< Back Mossy.Life - Shropshire’s online local green guide Caroline Talbot 1 Mar 2024 For all Shropshire's green events, groups, activities and more This beautiful county not only provides magical green rolling countryside, but is the home of a whole array of green-minded individuals, companies, organisations and groups, all trying to gain traction in working towards a net zero way of living. From start-up zero waste shops and community litter picking initiatives, to energy saving workshops and organic farms, Shropshire has so many green heroes working towards a more sustainable future. Although it is true that every little really does help, it is also true that by connecting like-minded people and working together, we can help amplify the effect. In 2019, Caroline Talbot, a Shropshire born environmental educator, wanted to make a difference, so started to build an online free to use directory whilst on maternity leave. The website Mossy.Life has gone from strength to strength and now lists over 630 organisations and groups, and between 50-500 environmental events in the online calendar at any given time. How you can use : Mossy.Life provides a green directory that can be searched by location, category or name, as well as a searchable events calendar . Both offer completely free listings to encourage even the smallest of groups to get involved. It includes a calendar of national and international campaigns , local green news and a range of eco living articles . The website can also be explored by area, showcasing Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin on individual pages to help connect individuals with everything local to them. You can also embed the Mossy.Life Directory into your own group’s website as South Shropshire Climate Action and Zero Carbon Shropshire have done to help publicize all the activities taking place locally to help address the Nature and climate crisis. If you know of an individual, organization, group, product or event that isn’t yet listed, please get in touch to help spread the word by sending an email to Caroline at hello@mossy.life Local Climate Groups Local Climate Groups Local Climate Groups Previous Next

< Back The New Newsletter: SSCA and ZCS joining forces Jane Cullen (Chair, South Shropshire Climate Action (SSCA) & Chris Deaves (Chair, Zero Carbon Shropshire) 1 Jul 2024 Why is it NEW? SSCA and ZCS have decided to combine forces to create a Shropshire-wide communication on all things Climate. This first edition brings together all of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin's climate activity in one place: best practice, information and events from more groups will reach deeper and wider in our community. We hope this will inspire you to tell all of us more about your activities so that we can reach beyond the traditional ‘green bubble’. Do you consider yourself ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ the bubble and why? We’ll print the best answers! This new start is timely as it coincides with a change of government. We also need a change of direction and sense of urgency. Our united, louder voice will influence policies and encourage action. We have produced a report on the highly successful ‘Accelerating Change’ conference organised by SSCA, ZCS and SOS. It explored how local groups, charities, businesses, public services and individuals can work together, Best of all, young people helped lead and deliver the day. This short video of the event is well worth a watch (our thanks to the film maker Robin Fellows-Weir). The conference and the NEW newsletter are examples of how working together can develop momentum and bring benefits to all of Shropshire. Please tell us your experiences and ideas for great partnerships and what you are doing or planning. Never underestimate the power of your ideas. Previous Next

Improve efficiency Fabric first Most of us don't live in recent, energy efficient homes. We need to add (or retrofit ) energy-saving measures. Plan a series of steps, which can be implemented over time, saving money and disruption. It's best to start by improving the energy efficiency of our houses, addressing the 'fabric first': Improve insulation, air-tightness and ventilation: Window and door replacement. Loft insulation. Wall insulation - cavity, internal and/or external. Floor insulation. Air tightness. Appropriate ventilation / moisture control, to avoid issues with damp and mould: Trickle vents, extractor fans, heat recovery (MVHR). Take opportunities to insulate You can insulate your loft at any time, although it's more comfortable up there in the spring or autumn. But adding wall, loft or floor insulation is more disruptive. Plan to do it when opportunities arise, possibly a room at a time over a number of years for internal work. Fit internal wall insulation if you are: Installing a new kitchen or bathroom. Replacing or repairing plaster or plasterboard. Or just emptying and decorating a room. Fit external wall insulation if you need scaffolding, which is a significant cost, for any reason: Working on rendering