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List of the Public Maps available. Use them to see who around you is undertaking climate and environment action
Click on the map title to be taken to that public map. Please note that there are a lot of data downloading to some of the maps, which may take a few seconds to show if you have a slow connection - please be patient: when you select a layer, there is stuff coming! (ie there are no empty layers)
If you are not yet familiar with our Digital Mapping, please click on the link for our guide
If you have other maps, or believe that your parish should be added to these ones, please contact us at [email protected]
The following topics are covered here:
Flood Alert, Risk, and Warning Areas, Flood Zones, plus Climate Change, Flood Defences
Note: there is a discussion group that we run here for anyone interested in flooding:
if you are already a Great Collaboration Hylo member, then
If you are not already a Great Collaboration Hylo user, please click here to join (not yet set up, but in hand)
Those projects being undertaken by parishes, with contact information to put you in touch with the relevant person. Use this to see all the projects around the country, and find the ones near you:
Community Allotments, Composting, Orchards
Energy Projects, and Efficiency
Equipment Library
EV Charging
These are groups which have at least 3 active volunteers working in them. The following groups are covered:
Allotments Association
Camera Club
Community Fridge
Parish Cluster
To find out more about the Great Collaboration,
Welcome to the "Knowledgebase", where all the Great Collaboration documents, datasets, and links for use by the general public are kept. It is an ever-growing work-in-progress. If you have any items to contribute, or suggested amendments/improvements, please would you email us at [email protected]
The Knowledgebase is divided into pages and subpages, listed in the left menu column. The sections are:
Climate action is already happening extensively at parish and town council levels, as well as within community groups, and this presents a valuable opportunity to share good practices more broadly.
Three things can help us with this:
Framework – an easily-searched data base of actions that can happen at the local level (sometimes referred to as “making the climate jungle more navigable”!)
Network – exchanging good practice and requests for guidance amongst and between local councils and their local action groups.
Nature Recovery
Other (a delightfully miscellaneous title covering projects not otherwise categorised)
Public Transport
Renewable Energy
Repair Cafés
Shared Transport
Tree Planting
Joined-up work – effective partnership working not just horizontally at local level but also vertically from local places up through higher-tier local authorities to Government.
Our starting point is the Great Collaboration website (www.greatcollaboration.uk), where individuals can select from 60 climate actions and register their involvement or intentions by postcode. This data helps local councils assess climate action within their areas.
Over the past two years, the Herefordshire Green Network has successfully piloted the website, giving talks to Herefordshire parishes and supporting its use. Now managed by The Place-Based Initiative Ltd, the platform will expand nationally, incorporating collective actions for councils and community groups and featuring a digital map of parish-level activities.
Communication is the key to the next steps. Our aim is to:
gather information from local councils and groups as to their information requirements.
develop a county-based network for sharing good practice locally and nationally.
incorporate these elements in a web-based portal that enables two-way exchanges.
contact national bodies and funders to advise and support the initiative going forwards.
We have started this process by organising free weekly "Banter sessions" with speakers on special topics followed by a wider discussion, and everyone is welcome! You can join these sessions via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcu2urjMvGdJH09t0GQ72fBJSFr9zzIDj
Please contact us via [email protected] if you would like to:
help us to develop new guidance and case studies, maybe sharing your own good practice
offer to be a point of contact for a particular type of action or expertise - whether climate or environmental action, nature recovery or supporting biodiversity
support regular communication between ourselves and local communities.
Dealing with climate change to improve the future of our families and communities is now more important than ever. Let us work on this together – we look forward to hearing from you!

Introduction to the Great Collaboration - who, why, and what we are
Topics ordered by our taxonomy (see here for the full details)
Events: We have weekly "banter sessions" - Zoom calls that combine a presentation on a topic with an open discussion around it, and anything else people want to cover. The cover page is a table of all the banter sessions you can view in reverse calendar order. We are also listing the "Climate Actions Plan" workshops run by Community Client Action. Other events - online and in-person - will be listed here as well.

How to use the Digital Mapping facilities
This is a sub-page of Introduction to the Great Collaboration/How to Use this Site
If you are already familiar with our digital mappoing and have no need of this guide, please jump directly to the available maps themselves, please click here
The digital maps that we present - via a product called XMAP - use a facility therein called 'Public Map'. Public Map presents a digital map of the United Kingdom as the 'underlay' or base map, on top of which we can add layers of information. These layers are held in a layer box at the top left of the map. In the example below (a public map called Environment), the layers are in the box marked "Floods"
In this example above, you see only the base map - no layers are displayed
Note that the map is fully scrollable (up/down, left/right) and zoomable (in/out):
To scroll, left-click on your mouse anywhere on the land, and drag the map to where you want it
To zoom, there are two methods:
Use the '+' and '-' buttons at the top left to zoom in or out
If your mouse has a scrolling wheel, zoom in or out by rolling the wheel
The details on the map change dramatically the more that one zooms in. The range of zooming is huge:
Fully zoomed out, you see the whole of Britain (only major cities, no roads)
Fully zoomed in, the full screen can represent less than one metre on the ground
In between: you can choose a whole village, a whole parish, a whole county, a whole region
In this next example, we have zoomed in and scrolled down and left to show part of the South West of England (known for flooding), and have clicked on the down arrow on the layer box ("Floods"):
Note the choice of Flood layers available. Layers are turned on or off by "toggling" - click once on a layer name to turn it on or expand the choices, click on it a second time to turn off or reduce the choices.
In this next example, we have toggled on the 'Flood Zones' layer. Note how the Flood Zones line in the layer box has expanded to show the legend used in the resulting map (light blue for FloodZone 2, darker for FloodZone 3):
As yet, there is no flooding information showing on the map. The black circle with the white tick indicates that we have selected the desired collection ("Flood Zones"). To add in the data, click on one of the FloodZone layers - say, FZ2. That produces the picture below:
This is not particularly impressive, but look what happens when you zoom in:
Now you can see how the Somerset Levels get their name - much of the winter is spent underwater!
You can toggle on as many layers as you wish at the same time - depending on the topic, this can either help to improve the understanding, or - as in this case - would totally confuse the whole picture. To toggle a layer on or off, remember, simply click on the layer itself in the layer box. To close the whole layer box (to get it out of the way), just click on the up arrow in its top right corner. The selected layers will stay on when you close the box - open the box again later if you want to change the layers, or close them all down.
'Public Map also has a facility - called "Info Click" -that enables you to access the data on any individual record displayed on the map. This does not apply to an area map such as the Floods above, so let us choose another Public Map to demonstrate. This time, we have gone with Parish Activities:
Click on the 'Parish Project' layer box, and open the 'Community Orchards' layer:
Note the orchards all over East Anglia, zoom in and click on the one just south of Norwich:
Note that there are actually two orchard icons in that area (if we had zoomed in further, they would have clearly separated), so to be sure which of the two you actually intended, Info Click asks you to select which one you want. Let's go for Mulbarton:
Note that the data record for Mulbarton has opened, to give you the data that you need should you wish to connect to the person running the Community Orchard - in this case, the Parish Clerk. Note that this is a scrollable box, there is more data available. Click on the 'x' in the top right of the Info Click box to close it.
To jump to a specific postal code area, simply enter the postal code into the Search box at the top right of the screen. In the example below, we have entered a post code for the other side of the country, just so that you can see the effect:
Note that the entered postcode has a matching entry in the drop-down box below it. If you do not get a drop-down box, then either the postcode you entered is incorrect, or is so new that the Ordnance Survey has yet to record it on their digital map of the UK. To jump to the desired area, click on the entry in the drop-down box (NOT the entry in the search box above it):
See how the scale has changed for the new location. You may wish to zoom out a bit to confirm where the map has jumped to:
On this page, you have learned about how to use the digital mapping facility in the Great Collaboration's Knowledgebase:
How to zoom in and out
How to scroll up, down, left, and right
How to add/remove layers to/from the base map for enhanced information
How to Info Click to get access to the data record associated with any mapped feature
click on the link above to go to the available maps
Welcome to the Great Collaboration Knowledgebase!
This site is designed to support community climate action by providing a centralized repository of knowledge, tools, and resources. Whether you are new to climate action or a seasoned advocate, this guide will help you make the most of our platform.
Navigating the Site
Search the Knowledgebase
Use the search bar (top of the menu bar, to your left) to find specific articles or resources
A Best Practice toolkit to be used to prepare your community for emergencies and disasters. Specifically written for London communities, its principles can be applied anywhere. Comes with a template
Note that there are two downloads at the above website: a completed toolkit as a worked example, and a template to make your own toolkit
This is a sub-page of Most Frequently Sought topics
More details are
Steps to help you plan how to reduce your carbon footprint
Toolkit images and videos that you can use to get the message across
Carbon Copy's opening page for Guidance, Case Histories, and Guides to applying home insulation in the UK. Britain’s leaky homes make the energy crisis worse. Our country has the oldest and least insulated housing stock in western Europe, meaning that we lose heat through walls, windows and doors quickly after turning off the radiators. We can make home insulation a bigger priority by retrofitting millions of existing, ageing buildings and insisting all new homes are zero carbon. The good news is that everything we do to insulate our homes and make them more comfortable to live in not only cuts expensive energy bills but also reduces the impact on the environment.
You can search using keywords, phrases, or questions
Explore by Topic
The menu bar to the left is arranged according to our Taxonomy (see here for full details)
Once past the "Most Frequently Sought topics" listing, the menus are in alphabetical order
Use the "MostFrequently Sought" menu to jump to key categories such as:
Climate Action Planning
Community Engagement
Renewable Energy
Waste Reduction
Each category is further broken down into subtopics for easier navigation
Discover Related Content:
At the bottom of every article, you’ll find links to related topics and resources to expand your understanding.
Interactive Tools:
Look for tools like calculators, templates, and action planners in relevant sections
Mapping - for guidance in using the mapping facilities, click on the link
Using the Content
Reading Articles
Articles are structured with clear headings and summaries for quick reading.
Key takeaways and actionable tips are highlighted at the end of each article.
Accessing Resources
Many pages include downloadable materials such as guides, templates, or presentations.
External links provide direct access to authoritative sources.
Contributing Your Knowledge
We encourage community members to contribute! Use the "Contribute" link in the menu to submit your knowledge or suggest updates to existing content.
Engaging with the Community
Discussion Forums
Join discussions or ask questions in our forums, accessible via the community hub.
Share your experiences and learn from others.
Events Calendar
Check out upcoming climate action events and webinars listed on the calendar page.
Contact Experts
Reach out to topic experts listed in the "Community of Practice" section for guidance.
Tips for Effective Use
Bookmark pages or sections that are particularly relevant to your work.
Use tags and filters to customize your view of the content.
Take notes using our "My Projects" feature (if available) to keep track of actionable insights.
Set aside time to review updates and new additions to the knowledgebase regularly.
To ensure the site is intuitive and effective, consider the following structure:
Top-Level Categories
Introduction to Climate Action
Basics of climate change and community action.
Key Action Areas
Energy, Transport, Food, Waste, Biodiversity, etc.
Guides and Tools
Step-by-step guides, templates, and calculators.
Case Studies
Examples of successful community initiatives.
Resources
Links to reports, websites, and policy documents.
Community Hub
Forums, events calendar, and expert contact directory.
Subcategories
Each key action area should have consistent subcategories:
Overview
Strategies and Best Practices
Tools and Resources
Case Studies
Site Features
Search and Filter Tools: Advanced options for finding content by tags, topics, or keywords.
Interactive Tools: Integrated tools for planning and assessment.
Personalized Dashboard: Allow users to save content or create action plans.
Feedback Mechanisms: Enable users to provide feedback on articles or suggest improvements.
How to use the Postcode search box












This workbook is based on the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS)
This workbook is designed to help Town and Parish Councils and other interested people take action by signposting to activities that can assist with the implementation of the strategy at a local citizen led level.
You can download this workbook by following this link https://middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk/nature-recovery-town-parish-councils/
The following topics are listed under here:
Low-carbon materials
Passif Haus, Passive house standards
The following topics can be found here:
emissions calculators (including Online Carbon Claculators)
Home energy efficiency calculators (including Online Carbon Calculators
The following topics are included here: (click on links to go to a page):
Audiences
Messages
This is the title page for a selection of files and advice
How to build better ability to resist all sorts of issues: weather-related (flooding, wind,fire) and the resulting possible loss of food, energy, communications, external services (hospitals, etc)
This is a sub-page of LANDSCAPE/Great Outdoors
The following topics are covered here:
How to replicate the Hay Community Resilience Model (a Best Practice example)
A sub-page of LANDSCAPE/Gardens
Planning - A simple guide to Biodiversity Net Gain
Documents describing Great Collaboration and its services
Date: June 2025
The Great Collaboration gathers and shares best practice in:
Reducing carbon emissions
Adapting to climate change
Nature recovery and supporting biodiversity
Originally launched in Herefordshire by the Herefordshire Green Network, the initiative is now expanding nationally through the .
✅ A set of actions individuals can take to lower their carbon footprints.
🧾 Parish Council Report Enables town and parish councils to review carbon-reduction actions in their area.
📚 Provides links to further advice for local councils.
💬 Held every Wednesday at midday.
🧰 Includes more collective actions suitable for local groups and councils.
🌍 Connects users with climate and environmental networks across the UK.
📝 New Registration Options For:
🗺️ Digital Mapping Integration with Parish Online for visualizing community actions.
🧑🤝🧑 Online Discussion Forum Organised by:
County
Topic
Target Areas:
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Essex
Norfolk
Suffolk
Key Features:
Local climate advisers
Climate action workshops
Engagement with diverse community groups (e.g. sports clubs, faith groups)
📣 If you're located in East Anglia and your group or council wants to take part, please get in touch!
By stepping into action, we are all contributing to a greener, healthier future.
📨 Contact us: We look forward to hearing from you!
Feel free to use these pictures to reinforce any presentations about climate change. No royalty or copyright concerns
via https://climateoutreach.org
Climate Visuals is the world’s only evidence-based initiative focused on climate change photography.
The Net Zero Technology Outlook is a futures exercise that sets out a ‘best estimate’ of the technology mix needed in key emitting sectors to reach net zero by 2050, and identifies the research, development and demonstration (RD&D) needed to get there. The Outlook provides a strategic overview to help orient decision-making across government and the research community in support of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The Outlook does not reflect UK government policy or official positions.
See the Isle of Wight "Together for Net Zero" website, for pulling communities together to meet the Council strategy:
EV adoption, charging networks, car-sharing schemes
Second Hand EV Ownership
Issues around insulation, secondary glazing and planning permission
The following sub-categories fall under "Food":
Composting and Waste Reduction: Systems for schools and communities
Food Sovereignty: Supporting local farmers, reducing imports
Local Food Systems: Farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture, food partnerships
Measurement Tools: Food carbon footprint calculators, waste auditing tools
Priority Actions: Reduce food waste, promote plant-based options, encourage local sourcing
Plant-based eating, reducing food waste
From Carbon Copy: Instead of imported gas, we can use recovered heat or clean heat from locally generated electricity, coupled with insulation improvements, to make our homes and buildings healthier, more comfortable and cheaper to run. There are a wide range of approaches, from city district heating schemes to individual households switching to low-carbon heating systems.
Find out how low carbon heating schemes are already working in the UK by reading or listening to a couple of our inspiring examples. You can find case studies here (click on the link above)
A guide to policy writing and community engagement for low-carbon neighbourhood plans (3rd edition, Feb 2020).
