< Back The Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) at Keele University Clive Dyson 8 Mar 2023 SSCA's field visit to Keele University to see their renewable energy park Mike Bourke, Susan Lockwood and Clive and Kate Dyson visited Keele University on Wednesday 8th March 2023 to see the renewable energy park and the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND). Keele University operates its own electricity distribution network, so is in a good position to experiment, somewhat isolated from the grid. It has two wind turbines, generating up to 1.7 MW, and an array of 12,500 solar panels, generating up to c. 5.5 MW. It also has a c. 2 MWh battery. On the cold, clouded winter day of our visit it was supplying about two thirds of the energy demand of the campus. There is also an export grid connection rated at about 1 MW. Alongside the energy park, it has been running a Smart Energy Network Demonstrator project, with support from Siemens (I believe it’s had research funding as well). This controls the generation system, use of electricity across the campus and export to / import from the grid. SEND also provides support to local enterprises, assisting them to develop energy-efficient low carbon solutions, and adding 120 new jobs and £40 million gross value added (GVA) to the regional economy. The University also carries out research and development in relation to low-carbon technologies, new energy products and data management systems. For example, it successfully trialled OFGEM’s Hydeploy project to inject 20% Green hydrogen into the University’s wholly owned gas network, testing its safety in the existing pipes and boilers and reducing carbon emissions by 7%. This project is now being taken forward on a larger scale in Gateshead, involving local homes, schools and other public buildings. Keele is also participating in a consortium of eight regional universities in the HyDEX programme to promote a new hydrogen industrial economy. During our visit we viewed the energy park, and learned of its positive impact on local biodiversity. During a (much warmer!) time spent in the impressive control centre we learned about the monitoring systems, the relationship of renewable energy developments to the planning regime, and the constraints of a decentralized community system like this in relation to the National Grid. This is a marvellous regional resource, and we hope to arrange further visits by key local organisations. We are most grateful to the staff of SEND for such a memorable learning experience. Previous Next

< Back The inaugural walk for our Walk Through Bridgnorth’s Green Spaces leaflet Fiona Morgan 17 Jun 2023 A walk designed to promote Wellbeing and Nature in Bridgnorth On Saturday 17th June we were delighted to launch the latest in our series of self-guided walk leaflets - the Walk through Bridgnorth’s Green Spaces - which has been produced in partnership with South Shropshire Climate Action, Sustainable Bridgnorth and Bridgnorth Library with the support of other groups including Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Energize, Bridgnorth Town Council, Community Resource and Buglife. 15 of us turned up in the first rains we had had in June for the inaugural walk which was led by the Chair of Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Bridgnorth branch. The walk was done at a leisurely pace, taking 2 hours to explore the green spaces around Bridgnorth’s High and Low Town including churchyard gardens, parks, a riverside walk, and the old alleys and paths in the town. During the walk we saw house martins swooping around Bridgnorth Bridge and geese and their baby goslings resting on the banks of the River Severn. A kingfisher was seen by one of the party darting under the bridge. We heard chiff chaff, wren and greenfinch from a spot overlooking the cliffs on the other side of the river which are also the haunt of peregrine falcons. A pitstop was made halfway round the walk at Our Green Shop (Bridgnorth’s zero waste refill shop) to buy much needed refreshments and snacks. We then headed back up to the High Town and leant about the fascinating history of the town and the history of Bridgnorth Libraries from members of Sustainable Bridgnorth and Emma Spenser, Branch Manager, Bridgnorth Library & Visitor Information Point. We finished with a stroll through Castle Park Gardens, where the second Bridgnorth Green Festival will be held on Saturday 9th September, and viewed the bug house and swallow boxes installed in the grounds of St Mary’s Church. If you are interested in doing the walk around Bridgnorth you can find the walk leaflet on the South Shropshire Climate Action website . The walk contains a variety of accessible route and more strenuous routes which include steps. The original walk leaflet, A Walk through Ludlow’s Green Spaces has also recently been revised and updated and can be accessed via the SSCA website too. We hope both walks will be used by people and groups of all ages to promote their physical and mental wellbeing through connecting people to the pockets of Nature that exist in our urban spaces and to promote sustainable tourism in south Shropshire. The more people connect to, and care about, Nature, the more they will act to protect it. Previous Next

