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 Is this the greenest house in Telford? Tony Baker and Fiona Morgan 17 Sept 2024 Hear how local home owner, Mike King, has created a carbon neutral home Telford resident, Mike King, is the proud owner of the largest domestic solar array in Shropshire, featuring a whopping 48 panels. Not only does Mike’s whole house – and 2 cars – run on green clean electricity - Mike actually makes money on his energy bills! You can hear Mike talking about the adaptations he has made to his property to make it carbon neutral on the BBC Radio Shropshire - Clare Ashford Show on the 17 September here . The interview is at 1 hour 53 mins and 2 hours 24 mins into the programme. You can read more about Mike’s inspiring home via the Future Ready Homes website . You can visit Mike’s house as part of the Green Open Doors event run by local charity Marches Energy Agency, which takes place over 2 weekends, 19–20 October and 26–27 October. The event is a wonderful opportunity to visit some of the ‘greenest’ homes across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and learn from their owners about: Air source heat pumps Solar panels with battery storage Extra insulation EV charging It’s your chance to ask questions of the homeowners to find out why they made the choices they did, and what they learned in the process. The event is free and there are no salesmen. It is the ideal opportunity to gain the confidence and understanding you need to start making energy efficiency improvements to your own home. Start planning your visits to ‘green’ homes near you by using the postcode search here . Previous Next

< Back The Environmental Leadership Programme for 18-25 year olds Sascha Robinson 1 Jul 2024 My personal experience Growing up in Shropshire, I always felt privileged to be surrounded by nature. This experience fuelled my love for the outdoors and inspired me to seek out nature more as I grew older. Witnessing environmental degradation and the lack of opportunities to connect people to nature has been challenging. Shortly after starting my first job as a teacher, a family member informed me about the Environmental Leadership Programme 2 (ELP2) available in the West Midlands. This free, nine-month program for 18-25-year-olds seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to learn how to make a difference. Before joining ELP2, my climate action efforts were mostly solitary. I had made personal changes to reduce my environmental impact but I struggled to find and connect with like-minded individuals in my community. Many of my friends didn't share my passion, leaving me feeling isolated in my efforts to make a difference in Shropshire. Occasionally, I'd see local climate meetups advertised but the thought of walking into a room full of people twice my age wondering, “Who is she?” and “what does she know?”, kept me from attending. ELP2 provided a welcoming space to engage with climate issues and my local community. From the first weekend, I met many people my age who shared my passion for making a difference. As a 25-year-old, I was inspired by the work of the youngest participants and felt a newfound belief that I could contribute more. Throughout the course, we built knowledge, skills, and confidence, enabling us to take more significant steps forward. As part of the course, we were challenged to develop our own campaigns. We spent time planning and considering what our communities needed to connect them to nature. I found myself now talking directly with influential people across Shropshire and felt more connected to the climate community than ever. Not only have I found connections with like-minded individuals, but I also feel more confident in my abilities and realised that my place within these groups was valued, not looked down upon. I can make a difference. Oh, and that climate meetup on Tuesday night filled with people twice my age? I hosted it. Previous Next

< Back What is Going Wild in Bishop’s Castle? Dan Hodgkiss 1 Aug 2024 How the project is developing to support local wildlife Going Wild in BC, often known simply as Going Wild, is about improving green spaces around the town and parish of Bishop’s Castle for the benefit of people and wildlife. It’s an integral part of Bishop's Castle’s Town Council Biodiversity Action plan, our local response to the Biodiversity crisis - the current sorry state of our wildlife. We’ll be surveying at least 20 sites across the parish, creating a picture of the town’s wildlife and habitat management plans to help them flourish. We’re also recruiting, supporting and training volunteers to help look after these spaces, ensuring their survival beyond the lifetime of the project. People won’t protect what they don’t know, so a big part of this project is engaging local people with nature on their doorstep through joining in local events and running regular kids' clubs. Our goal is to produce a ‘how-to’ toolkit, to allow local councils across Shropshire and the wider UK to replicate our plan. Actions as simple as planting an acorn or complex as creating a pond from scratch both have value. It’s not rocket science: together we can make a world where we thrive alongside the rest of nature. Get in touch with Dan at goingwild@lightfootenterprises.org Previous Next