or painting. Fitting replacement windows. First Retrofit priorities Draughts. Drainage - maintain gutters, downpipes and drains. Condensation and damp - a vital topic we'll return to. Asbestos - may be discovered during a retrofit and likely to require specialist removal or treatment. Windows and doors Replacing single-glazed windows, with modern double- or triple-glazing, and old draughty doors makes a home feel far more comfortable and significantly reduces energy losses. It's important to avoid thermal bridging around the frames. The reduction in energy use, at current prices, means that replacement double-glazed windows typical pay for themselves over 15 to 20 years. Loft / roof insulation Adding loft insulation is usually the most cost-effective way of reducing the energy lost from a house. If you have none, adding 300mm of loft insulation will typically pay for itself in one to two years. There are few better investments. Care is required if you have a 'room in the roof', have ceilings immediately under a flat or sloping roof, or have dormers. Insulation needs to be installed to avoid condensation, either by having a moisture-proof membrane on the warm side of the insulation or, in certain older properties, using a fully-breathable structure. Make sure that any air leaks into the loft space are blocked. For example, this could be from behind plaster board in the top-floor rooms or through downlighters. Wall insulation It's almost always worth fitting internal or external cavity wall insulation to houses that have solid walls (without a cavity), as the work has a short payback period, typically of a few years. Returns are also good for adding cavity wall insulation to houses that have cavity walls but no insulation in the cavity. It can be worth adding internal or external wall insulation to houses with cavity wall insulation, built up to about 2002 (to 2006), when the building regulations standards were tightened. Houses built since then should have reasonable wall insulation, and it's currently not likely to be worth improving on this. Floor insulation This is a paragraph. Use this area to add any information you want to share with users. Just click "Edit Text" or double click here to change the text and make it your own. You can also adjust the paragraph's font, size and color so it fits your website’s theme. This is a great place to tell users a story about your website and let them know more about what you offer. You may want to share information about your company's background, your team, or the services you provide. Be sure to keep the tone and voice consistent throughout the site so users become familiar with your brand.

Shropshire Climate Action: Individual Choices What can you do as an individual? What is your Carbon Footprint? Carbon Footprint calculators are online tools to measure the amount of carbon emissions generated by the way people live The calculator may require information about your home, diet, how you get about, wha t you buy etc. From your answers it will calculate your carbon footprint. There are many carbon footprint calculators, (we have included some examples), all use similar data sources but the assumptions they use about carbon use mean they may generate slightly different footprints. The important thing is to choose a calculator that appeals to you, and stick with it. By repeating your carbon calculations every 6 months you will be able to track your progress towards zero carbon. Try out these Carbon Footprint Calculators Explore your personal carbon footprint with these handy online carbon footprint calculators. You may be surprised! WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator https://footprint.wwf.org.uk Quick and easy to use Compares to others in your postcode area Ide as on how to reduce your carbon emissions Download mobile app from App Store: or Google Play . Giki Zero Carbon Footprint Calculator https://zero.giki.earth Easy to use Methodology and data sources explained Encourages use of actual figures to increase accuracy Looks at all areas of your life Tips and advice to reduce your carbon footprint. Carbon Savvy Carbon Footprint Calculator https://calculator.carbonsavvy.uk Provides comprehensive info and carbon-saving tips Includes your share of carbon emissions generated by public infrastructure including the NHS, schools etc. Three options to assess your carbon footprint with different degrees of detail. Focuses on health, wealth and well-being benefits Climate Hero https://climatehero.me/ Easy to use Doesn't ask for contact details Suggestions to improve your score are given Carbon Offsetting: opportunities & issues Read this report about "Carbon Offsetting" your excess carbon emissions and its potential to help achieve Net Zero in Shropshire. Actions to reduce your carbon footprint 1 Download our Leaflet 2 Attend a Climate Fresk workshop 3 Take actions on money, housing, energy, food & travel 4 Sign up to a local challenge 5 Sign up to Take The Jump national challenge 6 Join a local climate action group near you (1) "Cutting your