This guidebook has been developed for neighbourhood planning groups and those supporting the development of neighbourhood plans.
Developing a neighbourhood plan offers a unique opportunity for communities to proactively set out a positive and ambitious vision for the future and increase resilience in the face of challenges associated with climate emergency.
Rural parish of 600: restoring a common and pond; soft plastic recycling drop-off; thermal imaging and winter-proofing
Starting an environmental group from scratch in a small rural community: Nature/Land use; Rivers; Waste; Energy
Running an Eco-Festival
600 attendees; demonstrating the strong sense of community power
The following sub-categories fall under "Energy":
Community Energy: Renewable co-operatives, shared resources.
Education and Advocacy: Workshops, policy engagement
Energy Storage: Batteries, local microgrids
Solar PV, wind turbines, hydro-electricity, hydrogen, geothermal
Grid Decarbonization: Transition to green energy suppliers.
Measurement Tools: Renewable energy potential calculators, grid dependency metrics.
Priority Actions: Transition to renewable suppliers, develop community solar farms.
Developing and supporting a local nature recovery action plan.
By law, all English public authorities – including town and parish councils – have a duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity in exercising their functions. With the exception of town and parish councils, public authorities must also “report on actions taken to meet this duty”.
They must “have regard to any relevant local nature recovery strategy”. The 48 cover the whole of England, and are required by Government to contain:
A local habitat map.
A written statement of biodiversity priorities.
Town and parish councils Government guidance published in May 2023 outlines three key responsibilities for town and parish councils:
Topics will cover:
grants
technologies
The following sub-categories fall under "Journeys":
Active Travel: Cycling, walking infrastructure, safe routes
Logistics and Freight: Localized supply chains, efficient delivery models
: EV adoption, charging networks, car-sharing schemes, hydrogen
"Biodiversity" is a Top Level Category in our Taxonomy.
The following sub-categories fall under "Biodiversity":
Habitat Restoration:
Rewilding
Tree planting
What do British people think and feel about climate change and nature in 2025? And how do we involve and engage everyone when we talk about it?
Join us as we provide insights into our comprehensive run-down of how people are thinking and feeling about climate change in 2025 - designed to support communicators and leaders to engage across British society - thinking practically about how Britain Talks Climate can be used and put into practice.
The webinar will include detailed presentations into the findings from our research team followed by a Q&A session.
Date: Thursday 11th September 2025
Time: 11:00 - 12:15
Helpful information about how to go about creating and maintaining Community Gardens, and why they are important
This is a sub-page to LANDSCAPE/Gardens
- online version
- pdf version you can download
The following sub-categories fall under "Buildings":
Energy Efficiency: Home insulation, double/triple glazing, draught-proofing.
Renewable Energy: Solar panels, heat pumps, community energy schemes.
Retrofitting: Grants, technologies, and case studies.
A sustainable diet is a dietary pattern that is healthy for individuals, environmentally friendly, accessible, and culturally acceptable.
It aims to minimize the negative impacts of food production and consumption on the planet while ensuring food and nutrition security for present and future generations.
A freely available geothermal energy information hub, provided by DESNZ. Summary layers provide a map overview of geothermal energy potential for four technologies, whilst a map explorer and a data access page enable you to view more detailed geoscientific datasets from several organisations. A user guide and examples are also provided.
Renewable geothermal and related underground thermal-energy storage technologies have the potential to decarbonise heating, cooling and energy storage across the UK as it moves towards net zero emissions. The potential varies, depending on the subsurface geology and type of technology. Some areas of the UK currently have potential for geothermal power and heat, and innovations being demonstrated globally are likely to broaden those areas.
The following topics are covered:
Local Plans
Planning Applications
A range of options to help save energy in your community building right now. Not only will this help keep costs down, if your building is warmer and more comfortable, more people will want to use it.
Project to add whips, and capture carbon
Funding sources
Requirements; skills, resources, materials, permission, contractors, steps to success
The following topics are covered here:
Install insulation
promote energy audits
The foilowing topics are covered here:
bridleways
footpaths
Networks - a linking of people, events, projects, etc - are a powerful way of keeping communities involved and inspired and aware of what is going on around them
Networks frequently use newsletters to keep people up-to-date. See for an example of a best practice newsletter as produced by our Best Practice network.
A Best Practice example of a county-based network to help improve low-carbon take up is:
A page for entries that do not require a page of their own
Carbon Copy is a fabulous source of Case Histories ("1000 Climate Action Stories") to show who is doing what, where. See under their Stories tab for full details
Their 'Check your Area' tab brings up superb climate data for your area, and in particular, the 'Local Warming Stripes' give a colour-coded history of temperature change in that area since before the Industrial Revolution
specifically for Local Authorities
The is a step-by-step guide for Local Authorities and their stakeholders to develop and deliver a local tree strategy and harness the long-term benefits that trees can bring to local communities. It provides practical guidance, insightful case studies from ten Local Authorities around the country and an array of other useful resources.
Website: Isle of Wight platform to discuss, share, connect and build a community of action around the Isle of Wight Council's 2040 Mission Zero strategy:
Conversion of an unused playing field into an orchard and wildflower meadow. Details the results, and the time involved over several years
Adaptation: the process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change
The four types of adaptation actions are:
Infrastructural - eg building seawalls or inland flood defences
Institutional - eg providing new insurance schemes
Behavioural - eg changing diet, cycling more
There are a number of obstacles to instituting 20mph zones, and there are different possible approaches to the issue.
Lower speed limits are usually requested for safety reasons, not least for children and cyclists -see more in a publication from the . There is also an insurance perspective from .
Potential obstacles include:
County Highways unwillingness
Police objections
Wetland creation
Measurement Tools:
Biodiversity indices
Habitat mapping tools
Natural Capital Mapping:
Bioblitz
Biodiversity surveys
Ecosystem services valuation
Priority Actions:
Develop local biodiversity action plans
Enhance biodiversity in urban areas
Protect existing habitats
Urban Biodiversity:
Community gardens
Green roofs
Pollinator pathways
Water quality:
Monitoring
Runoff
Treatment
Wildlife Corridors:
Connecting habitats
Preventing fragmentation
Housing Design: Passive house standards, low-carbon materials.
Measurement Tools: Home energy efficiency calculators, emissions calculators.
Priority Actions: Install insulation, promote energy audits, switch to renewable heating systems.
Water efficiency: low-flow taps, rainwater harvesting
Nature-based options - eg changing crop planting times or varieties, installing green roofs or green spaces
🔎 Searchable Knowledgebase To improve access to resources and shared learning.
Consider biodiversity in their area
Agree policies and objectives to support it
Act to deliver those objecyives
Shropshire Association of Local Councils, Middle Marches Community Land Trust and other partners have worked together to design an editable workbook to help Town and Parish Councils and other interested people take action by signpodting to activities that can assist with the implementation of Shropshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy at a local citizen led level.
The developers of the workbook are very happy if their template is customised for use in other counties.
Measurement Tools: Transport emissions calculators, traffic density mapping
Priority Actions: Promote active travel, improve public transport, develop EV infrastructure
Public Transport: Accessibility, subsidies, infrastructure investment.
Tree Preservation Orders
shading
SUDS
There is national guidance at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits/setting-local-speed-limits, but each county will have its own policy in this matter.
There will be examples of successful approaches shown here over time, but speaking to your county or unitary councillor can be a first step to understanding the local process.
From: Chris Pointon <[email protected]> Date: Fri, May 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM Subject: Re: Great Collaboration Banter session 71: Great Collaboration update To: Jenny Barna <[email protected]> Cc: Graham Stoddart-Stones <[email protected]>, Andrew Maliphant <[email protected]>, Graham Stoddart-Stones <[email protected]>, Joolz Thompson <[email protected]> As far as I can Google, "Passive House" and "PassivHaus" mean the same thing:
https://ukalternativeenergy.co.uk/passive-house-or-passivhaus/
There are other low energy standards such as EnerPhit and PHI Low Energy Building (LEB):
https://passipedia.org/_media/picopen/9f_160815_phi_building_criteria_en.pdf
These are not Passive House standard, but are still a high standard of energy efficiency. Last year, following a pilot, Cambridge City Council opted for their own "Cam Standard" for council-owned properties that is slightly lower than Passive House but higher than LEB. They found that fulfilling some Passive House requirements was disproportionately costly for the benefit.
That Passipedia site - https://passipedia.org/ - is probably the best jumping off point for people who really want to dig into Passive Houses.
Relevant statutory powers for town and parish councils
This page will cover the following topics:
Hydro-electric
Solar PV
Wind Turbines
Hay Community has built a resilience initiative which is outstanding in its effectiveness, and its ability to pull the community together to be self-sufficient in an emergency
There are presentations in the Banter sessions that show the steps that Hay has gone through, and do a wonderful job of demonstrating the stages achieved:
Link: Sign up here
With thanks to the European Climate Foundation who funded this research.
Check here to find the answers to the most sought-after topics
Sub-pages here cover: (click on links to jump to pages)
Britain Talks Climate and Nature 2025 - report (from Climate Outreach
Climate Action Plans and Policies
build your own in 10 easy steps
Policy Advocacy
Reduce, Recycle and Reuse:
7 benefits of Recycling
Top 10 reasons to Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
Renewable Energy
Waste Reduction
Bedford Borough Council undertook an ambitious retrofitting project to reduce carbon emission and energy costs. This Case Study describes the RE:FIT programme that was the largest energy-saving project ever to be undertaken by Bedford Borough Council and was carried out using the Greater London Authority's RE:FIT framework.
RE:FIT was an attractive prospect due to its quick start-up and its performance guarantees. The programme also offered a holistic approach to managing sustainability projects across multiple buildings.
The initiative saw works undertaken at several council properties, including solar PV across a range of sites, loft and heating/cooling insulation at Robinson Pool, the installation of a biomass boiler at our headquarters, and the transformation of oil-powered heating to gas. 22 sites underwent upgrades through two phases and the project was funded by a £3.2M investment from the council.
These projects have had a significant impact on our carbon emissions and energy costs. For example, the transition from oil to gas and biomass at Borough Hall saw a saving of around 695 tonnes of CO2. While the upgrades at Robinson Pool delivered a financial saving of £3,791 per annum.
RE:FIT significantly decreased the council's energy costs across a wide range of buildings and reduced our environmental impact by reducing the use of fossil fuels. We were able to effectively measure this impact by investing in AMR meter technology across all council sites and schools in Bedford. RE:FIT measures also reduced the council's carbon emissions by more than 1000 tonnes annually and, from our baseline in 2010, we have cut emissions by 62%.
These impressive savings are helping Bedford Borough Council to reach its target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
The following sub-categories fall under "Landscape":
Agriculture: livestock, arable, allotments, community orchards, vertical farms
Gardens: supporting biodiversity, communmity-gardening, native species, climate-change readiness (heat, drought, flood) flood protection, growing food
Great outdoors: flood risk assessment, wildfires, management
Planning: Neighbourhood Planning, Local Plans, Planning Applications, Tree Preservation Orders, Road Traffic Orders
shading, heat islands, SUDS, footpaths, bridleways,
Streets: Low traffic neighbourhoods, 20 mph zones, cycle paths
A sub-psge of top-level "Landscape"
The following topics live under "Gardens":
supporting biodiversity
native species
flood protection
growing food
guidance and resources for putting on a successful wildlife recording event.
listing topics undertaken at the Community level
The following topics are covered in sub-folders: (click on a link to jump to a page)
deliberative democracy
surveys
workshops
agriculture
A simple guide to Planning - Bidoversity Net Gain
A guide to BioDiversity Net Gain (BNG), specifically as it applies to Planning Applications
Eco Fair:
See here for a video of Natpon's Eco Fair in July 2023: all the topics that you can think of for a local community to consider:
What climate-change Adaptation means for Buildings:
Need to draw up plans for buildings with climate resilience in mind. They will design in adaptation strategies including shutters, insulation, nature-based solutions and storm drainage systems, their motivation being the creation of resilient buildings which will be in use for years to come.
Need to understand the risks their buildings face due to climate change. Measuring these risks, and reporting them to their clients as well as via TCFD where required , is vital, as is mitigating the potential for damage arising from such risks, where possible, to avoid assets becoming ‘stranded’, at risk of obsolescence. Investment in adaptation measures is critical.
Need to understand how climate risk fits into their portfolio and adapt accordingly. Without this knowledge they will be unable to assess the risk they face and how to deal with it.
Must implement climate resilience to enhance the sustainability of new and existing developments in line with local and national obligations and plans, and for the long-term well-being, comfort and resilience of their communities.
Infrastructure: Protecting, maintaining, and strengthening transportation infrastructure from climate change damage. This can include:
Using new materials that can withstand extreme temperatures
Climate proofing underground tunnels
Relocating infrastructure that's past its lifetime or can be severely damaged
Restoring natural floodplains
Consolidating hill slopes near roads and railways with tree planting and maintenance
Operations: Adjusting services, equipment, and procedures to adapt to the future effects of climate change. This can include:
Considering higher temperatures when tendering for new vehicles
Upgrading older equipment
Developing contingency plans
Routes: Avoiding new mass transit corridors in flood-prone areas
Fuel: Using alternative fuels in vehicles to help conserve fuel and reduce emissions
Drainage: Improving drainage or earthworks
Stormwater management: Using proper stormwater management techniques
The Warm Homes Plan is a UK government initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in homes, reducing heating costs, and promoting cleaner energy. It includes grants for heat pumps, insulation
This is a sub-page of Most Frequently Sought Topics. For more GOV.UK information,
The Warm Homes Plan is a UK government initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in homes, reducing heating costs, and promoting cleaner energy. It includes grants for heat pumps, insulationupgrades, and support for low-income households, targeting around 300,000 home upgrades by 2026.
The Warm Homes Plan is a UK government initiative aimed at improving energy efficiency in homes, reducing heating costs, and promoting cleaner energy sources. It targets up to 300,000 homes for upgrades by 2026, focusing on low-income households and renters.
Funding sources for local projects
- the county council has kindly listed local grant funds
Essex - the has some links, also the and the . The Essex Community Foundation's deadline has passed, but the county grants team can still be called on 01245 356018. is a funding opportunity designed to empower local communities to take action in Essex for nature. Community groups, charities, schools and other local organisations can apply for grants of £500 to £2,000 to support nature-based projects that contribute to local nature recovery and community wellbeing. Applications close on 31st December 2025.
The following sub-categories fall under "Society":
Business: ESG commitments, co-ordinating with local business sustainability programmes
Communication: audiences, messages, channels
Community involvement: audiences, channels, messages, networks,
Using real-time information systems
Culture: Fashion, entertainment, consumption and consumer waste, culture change, messaging, social media
Legal: Legal incentives and constraints, changing the law, international obligations, legal rights
Money: Grants and bids, other financing, financial incentives and constraints, pensions and investments, insurance, charity
Politics: Local, national and international government, international relationships, campaigning, protesting, deliberative democracy
Supply Chains: Raw materials, manufacturing, manufacturing emissions, industrial waste
Technology: Green and emergent technology, AI, software and IT, innovation
Waste: landfill, rubbish, pollution, recycling, repair, reuse
Suffolk - Green Suffolk publishes grant links and can also offer 50% match funding up to a certain level

Grants for Heat Pumps: Homeowners in England and Wales can receive up to £7,500 to install heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Insulation and Energy Efficiency: The plan includes funding for insulation upgrades and other energy performance measures to help lower bills.