< Back Our new Walk Through Bridgnorth’s Green Spaces leaflet Fiona Morgan 1 Jun 2023 Part of SSCA's series of walk leaflets for towns in South Shropshire A new self-guided walk leaflet has been launched by Sustainable Bridgnorth, South Shropshire Climate Action and Bridgnorth Library who have kindly funded the leaflet. The Walk Through Bridgnorth’s Green Spaces leaflet aims to support local people’s connection to Nature with a walk that connects the green spaces in the High and Low town and highlights the wildlife that can be spotted along the way, including peregrine falcons, otters, bats, insects and kingfishers. The walk contains a number of routes to meet people’s needs including a more accessible route (which will incorporate both the High and Low town once the funicular railway is back in operation), to a more strenuous route which uses some of the steeper steps in the town. It also features some suggested extensions to enable people to explore the lesser-known wildlife spots in the town, including at Bridgnorth Cemetery, Daniel’s Mill, The Dingle and Crown Meadow and Well Meadow where Bug Life have been creating B-Line to provide stepping-stones of habitat so pollinators can move through our town to feed, mate and rest. It is hoped that this self guided walk leaflet will be used by individuals and groups to promote their physical and mental wellbeing through connecting to the pockets of Nature that exist in Bridgnorth. The walk will be used by social prescriber networks in Shropshire to encourage people to get active. A3 posters of the walk will be located across town at Bridgnorth Library (where the walk starts and ends), health settings, schools and tourist hotspots such as Severn Valley Railway to encourage sustainable tourism. Both the walk leaflet and the A3 posters feature QR codes so people can access the walk via the new South Shropshire Climate Action website to promote sustainability. An inaugural walk is being held for the launch of the walk leaflet on Saturday 17th June 2023 – meeting for a 10am start outside Bridgnorth Library, Listley Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4AW). The inaugural walk will be led by Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Bridgnorth Branch. It will last approx. 2 hours with plenty of breaks to take in the views and learn about the wildlife and plant life enroute. You are welcome to come along and explore all the Nature that Bridgnorth has to offer. The Walk Through Ludlow’s Green Spaces leaflet is also in the process of being revised (as 1000 copies of the first edition were snapped up in the past year) and the new version is due to be released soon so watch this space. Previous Next

< Back Appointment of the new SSCA Project Co-ordinators Fiona Morgan 5 Jul 2022 Meet Nick Read and Fiona Morgan Nick and Fiona started as the SSCA project coordinators in the summer, 2022. Their role, in response to climate change, is to foster collaborative partnerships that inspire and support people and communities to undertake actions leading to human and ecological wellbeing. Fiona Morgan was formerly a social worker and Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Wolverhampton. She has been actively engaged in voluntary work relating to climate action including Climate Action Network West Midlands, Transition Telford, and is a founding trustee of Climate Action Hub Telford. Nick Read is an Anglican Priest and Agricultural Chaplain, the Co-Chair of Herefordshire Green Network and a member of the Marches Nature Partnership. He was previously the Food Policy & Research Adviser for the NFU and Director of the Brightspace Foundation, a Herefordshire charity focused on sustainable development. You can email them at SSCA@mea.org.uk Previous Next