< Back Zero Carbon Shropshire’s AGM and Panel Discussion Fiona Morgan 17 May 2023 How can we accelerate action on the Climate and Ecological Emergencies? We attended Zero Carbon Shropshire's AGM and panel discussion on accelerating action on the Climate and Ecological Emergencies. We heard from experts and a panel of local decision makers including Ian Nellins and Julian Dean (both on the climate board for Shropshire Council), Philip Dunn MP (MP for Ludlow and Chair of the Environment Audit Committee), Carolyn Healy (Telford & Wrekin council), and Lawrence Kinnersley (Shropshire Wildlife Trust) who responded to questions from the audience. We asked how local councils (at parish, town and county level) could proactively engage young people in their decision making around the climate and ecological emergencies. Afterall young people and future generations are the ones who will be most impacted by these unfolding crises and they need their views be heard within our political processes. Previous Next

< Back Save Our Shropshire to deliver low-carbon education for businesses for Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Richard Watkins 30 Apr 2024 SME's can book now on SOS's carbon literacy courses in June and July Previous Next

Sustainable Bridgnorth Contact us on Facebook Contact us via Email Sustainable Bridgnorth encourages residents, businesses, and organizations around Bridgnorth to take steps towards environmental sustainability, including water conservation, waste reduction, and working towards Net Zero. It aims to empower the local community to adapt to the effects of climate change and promote positive attitudes towards the environment. It's current main activities are: Energy Reduction: Volunteers from Sustainable Bridgnorth offer advice, in collaboration with the Marches Energy Agency charity, to local residents and businesses on how they might reduce their energy use, thereby saving money as well as reducing carbon emissions. We hold advisory sessions once a month at Bridgnorth Library (as publicised in their events sheet) and on a couple of Mondays each month at Bridgnorth Food Bank (held at the Baptist church on West Castle Street). It's best to contact us by email at energyadvice@sustainablebridgnorth.org.uk to book an appointment, either at an advisory session or at your home. We give advice on quick steps to reduce energy usage, how to improve insulation and energy efficiency in your home and on available grants. We also have an Infra-Red camera to help identify areas of heat loss. We are looking for more volunteers to be trained as energy advisors. Prevent Pointless Plastic: Running since 2018, this campaign has raised awareness of the issue of single-use plastic in the town, to reduce waste generated and plastic pollution of the River Severn, in addition to inspiring people and businesses to seek out re-usable products, re-use systems and recycling. It has involved local businesses, residents and church and school groups on projects such as Refill Bridgnorth . The town was accredited in 2020 by the marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage, as a Plastic Free Community . Contact us via Facebook . How to join : contact the membership secretary at membership@sustainablebridgnorth.org.uk .

Our local partner groups Sustainable Bridgnorth Exotic Urbanism Misty Mountains

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

< Back A poem about climate change: to inspire thoughtful consideration and action David Powley 4 Jun 2024 Part of the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow exhibition, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, May 2024 This poem by David Powley formed part of the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow exhibition held last month at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms. The exhibition focused on the theme of climate change and the environment and the need for action and highlighted the importance of involving people of all ages in action and discussion about the issues. You can find more information about the project via this website . What the older generations did YESTERDAY means that we must all fix things TODAY so that the younger generations have a TOMORROW Previous Next