To qualify for support under the Warm Homes Plan, households must meet the following criteria:
Location
Must be in England
Income Level
Low-income households
Energy Performance Certificate
Must have an EPC rating between D and G
Property Type
Privately owned (owner-occupied or rented)
Start Date: The Warm Homes: Local Grant will begin in 2025, providing local authorities with funding to deliver energy performance upgrades.
Budget: The scheme has been allocated £500 million as part of the Autumn Budget to support these initiatives.
The Warm Homes Plan aims to:
Reduce household energy bills significantly.
Decrease carbon emissions from heating.
Support vulnerable households in achieving warmer, more energy-efficient homes.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance the UK's energy security and transition to cleaner energy sources.
Feel free to download this document, but for indexing purposes we have added the markdown file at the bottom
Farmers' Markets:
These markets are a great way to connect with local farmers and producers, see their offerings, and learn about their growing practices.
Farm Shops:
Many farms operate their own shops, selling fresh produce, meats, and other goods directly to the public.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA):
CSAs allow you to subscribe to a farm's harvest, receiving a share of their produce regularly.
Grocery Stores:
Inquire with your local grocery store about whether they source any of their products locally, and if so, from which farmers.
Local Food Directories:
Check online or with your local council for directories of local food producers and suppliers.
"Pick Your Own" Farms:
Visit farms where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables, a fun and rewarding way to experience local agriculture.
Farm Gate Sales:
Some farms sell directly from their property, offering a variety of products.
Online Marketplaces:
Websites like Produce and Provide can help you find local food producers near you.
Community gardens
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) registers groups participating in their "It's Your Neighbourhood" program, which focuses on community gardening efforts.
The NGS also supports and lists community gardens, especially those that open their gardens to the public for fundraising.
Other initiatives:
Various other organizations, local councils, and online platforms may maintain their own lists or directories of community gardens in specific regions or for specific purposes.
While a unified, nationwide register doesn't exist, these resources provide a good starting point for finding and connecting with community gardens
From:Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MPPublished13 June 2025
Funding for first regional hydrogen transport and storage network to unlock growth and drive investment in Britain’s renewal
Secures thousands of jobs boosting industrial heartlands as part of the government’s Plan for Change
Comes as government announces in Spending Review major investment in carbon capture jobs in Scotland and Humber, and nuclear in Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and the East Midlands
Thousands of clean energy jobs will be created in Britain’s industrial heartlands as the government confirms over £500 million for hydrogen infrastructure today, as part of the Plan for Change to invest in Britain’s future as a clean energy superpower.
The government has confirmed that the spending review allocated landmark new funding to create the UK’s first regional hydrogen transport and storage network, connecting hydrogen producers with vital end users, including power stations and industry for the first time.
This major infrastructure boost will help deliver clean energy while creating thousands of skilled jobs in industrial regions such as Merseyside, Teesside and the Humber, as well as in the supply chain. This will ensure communities across the country feel the benefits of Britain’s renewal while reducing reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets.
Today’s announcement also follows confirmation in the Spending Review that the government is creating thousands of clean energy jobs across the country, with 10,000 jobs to be created at Sizewell C in Suffolk, a new fusion reactor to be built on the site of an old power station in Nottinghamshire, up to 3,000 jobs created through the small modular reactor programme, and funding to kickstart the Acorn project in Scotland and the Viking project in the Humber.
This investment builds on the 4,000 jobs already set to be created in CCUS projects in the North West and Teesside.
This will support manufacturing sectors likely to require hydrogen like iron, steel, glass, chemicals and ceramics – and forms part of government’s long-term plan to invest in and secure the country’s industrial future, with more detail expected in the upcoming Infrastructure Strategy.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
We are investing over half a billion pounds in our industrial heartlands to deliver jobs and energy security for Britain. By building hydrogen networks, we are securing homegrown energy that will power British industry for generations to come.
This will bring in the investment needed across the country to deliver our Plan for Change by unlocking clean energy and growth in our local economies.
The funding will unlock hydrogen’s unique role in Britain’s energy system, where it can decarbonise industrial sectors including refineries and heavy transport, while providing long-term energy storage that can be deployed during peak demand periods.
The funding also enables progress on supporting low carbon hydrogen production through continued Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HAR), building on the success of the First Hydrogen Allocation Round which saw 11 projects being allocated over £2 billion in government funding.
Hydrogen UK’s head of policy and analysis, Brett Ryan, said:
We welcome today’s announcement on hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure. Hydrogen networks are essential for a secure and resilient hydrogen sector, whilst ensuring sufficient energy storage capacity will be critical to energy security and affordability during the energy transition. We look forward to working with the government as we continue to deliver hydrogen’s role in reaching net zero and ensuring our energy security.
Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said:
This announcement is a key piece of the puzzle and represents very welcome government support to galvanise the UK’s regional hydrogen hubs. By investing in transport and storage infrastructure, the government is rightly joining the dots, connecting already supported hydrogen production with end users across power and industry.
This strategic thinking builds on the strength of our established industrial regions and supported clusters, unlocking clean energy potential while creating skilled jobs in places such as Merseyside, Teesside and the Humber. It’s a vital step forward on the UK’s journey to becoming a clean energy superpower.
Hydrogen has already attracted £400 million of private sector investment in towns and cities such as Milford Haven in Wales and High Marnham in Nottinghamshire, and government support will help create thousands of jobs in the sector, including roles for apprentices, graduates and technically trained professionals, such as engineers, welders, skilled construction workers, pipefitters and operations specialists.
Covering Home insulation, double/triple glazing, draught-proofing.
Retrofit your community building - a Community Action Plan
- free community retrofit guide covers everything community groups need to get started on retrofit projects.
The National Retrofit Hub is a non-profit organisation that brings together all those involved in the retrofit sector to share their expertise and work together to enable a National Retrofit Strategy to be delivered.A source of valuable resources curated by NRH dedicated working groups.
Capital Grants can be used to install capital energy efficiency measures, identified in your Independent Energy Assessment (IEA) to reduce your building’s energy costs.Further information on energy efficiency can be found at the .
This document was put together by the Future Leap consultancy (contact [email protected]) in conjunction with the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC). It is intended to support local councils in making decisions about carbon saving and contains a checklist of the possible carbon saving measures and accompanying prerequisites together with a review of factors to consider in decision-making. In order to provide real-world examples of how decarbonisation interventions could be applied in a real-world context, two very different case studies were examined: Banwell Youth and Community Centre in North Somerset, and Newark Town Hall in Nottinghamshire.
A non-listed building in rural Somerset
A Grade 1 listed building in a conservation area
E-Learning / Online assessment (Level 3 Award)
| Passivhaus Retrofit DeliveryCoaction deliver training courses to understand the delivery of deep fabric retrofits and what is needed to ensure projects are a success on site.
Decarbonising homes, heat, and energy.The MCS Foundation is the operating name of the MCS Charitable Foundation, a UK registered charity.Heat Pump AssociationHeat Pump Federation: The Coalition for the UK Deployment of Heat Pumps
For Local Authorities Developing and Reviewing Action Plans
This document is a markdown conversion of the Climate Action Plan Checklist for local authorities, as developed by Climate Emergency UK and supporting partners.
Climate Emergency UK provides accessible information about best practices in local climate action and facilitates collaboration among local authorities, activists, NGOs, businesses, and communities. Supporters include Friends of the Earth, Ashden, Centre for Alternative Technology, and APSE Energy.
Local authorities have significant influence over emissions and climate resilience.
Plans must integrate climate concerns into all decisions and actions.
Action brings co-benefits like reduced health costs and improved quality of life.
Plans should reflect urgency and address environmental inequalities.
Key Principle: "The Action Plan should commit the local authority to include the climate emergency in all local authority decisions and actions."
Led by a senior officer with a responsible cabinet member.
Honest review of past climate action.
Cross-department collaboration.
Workforce identification and upskilling.
Inclusive public engagement via assemblies, surveys, partnerships.
Clear website section with updates, ways to contribute.
Annual emissions updates and biannual public progress reports.
Celebrate community progress.
Clear layout, timelines, action tables.
Accessibility and jargon-free presentation.
Positive vision of net-zero outcomes.
Clear responsibilities and accountability.
Include baseline emissions (typically 1990).
Define and quantify Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions.
Set science-based GHG targets.
Focus on reduction, not offsetting.
Actions should reflect economic, social, environmental co-benefits.
Plan for local climate risks and infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Incorporate adaptation into each action area.
Implement systems for tracking emissions and adaptation goals.
Assign responsibility and publish regular updates.
Recognize biodiversity loss links with climate crisis.
Align with ecological plans, use nature-based solutions.
Highlight ecosystem services and planetary boundaries.
Avoid negative impacts of well-intentioned actions.
Set waste baselines and goals.
Eliminate landfill/incineration reliance.
Promote reuse, recycling, composting.
Integrate circular economy into local policy.
Recognize and mitigate climate impact disparities.
Ensure inclusive participation.
Address inequalities, especially among youth, renters, BAME communities.
Public education on extreme weather.
Encourage community cohesion and preparedness.
Risk assess all proposed actions.
Climate-health links: air quality, heatwaves, food insecurity.
Embed into Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.
Carbon literacy for staff and public.
Support climate education in schools.
Workforce upskilling and transition to green jobs.
Cross-party support for sustained action.
Include original declaration wording and council approval record.
Integrate climate emergency lens into all decisions.
Define governance, accountability, and oversight structures.
For examples, case studies, and tools, see:
Refer to Section 3 of the original document for detailed action lists by category.
See this link to get the original document with its live interlinks for the Further Information section (scroll down to the bottom)
4 October 2024
Innovate UK and Defra fund 19 business-led environmental monitoring projects looking at biodiversity, soil health, water quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK relies on effective environmental monitoring to support decision making, for example on actions needed to tackle the impacts of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Some traditional methods of environmental monitoring can be slow, limited in scope and unable to capture the full complexity of these rapidly evolving issues.
There is growing urgency to protect natural resources and mitigate environmental threats, as well as a global need for more advanced, comprehensive and efficient monitoring solutions.
The UK environmental monitoring sector has access to a wide range of cutting-edge facilities and academic research and expertise, so is well placed to develop solutions and deliver economic growth.
Spanning the breadth of the UK, these collaborative projects will inform decision making to enhance environmental resilience, protect natural resources and contribute to a sustainable future.
Enhancing and integrating environmental monitoring and river management approaches is crucial for safeguarding environmental and public health.
Several projects will focus on innovative solutions to monitor river health, including a sensor that will combine multiple measurements and deliver continuous water quality assessment.
Leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), a new Water Quality Index will be developed, combining these measurements with real-time data, like rainfall, to improve the accuracy and affordability of water quality monitoring.
Another project will develop a new monitoring technology that uses light-based measurement techniques to provide accurate data without the use of the harmful chemicals.
The solution will make ‘big data’ on complex river systems available to all interested parties to support land and resource managers, water users and citizen scientists in a collaborative effort to protect the environment.
Additional projects include:
the creation of a compact, Internet of Things-enabled smart water sampler for detecting river pollution events
a portable pathogen test device for rapid on-site bacterial water analysis, complemented by a smartphone app that integrates GPS data and images to enhance test results
Several projects are set to empower farmers with advanced tools and data, enabling them to optimise their operations, enhance sustainability, reduce risks and boost profitability.
These innovations range from a cutting-edge solution that measures and manages biodiversity through birdsong analysis, to miniaturised sensors and software designed to monitor agricultural nitrogen emissions.
Also being developed are:
a new manure management tool for the cattle industry
a machine learning-enabled system for monitoring soil health and biodiversity
an intelligence-as-a-service platform that integrates environmental and commercial data
This investment comes from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and UK Research and Innovation’s three-year £13.6 million research and innovation programme.
The programme funds projects aimed at advancing monitoring capabilities in strategically significant areas.
This builds on an earlier round of funding, led by the Natural Environment Research Council, focusing on research-led innovation which awarded .
Dr Stella Peace, Executive Director for Healthy Living and Agriculture at Innovate UK, said:
These innovations are crucial for safeguarding our natural environment.
By investing in these pioneering projects, we’re helping businesses unlock innovations that make life better, ensuring that the UK leads the way in developing sustainable solutions that benefit both our economy and our communities.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:
Restoring nature is a key priority for government and developing new technologies and monitoring techniques to build our knowledge on the state of the environment will be a vital part of that effort.
Programmes like this give us the best possible tools to collect data and gain insights to help us safeguard our natural environment, protect human health and ensure food security, as well as showcasing the tremendous diversity of technological expertise we have in the UK.
Our support for these innovations in environmental monitoring will help us to target our nature recovery efforts to create a healthy environment for the benefit of animals, plants and people.
Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Advisor, Defra said:
These 19 innovative projects will help enhance the UK’s ability to monitor and respond to environmental changes.
By bringing together the expertise of businesses and the scientific community, we are equipping ourselves with the tools needed to better understand and protect our environment and investing in technologies that can be deployed domestically and globally.
This investment will help to highlight the excellent capabilities offered by the UK environmental monitoring sector.
IR Laser based agricultural emissions monitoring system (IREMS)
Project lead: Chromacity Ltd
River water quality monitoring: a new shared insights approach
Project lead: Nuuv Ltd
Developing a holistic soil biological health assessment
Project lead: Verdant Carbon Ltd
Eco-Patterns: ecological characterisation and monitoring of habitats by AI pattern-recognition for policy, practice and emerging environmental markets
Project lead: Gentian Ltd
SoilScope: machine learning-enabled acoustic monitoring and management for agricultural soil health and biodiversity
Project lead: Biofonic Ltd
Development of an innovative intelligent multiparameter fluorometer to sense the impact of organic pollution on river health
Project lead: Chelsea Technologies
Cool Farm Manure: integration of a manure management tool into the Cool Farm Platform
Project lead: Raft Solutions Ltd
A-BioMe: Automated BIOdiversity MEtrics network enhances biodiversity surveillance
Project lead: Agrisound Ltd
Quanterra Systems: QFlux, novel monitoring-as-a-service to ground-truth carbon monitoring solutions
Project lead: Quanterra Systems Ltd
FarmBalance project
Project lead: Satarla Ltd
Monitoring dissolved methane in wastewater treatment plants for emissions management
Project lead: Bluemethane Ltd
MANGA: monitoring ammonia and nitrogenous greenhouse gases in agriculture and wastewater
Project lead: Barter for Things Ltd
BactiQuick: a validation study of an innovative AI-based early warning system for river contamination utilising continuous monitoring data including a novel rapid bacterial screening device
Project lead: Molendotech Ltd
HiRes-Soils: robotic platforms for high resolution maps of soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions
Project lead: ARWAC Ltd
Nonlinear Upconversion Technique for Monitoring Environmental Gases (NUTMEG)
Project lead: Covesion Ltd
ChirrupNano: making nature monitoring simpler and cheaper
Project lead: Chirrup Ltd
NatureAir: a scalable low-cost ground-truthed reliable method for biodiversity monitoring in terrestrial ecosystems
Project lead: Nature Metrics Ltd
The development of remotely deployed event-based micro-samplers to unravel the origins of pollution along with its impact on ecology, eco systems and biodiversity
Project lead: Seneye Ltd
Sensibee pollinator monitoring and identification: more accessible, reliable, autonomous and accurate
Project lead: Pollinatework Ltd
The checklist helps authorities turn declarations into effective action.
Transparency on third-party involvement.
Strong net-zero targets with milestones.
Highlight key emissions reduction areas.
Monitor using tools like SCATTER, IMPACT, Tyndall Budget.
In this guide we identify actions that parish and town councils can take on climate change and nature. Its purpose is to support those of the 10,000 local councils across England and 750 community councils in Wales who want to “do their bit” in addressing the climate and nature emergency.
