Advice Available in Notts and Derbyshire This Winter

Marches Energy Agency is able to offer energy advice sessions to those who are struggling to keep their home warm and/or to pay their energy bills this winter. We can visit groups of people who would like advice, offer one-to-one advice at these session, and can also offer free training sessions for Frontline Workers who regularly come into contact with people who are struggling. If you would like to know more or are interested in booking a session please contact Peter Burgess-Allen: peter@mea.org.uk
 
Newark Home Cuts Energy Used For Heating by More Than 90%
 
A home in Newark, Nottinghamshire that was retrofitted in 2010/11 as part of a Government-funded project is now using just 9% of the energy it previously used for space and water heating. Overall energy use has been reduced by 75%, with the carbon emissions from the remaining use offset by a cost-effective investment in off-site renewables. The home is using 47% less energy than official figures predicted it would post-retrofit.
 
The work was carried out by Hockerton Housing Project who have written a short blog on how the home is still using a lot less energy seven years later: https://tinyurl.com/y95vt8cp
 
Permission Granted for Nine New Eco Homes in Nottinghamshire
 
Planning permission has been granted for nine new earth-sheltered houses in Eakring, Nottinghamshire. The eco homes have been designed by Hockerton Housing Project and will sit on the edge of the village. The homes were granted planning permission, despite being on a greenfield site, because of their energy saving credentials, as well as their affordability and appeal to both young people and downsizers. The development will also have reed beds which will improve the biodiversity of the site. https://tinyurl.com/y8t7n9bx
 
Matlock Food Assembly Launches
 
A new Food Assembly has launched in Matlock. Food Assemblies connect local people to their local food producers. It’s a combination of a farmer’s market and online shopping. You simply order online from a wide range of local products, then pick them up from The Remarkable Hare in Matlock between 5:30pm and 6:30pm each Thursday. https://tinyurl.com/y74vabh7
 
Locally, there are also Food Assemblies in Derby and Nottingham. If there isn’t one near you, then why not consider starting one: https://tinyurl.com/o47bugm
 
Book Your Belper Goes Green Stall
 
Belper Goes Green, Belper’s popular eco festival, is taking place on Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd June this year. If you’d like to book a stall then the online booking form is now available. Spaces tend to fill up fast, so book soon: https://tinyurl.com/ydeo62l7
 
Free Cycle Stands Available For All Businesses in Derby
 
Businesses in Derby can claim up to five free cycle stands from D2N2. All you have to do is install them. Businesses, shops, landlords & not-for-profit organisations are all eligible. Secure cycle parking helps reduce cycle theft, encourages cycling and promotes your green credentials. https://tinyurl.com/ondwk39

A new resource is helping scientists to communicate their work on climate change

National News

RESOURCE: New Communications Handbook Published for the IPCC
 
A new communications handbook has been published to help the world’s leading climate scientists communicate their work to the wider world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) commissioned Climate Outreach to write the handbook, which offers six principles for effective communication based on evidence-based research. 
 
The handbook can be downloaded for free from Climate Outreach’s website and you can join the handbook’s lead author Dr Adam Corner, and Dr Roz Pidcock, Head of Communications at IPCC WG1, in a webinar on Monday 5 February at 3pm to hear about key insight from the Handbook: https://tinyurl.com/yazw8fzz
 
SURVEY: Community Energy – State of the Sector 
 
Community Energy England is conducting an online survey to help it understand the community energy sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is seeking responses from community groups with existing or in-development energy generation or low carbon initiatives. The results will be crucial in influencing government policy over the next 12 months and will help to raise awareness of the importance of community energy. The research will also feed into the ongoing work to support and aid communities to develop their own low carbon projects.

If you are a member of a community energy organisation please take part in the survey: https://tinyurl.com/ybf9zcvn. If your organisation took part in last year’s State of the Sector please do not use the survey link above, Your organisation will be provided with a tailored survey. The survey closes on 23rd February.
 
This will be the second consecutive year that CEE has conducted a study. The State of the Sector report that resulted from last year’s survey can be found here.
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