< Back SSCA met with Philip Dunne (MP for the Ludlow Constituency) Nick Read 11 Apr 2023 SSCA discussed our first 6 months and next steps On Tuesday 11th April Jane Cullen (SSCA Chair), Fiona Morgan and Nick Read (SSCA Project Co-ordinators) met local MP Philip Dunne. Although Philip had met both Jane and Nick previously this was an opportunity to introduce Fiona and to highlight the progress that had been made since the appointment of the two Project Coordinators in June. He was impressed with the level of activity within his constituency, the degree of coordination and collaboration that was being achieved, but also recognised the need to significantly increase climate-related actions. A sense of urgency had been engendered by a recent visit of the Environmental Audit Committee (which Philip chairs) to the UK Arctic Research Station, whose scientists warn that global warming is proceeding faster in arctic regions than had been predicted. Philip also indicated that the Climate and Ecology Bill (currently going through the House of Lords) was unlikely to have enough parliamentary time to succeed in the House of Commons. On a more positive note he wanted to use his influence to enable clusters of farmers to work together on landscape scale interventions. Previous Next

< Back Broseley's Climate Action Group launched its first Green Day this April Fiona Morgan 15 Apr 2023 SSCA and Stretton Climate Care were there to trial the new Retrofit Toolkit SSCA’s project coordinator, Fiona Morgan, and Mike Bourke from Stretton Climate Care, attended Broseley Town Council’s Climate Action Group’s very first Green event in April. We used this for another first - to pilot the Retrofit Toolkit, which have been produced by South Shropshire Climate Action (SSCA) and its partner organisations Marches Energy Agency (under their Future Ready Homes project ) and Stretton Climate Care . The 15 information sheets which form the toolkit (which can be taken for a suggested donation of £5) are d esigned to help you plan a Whole House Retrofit to achieve Net Zero Carbon, either in one go or in a long-term series of stages. They: · recommend the order in which to take the necessary steps to fully insulate your home; · enable you to reduce your use of energy for lighting, heating and other resources including water; and · help you to make decisions about renewable energy generation for your home. Each handout gives further information and links to useful on-line resources for each topic. In time the handouts will also be accessed via the QR code on our new website. The toolkit will accompany Marches Energy Agency’s new Electric Van which will be bringing a Retrofit Roadshow to Shropshire communities this year to help householders to understand how to make their homes more energy efficient. The exhibition also includes: · A continuous PowerPoint retrofit slideshow · Samples of insulation and other retrofit materials. · The latest information on grants, and help for struggling households The exhibition will be at the following events this year. Saturday 20th May 11am - 4pm: Next Generation Fair, the Halo Community Centre, Craven Arms Saturday 27th May 10-4pm: StrettFest, Rectory Field, Church Stretton (behind St Laurence's Church) Sunday 9th July 10am -4pm Ludlow Green Festival, Castle Square, Ludlow Saturday 9th September: Bridgnorth Green Festival, Castle Gardens, Bridgnorth Saturday 23rd September: Bishop’s Castle Green Day, SpArC Leisure Centre, Bishop’s Castle So come along to find out more and take away a toolkit to start or continue your retrofit journey. Previous Next

< Back SSCA at Bridgnorth Green Festival Fiona Morgan 9 Sept 2023 Sharing climate action information, swapping and sharing resources and providing energy efficiency advice We had a great time at the second Bridgnorth Green Festival on Saturday 9th September. The event was really well organised by Sustainable Bridgnorth and held on a blazing hot day. We talked to lots of people about what we and other group in our network do on climate and Nature action. We also had a swap stand and people enjoyed the opportunity to reuse and swap items as part of #secondhandseptember. We rehomed lots of gardening gloves, baking equipment, picture frames, clothes, books and a dog bowl among other items! Thank you everyone for your support and donations! Our volunteers were also running the retrofit exhibition stand, providing advice and information to people on how to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce carbon and heating bills in the process. Previous Next