1. Encourage the formation of Climate Action groups
Communities across the country are coming together to take climate action in response to the climate and nature emergency. Climate Action groups will encourage and support you to take local political action, build positive community solutions, and join together to demand national action. Parish, town and community councils should encourage and support the formation of these groups. Check out our on setting up your own group.
2. Actively support small and large planning applications for new renewable energy in the area
Planning decisions will be made by the local planning authority, which needs to hear from those that support the applications. The UK needs to increase the amount of renewable energy it generates by around eight-fold.
3. Promote practical action by local people
People can often be at a loss about what they can practically do to reduce their own carbon footprint or support nature. An impartial local guide that provides information on accredited local businesses can be invaluable and help keep money in the local economy. The guide could include information on local A register of accredited assessors is available at https://www.epcregister.com/searchAssessor.html. and renewable energy installers for solar panels, batteries, electric vehicle (EV) charging points and , eco-friendly retailers, green builders and landscape companies, etc. It can also encourage sustainable transport options.
4. Bring together groups of people for bulk purchases
The costs of installing solar panels, or other renewable technologies such as heat pumps, should be much lower if done in bulk, street by street, or area by area. A town or parish council can bring together local homeowners and businesses to develop such a scheme – it’s a widely used model in the Netherlands and places such as Suffolk and Frome have done it in the UK. Bulk purchases of energy audits or energy insulation is also possible. is an example of this approach.See https://www.transitionstreets.org.uk.
5. Develop and promote lift-sharing scheme
By convening local businesses and car-sharing schemes, such as the social enterprise Liftshare, it’s possible to help local people reduce the carbon pollution from car use, save money and foster new friendships. An analysis by Liftshare suggested that 92% of people commuting to work in over 200 locations lived close enough to be able to share a car to work. Lift-sharing may often be a solution for people when public transport, cycling or walking to work isn’t. like the one set up in Somerset for non-commuting journeys should also be promoted.There are a number of car-sharing schemes across the country, including national and local providers. Somerset County Council has a guide on setting up a community car-share scheme, http://www.travelsomerset.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Car-Scheme-Toolkit-All-You-Need-to-Know-DW-Edit-2.doc .
6. Use your voice
Decisions on infrastructure projects are largely made by local authorities, Local Economic Partnerships, or by national government. But too many of these decisions will increase carbon emissions and / or harm nature. Use your voice when possible to oppose high-carbon developments, promoting sustainable alternatives instead. Press local authorities and MPs to demand national changes to bus services regulations, so all areas can regulate buses as London does, and urban profit-making routes can cross-fund loss making rural routes.
7. Save energy
Ensure any council buildings are as energy efficient as possible and any street lighting uses well-directed LED lighting. Getting an energy audit is the first step. Loans for projects in England that have a payback of less than five years are available through Salix funding.Webpage accessed 18 Sept 2019, https://www.salixfinance.co.uk/index.php/loans/parish-councils. Projects with longer term paybacks should still be carried out.
8. Produce green energy
Install renewable energy generation, like heat pumps and solar PV, at council buildings. Heat pumps benefit from a government grantOfgem has guidance on the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive at https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/non-domestic-rhi. that will partially cover the cost. Several energy companies provide a smart export tariff, which pays for any electricity generated that isn’t used by the building, including offering top prices if the solar PV is used in conjunction with a battery.For example, Octopus was the first to offer a tariff to pay for exported energy (which will be metered) https://octopus.energy/outgoing/. Other companies will follow suit. Funds can also be raised through Salix loansSee https://www.salixfinance.co.uk/loans/parish-councils. or through crowdfunding. Buildings using renewable energy should also be used as a showcase to help local people see these technologies first-hand, particular less familiar technologies such as heat pumps. An electronic display showing how much energy has been generated and how much money and CO2 emissions saved is one way of demonstrating the benefits.
9. Reduce pesticide use and other harmful activities
It’s possible to reduce activities that harm wildlife, from using peat-free compost to shunning pesticides and ensuring light pollution is controlled. Glastonbury Town Council has stopped using glyphosate weed killer and instead uses a hot foam system.The company WeedingTech has produced a case study, but you might want to check on the current situation with Glastonbury Town Council, https://www.weedingtech.com/case_studies/glastonbury-town-council/. These steps alone are not enough to protect and restore nature but they’re an important first step. To encourage others, promote the actions you’re taking, for example use signage on council-owned land where you use peat-free compost.
10. Manage land for nature
Parish, town and community councils can have responsibility for allotments, bridleways, burial grounds, commons and open spaces, and village greens. All of these can be managed to enhance nature, particularly through changing mowing regimes. Friends of the Earth and Buglife have produced a guide to developing an action plan for helping pollinators such as bees.Buglife and Friends of the Earth, Helping pollinators locally, https://www.buglife.org.uk/sites/default/files/Helping%20Pollinators%20Locally.pdf. Buglife’s B-lines project aims to support the development of a network of wildlife friendly corridors.Buglife B-lines Hub, https://www.buglife.org.uk/b-lines-hub. Friends of the Earth is piloting a crowd-funded postcode gardener project to help people green the streets where they live.See https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/10x-greener-towns-and-cities.
11. Increase tree cover
Friends of the Earth is campaigning for the UK to double tree cover. The Forestry Commission and others have suggested that even urban areas should aim for at least 20% tree cover.Urban Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee Network, England’s Urban Forests: Using tree canopy cover data to secure the benefits of the urban forest, https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/documents/2109/FR_FC_TreeCanopyData_leaflet.pdf.Parish, town and community councils should aim to double tree cover and, if necessary, go beyond this to reach the 20% minimum. Much of this will involve encouraging and supporting landowners to take park in tree planting. The Tree Charter, developed by the Woodland Trust, provides excellent guidance on how to increase tree cover. The National Association of Local Councils website provides case studies where it has been used.NALC website, The Tree Charter, https://www.nalc.gov.uk/our-work/treecharter.
12. Buy green
Buying local can support the local economy and buying green can help protect the planet, rewarding businesses committed to a better future. Buying green electricity helps develop new renewable energy and ensures the council isn’t supporting dirty energy financially. Friends of the Earth has identified Ecotricity and Good Energy as the greenest energy companies. Buying green can also extend to any food provided at events, including providing mainly plant-based food and less but better meat and dairy.
13. Use green transport
Employees and councillors should be encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport or car-share. The council should provide bikes or electric bikes for staff as they carry out any work-related trips. It should also provide zero-interest loans for buying bikes. Where a car or van is needed it should be electric only.
14. Minimise waste going to landfill or incineration
In your own operations, ensure all your waste is recycled or composted, but also consider setting-up community recycling facilities for hard-to-recycle items when the local authority hasn’t done so, for example in partnership with Terracycle.Terracycle website, https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/.Bisley Parish Council has set up a community composting scheme. The best approach for waste minimisation is reuse (eg reusable cups) or avoiding unnecessary purchases.
15. Ensure money is invested wisely
Across the UK, local authorities are investing tens of millions of pounds each into fossil fuel companies, despite having declared a climate emergency. Although town council investments will be tiny in comparison, the council should still ensure any council funds are invested safely in low-risk sustainable banks or investment funds.
16. Ensure you know the climate change or nature implications of decisions before you make them
It isn’t credible to accept the need for rapid action on climate change and nature and then make decisions without knowing whether they’ll be harmful or helpful. Requiring every decision to be well informed is common sense as well as good practice. This should extend to demanding that the planning authority provides you with this kind of information when consulting you.
17. Designate sites within the Neighbourhood Plan for trees, renewable energy and nature restoration
In practice, the development of 90% of Neighbourhood Plans is led by town and parish councils working hand in hand with their communities. The Neighbourhood Planning process is far from perfect and very time consuming, but it offers the community the opportunity to show it means business on protecting and enhancing the environment for future generations.
18. Use the Neighbourhood Plan to require new homes to be energy efficient, nature friendly, and located close to public transport and amenities.
Given the climate and nature emergency, it’s unfortunate that the government doesn’t require all new homes to be as sustainable as possible. Neighbourhood Plans will identify sites for future housing and should push for these to be zero-carbon (eg Passivhaus standard) and nature friendly, even though the local planning authority may seek to override this aim. Homes should also be fitted with renewable energy. Homes need to be located close to amenities and public transport to avoid car dependency.
19. Designate safe walking and cycle routes in the Neighbourhood Plan
Identify safe walking and cycling routes and where necessary work in partnership with district and county councils to deliver them. The Propensity to Cycle tool identifies the huge potential for increasing cycling in all areas of the country, particularly with good quality infrastructure, such as segregated cycleways and cycle-parking, and with the use of E-bikes.Propensity to Cycle tool, https://www.pct.bike/.
20. Use differential car-parking charges to support low-carbon vehicles
Any carparks run by the council should offer low cost or free car-parking to electric vehicles and dedicated spaces with electric charging points.
This list of actions has drawn on ideas kindly shared by others including Simon Pickering (Green councillor, Stroud), Robert Vint (Extinction Rebellion, Totnes) and Chris Gittins (Timsbury Parish Council). All three also kindly provided comments on an earlier draft, for which I thank them. This guidance was originally published on in October 2019. Any mistakes or errors remain those of the author.
Newsletters are a superb way of keeping people informed and inspired. They can be distributed via hard copy or electronic (eg email, website).
Here is an example of a Best Practice newsletter, showing the sort of text that introduces it, and the contents, with links to earlier editions:
You are very welcome to download this document - and even to join the LCWN newsletter! - a makdown copy is listed below for AI search engine purposes. The Low Carbon Warwickshre Network. which produces this newsletter, is given as a
A set of tools, images, videos and guides to help you make the most of the Great Collaboration. Specifically aimed at parish/town councils. Select documents, images, templates from the left menu
You may download a copy of the handbook from the link above, or review its text below. Note that the menu to the left links you to the resources themselves, to help you in these actions:
to support climate and environmental action within your local council area.
Four Simple Steps
Accessing Resources
2.1 Email Support
2.2 The Local Council Resource Pack
The Great Collaboration Toolkit is a website at . Your residents and businesses can use the Toolkit right now. The more that use it, the more accurate the data produced.
To really get the benefits for your community, follow these four steps. You’ll find more information about each step in subsequent sections.
Expect to review the last three steps annually.
Have your local council make a policy decision.
Use the promotion resources provided to inspire your residents and businesses to get involved.
Write down what you will do actively to support a handful of The Great Collaboration’s actions over the coming year.
Use the reports from the website to inform the local council so that you can make policy decisions.
If you need any help establishing The Great Collaboration in your local council, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.
You can access the Local Council Resource Pack on the of our website. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the button.
The Resource Pack is organised into four sub-folders, one for each of the four steps:
Declare
Promote
Plan
Report
We’ll be adding to the Resource Pack as time goes on, so please check back regularly to see what’s changed.
Take a copy of the Local Council Climate Emergency Declaration Template.docx file from the Declare folder in the Resource Pack.
Edit the document using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or similar, making appropriate changes to the parts highlighted in pink, including renaming the document and/or its title to be appropriate to your Local Council, as well as any further changes to the document required for your local situation.
Present the amended document to your Local Council colleagues for review and approval. Once it is approved by the full council, have the chairman sign it.
The suggested Community Carbon Calculator () is supported by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and the Centre for Sustainable Energy amongst others, and it publishes its methodology.
It gives parish and small community-level information, so it makes sense to use the results from this calculator as your starting point, even if in future years a wider range of tools become available.
Another option in line with every local council’s duty to consider biodiversity in everything they do is to adopt a biodiversity policy using the template in the Resource Pack.
The local data produced by the Toolkit paints a powerful picture of what’s happening in your community—if a good proportion of your residents and businesses are using it.
Encourage people to register and record their actions. It may be helpful to set a target, such as 10% of households using the Toolkit. Once reached, set a new target… and keep going!
Some channels you might use:
Notice boards
Local magazines
Newsletters
Websites
The Great Collaboration has an active social media presence on Facebook: .
Ways to engage:
Like
Reshare
Follow
Tag in relevant posts
The Promote folder of the Resource Pack contains a Promotion Ideas spreadsheet with:
Toolkit Actions: Text and images for social media posts.
Environmental Days: Upcoming national/international days with ready-to-use content.
Decide on a promotion frequency that is realistic yet effective. Example:
1 Blog per week, posted on all channels.
2 Facebook posts per week.
1 Newsletter per month.
1 Community event per quarter.
The Plan folder in the Resource Pack contains guidance and templates for:
Environmental Planning Guidance
Climate Action for Smaller Councils
Commenting on Local Planning Applications
Simple Guide to Biodiversity Net Gain
Take a copy of the Local Council Carbon Reduction Actions Template.docx from the Plan folder.
Rename the document.
Edit using Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Choose a handful of actions to focus on.
Be specific about what you will do.
Review the plan annually to keep it relevant. Mark completed actions as DONE IN to maintain a historical record.
Log in to to find reports under the Insights page.
The Insights reports track user engagement.
The Local Council Report provides detailed data for policy decisions.
Reviewing the Local Council Report annually is more effective than reviewing it at every meeting.
The Great Collaboration is supported by funding from MCS Charitable Foundation.
Declare
3.1 Preparing a Declaration
3.2 Considerations
3.3 Biodiversity Policy
Promote
4.1 The More People Using the Toolkit, the Better
4.2 Communication Channels
4.3 Social Media Engagement
4.4 Promotion Schedule
4.5 Understanding Your Audience – Residents
4.6 Understanding Your Audience – Businesses
Plan
5.1 The Range of Planning Guidance
5.2 Preparing a Carbon Reduction Plan
5.3 Reviewing the Carbon Reduction Plan
Report
6.1 Getting Reports from the Website
6.2 Using the Reports
Community events
Funding Sources for Climate & Environmental Action



A list of sites that are invaluable for more than one topic
Britain Talks Climate: A toolkit for engaging the British public on Climate Change
(courtesy of Giki - as well as calculators, contains guides for businesses and individuals)
: a plethora of case histories and stories, really well laid out:
The UK Government's advice on actions that individuals can take: Heat Pumps, EVs, eneegy savings in your home, solar panels, home insulation, install a battery, everyday actions to save money and reduce CO2
Climate Emergency UK: Climate Action Scorecards: (see also the banter session that they delivered to us):
Large and powerful report on the attitude of Britons towards Climate Change
: How to talk about differeint issues, including Net Zero and Climate Adaptation
- online version
- pdf version you can download
Some really useful briefings here; please take a look under their "Briefings" tab:
Thoughts: This is an hour-long TV show, with ads. Beware! However, it is worth it to get a good insight to what heat pumps are, how they work, what sorts there are (air, ground, water), how they heat (pump-to-water (radiators), pump-to-air (fan units). Plenty of hints on what to look out for: type, installer, gov't grant, noise, heat pump tariff on your electricity supply. Broad conclusion: You will probably save money, and you will probably have a warmer home at less cost; you will definitely help the planet (no gas burning). Much depends upon your home (size, shape, age) and its degree of insulation (thing retrofit, draught sealing). Might be worth doing before the gov't phases out the grant (no signs yet)
Our climate is in crisis, impacting our homes, food supply, health and futures. We bridge people and politicians to effectively collaborate for change. We are here to equip you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to influence politicians and policy.
Our mission is to make public participation and deliberation an everyday part of our democracy, and help solve the big challenges of our time.