Carbon Footprint" leaflet 1 SCA’s "Carbon Footprint" leaflet provides practical steps to reduce your carbon emissions. Download the leaflet here 2 (2) Book a Climate Fresk workshop Learn about the climate crisis and what you can do to help Climate Fresk is a 3 hour facilitated workshop where you can get to grips with climate change in small groups in a safe, non-judgemental space, learn how to take action and enjoy some thought-provoking discussions. The workshops explore key drivers, mechanisms, and impacts of climate change, and map out where we are today and where we could be headed if we join forces. Previous participants have said: ‘I knew a fair bit about climate change but I learned so much new stuff. It was incredibly powerful sharing ideas in the group and understanding how everything is connected. We discussed next steps we could take and I left feeling focused and upbeat’. If you are a community group or group of friends living in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin and want to book a half day Climate Fresk workshops which includes all the materials, find out more via the BizEd Projects website or email climate@bizedprojects.com (3) Take actions on money, housing, energy, food & travel 3 Actions on how to green your money (bank, pension, insurance) Actions on your house and your energy use Actions on the food you eat and throw away Actions on how you get around Actions on reusing, repairing, sharing 4 (4) Sign up to a local challenge The Great Collaboration is an online Toolkit which contains 60 different carbon reducing actions you can take rated by cost and carbon impact. There are actions suitable for all individual circumstances. You can enter the carbon reducing actions you've already taken. Say which actions you’ll commit to next and which you won't do (and why). The Toolkit will use your anonymous information, along with everyone else's, to paint a powerful picture of what's happening locally. This information can be used to inform your local council and help them develop a carbon reduction plan based on specific, local needs. 5 (5) Sign up to "Take The Jump" national challenge Take the Jump is a grassroots movement for anyone worried about the state of the planet. Try the challenge for one month to take six shifts in how you eat, dress, travel, shop, holiday, and can help to change the system. The goal is a world of less “stuff” and more joy, where humanity is in balance with nature - through helping achieve a two-thirds reduction in the impact of consumption in rich countries by 2030. Science shows this is what is needed and citizens have a huge role in making it happen. (6) Join a local climate action group near you 6 Light Foot Enterprises C/o Enterprise House, Station Street, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AQ. Covers Bishop's Castle & surrounding area Further Information Mail Clun Climate & Environment Group Clun Town Council with Chapel Lawn Further Information Mail Market Drayton Climate Action Market Drayton & surrounding area Further Information Mail Pontesbury Climate Emergency Action Group Pontesbury Parish Further Information Mail St Martin’s Parish Council Climate Action Working Group St Martins Village Hall, Shropshire, SY11 3AY. Further Information Mail Transition Telford Meetings held 1st Tuesday of the month at the Cock Hotel, 148 Holyhead Road, Wellington, TF1 2DL. Further Information Mail Sustainable Bridgnorth Meetings held at St John's Catholic Church Hall, Northgate, Bridgnorth, WV16 4ER. Further Information Mail Clunbury Climate & Environment Group Covers Parish of Clunbury Further Information Mail Sustainable Newport Covers Newport & surrounding area (around TF10 postcode) Further Information Mail Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth Shrewsbury Further Information Mail Stretton Climate Care Drop in sessions held at the Health and Wellbeing Centre, Church Stretton, SY6 6BL. Further Information Mail Teme Valley Environment Group Knighton & surrounding area Further Information Mail Broseley Climate Action Group Bridgnorth Town Council, Broseley, TF12 5EL. Further Information Mail Ludlow 21 C/o Ludlow Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, SY8 1RZ. Covers Ludlow & surrounding area Further Information Mail Oswestry Climate Action Hub 36 Bailey Street, Oswestry, SY11 1PU Further Information Mail XR Shrewsbury (Extinction Rebellion) Meetings held Wednesdays monthly at the Nags Head, 22 Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, SY1 1XB. Further Information Mail Climate Action Hub Telford Events held at Belmont Hall, Tan Bank, Wellington,TF1 1LT. Further Information Mail Wem Area Climate Action Wem & surrounding area Further Information Mail