Shropshire Climate Action: About us About Shropshire Climate Action Shropshire Climate Action is a registered charity which operates as a network across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. SCA aims to tackle the ecological and climate emergencies across Shropshire, achieving a net-zero carbon footprint for the county by 2030 and restoration of nature, through building community capacity and empowering local action. Our Vision By 2030, Shropshire is no longer a county that contributes to the climate change crisis. Nature has been restored, our communities and enterprises are now sustainable. Our mission statement Our purpose is to support Shropshire to achieve net zero carbon and restore nature by 2030. We will be a catalyst that brings local people and organisations together to address the climate and ecological emergencies in a just and sustainable way. Governance SCA is constituted as a not-for-profit limited company and registered as a charity. You can read its articles of association here and charitable governing document on the Charity Commission website here . Achievements Since 2021, Zero Carbon Shropshire (Shropshire Climate Action Partnership) (as it was known) and South Shropshire Climate Action have helped to set up or deliver the following projects: The Shropshire Good Food Partnership Cool Shropshire and Telford for small business advice A map of sites suitable for renewable energy (Solar and Wind) and for carbon sequestration across the county A collaborative network of local climate action groups The Shropshire Love Nature Festival This website packed with resources and advice on how to take action across the county Regular newsletters about the climate action, events and news in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Leaflets of Walks through Ludlow and Bridgnorth's green spaces Retrofit toolkits for energy efficient homes and a repair cafe toolkit An Action Learning Project (2025) funded by Shropshire Council exploring how to decarbonise Shropshire communities Four climate conferences for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Adrian Cooper (M.Sc, MA, MRTPI) Trustee Adrian was Shropshire Council’s Climate Change Manager until 2024, having established and led a small specialist professional team to develop and deliver Shropshire Council’s climate change and carbon reduction strategy. This included helping the Council to demonstrate leadership by example and the provision of advice to help businesses and communities across the county with their own response. Adrian also led the development of ground-breaking projects on biochar, renewable energy generation, EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen transport fuel. On taking early retirement from Shropshire Council in 2024 Adrian joined the Shrewsbury-based Clean Tech Business Group to contribute his extensive experience in sustainable resource management, climate change and carbon reduction to help local businesses navigate the challenge of climate change. Adrian is an accredited Carbon Literacy Facilitator and is currently providing Carbon Literacy Training for local businesses and other organisations. Adrian is also currently working part-time as the Net Zero Delivery Manager for Powys County Council. In addition to these formal roles, Adrian is a voluntary Climate Ambassador providing free advice to local schools and an enthusiastic volunteer at the Shrewsbury Food Hub, helping to collect and distribute surplus food from local supermarkets and manufacturers to those in need in the Shrewsbury area. Daphne du Cros Trustee Daphne is the Partnership lead for the Shropshire Good Food Partnership. She holds a PhD in Food Policy, is a Visiting Lecturer at Harper Adam's University. Her roles include Research, training and consulting on local food resilience and strategies for communities and Councils. She is the founder of Food Forward Bishop's Castle which produced the first (and only) Community Food Resilience Strategy in Shropshire, and runs the Bishop’s Castle Community Seed Bank, and Little Woodbatch Farm CIC for upskilling people in horticulture, food preserving, seed saving, with a focus on connection and community engagement. Jane Cullen Trustee My background in teaching suited me well for the role of Chair of South Shropshire Climate Action. After retiring from teaching I was lucky enough to go into business helping to establish Appleteme as a very successful local artisan business . In doing this I gained fresh experience and some perspectives of working on the land, and then promoting our product in the marketplace. This complete cycle is a very different experience to teaching young people at a particular school stage and I was lucky to experience both. As Chair of SSCA I worked with a team of committed specialists to produce first the 'Next Steps' Conferences and from those the 'Next Steps' Report. This report (‘Next Steps’ Climate Action Plan) was written by 33 Shropshire residents over the winter of 2020 to 2021. It made an immediate impact and attracted a very generous donation from a local citizen, enabling SSCA to employ two part time coordinators Nick Read and Fiona Morgan. 'Next Steps' outlines many solutions to the climate emergency in a Shropshire context. As is well known, the solutions already exist but implementation is a major challenge, always remembering 'think global, act local'. Chris Deaves (BSc, C.Eng) Chair of Trustees My career was spent working in IT in start-ups, large corporations and public sector bodies doing detailed technical design, project management, strategic corporate IT policy and consultancy. I have been a beekeeper for over 30 years and manage the teaching at the Ludlow Association. I was a Trustee of the British Beekeeping Association and chair of their education committee. I am currently Chair of Shropshire Climate Action and Chair of the Marches Energy Agency . I am a Trustee of Hands Together Ludlow and have developed their approach to digital inclusion and recycling IT equipment. Mark Fermor (BSc MSc DUC MBA CGeol FGS FRSA) Trustee I am a hydrogeologist and risk analyst who founded and led environmental consultancy ESI (1996-2018). Since then I have led the development of