An excellent example of a Local Plan in review, in particular a website that is informative and honest (they admit to an AI error which distorted their figures)
Nature Reovery: Nature Recovery in Town and Parish Councils Conference 03Oct25:
Nature Recovery: Shropshire County Council Local Nature Recovery Strategy:
Networking: tools for bringing people, ideas, work, networks together:
Resources for councils:
Thermal Energy: IsoMat™ works by employing the Flint Isothermal Energy Management System (EMS™).
In simple terms the Flint EMS controls the movement of thermal energy which can reduce demand on traditional energy sources, and ultimately reduce pressure on the planet’s natural resources.
The isothermal nature of the IsoMat™ drives thermal energy from a relatively warm place to a relatively cool place very quickly.
As a result, a product created with IsoMat™ technology maintains a consistent temperature across its whole length and breadth. This can be applied to improve product performance or reduce reliance and on traditional energy sources in many applications. It can make commercial refrigeration cabinets more energy efficient, improve the performance of EV battery packs and allow thermal energy to be harvested from the natural environment to directly satisfy the heating or cooling requirements inside the built environment.
(a list of all activities at Oxford University involving Climate)






Includes Best Practice Documents
You are most welcome to download this document to use as a template for your own contract(s). A markdown copy is proffered below for AI Search engine purposes. Thank you to Hixon Parish Council for the provision of this documenthttps://app.gitbook.com/o/0k84O32WvC7WyHzCDU7c/s/V1LZ4mqWJXNbNi9oyyBX/~/changes/576/landscape/public-realm/contracts
Note: Great Collaboration strongly recommends the use of a digital mapping system (eg Parish Online) to map the verges to be mown by a contractor, and included with the tender, sa that a much clearer vision (and area by square metres, for instance) can be used by all parties
Contents
1. Invitation to Tender – page 2
2. Contract conditions – page 2
3. Specification of works – page 5
4. Schedule of works – page 7
5. Site plan & Schedule 2, sketch plans – page 11
6. Tender form – page 12
Tendering Timetable
Deadline for receipt of completed Issue Tender Documents ………………………………………..23th November 2023
Deadline for Tender questions ………………………………… 14th December 2023
Tender documents……………5th January 2024
Evaluation of Tenders …………...…………………………….…… 9th January 2024
Notification to preferred Tenderer…… …………… ……………..19th January 2024
Notification to Unsuccessful Tenderers………………….…….....5th February 2024
Date of commencement of contract ……………………….…………1st March 2024
Date of completion of contract………………………………….30th November 2026
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 1 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
1. Invitation to Tender
Hixon Parish Council (the Council) is seeking Tenderers to carry out its annual
grass and hedge cutting requirements.
A. Please find below Tender documents for your completion. The Clerk to the
Council, together with other Councillors, will be available to meet Tenderers
on site to view the locations and answer any questions you may have up to
the ‘’Deadline for Tender questions’’ as stated above.
B. Prices submitted must indicate the rate for carrying out each section of the
Contract excluding VAT
C. Prospective Contractors should ensure they are completely familiar with the
nature and extent of the work to be undertaken should their tender be
accepted.
D. The tender shall be submitted ONLY on the attached Form of Tender.
E. Prospective Contractors should note that the Council is not bound to accept
the lowest, or any tender.
F. References regarding workmanship maybe asked for by the Council prior to
awarding the Contract
G. The successful Tenderer and Tender documents together with the Council's
written acceptance, shall form the terms of the Contract.
H. If, having examined the Tender documents, you wish to submit a Tender you
should: -
a. Return the Tender documentation provided.
b. Return the fully completed Tender Form
I. The Council requires Tenders to be received on or before ‘’Deadline for
receipt of completed Tender documents’’ as stated above in the
enclosed unmarked self-addressed envelope.
J. Tenders received late will not be considered.
Note: The Tender documentation provided includes: - Invitation to tender; Standard
Contract conditions; Specification of works; Schedule of works; Site plan and
schedule 2, sketch plans A,B,C.D,E F, & G, and Tender form.
2. Contract Conditions
Hixon Parish Council Contact Details.
Clerk to the Council: Mrs Catherine Gill
Address: 79 Sycamore Drive, Hixon, Stafford. ST18 0FB
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01889 272679
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 2 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
Extent of Work. The work comprises the works as described in the attached
schedules 1, 2 and 3; the associated site plan and schedule 2, sketches A, B, C, D,
E, F & G
Grass Cutting:
The height of cut to be appropriate for the use of each space and as agreed with the
Clerk / Chair. To also include strimming around play equipment, outside furniture,
path edges, trees, bushes, fences, hedges and all other authorised site fixtures and
fittings. To include grass removal from all play safety surfaces as well as footpaths
and seating areas by sweeping or blower. Although a specific frequency of cuts has
been set for the tender schedule these may be varied according to seasonal grass
growth and by agreement with the Clerk / Chair.
Hedge Trimming:
Hedges, as defined on the site plan, to be trimmed / cut once each year as
prescribed in schedule 3.
Fruit Orchard
The fruit orchard situated on Church Lane playing fields. Grass between fruit trees to
be cut once each year in September / October. Grass cuttings to be removed from
site.
Site Details:
The site details are as those shown on the attached site plan and schedules.
Before tendering, the Contractor is advised, at their own discretion, to visit the sites
to satisfy themselves as to the full extent of the works to be undertaken. No claims
arising from failure to do so will be accepted.
Workmanship and Equipment:
The workmanship must be of the highest standard and shall conform to all relevant
British Standards, Specifications and Codes of Practice.
Additional Erections/Installations
The Council may, at any time, add or remove outside fixtures and fittings (play
equipment, benches, planting etc.) during the period of the Contract and no
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 3 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
application from the Contractor to adjust the Contract price as a consequence will be
considered.
Duration of Contract:
The duration of the Contract will be THREE YEARS commencing 1st MARCH 2024
to 30th NOVEMBER 2026 inclusive, with annual performance reviews. Tenders are
to be priced on an annual basis. There will be no opportunity to alter the rates
tendered during the full term of the contract.
Payment to Contractor:
The Contractor shall submit a monthly invoice, in arrears, for all works undertaken
during that period.
All invoices submitted shall be accompanied by supporting statements of work
undertaken during the period covered by the invoice. Upon receipt, the Council will
check work undertaken and, if correct the invoice will be paid within THIRTY days
of receipt. If an invoice is submitted incorrectly, the Council will ask the Contractor
to provide a correct invoice.
Termination of Contract:
Either party may, without reason, terminate the Contract in writing giving no less than
Three Months’ Notice.
Insurance:
The Contractor is required to have a minimum of £5,000,000 public liability insurance
for Contracts. A current Certificate of Insurance to this effect must be produced to
the Clerk prior to commencement of the Contract and annually thereafter. The
Contractor shall indemnify the Council against any claim or proceedings for any
injury or damage to any property or persons or animals as a result of negligence,
poor workmanship or failure to notify the Council of any action likely to cause injury
or damage to a third party.
Health and Safety:
The Contractor shall accept full responsibility for compliance with Health and Safety
at Work Act and all other Acts and Regulations in respect of the works comprised in
this Contract.
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 4 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
Notes to Tenderers:
i) ii) iii) iv) v) vi) vii) Attention is drawn to the Form of Tender and Standard Contract Conditions.
These documents must be read in conjunction with the Specification of
Works, Plans and Schedule of Works. Contractors are advised to carefully
read all documentation.
Prices to be included in the Form of Tender are to be the full inclusive value
of the work as described, including all profit, costs and expenses, and all
general risks, liabilities and obligations, but EXCLUDING VAT (if applicable).
A price shall be inserted against each schedule type (Schedule 1, 2, and 3)
on the Form of Tender for each year of the Contract. An extra over item
shall also be inserted for the annual removal and appropriate disposal
of grass cuttings to an approved site by the Contractor from Church
Lane Playing fields.
No alteration to the text of the Form of Tender is to be made by the
Contractor tendering. Should any alteration, amendment, note or addition be
made, the same will not be recognised and the reading of the printed
Schedule will be adhered to.
A regular inspection will be carried out by the Council throughout the period
of the Contract to ensure the work is completed in accordance with the
Specification of Works.
Contractors are asked to contact the Clerk / Chair if any clarification is
required.
The works as a whole or part thereof contained within this Contract,
shall not be Subcontracted without the written approval of the Council.
3. SPECIFICATION OF WORKS
1. Prior to cutting or trimming any area, the Contractor will ensure that the site is free
of any significantly large stones and all paper, tins, bottles and other debris on the
cutting area.
2. The Contractor will also inspect each site for areas of potential hazard and will
inform the Council immediately of any such potential hazards.
3. The Contractor will always during the period of the Contract, ensure that all
machines engaged in grass cutting operations are sharp and properly set, to
produce a true and even cut. Any damage or areas of grass not cut to the approval
of the Council by reason of lack of maintenance will be made good by the Contractor
at his own expense and to the satisfaction of the Council.
4. The Contractor will at all times during the period of the Contract ensure that
machines are properly guarded and maintained so as to present no danger to the
operator, surrounding structures, vehicles or any person in the vicinity of operations.
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 5 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
The Contractor will provide site personnel with all safety equipment, (boots, reflective
vests etc.), and will ensure that site personnel always use such items when they are
engaged in work for the Council.
5. All persons operating grass cutting machinery must be appropriately trained, and
the Council reserves the right to ask the Contractor to provide adequate proof that
operators are well trained, conversant with Health and Safety legislation and
competent in their operating methods.
6. All grass will be cut cleanly and evenly without damaging the existing surface and
with sufficient overlap between passes of the cutter.
7. The Contractor will complete one area of grass cutting before moving onto the
next, and immediately after cutting a scheduled area, the Contractor will ensure that
all grass clippings and other arising’s are cleared from all paved areas, playground
equipment safety surfaces, paths and public footpaths, etc., by sweeping or using a
blower.
8. The Schedules 1,2, and 3 prescribe the frequency of the activities required on any
site in any one year / season. If additional cuts are required, the Contractor will be
paid on a pro-rata basis for those additional cuts. Any additional / variations of the
cutting frequency to be agreed with the Clerk/ Chair.
9. Should the Contractor cause damage to the surface or levels of the ground, or
create divots during grass cutting operations, the Contractor will at its own expense
reinstate such damage forthwith to the satisfaction of the Council.
10. Mowing around obstructions including seats, trees, fence lines, posts, kerbs and
the like, will be undertaken using methods, tools and machines as appropriate to
ensure neat edges to paths etc.
11. If strimmers are used they must not cause any damage to trees, shrubs
flowerbeds etc. or permanent or removable fittings.
12. Hedge trimming equipment must be suitably maintained to produce a clean cut
and neat finish.
13. Hedges are to be trimmed to maintain good healthy growth and shape whilst
providing a natural screen and wildlife habitat.
14. All debris from hedge cuttings to be removed from site and disposed of
responsibly by the Contractor.
15. Hedges must not be trimmed /cut during the recognised nesting season between
1st March and 31st August.
16. There are 8 No. flowerbeds measuring 0.9 x 1.2m each, which are maintained by
volunteers. Care should be taken when strimming around the flowerbeds. The
flowerbeds are situated on New Road (visibility splay at entrance to the industrial
estate); Church Road open space; High Street, three number flowerbeds in the
verges surrounding Hixon Parish Council car park; Ridgway open space; Sycamore
Drive open space and Hammonds Croft open space.
17. NOTE: The Contractor will be required to make arrangements for its personnel’s
welfare with regards to toilets, handwashing / sanitisation and drinking water.
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 6 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
4. SCHEDULE OF WORKS
GRASS CUTTING FROM MARCH TO END OF NOVEMBER EACH YEAR
Hixon Parish Council - Schedule of Works
Please note, schedules below should be read in conjunction with site plan provided.
SCHEDULE 1
VERGES AND VISIBILITY SPLAYS - Frequency, every two weeks
unless otherwise stated in the schedule below.
NOTE: IN GENERAL, VERGES TO BE CUT ONE SWATHE WIDTH
FROM THE BACK OF FOOTWAY / HIGHWAY ON EACH VISIT.
VISIBILITY SPLAYS TO BE CUT IN FULL ON EACH VISIT.
DURING SEPTEMBER, THERE WILL BE TWO CUTS TO ALL VERGES
AND VISIBILITY SPLAYS, IN FULL, TO THEIR BOUNDARIES.
101 New Road. From the beginning of the 30mph limit to the junction with
Church Road including visibility splays both sides of the highway at
the junction with Church Road.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line.
2 Weeks
102 Church Lane/Martins Way. From 30mph sign near the entrance to
Pasturefields Lane, both sides of highway to the junction with New
Road/ Featherbed Lane; exclude the verge on the left-hand of the
highway between Pasturefields Lane and the school entrance as this
is private land.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
103 Stowe Lane. From 30mph limit to the junction with Back
Lane/Church Road.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
104 Church Road. Verges both sides of the highway up to junction with
New Road.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 7 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
105 Meadow Glade entrance. Visibility splays to be cut in full from
highway kerb to footways
2 Weeks
106 Back Lane. The embankment bordering the Millennium Green.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
107 Greenfields. The embankment at end of cul-de-sac. To be cut twice
in September.
Annually
108 Lea Road. Verge from the Co-op to 30mph signs. Including visibility
splays on entrance to Broadmoor Lane.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
109 Legge Lane/Puddle Hill Junction. Triangular island (Opposite the
Co-op).
2 Weeks
110 Puddle Hill. Verges both sides of highway from junction with Legge
Lane to Lamppost No 2, including visibility splays either side of the
entrance to Highfields Road.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
111 High Street. East side - verge opposite Back Lane, together with the
verge from Highfield Road to Egg Lane.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
112 High Street/Egg Lane Junction. Triangular island. 2 Weeks
113 Egg Lane. Verges from junction with High Street to junction with
private road.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
114 Smithy Lane. Verges to the frontages of housing from the mini
roundabout junction Sycamore Drive to No 30, Smithy Lane (south
side). Verges, on the north side, to the frontages of the houses
including area by grit bin. Verges on both sides of Hill Croft for
approx. 20m from entrance.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
2 Weeks
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 8 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
115 SCHEDULE 2
PUBLIC OPEN SPACES - Frequency, every two weeks
CONTRACTOR TO REFER TO SKETCH PLANS A,B,C,D,E, F and G
WHICH INDICATE, BY MEANS OF CROSS HATCHING, THE EXTENT
OF THE GRASS CUTTING FOR 16 No. CUTS.
DURING SEPTEMBER, THERE WILL BE TWO CUTS TO ALL OPEN
SPACES, IN FULL, TO THEIR BOUNDARIES
Featherbed Lane. Bank on south side from junction with Martins way
to driveway rear of No 1 Martins Way. Verge from junction with High
Street to the bungalows.
Verges to be cut one swathe wide.
Visibility splays to be cut in full.
In September, verges and visibility splays to be cut, in full, up to their
boundaries / hedge line
201 2 Weeks
Sycamore Drive Entrance. Area on south side. Please note, a slim
triangle of grass from the boundary wall of No 1 to the edge of this
house holders drive is owned by the house owner. The owner agrees
that the Council can mow this small area, but the Contractors must
make sure they do not damage the area or leave grass cuttings on
the drive. Care should be taken when strimming around flowerbed.
SEE SKETCH PLAN A
2 Weeks
202 Hammonds Croft. Area around public footway leading from Church
Lane into Hammonds Croft. Care should be taken when strimming
around flowerbed.
SEE SKETCH PLAN B
2 Weeks
203 Hammonds Croft. Public open space between numbers 8 & 10,
Hammonds Croft up to the boundary with Footpath No 1.