< Back The story of how Bishop’s Castle’s Climate Action Plan has been achieved Mike Watkins 7 May 2024 Working together as a Town Council and community group The Bishop’s Castle Climate Action Group [CAG] had been developing a ‘Sustainability Plan’, drawn-up out of the community’s responses to the 2016 Town Plan survey. Then, in 2019, the group convinced Bishop’s Castle's Town Council to declare a Climate & Nature Emergency, and in return agreed to help produce a Climate Action Plan for the town. The Climate Action Plan was adopted by the Town Council in early 2020, serving as a template for an active partnership approach, containing actions for the Town Council and for the CAG, with some of the former’s actions – where the Town Council’s resources and knowledge were lacking - being undertaken for them by the CAG. For example, the town’s carbon footprint measurement. A Town Councillor has been allocated the Environment portfolio, and works closely with the CAG, including attending its monthly meetings. The group encourages the Town Council to have an environment item on its agenda quarterly, in line with the quarterly Climate Action Plan audit reports which the CAG submits. An important lesson learned by our small group, was to avoid including too much detail in the CAP, instead having a focussed and manageable Action Plan section. We have put our more detailed ideas in a separate Part 2 document which will be updated in slower time. A copy of the Bishop's Castle Climate and Nature Action Plan [Part 1] can be read on Light Foot’s website and we welcome other groups downloading and adapting it for their own areas as required. We are happy to help with any questions other groups may have on this subject. Please get in touch by e-mailing climateaction@lightfootenterprises.org Previous Next

Shropshire Climate Action: What's on Events in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Click on the link below to find out what climate action events are happening across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin from January to March 2026 including: Sustainability events Nature and food events Buildings and Energy events Transport events Repair cafes and mending events Green events listing January - March 2026 If you would like us to publish any events that your local group is arranging in our newsletter or social media please email the poster or specific information to contact@shropshireclimateaction.org . The deadline for receiving any information for our forthcoming newsletter edition is the last week of the month, with publication on the 1st of the month.

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Shropshire Climate Action: Newsletters Newsletters Sign up to receive the monthly Shropshire Climate Action newsletter for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin here . To read our current and past editions (including previous editions of the South Shropshire Climate Action newsletter going back to September 2022) click on a cover to open the pdf version. To join Shropshire Climate Action's newsletter and social media team please email: contact@shropshireclimateaction.org December 2025 Click here November 2025 Click here October 2025 Click here September 2025 Click here August 2025 Click here July 2025 Click here June 2025 Click here May 2025 Click here April 2025 Click here March 2025 Click here February 2025 Click here December 2024 Click here November 2024 Click here October 2024 Click here September 2024 Click here August 2024 Click here July 2024 Click here June 2024 Click here May 2024 Click here April 2024 Click here March 2024 Click here Februrary 2024 Click here January 2024 Click here December 2023 Click here November 2023 Click here

Shropshire Climate Action: Energy advice and funding Advice & funding Many of the energy-saving measures have reasonably short payback period and if you can afford them they will pay for themselves ECO 4 grants are available for those eligible, including people on benefits The most recent ECO Plus grants (aka the Great British Insulation Scheme) will be available to anyone in poorly insulated (EPC D or below) houses in council tax bands A to D. They are not means tested The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants of £7,500 towards the installation of a heat pump Build your own retrofit plan using the MEA's Plan Builder This Local Installers Directory can help you to find a recommended retrofit installer. What is a Household Energy Survey (HES)? A Household Energy Survey (HES) is a thorough analysis of your home and energy use and would normally include: Heating – boilers, heat pumps, electric heating, controls, radiators/underfloor heating Hot water – storage, distribution and use Insulation – roof/loft, floor, walls, windows and doors and related structural issues Draughtproofing, cold air infiltration and ventilation Lighting and appliances Historic/real-time energy consumption, bills and advice on tariffs Opportunities for renewable energy generation and storage Read on below for local HES providers. Household Energy Survey providers Marches Energy Agency (MEA) provide: free energy advice on saving money on your energy bills and home energy efficiency home visits to conduct Household Energy Surveys via Keep Shropshire Warm/Healthy Homes Shropshire support accessing grants for heating and insulation, resolve issues with energy suppliers and fuel debt