GeoSmart, an environmental data and analytics enterprise based in Shrewsbury, am currently Chair and working towards more joined up flood modelling and risk assessment in the UK. In 2020 I was a founder of Shropshire Climate Action and Director of the Zero Carbon Shropshire Plan (2020). I founded a community active travel charity, Shropshire Cycle Hub, am Chair of the board of trustees and regular eCargo bike delivery rider. Barbara Rainford Trustee I am a joint partner in Strawberry Fields, a marketing and social media consultancy. I am an elected director of the Midcounties Co-operative (which set up Co-op Energy) and Co-op Press. I helped set up Babbinswood Farm Community Benefit Society , which is campaigning to save an organic farm in North Shropshire. I was a volunteer with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. I believe regenerative agriculture and green energy are the future for plants, people and the planet. Jess Walton (BSc MSc) Trustee I am currently working as a project manager at Marches Energy Agency. I have a BA degree in politics and international relations as well as a Masters degree in political ecology. I am a long-time climate activist and former chairperson of Generation Zero Carbon Shropshire. Grant Wilson Trustee I have lived in Ludlow with my wife for 20 years, drawn here from my home county of Cheshire by the thriving local food scene, stunning scenery and fantastic hill trails. In my professional life, I run the Discovery Centre in Craven Arms, helping to connect people with the food, history and landscape of the Shropshire Hills. We look after 12 hectares of land in the Onny Meadows which is managed for the benefit of wildlife and for public access. We have restored 8 hectares of grassland to traditional flower-rich hay meadow and the woodlands are in a cyclical programme of coppicing, resulting in a huge increase in biodiversity. The Centre is also home to the Shropshire Mammoth and operates a vibrant café, shop and events programme. We recently installed a 70KW solar array which is the penultimate step of a 5-year journey to make the Centre carbon negative. We just need to replace our gas boiler with a heat pump to complete the process. Outside of my work, I’m a passionate foodie, trail runner, ornithologist and cyclist, spending much of my free time in the Mortimer Forest and the wider Shropshire Hills National Landscape exploring the wildlife and scenery that abounds here. I was delighted to be invited to join the enthusiastic board of trustees of Shropshire Climate Action and hope to use my time here to help bring SCA’s important messaging to a wider audience by introducing a climate café. I also want to encourage active travel in the county by working with SCA’s wide network of contacts to help many more people reduce their carbon footprint, reduce travel costs and get fitter too! Adrian Cooper (M.Sc, MA, MRTPI) Meet the Project Team David Matthews SCA Programme manager, Chair of Stretton Climate Care Mike Bourke SCA Energy and Buildings lead, Trustee for Stretton Climate Care Sascha Robinson SCA Transport lead, project worker for Living Streets Di Lyle SCA Waste lead, Founder and coordinator for the Ludlow Repair Café Colin Preston SCA Land and Biodiversity lead, Chair of the Marches Nature Partnership, Previously Chief Executive of Shropshire Wildlife Trust Chloe King SCA volunteer, Project manager for Marches Energy Agency John Hughes SCA Communications and Fundraising lead, previously worked for Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Shropshire Council Tina Teearu SCA social media team Anna Ponder SCA social media team, Intern at Marches Energy Agency and ELP2 participant Sue Burnell Climate Fresk facilitator for community Kev Oubridge Climate Fresk facilitator for Business Consultants Joy Greenall (Measures) Joy was brought up in Ludlow. She taught in London before completing a Nature Conservation MSc. She worked for NCC (now Natural England) and the Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust, spent 10 years providing on-farm advice and management plans in Berks and Oxon for the farming and wildlife charity FWAG, and then joined Duchy Home Farm at Highgrove as Sustainable Agriculture officer. Farming has always been her first love and 25 years ago she had the opportunity to come home and run an organic farm with husband Mark. Livestock farming leaves little free time, but other activities include choral singing, flower arranging and community project work, including chairing Land, Life & Livelihoods. Mark Measures BSc. Hons, Agric., FRAgS., IOTA Accredited An international consultant in policy, research and training in farm business and environmental management, soil, crop and animal husbandry. Formerly head of the Organic Advisory Service and the Institute of Organic Training and Advice and visiting lecturer at Scotland’s Rural College. He is director of an education and conservation trust in Argentina, jo int editor of the “Organic Farm Management Handbook” (12th edition), a 2018 Winston Churchill Fellow (studying soil management in the US and Europe), and a partner in a 150-acre farm in the Shropshire Hills. Professor John Whitelegg Senior Fellow for transport and climate change at the Foundation for Integrated Transport and an international consultant on transport projects. John has authored te chnical standards, reports and 11 books concerning sustainable transport , including “Mobility: A New Urban Design and Transport Planning Philosophy for a Sustainable Future ”. He is an adviser to the World Health Organisation on road safety and active travel. Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin's Climate and Nature Network St Martin's Parish Council Climate Action Working Group Sustainable Highley Thank you We are grateful to the following for their contribution to our website: Mike Bourke (Stretton Climate Care); Clive Dyson (Sustainable Bridgnorth), Sally Lancaster (previously of Generation Zero Carbon Shropshire) for writing text; Caroline Talbot (Mossy Life) for working with us and permitting us to embed her events pages and maps; Chris Deaves for technical support and Sarah Jameson for its design and technical support.

SCC Landing Our story and our values