SEE SKETCH PLAN B
2 Weeks
204 Church Road. Public open space (either side of private drive)
between Jasmine Cottage and No 51 Church Road. Care should be
taken when strimming around flowerbed.
SEE SKETCH PLAN C
2 Weeks
205 Meadow Glade. Public open space between houses 8 & 10 in
Meadow Glade
SEE SKETCH PLAN D
2 Weeks
206 Ridgeway. Public open space adjacent to No 61 Ridgeway.
Contractor must take particular care not to damage trees when
strimming this area. Care should be taken when strimming around
flowerbed. Please note there is restricted access to this area.
SEE SKETCH PLAN E
2 Weeks
207 Featherbed Lane. Embankment on north side, the area bounded by
private gardens up to the steps which connect Featherbed Lane to
Walnut Crest.
2 Weeks
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 9 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
208 Parish Council Car Park. The grassed area on two sides of the car
park up to the bollards on the Millennium Green as described on
accompanying plan. Care should be taken when strimming around
flowerbeds.
2 Weeks
209 High Street- west side verge. Full width of verge from highway to
Parish Council car park boundary.
2 Weeks
210 Hixon Playing Fields. Main area of playing field, including the bank
behind the play equipment.
2 Weeks
211 Hall Farm Close, open space in the middle of the close.
SEE SKETCH PLAN F
Vicarage Way open space adjacent to No. 6.
SEE SKETCH PLAN G
2 Weeks
SCHEDULE 3
ANCILLARY WORKS - Frequency see below
301 Hammonds Croft. Leylandii hedge on the West side of open space
to be cut down to a height of 3m in September / October. Brash /
debris to be removed from site.
Annually
302 Hixon Playing Fields. Hedge alongside Church Lane playing field to
be cut to a maximum height of 1.8m in September / October.
In addition, strim along base of hedge. Brash / debris to be removed
from site.
Annually
303 Hixon Playing fields. Strim and remove undergrowth, brambles etc.
from under trees on the bank in September / October. Grass cuttings
/ debris to be removed from site.
Annually
304 Hixon Playing Fields Fruit Orchard. Grass between fruit trees to be
cut once a year in September / October. Grass cuttings to be
removed from site.
Annually
305 Ridgeway. A small area on this parcel of land will be for wildflowers.
Cut once a year in September / October. Grass cuttings to be
removed from site.
NOT
Required
306 Allotments. Strim grass, approximately 1m width, around all edges
to the main driveway and car parking area in May / June. NOTE, the
grass is on top of compacted type 1 stone.
Annually
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 10 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
5. SITE PLAN
Please find attached site plan ref HPC_GCC_01
Please find attached sketch plans for schedule 2 items:
Sketch Plan A Sycamore Drive
Sketch Plan B Hammonds Croft
Sketch Plan C Church Road
Sketch Plan D Meadow Glade
Sketch Plan E Ridgeway
Sketch Plan F Hall Farm Close
Sketch Plan G Vicarage Way
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 11 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
6. TENDER FORM – To be submitted to the Council
PRICES QUOTED ARE TO BE EXCLUSIVE OF VAT
Schedule 2024
Season
£
2025
Season
£
2026
Season
£
Schedule 1
Price per season (16 Cuts) for
schedule 1. Based on a cut and
drop regime. Verges to be cut
one swathe width, visibility splays
cut in full.
(Do not include removal of grass
cuttings in price).
Price per season (2 Cuts in
September) for schedule 1 to cut
all verges and visibility splays in
full to their boundaries
(Do not including removal of
grass cuttings).
Extra over per season for
schedule 1, for removal of all grass
cuttings to a designed area on
Church Lane playing field.
Extra over the above per season
for schedule 1, for the annual
removal and disposal of all grass
cuttings from Church Lane playing
field responsibly off site by the
Contractor.
NOTE Additional cuts will be paid
on a pro-rata basis for schedule 1
Schedule 2
Price per season (16 Cuts) for
schedule 2. Based on a cut and
drop regime.
(Do not including removal of
grass cuttings).
Price per season (2 Cuts in
September) for schedule 2 to cut
all open spaces in full.
Based on a cut and drop regime.
(Do not including removal of
grass cuttings).
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 12 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
Extra over per season for
schedule 2, for removal of all grass
cuttings to a designed area on
Church Lane playing field.
Extra over the above per season
for schedule 2, for the annual
removal and disposal of all grass
cuttings from Church Lane playing
field responsibly off site by the
Contractor.
NOTE Additional cuts will be paid
on a pro-rata basis for schedule 2
Schedule 3
Price for item 301 per season
Price for item 302 per season
Price for item 303 per season
Price for item 304 per season
Price for item 305 per season Not Required Not Required Not Required
Price for item 306 per season
Please complete and sign the Tender Form and submit to the Hixon Parish Council
by 5th JANUARY 2024 at the latest.
I/We agree to complete the work in accordance with the Invitation to Tender,
Standard Contract Terms, Specification of Works, Schedule of Works and site
location plan.
I/We understand that Hixon Parish Council is not bound to accept the lowest Tender.
The Council will not be responsible for any expense incurred by the Contractor in
preparing this Tender.
I/We certify that the amount of the Tender has not been calculated by agreement or
arrangement with any other person, firm or company and that the amount of the
Tender has not been communicated to any person and will not be communicated to
any person until after the closing date for the submission of Tenders.
Company or Business Name: …………………………………….
Business correspondence address
……………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………
Postcode: …………..……...
VAT Reg No. (if applicable) …………………………..
Contacts:
Landline ……………………
Mobile ………………………
Email: ………………………
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Page 13 of 14Hixon Parish Council ------Grass and Hedge Cutting Contract
2024, 2025 and 2026
By signing and submitting this tender form you agree that you fully understand the
commitments and requirements contained therein and, if successful are willing to be
bound to the Contract as expressed therein.
Signed: …………………………
Print Name: …………………………
Position. …………………….……..
Date: ……………………………
Upon acceptance of the preferred Contractor, this document together with the site
plan reference HPC_GCC_01 and Sketch Plans A, B,C,D,E,F & G, will form the
Contract and will be signed by the Clerk on behalf of Hixon Parish Council.
Signed: …………………………
Print Name: …………………………
Date: ……………………………
Document produced by Susan McKeown on behalf of Hixon Parish Council. October 2023
Hixon Parish Council — Grass & Hedge Cutting Contract (2024–2026)
*Structured summary of the tender pack extracted from “1 HPC Grass Cutting Tender
V4 - Contract Documents 2024.pdf”
Having perhaps declared a Climate Emergency, and perhaps having set a target date for Net Zero, a strategy sets out the vision, context and key activities needed to meet this, and other, targets
You are welcome to download this document for your own use. However, a markdown version is listed below, so that the topics can be sept up by th AI Search engine.
The document represents an ambitious local government initiative to achieve net zero carbon status by 2030, with a detailed plan covering energy efficiency, transport transformation, and resource management.
Key findings from the analysis include:
Scale of Challenge: The strategy aims to reduce per-person emissions from 13 tonnes to under 2 tonnes CO₂ equivalent annually - a massive 85% reduction in just 10 years.
Comprehensive Approach: The plan addresses three main pillars - energy (requiring retrofit of 4,000 homes), transport (shifting to active travel and electric vehicles), and resources (promoting circular economy principles).
Financial Reality: The strategy acknowledges significant financial barriers, with individual home retrofits costing £3,500-£22,000 each, requiring innovative financing mechanisms and substantial external funding.
Governance Limitations: Frome Town Council has limited direct powers (mainly allotments and parks) and depends heavily on cooperation from district, county, and national government levels.
Innovative Elements: The town has pioneered successful initiatives like the UK's first permanent Library of Things and Community Fridge, demonstrating practical community-based solutions.
The analysis reveals both the strengths of comprehensive local climate planning and the realistic challenges of implementation, particularly around funding, coordination across government levels, and the scale of behavior change required.
# Frome Town Council Climate Emergency Strategy
## February 2020
*Appendix 1 to Agenda item 5, FTC Council meeting 18 March 2020*
## Introduction
In December 2018 Frome Town Council unanimously declared a climate emergency and committed to becoming a net zero carbon town by 2030. This report sets out the vision, context and key activities needed to meet this ambitious target and highlights the wider community benefits that will be gained by taking action. The intention is that there will be strong integration with other activities of the Council and its partners to ensure that there are positive social and economic impacts as well as environmental gains. It is anticipated that the action plan and report will be updated annually. A working group will review progress quarterly.
## Frome in 2030
Our vision for 2030 is of a resilient, healthy, connected community. A network of safe, accessible walking and cycling routes mean that active travel is the norm for the majority of local trips. This has had a huge impact on health and wellbeing. Air pollution has been slashed, reducing health impacts such as asthma and lung cancer. Active lifestyles have helped to reduce the risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50%, lowering risk of early death by up to 30%¹. Electric vehicles, bikes and rickshaws are used for longer journeys and deliveries and affordable shared transportation has meant traffic and congestion have significantly reduced, making streets safer and easier for communities to connect. Along with health benefits commuters switching from car to bike are saving around £3000 a year². The need to travel has also reduced through local employment, home working, teleconferencing, local facilities, services and sourcing and 'staycations'³.
Frome has become a sharing town. Neighbourhood sharing hubs mean that instead of buying a drill, used on average for only thirteen minutes in its lifetime, communities share resources as and when they need them. This has slashed emissions, reduced waste and inequality and created new neighbourhood connections.
Most people grow food in community growing areas in schools, gardens and allotments. This has increased the amount of plant protein people are eating, significantly reducing emissions⁴ and boosting health⁵. Food waste has also been almost eliminated. Local, more sustainable sourcing has reduced the amount of food wasted by farming and retail, and food waste at home has reduced through increased awareness and food planning. This has saved residents at least £600-£800 a year.
Energy bills have also reduced and fuel poverty has been eliminated. Homes and buildings are significantly cheaper to power and heat as they are well insulated. Homes and businesses use LED lighting and efficient appliances which are designed to last and be repaired. Homes and businesses are connected to affordable renewable heat and new district heating networks have been developed. Most buildings have solar panels on them providing free or significantly discounted electricity. Eight, mainly community owned, wind turbines ensure that the town is zero carbon for energy generation, and provide funding back to the town for further carbon reduction and community projects.
People have a stronger connection with nature and regularly spend time in local green spaces, meadows and woodlands. Thousands of trees have been planted and biodiversity is thriving due to well connected woodlands, fields and local, low impact food production. This has also helped to boost wellbeing.
## Context
The International Panel on Climate Change published a Special Report on Global Warming at the end of 2018⁶. The report describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise in global temperatures is likely to cause. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. However, the report told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with swift ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities. It is therefore imperative that as a species we reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.⁷
Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm. To achieve these ambitious but vital targets will require huge changes, it will need lots of investment and support from national government. However, it is achievable if we act quickly, and will not only reduce climate risk but has many important co-benefits. These include increased energy security, improved air quality and fuel poverty reduction. Bold climate action can also deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities. For example:
- **Insulating houses**: heating demands and costs can be reduced by 40% through increasing energy efficiency in homes, providing jobs and training opportunities in the local economy and eliminating fuel poverty
- **Getting active and going electric**: shifting from diesel and petrol vehicles to more active forms of travel like walking and cycling, and electric vehicles reduces air pollution and the energy needed for transport
- For Frome to become zero carbon in electricity we would only need around 8 wind turbines and two to three solar farms. If these are community owned they will help ensure price stability and will re-circulate all profits back to the local community via a community fund
Frome Town Council believes that all governments - national, regional and local, have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown. It is important for the residents of Frome and the UK that towns commit and take action towards achieving carbon neutrality as quickly as possible. The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity's number one priority.
As part of the climate emergency declaration, Frome Town Council committed to:
- Enable Frome to become carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3)⁸. This means getting carbon emissions as low as possible. However, zero won't be possible as everything, even the manufacture of a bicycle, has an inherent impact. The remaining carbon will be 'offset' through increasing carbon sequestration locally, nationally and globally
- Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible
- Work with other authorities, both within the UK and internationally, to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C
- Continue to work with partners across the region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies and plans
- Report to Full Council with updates on the actions the Council is taking to address this emergency every six months
- Work with Frome Renewable Energy Co-op and other renewable energy organisations to maximise uptake in the town
- Work with Mendip's planning team to maximise energy efficiency and renewable generation in new developments such as Saxonvale
- Work with land agents to identify opportunities for wind turbines and solar
- Promote insulation offers
- Promote and provide charge points for electric vehicles via Zero Carbon World
- Work with schools, businesses and other organisations to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions
- Sign up to the global Covenant of Mayors⁹, linking with towns and cities around the world to share ideas, lessons learnt and funding opportunities on how we can quickly and effectively reduce carbon. Frome Town Council signed up in 2019
## Stakeholders
It is clear that Frome Town Council will not be able to achieve these targets alone. Significant support is needed from Mendip District Council, Somerset County Council, National Government, the community and local businesses and organisations. The changes needed will require a rapid and radical shift away from current practices. As well as national, regional, district and town-wide actions, it is also important that government at all levels significantly cuts the climate impact of their own activities and assets.
- **National government** need to provide leadership in terms of legislation, funding, regulation, infrastructure
- **Somerset County Council** are responsible for highways, traffic management, bus subsidies street lighting, schools, the county's pension fund, public health, social services, trading standards and waste disposal. They will need to focus on safe walking and cycling routes, energy efficiency and renewables in schools, support for smarter shared transport solutions and divestment from fossil fuels
- **Mendip District Council** are the local planning authority and are the enforcement for Building Regulations which affects existing buildings. They also manage business rates, car parks and some local housing stock and green spaces. They also manage domestic waste and recycling collections as part of Somerset Waste Partnership. Ensuring that planning stipulates zero carbon buildings and well-connected multi-functional green infrastructure, and the local plan embeds climate emergency into all strategies and policies is vital. Mendip are also the enforcement body for Energy Performance Certificates (domestic and non-domestic) and for Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in the rented sector (domestic and non-domestic). These are the routes by which National Fuel Poverty policy around improving properties to Band C will be measured
- **Frome Town Council** is legally responsible only for allotments and parks. However, it can play a significant role through supporting innovative projects and lobbying for the changes needed, working with the local community and business and in ensuring the council's own activities and assets are carbon neutral
- **Enterprise**: addressing the climate crisis presents a huge opportunity to enable businesses to develop and deliver green solutions and to work together to minimise their climate and environmental impact
- **Community**: while massive systemic, infrastructure and policy changes are needed, these will not be effective without the support from the community. Working collaboratively with the community is vital to ensure that the changes needed are embraced and adopted
## The story so far…
Frome Town Council was one of the first in the country to declare a climate emergency, at least 50% of local authorities had also declared climate emergencies by the end of 2019¹⁰. In 2014 the council created a new 'resilience' role to lead on activities that reduce emissions and waste. Since then the council has explored what it means to go zero carbon and how this could be achieved in partnership with Climate Works¹¹. Examples of recent projects include working in partnership with local organisations such as Edventure Frome CIC and Sustainable Frome CIC to set up the UK's first permanent Library of Things in 2015 and the UK's first Community Fridge in 2016. In 2019 launched 'solar streets', working with a local solar contractor to enable households to receive significant discounts when installing solar panels, 70 households subsequently installed solar in the first four months. It also runs an annual active travel challenge with 2000 students and discounted insulation offers. Work in this area continues and this climate emergency strategy will help to shape the focus of future activities.