energy advisors can also provide drop in advice sessions in local communities. Lightfoot Enterprises provide the following services in south Shropshire and Powys: Household Energy Surveys (HES) : Household Energy Surveys (HES) and associated advice on how to make your home more energy efficient. there are also opportunities to be trained as a volunteer to conduct HES. Stretton Climate Care provide: Household Energy Surveys and information on retrofit for people living within a 5 mile radius of Church Stretton. a free drop in advice session on Thursdays 10-12pm at the Wellbeing Centre, Easthope Road, Church Stretton for any energy related questions including support with energy bills More info Get in touch Find a local trusted installer for your retrofit project A Directory of local trusted contractors for your retrofit project is available on the Marches Energy Agency's Future Ready Homes website . The Directory provides details of recommended installers, trades people and professionals who can help you with retrofitting a building. The area covered by the Directory includes Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Click here for the Directory Further helpful websites Energy Saving Trust Financial support for home energy - Energy Company Obligation grants The Boiler Upgrade Scheme - support for low carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps and biomass boilers Shropshir e Council Sustainable Warmth Shropshire - supports low income and vulnerable households to improve energy efficiency. Grants are currently restricted to dwellings that do not have a mains gas connection

< Back Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin's Climate Conference: a young person's view Sascha Robinson 1 Jun 2024 Includes Dr Sam Hampton's key note speech "Collective action and behaviour change to tackle the climate crisis" On the 18th May, the Climate Conference for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, went ahead at Shrewsbury Town Football Club with over 130 people attending either as interested individuals or representatives of community groups, local businesses and councils. It was an opportunity to inspire and stimulate our communities to address the urgent changes needed to reach net zero. As a member of the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP2) with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, it was amazing to be given the opportunity to support the preparation and running of the event, alongside several other young people. The morning of the conference was kicked off by Dr Sam Hampton,* a climate behaviour expert, who discussed that across the globe, we severely underestimate how many people are interested in making behavioural and lifestyle changes to support the environment. He summarised that galvanising communities for climate action should be a top priority. Following this, myself and other young people shared our own perspective about the space for youth in climate action. It was a great chance for us to feel ourselves heard and to express that we need to be on the forefront of change. Young people no longer want to be a tokenistic addition to climate action. Our involvement in the development of the conference really gave us those opportunities we need to start seeing more of. Panel discussions focusing on the topics Land, Nature, Food and Farming, Transport, Energy and Housing, and the Circular Economy were held for the remainder of the morning. It was clear that the 30-minute times slots simply wouldn’t begin to cover the conversations that unfolded. What stuck with me was the education that needs to take place in all areas of climate action. Learning how to retrofit your own home or developing skills to repair rather buy new may be understood by those involved in climate action. But the main question remained, how can we engage and educate all people? In the afternoon, the delegates split into workshop groups to share ideas and knowledge across a broader 9 aspects of climate action including how to encourage public engagement and collaboration. The workshops were a great success. From speaking to fellow ELP2 facilitators, we concluded that the ideas were plentiful, but putting those ideas in place was where groups found a sticking point. The conference closed with a summary of each workshop’s actions. From here the groups will remain in contact, making the vital steps towards reaching their priority action goals. After an excellent day of brainstorming and collaborating, I can see our future towards net zero looks bright. The conference was organised by Zero Carbon Shropshire, South Shropshire Climate Action and Save Our Shropshire and sponsored by Shropshire Homes and Kier. A short film summarising the conference will be made available soon which we will circulate in a future newsletter. *The presentation slides from Dr Sam Hampton's key note speech " Collective action and behaviour change to tackle the climate crisis" can be read here. Dr Sam Hampton Conference Key Note Speech 18.5.24 .pptx Download PPTX • 11.01MB Previous Next