< Back SSCA's first Retrofit Services Consultation Event, Craven Arms Mike Bourke 20 Jun 2023 Bringing groups from the Marches together to discuss retrofit and next steps for the region The Energy and Buildings Group of South Shropshire Climate Action organized a Consultation on Tuesday 20th June at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms. The purpose was to improve co-operation between the different groups offering retrofit services across the Marches, and those attending represented Shropshire Council, Herefordshire Green Network, Marches Energy Agency, Lightfoot, Telford Climate Action, Sustainable Bridgnorth, Stretton Climate Care and environmental groups in Broseley, Clun and Market Drayton. Two of those attending are also elected members of Powys and Herefordshire Councils. The day consisted of three workshops: 1. A Directory of Retrofit Providers and Specialists . People who want to retrofit their homes need to know of contractors with the relevant skills and qualifications. At present, some organisations have their own lists based on local knowledge, though all have, of course, to emphasize that they cannot recommend these firms or accept liability for any work carried out. It was agreed that a Marches-wide list should be produced, prefaced by a list of questions which customers should ask before any contractor is employed. A small group will take this forward over the coming weeks. 2. Grants and Funding . Tony Baker of MEA described the current Government funding schemes available to householders (Boiler Upgrade Scheme, Great British Insulation Scheme and the Home Upgrade Grant - the latter being restricted to households on means-tested benefits or with an annual income of less than £31,000). We also discussed a proposed Lottery Fund application for a scheme to insulate individual rooms within houses. 3. Household Energy Surveys . These can take two forms of different levels of complexity, depending on whether the aim is to measure the household’s existing carbon footprint or to prepare the house for a retrofit programme. Presentations were made by Stretton Climate Care, Lightfoot and MEA. Rob Narraway gave a demonstration of a Thermal Imaging Camera, and the use of the Retrofit Roadshow Van was described. The cost of the various schemes was discussed, and training will be offered to newly formed community groups. It was generally agreed to have been a useful day in co-ordinating the efforts of the various agencies across our region. Previous Next

< Back Shropshire Council's plans for the North West Relief Road (NWRR) continue Fiona Morgan 1 Mar 2023 End the de facto ban on on-shore wind Shropshire Council has submitted 100 new planning documents for the NWRR to try and allay some of the concerns raised by statutory consultees such as the Environment Agency and Natural England in response to the first planning application (2021). However, according to Better Shrewsbury Transport, the revisions do not address any of the fundamental issues with the road which includes the destruction of wildlife habitat including ancient trees and vital hedgerows and the production of at least 50,000 tonnes of carbon. Moreover the revisions have increased the total area of land affected by the road by 40%. Shropshire Council is planning to spend at least £87 million, plus an unlimited overspend on constructing the NWRR. This is despite a recent Shropshire Council budget consultation asking for views on how to make £50 million in savings. A new round of public consultation is open if you wish to comment on the revised NWRR plans: you can email planning.northern@shropshire.gov.uk using the planning application reference no. 21/00924/EIA in the Subject and make sure you include your name and address or comment via the Shropshire Council Planning portal or use the online form found on the Road To Ruin Shropshire website ​ The deadline for comments is 11 March 2023. However, Better Shrewsbury Transport hope that emails will be taken into account until the planning officers submit their report in May 2023. For more information about the history of the road and campaign please see the Better Shrewsbury Transport website. Meanwhile in Wales.... The Welsh Government following the review of their National Transport Plan has made the decision to scrap all major road building projects in Wales and ensure all future roads must pass a strict criteria including that they must not increase carbon emissions. Read the full article by Teleri Glyn Jones in the BBC online (published 14/2/23) here . Previous Next