## Methodology
To develop this report we held free workshops around energy, transport and resources in November 2019 attended by over 150 people; we held a climate change workshop at Frome College; worked with over 290 school children to develop ideas for a 'clean and healthy future' and incorporated ideas from Frome's youth climate strikers. These ideas are summarised in the Climate Emergency Action Plan that accompanies this document.
Project Drawdown¹² has been used as the basis for climate reduction and strategy. Project Drawdown is a world-class research organization that reviews, analyses, and identifies the most viable global climate solutions, and shares these findings with the world. Project Drawdown has identified the top one hundred actions¹³ needed to meet our climate targets using peer reviewed scientific data from thousands of studies. This has been used to prioritise actions in this strategy. The top ten global solutions according to Project Drawdown are as follows:
| Rank | Solution | Sector | Total Atmospheric CO2-EQ Reduction (GT) | Net Cost (Billions US $) | Savings (Billions US $) |
|------|----------|---------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1 | Refrigerant Management | Materials | 89.74 | N/A | $-902.77 |
| 2 | Wind Turbines (Onshore) | Electricity Generation | 84.60 | $1,225.37 | $7,425.00 |
| 3 | Reduced Food Waste | Food | 70.53 | N/A | N/A |
| 4 | Plant-Rich Diet | Food | 66.11 | N/A | N/A |
| 5 | Tropical Forests | Land Use | 61.23 | N/A | N/A |
| 6 | Educating Girls | Women and Girls | 51.48 | N/A | N/A |
| 7 | Family Planning | Women and Girls | 51.48 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 | Solar Farms | Electricity Generation | 36.90 | $-80.60 | $5,023.84 |
| 9 | Silvopasture | Food | 31.19 | $41.59 | $699.37 |
| 10 | Rooftop Solar | Electricity Generation | 24.60 | $453.14 | $3,457.63 |
## Current baseline
Having a baseline against which we can track progress is vital. However, measuring all impacts of a town or community is complex and often excludes important emissions such as those from aviation and consumer goods.
In 2019 Mendip District Council declared a climate emergency and recruited a Climate and Resilience officer. They are using SCATTER, a local authority focussed emissions tool, built to help create low carbon local authorities and to measure and track their impact. SCATTER provides a standarised model for local authorities to measure and report their greenhouse gas impacts, aligning with international frameworks such as the Paris Climate Agreement. SCATTER can be used to develop a credible decarbonisation pathway. Outputs can then be used for engagement to create a collaborative carbon reduction approach.
Whilst this is a robust way to measure impacts, the data focuses on district, not town level greenhouse gasses. It also excludes key impacts such as consumer goods and aviation which was also excluded from the Paris Climate Agreement.
If we assume Frome accounts for 24% of Mendip's population, extrapolating from Mendip's SCATTER data, per person impacts are as follows:
### Frome's Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 4.3 Tonnes CO₂/Year
**Breakdown by sector:**
- On-road: 40%
- Industrial buildings & facilities: 21%
- Residential buildings: 13%
- Institutional buildings & facilities: 8%
- Commercial buildings & facilities: 5%
- Agriculture: 4%
- Rail: 4%
- Solid waste disposal: 3%
*Source: SCATTER based on emission data from 2017*
This suggests carbon dioxide emissions per person are 4.3 tonnes per year. However, if the total impact of consumption and transport are included the full impact per person looks more like 13 tonnes per year. This is a significant difference. However, if the council wants to address its full impacts, without outsourcing the carbon impacts of the goods it buys from countries like China, it is vital that we address our full footprint as a community.
### Average Carbon Footprint in the UK: 13.1 Tonnes CO₂e/Year
**Breakdown by category:**
- Food and drink: 25% (3,275 Kg CO2e)
- Household energy: 16% (2,096 Kg CO2e)
- Car: 14% (1,834 Kg CO2e)
- Services: 12% (1,572 Kg CO2e)
- Flying: 8% (1,048 Kg CO2e)
- Public services: 7% (917 Kg CO2e)
- Shopping: 5% (655 Kg CO2e)
- Public transport: 4% (524 Kg CO2e)
- Other: 9% (1,179 Kg CO2e)
- **Total: 13,100 Kg CO2e**
*Source: Mike Berners Lee – Small World Consulting¹⁴*
The graph below uses this analysis as a basis to model the emissions reduction pathway needed. This assumes a 20% year on year reduction. Whilst 'zero' carbon is not achieved by 2030 it is assumed that the small remaining impact can be sequestered locally or offset.
It is important to note that this analysis is based on average data from the UK and does not include town or regional variations. More detailed Frome specific data is needed and will be developed over the next year.
## Energy
Household energy accounts for 16% of the average UK footprint. Climate Work's Fossil Free Frome report explored how a 40% cut in baseline energy demand could be achieved. This means that every home in Frome needs to be made as energy efficient as technical measures allow. In addition to 'standard' measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing, homes with solid walls will need to be insulated with external or internal wall insulation. This will need to be carefully planned to ensure it is suitable for each building type. Cost is an important factor and support from national government or other funding mechanisms will be needed. There is also an opportunity for customers who are able to pay and who want to proactively save carbon to lead the way with support, advice and encouragement. This will help develop the local supply chain and expertise as well as help to normalise the measures.
A study by the Centre for Sustainable Energy¹⁵ estimated that 35% of homes in Mendip have solid walls. If the distribution of property types is similar in Frome, just under 4000 homes will require solid wall insulation. However, Frome has 340 listed buildings some of which might not be permitted to have solid wall insulation¹⁶.
The Energy Saving Trust estimate external wall insulation to cost between £8,000 to £22,000, and internal wall insulation between £3,500 to £14,000. They point out that the actual cost depends on the house type, (flat, terraced, semi-detached house etc), and factors such as access, and the detailed design of the property. These costs may come down as the market develops but it will always be a measure that carries a significant cost. Bringing down the cost can also be achieved by encouraging people to do the works in parallel with other refurbishment work. Linking with others such as the National Trust and English Heritage who have been insulating historic properties will also be important to develop appropriate approaches for each housing type.
Encouraging residents to wear warm clothes and turn down their thermostat from 19 to 18 degrees could also have a big impact and will reduce the average household energy bill by 13%¹⁷. Improving the energy efficiency of existing homes in Frome remains one of if not the major challenge to Frome becoming 'fossil free'.
Having an affordable, warm, healthy home is also vital for wellbeing. The health impacts of living in a cold or damp home have been well documented by Public Health England and can cause high blood pressure and even heart attacks and pneumonia¹⁸. They can also lead to social isolation, loss of sleep, stress and mental illness. Government data shows that over 10% of Frome households were living in fuel poverty in 2017¹⁹, this is likely to have increased as energy prices increased 40% between 2015 and 2020. A breakdown of fuel poverty by area shows very localised patterns.
### Fuel Poverty in Frome by Area (2017)
| Area of Frome | Estimated number of households | Estimated number of fuel poor households | Proportion of households fuel poor (%) |
|---------------|------------------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Berkley Down West | 762 | 91 | 11.9 |
| Berkley Down North | 849 | 41 | 4.8 |
| Berkley Down East | 730 | 52 | 7.1 |
| Fromefield East | 540 | 48 | 8.9 |
| Fromefield West | 680 | 43 | 6.3 |
| Fromefield South | 633 | 51 | 8.1 |
| Keyford East | 664 | 66 | 9.9 |
| Keyford North | 766 | 107 | 14.0 |
| Keyford West | 650 | 87 | 13.4 |
| Keyford South | 610 | 67 | 11.0 |
| Park West | 688 | 66 | 9.6 |
| Park South | 781 | 56 | 7.2 |
| Park East | 1,015 | 127 | 12.5 |
| Welshmill South | 727 | 93 | 12.8 |
| Welshmill West | 682 | 83 | 12.2 |
| Welshmill North | 613 | 68 | 11.1 |
| Welshmill East | 710 | 74 | 10.4 |
| **Total / average** | **12,100** | **1,220** | **10.1** |
### Existing Buildings
Key actions for Frome Town Council over the next year include:
- Commission energy efficiency report for Frome Town Hall and implement findings to ensure the Town Hall minimises its carbon impact and demonstrates what is possible in similar older types of building
- Co-develop and promote a retrofit programme using the housing stock survey and appropriate solutions as a basis working in partnership with Mendip District Council. Exploring opportunities for funding and financing mechanisms (such as Bath and North East Somerset's green deal programme) and working in collaboration with retrofit experts such as EnergieSprong²⁰ and CSE to identify opportunities will be key. Commissioning a housing stock survey, looking at what retrofit techniques are appropriate in Frome, working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy will be key to this. A lot of work has been done in this area already and linking with other successful guidelines and programme such as English Heritage and Bath and North East Somerset will be important
- One of the biggest challenges is engaging with people and normalising these measures and this is where Frome Town Council could play a significant role
- Train local tradespeople to be able to retrofit homes effectively, linking with CSE and other expertise
- Train local team of energy advisors to support people to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their energy bills. This should be done in the context of the new standards being administered by TrustMark (including PAS2035)²¹
- Explore behaviour change programmes such as Totnes Transition Streets – to encourage neighbours to work together to reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions and Green Open Homes which showcases local examples of eco retrofit
- Encourage local businesses to have free energy audit via the Carbon Trust and support them to implement identified actions, such as switching off their lights at night
- Lend thermal imaging camera to enable the community to highlight areas their homes are leaking heat
- Promote use of LEDs in homes and businesses
- Work with schools via Energy Sparks²² and Frome Learning Partnership to support them in reducing their energy costs and carbon. Energy Sparks also enables students to help lead on activities and schools to be rewarded for taking action
- Explore training apprentices in energy efficiency and renewables linking in with CSE's Futurefit programme²³
Key actions for Mendip District Council include:
- Retrofitting council housing stock to high energy efficiency standards
- Working with social and private landlords to ensure homes have high efficiency standards. Enforcement of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards will drive improvement by landlords of private rented homes (often the coldest / dampest) and of rented business premises
Actions for national government:
- Make improving the UK's domestic housing stock a national infrastructure priority
- Fund retrofit – significant investment is needed to enable the housing stock to reach energy efficiency targets. This could be done through a Green Deal that has low interest rate and maximising ECO funding to enable low income households to access free measures
### New development
Whilst addressing the impact of existing housing stock and buildings is vital, it is also important to ensure that new developments are built to minimise their impact and enable zero carbon lifestyles.
Key activities for the next year include:
**Frome Town Council:**
- Develop best practice design and planning guidance to incorporate into Frome's updated Neighbourhood plan
- Input into Mendip's Local Plan and planning rules using best practice examples from elsewhere such as Stroud and Milton Keynes
- Support the implementation of a zero carbon microgrid and heat network at the new Saxonvale development, working in partnership with Frome Renewable Energy Co-op. Work with developers and Mendip District Council to incorporate this approach to all new development
**Mendip District Council:**
- Incorporate best practice design guidance into planning rules. Where zero carbon is not being achieved ensure developers pay per tonne of carbon emitted by the development to support and offset carbon reduction locally. This is being done by Milton Keynes, Islington and Camden and explored by Bristol City Council and could generate millions to support other carbon reduction measures
- Lobby national government to enable local authorities to stipulate higher standards in development – looking at all aspects – energy, transport, embodied energy of materials etc
### Renewable Energy
Fossil Free Frome report found that 'on paper solar PV would provide just over 60% of the daily per person requirement for power in Frome' if all south facing roofs had solar panels. However, it is important to consider that the energy actually generated by solar is only produced during daylight hours and reduces in winter months. So whilst roof mounted PV could generate a lot of energy in total, to get the full benefit it is necessary to find some way of storing the electricity generated in the day for use at night, plus other forms of power generation during the winter months when the solar resource is much smaller.
Key activities for the year for Frome Town Council include:
- Commissioning research exploring wind, hydro and other renewable energy opportunities in the area, building on work already undertaken in this area over the last five years. This includes working with CSE's Future Energy Landscape mapping to enable the local community and energy experts to develop a renewable energy map for the area
- Promote solar streets – Frome's pioneering bulk solar install²⁴. Continue to promote locally, linking with affordable finance to enable payments to be spread over time. Add batteries to this in longer term as costs reduce (and VAT less when installed with solar). Replicate in other areas
- Promote solar, renewables and storage to local businesses and organisations
- Promote collective switch to renewable energy e.g. via greenswitch.org
- Explore opportunities for local district heat networks via Thermos-eu / CSE
- Work with FRECo to explore community bonds as a way to finance local renewables and retrofit
- Explore opportunities for establishing Frome Virtual Power Plant using renewables, storage and Demand Side Response
- Explore enabling community owned energy to be sold at a reduced rate to local businesses and schools through a corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure
- Link with local farmers to explore opportunities for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) using local food and agricultural waste to produce renewable electricity or gas
Actions for Mendip District Council and Somerset County Council:
- Link with local community energy organisations to install renewables on Mendip / Somerset owned buildings and land
- Explore renewable energy opportunities across the area
- Use the Mendip's Phoenix Fund to invest in clean energy generation and generate a return
- Ensure renewable heat including ground source and air source heat pumps powered by renewables are a planning condition for all new developments
Actions for national government:
- Enable onshore wind through planning regulation that supports wind turbines in appropriate, well planned areas, providing incentives for community energy where the local community directly benefits
- Support renewables, for example, stipulating a higher level of Smart Export Guarantee. Enable community energy organisations to easily implement smart solutions such as sleeved power purchase agreements and virtual MPANs²⁵
## Transport
Transport has a huge climate and health impact. In Frome there are air quality issues in several areas which have a big impact on health and wellbeing. The graph below shows the Nitrogen Dioxide levels in Frome wards. The annual mean limit is set nationally at 40µg/m³. As can be seen, while emissions have reduced in some areas between 2014 and 2018, areas such as Market Place and The Butts are close to this maximum level. Frome Town Council is working with Frome Tech Shed to hold workshops for local residents to make their own air monitors which will then provide real time information on local pollution levels.
### NO2 Levels in Frome (2014-2018)
| Location | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|----------|------|------|------|------|------|
| Frome - Market Place | ~38 | ~35 | ~35 | ~36 | ~37 |
| Frome - 38 The Butts | ~36 | ~34 | ~33 | ~34 | ~35 |
| Frome - Portway | ~32 | ~30 | ~29 | ~30 | ~31 |
| Frome - Garsdale/Vicarage | ~28 | ~26 | ~25 | ~26 | ~27 |
| Frome - Christchurch Street | ~25 | ~23 | ~22 | ~23 | ~24 |
| Frome - 87 The Butts | ~23 | ~21 | ~20 | ~21 | ~22 |
| Frome - Monmouth Drive | ~18 | ~16 | ~15 | ~16 | ~17 |
*Source: Mendip District Council*
Changing these transport patterns will require a huge shift and reaching the climate targets will require significant investment in new infrastructure such as safe walking and cycling routes and smarter shared mobility. Ensuring Frome has local work, leisure and education facilities that are accessible by walking and cycling is also vital. Key stakeholders include national government and Somerset County Council who are responsible for highways and transport planning. There are also actions that can be taken on the local level, from promoting lift share to helping to set up a network of electric charge points for cars and bikes.
Frome's Neighbourhood Plan sees transport as a key issue and delivering 'integrated sustainable transport options is a key aim of the Frome Neighbourhood Development Plan.' There is limited data around current travel patterns for the area. However, at a national level the distance travelled by car increased by 75% between 1980 and 2004; 38% of car trips are under 2 miles and walking levels are amongst the lowest in Europe, accounting for only 16% of urban trips in England and Wales compared to 46% in the Netherlands²⁶.
For short journeys encouraging people to cycle, walk or use electric bikes/scooters instead of driving produces a huge boost in efficiency and wellbeing. A bike is 80 to 100 times more energy efficient than a car per passenger km.
For longer journeys there is a similar lift in efficiency from switching from cars to public transport. Bus services in Frome, as elsewhere, have been withdrawn or under threat over the past few years. Cuts to government funding, privatisation which encourages bus operators to compete rather than co-operate, increasing bus fares and low density of population have all contributed towards this. However, buses add significant value to the local economy. A study by KPMG found that the economic, social and environmental return for each £1 spent on bus services range from £2.00 to £3.80 for revenue expenditure and £4.20 and £8.10 for capital expenditure.²⁷ Bristol is now using methane powered 'poo buses' and electric buses in other cities are helping to reduce the impact of bus services.
Train services in Frome are also limited, for example, with two hour gaps at key times such as 8-10am and 3-5pm. This is a huge barrier to increased public transport use. Lobbying for better services is key to increasing usage.
Where public transport isn't possible, the easiest way of improving the 'per person' energy efficiency of vehicle transport is to fill the vehicle. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road brings the added benefits of reducing congestion as well as local air pollution.
Electric cars are potentially part of this solution as they are about five times more energy efficient than the average fossil fuel (petrol/diesel) car. The estimated average energy use for transportation in Frome is 20kWh per day per person. Switching to electric vehicles could reduce this figure to approximately 4kWh per day per person²⁸. Electric vehicles (EVs) eliminate exhaust pipe emissions, significantly improving local air pollution. EVs can also provide electrical energy storage via the car's batteries, helping to smooth out peaks and troughs in energy demand and maximise the energy generated from renewable sources. A further benefit is noise reduction as electric vehicles are much quieter than their petrol and diesel equivalents.
However, most transport solutions, other than walking, still have inherent environmental impacts. Cobalt and lithium needed for EV batteries are limited resources. As Martin Breukner concludes 'electric cars are a quick-to-deploy technology fix that helps tackle climate change and improve urban air quality – to a point. But the sustainability endgame is to eliminate many of our daily travel needs altogether through smart design, while improving the parts of our lives we lost sight of during our decades-long dependence on cars.'²⁹
Aviation is a key part of this and has a huge impact that is often excluded from carbon calculations. Significantly reducing travel needs and encouraging people to travel over land will be vital. Promoting local leisure opportunities, lobbying against airport expansion, such as the successful campaign to stop Bristol Airport's expansion and promoting campaigns such as https://flightfree.co.uk/ will be key to this.
Key actions needed over the next year for Frome Town Council include:
- Mapping transport needs and services in partnership with Mendip and Somerset councils and other local parish councils
- Map safe walking and cycling routes and key areas that need addressing through a Local Walking and Infrastructure Plan. Use this body of evidence to secure funding to ensure there is a comprehensive safe accessible network throughout the town
- Buy an electric bike for staff to use. We already use an electric vehicle for the park ranger team and use Co-Wheels hybrid vehicle for all business journeys. FTC should also promote the Bike to Work scheme to all employees
- Promote Liftshare Frome and support volunteer drivers to enable liftsharing
- Promote home delivery especially from independent local shops and explore opportunities for neighbourhood delivery hubs
- Promote local shops and facilities where people can walk to buy things
- Promote Co-Wheels hybrid car club³⁰, which saves at least 20 privately owned vehicles through affordable car hire
- Bike amnesty: link with Critchill School's bike workshop to enable people to share and repair bikes and gain skills in a similar way to Bristol Bike Project³¹
- Promote and organise more active travel challenges with local schools – this currently happens every May, enabling 2000 students to increase active travel by 20%³². We will focus on maintaining this impact, help set up walking buses and link with local businesses
- Develop and promote walking and cycling maps
- Work with businesses to encourage home working and teleconferencing
- Support Frome's Missing Links to enable a safe off road cycle path linking Frome with Radstock and Bath
- Work with Somerset County Council, train and bus companies, community transport, volunteer drivers and others to increase shared transport that meets local needs
- Explore creative ways to engage the community around travel include local school children designing 'parking tickets' for cars parked outside the school and mime artists / street theatre that encourages people to car share and drive safely
- Lobby national government to ensure pedestrians and cyclists have priority as they do in Holland. This significantly helps to reduce accidents and insurance costs
- Remodel town centre to prioritise pedestrians over cars, exploring options to increase pedestrianisation in the longer term. Ensure 20mph is enforced
- Liaise with Frome Sustrans volunteers who maintain National Cycle Network route 24 around the area
**Mendip:**
- Encouraging businesses to locate where people live via Local Plan
- Ensure all new developments to have walking and cycling links and secure cycle storage
- Provide network of electric charge points for EVs
- Ensure new developments are designed using the Home Zone concept³³, reducing parking needs, keeping cars at the periphery and enabling communities to connect and share car club vehicles
**Somerset:**
- Support network of safe cycling and walking routes
- Ensure new developments have green transport plan that prioritises people and bikes over cars, ensuring that this is fully implemented
- Require all taxis to be electric through licensing
**National government:**
- Invest in safe walking and cycling routes, hugely boosting cost benefit ratio of transport investment
- Work with rail and bus operators to ensure public transport is well planned, affordable, meets local demands and is integrated to enable trains to link with bus services and bikes to be transported where needed
## Resources
In this report 'resources' include the impact of the goods and services we buy as well as natural resources such as tree planning and nature. It also covers food and drink which account for 25% of the average UK footprint. In total 'resources' account for 42% of our footprint, or 49% if we include public services and leisure. By 2030 we need to see a big shift towards sharing and borrowing rather than buying, particularly for high impact products such as electronic items.
### Products and Services
The UK is already using three times as many resources as the earth can sustain. Buying less, borrowing, sharing and buying things that last and can be repaired are all key to reducing emissions and conserving resources.
In 2015 Frome Town Council worked in partnership with Edventure Frome CIC to set up SHARE, the UK's first permanent Library of Things. SHARE has over 600 items for the community to borrow for a small donation. A recent impact report found that in 2018/19 SHARE: saved the community over £62,000 through borrowing rather than buying, reduced waste and resource use by over 127 tonnes and reduced greenhouse gases by 92 tonnes³⁴.
### Waste
In 2016 the council worked in partnership with Edventure Frome CIC to set up the UK's first community fridge. Inspired by the solidarity fridges in Spain, the community fridge has a team of volunteers who collect food waste from local supermarkets and shops and put them in the fridge and community larder to enable anyone to help themselves. A recent impact analysis found that the fridge enables over 90,000 items a year to be eaten rather than wasted, saving 130 tonnes of greenhouse gasses every year, the equivalent of driving 5 times round the world.
### Increasing plant-based food
According to Project Drawdown meat and dairy account for one-fifth of global emissions. 'If cattle were their own nation, they would be the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.' Emissions could be reduced by as much as 70 percent through adopting a vegan diet and 63 percent for a vegetarian diet, which includes cheese, milk, and eggs. $1 trillion in annual health-care costs and lost productivity would also be saved. This doesn't mean everyone needs to go vegan, but reducing meat and dairy consumption is important and will significantly help towards meeting Frome's climate targets. The graph below shows the relevant impacts per food type³⁵.
### Trees and carbon sequestration
The way that land is used has a huge impact. Developing a Land Use Framework to optimise land for nature recovery, food growing, carbon storage and to a lesser extent 'development' would help to ensure land use is well planned and maximises climate benefits.
Much of the carbon captured by trees (and plants) is stored in the soil. Whether on a development site, on a farm or in a garden, it is important that soil is managed in a way that safeguards its ecological and carbon value.
Tree planting is often seen as an 'easy' way to sequester carbon emissions. However, ensuring that tree planting (or natural regeneration) is well planned using appropriate species, doesn't compete with other land uses such a sustainable local food production, and is well supported and maintained is vital. In England tree cover is only 10%, whereas the European average is 30%. In Frome tree cover is estimated at 13.5%³⁶. Somerset Climate Action Network calculated that to meet Frome's current climate emissions we would need to plant 38 million trees! It is therefore clear that whilst tree planting is important – for sequestration, flood management, wellbeing and natural habitats, it is only a small part of the solution and huge cuts will still be needed in current emissions.
For resources Frome Town Council's key activities over the next year include:
- Promoting Frome as a sharing town linking with SHARE, the Toy Library, setting up local school uniform and book swaps and free-cycle days
- Working with local businesses to support and enable sustainable methods of production and services
- Promote ethical banking, pensions, utilities and webhosting
- Lobbying Somerset County Council's pension fund to divest from fossil fuels
- Work with local schools to organise uniform and book swaps / sales
- Explore opportunities for setting up sharing hubs in each area
- Promoting refill, re-use and repair
- Promoting Somerset Waste Partnership's new recycling services in summer 2020
- Work with schools and hospitals to explore sourcing local, seasonal and increased plant protein
- Work with farmers to increase plant protein production locally and encourage sustainable farm management such as tree planting, hedgerows and insect banks³⁷
- Promote local food growing and training opportunities
- Develop and implement tree planting programme
- Work with communities and community groups to enhance Frome's green infrastructure corridors including SOS Open Space / Whatcombe Fields and FROGs
- Link with Friends of the River Frome and Somerset River Frome Catchment Partnership to improve the river Frome water quality and environs
Exploring creative ways to encourage and enable the community and organisations to share, re-fill, re-use and repair items will be key to maximising participation. Using innovative approaches and successful campaign examples from organisations such as Hubbub³⁸ will help to significantly increase impact in this area. Somerset Waste Partnership's new recycling services in summer 2020 will also provide an important opportunity to minimise waste going to landfill. Enabling more local food growing and implementing the council's tree planting will help to boost health and wellbeing as well as cutting emissions.
**Mendip:**
- Use business rates to incentivise sustainable business practices, goods and services
- Introducing new recycling services to recycle significantly more plastic waste in summer 2020
- Explore opportunities to enable people to live on smallholdings to grow food and live sustainably
- Increase tree cover on Mendip owned land; update local planning strategies to encourage nature based solutions such as increasing tree cover across the council area
**Somerset:**
- Divest pension fund, which in 2018 invested £120m in fossil fuels, £70m of which was in fracking
- Increase tree cover on Somerset owned land and on streets; update local planning strategies to encourage nature-based solutions such as increasing tree cover across the council area
- Engage with schools to ensure meals are delivered in accordance with the official Eatwell Guide and the majority of options on menus are healthy and plant-based, with less and better meat
**National government:**
- Label carbon impact of goods and look at carbon budgeting
## Measuring progress
To enable the massive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions needed, it is vital that governments change the way they value 'progress'. The driving force behind our current system is economic growth. Infinite growth on a finite planet cannot be sustained. A global economy growing at 3% a year doubles every 24 years. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the most widely used indicators of the national economy. However, activities that are detrimental to the long-term economy (like deforestation, strip mining, over-fishing, murders and terrorism) increase today's GDP and environmental degradation is rarely accounted for. For example, the Exxon Valdez oil spill boosted GDP in the US due to the expenditure associated with the clean-up effort, outweighing impact of the eleven million gallons of oil spilled into Alaskan waters.
An increasing number of countries are looking at different metrics, such as Gross National Happiness. This was adopted by Bhutan in 2008 and countries such as New Zealand have introduced 'gross national wellbeing' as their main way to measure progress in the country. As well as changing the way we value 'progress' we need to ensure that the environmental and social impacts of all activities and products are incorporated, reflecting their true cost and ensuring that people involved have fair, safe working conditions.
**Action:**
- Work with partners to explore appropriate measurements for Frome. Tools such as the Local Multiplier effect are a step towards this
## Community Resilience
Working in partnership with local communities to develop and implement solutions is vital. This will be key to reaching the town's climate targets. Ensuring there are strong neighbourhood networks to ensure people are supported in the face of the impacts of climate breakdown is also crucial. These impacts include extreme weather - storms, flooding and overheating in particular and food shortages.
**Action:**
- Further develop emergency plan including mapping local needs and engage with local community to enhance mutual aid and resilience
- Link with Mendip and Somerset's emergency plans
## Conclusion
This report sets out some of the key actions that are needed over the next few years to ensure we meet our vital climate change targets, while boosting health, wellbeing and the local economy. Engaging the community and organisations in this transition is fundamental and exploring creative, interesting ways to do this will be key. Achieving the changes needed will require significant investment. A key element of the programme is therefore fundraising, such as Frome Town Council and Edventure's recent application for £2m to the Lottery's Climate Action Fund. Other opportunities include community energy, community shares, bonds and investment from pension funds and others. If we stand any chance of meeting these vital and ambitious targets we need significant support and changes in policy and funding at district, county and national government levels.
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## References
¹ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-health-benefits/
² https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/featured/how-much-money-does-cycling-save-you
³ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staycation
⁴ https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/food/plant-rich-diet
⁵ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/why-5-a-day/
⁶ World Resources Institute: https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/10/8-things-you-need-know-about-ipcc-15-creport
⁷ Fossil CO2 & GHG emissions of all world countries, 2017: http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=CO2andGHG1970-2016&dst=GHGpc
⁸ Scope 1, 2 and 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol explained: https://www.carbontrust.com/resources/faqs/services/scope-3-indirect-carbon-emissions
⁹ https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/
¹⁰ https://www.climateemergency.uk/blog/half-of-uk-local-authorities-declare-a-climate-emergency-in-just-eight-months/
¹¹ https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/your-community/resilience/clean-future/
¹² https://www.drawdown.org/about
¹³ https://www.drawdown.org/solutions-summary-by-rank
¹⁴ https://newint.org/features/2019/07/01/can-i-do-stop-climate-change
¹⁵ https://www.cse.org.uk/
¹⁶ https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/frome-mendip-somerset#.XlkqtKj7QnI
¹⁷ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/128720/6923-how-much-energy-could-be-saved-by-making-small-cha.pdf
¹⁸ https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/heat-and-health
¹⁹ https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-regional-fuel-poverty-data-2019
²⁰ https://www.energiesprong.uk/
²¹ https://www.trustmark.org.uk/ourservices/pas-2035/
²² https://energysparks.uk/
²³ https://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/reports-and-publications/communityenergy/bristol_community_energy_mapping_report_sept_2011.pdf
²⁴ https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/solar-streets/
²⁵ https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/userfiles/file/ARC_Learning_Report_Potential_Commercial_Arrangements_for_Virtual_Private_WireSystems_Feb_2017.pdf
²⁶ https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/media/351908/yeovil_sustainable_transport_sudy_report_26aprilreduced.pdf
²⁷ http://www.greenerjourneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Greener-Journeys-Value-for-Money-Update-FINAL.pdf
²⁸ https://www.frometowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/A-clean-healthy-future-for-Frome-Final-Sept-2016.pdf
²⁹ https://theconversation.com/not-so-fast-why-the-electric-vehicle-revolution-will-bring-problems-of-its-own-94980
³⁰ https://www.co-wheels.org.uk
³¹ https://thebristolbikeproject.org/
³² https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm9MM1y2r6k
³³ https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/content/dam/sheffield/docs/planning-and-development/corestrategy/Home%20Zone%20Guidelines.pdf
³⁴ https://edventurefrome.org/enterprises-initiatives/fridge/
³⁵ https://ourworldindata.org/uploads/2020/02/Environmental-impact-of-food-by-life-cycle-stage.png
³⁶ http://forestry.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d8c253ab17e1412586d9774d1a09fa07
³⁷ https://www.agricology.co.uk/resources/beetles-you-can-bank
³⁸ https://www.hubbub.org.uk/Pages/Category/campaigns