< Back New guide on Shropshire's Green Spaces to promote wellbeing Fiona Morgan and Shropshire Wildlife Trust 3 Aug 2023 Featuring SSCA's Walk Through Bridgnorth's Green Spaces New guides showcasing local green spaces have been created to encourage people to spend more time outdoors experiencing natural environments to the benefit of their physical and mental health. 9 locations have been chosen across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Each location has a free downloadable route, instructions on how to get there, accessibility information, and details of what you can see and do. This is one of the outcomes from a two-year Green Social Prescribing project, run by a partnership between Energize STW (the active partnership for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin) and Shropshire Wildlife Trust, with support from both local authorities in our County. The 9 guides are available to view on the Shropshire Wildlife Trust website at www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/local-greenspaces Our South Shropshire Climate Action Walk Through Bridgnorth's Green Spaces leaflet that we produced in partnership with Bridgnorth Library and Sustainable Bridgnorth features as one of the 9 walks. Sharon Smith, Green Social Prescribing Officer at Energize STW and Shropshire Wildlife Trust said: “ Our research has shown both social prescribers and the public were needing more information about local green spaces which are free to access and enjoy. Our focus was around what we coined the 3 Ls – low cost, low level, and local. ” Previous Next

< Back Having a Household Energy Survey (HES) with Lightfoot Enterprises Jane Cullen 1 Feb 2023 A customer's experience If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and save money by improving the energy efficiency of your home, an easy first step is to arrange with Lightfoot Enterprises to have a Household Energy Survey. To give you a clear idea of the process and where it might lead let’s hear from Laura and Oliver about their experience: We asked them: what were you expecting from the survey? ‘We wanted to know how to make our home more energy efficient, for both environmental and financial reasons. We hoped to gain an understanding of where we could make simple but effective changes, and any areas which might require a larger investment’. Next, we found out what having the survey was actually like ‘It was a straightforward and simple process. We enjoyed having the survey, as it was a very friendly process and we were guided through everything. The surveyor was totally non judgemental, we felt we could give honest answers and not make ourselves out to be better in terms of energy usage than we actually are! We also learnt some useful tips even before we received the full report. Overall it was a very positive experience’. We wanted to know what has actually happened as a result of the survey It turns out that Laura and Oliver have done quite a lot, for example: ‘Put draught excluding tape/sealant around our front door. This was super cheap and easy to use, we simply bought it from a local hardware and stuck it on’. 'Then we found an electrician (at the surveyor’s recommendation) to find and install a more user-friendly thermostat to replace the old, cumbersome one, to help us control our heating.' Next up ‘we're also looking into making some reflective panels to go behind our radiators to reflect the heat back into the room. A friend of ours has done this, and we have found a weekend to get together with her and make our own!’ There were other recommendations ranging from getting the boiler serviced, to installing solar panels, and it's up to us to decide whether we want to progress with these.' 'It was great to have a range of suggestions, from easy, quick wins to more long term options’. Lastly, we asked would you recommend having a Household Energy Survey (HES)? ‘It was a no brainer for us to get this survey done - there was nothing to lose and everything to gain. We would highly recommend it’. What do you need to do next to get a HES? An easy first step is to arrange for a Household Energy Survey with Lightfoot Enterprises by emailing: jeremy@lightfootenterprises.org A small charge is made of £35. The survey answers are sent to a professional energy assessor who will produce a bespoke report for your home, with on-going advice and recommendations Previous Next

< Back Shropshire's Green Libraries Week Fiona Morgan 6 Oct 2023 SSCA's information stand at Ludlow Library SSCA volunteer Robin Grimmett managed our stand at Ludlow library on the 6th October. We showcased information from groups across Shropshire on how people can take action to reduce their carbon emissions and support Nature including: our Retrofit Toolkit produced in partnership with Stretton Climate Care our Walk Through Ludlow’s Green Spaces leaflet produced with Shropshire Wildlife Trust Ludlow branch Zero Carbon Shropshire’s leaflets providing tips on the climate action people can take Save Our Shropshire’s carbon literacy workshops Marches Energy Agency leaflets on energy efficient homes and Restoring Shropshire’s Verges Project on how to turn roadside verges into wildlife friendly meadows. We will have a permanent display of leaflets at Ludlow Library and hope to develop similar links with other libraries across the county so that people can gain access to useful information on how they can take climate action. Previous Next