Shropshire Climate Action: Climate & Nature News for Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Our newsletter Sign up to receive the monthly Shropshire Climate Action newsletter for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin below. Read or download our newsletters (and past copies of the South Shropshire Climate Action newsletter as pdfs) or sign up to get them direct to your Inbox. Read our newsletters Sign up for our newsletters Latest News 27 Jun 2026 THE SOLOMON SIREN IS IN HER RESTING PLACE ON THE SEA FLOOR! RESULT! We are really delighted to see the Siren installed on the seabed where Kale Island once stood proudly above the tides. Read More 1 Dec 2025 Artwork will highlight the global Climate Change impact Using underwater sculpture to make a point Read More 8 Nov 2025 Protest in Shrewsbury to "Say No to Rosebank" Calling for an end to drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea Read More 6 Nov 2025 Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin based environmental groups write to the Prime Minister Calling for urgent action on climate change ahead of the UN COP30 taking place in Brazil this November Read More 1 Nov 2025 South Shropshire MP supports the repeal of the Climate Change Act 2008 Our response to local criticism of the Act Read More 24 Oct 2025 Have Your Say: Help shape the future of EV charging in Telford and Wrekin Survey now open Read More 18 Oct 2025 Shropshire Hosts Record-Breaking Repair Cafe 'The Big Mend' Celebrating International Repair Day with repairers from across Shropshire and Telford Read More 17 Oct 2025 Get ready for the county-wide Green Open Homes event this November Book your viewing of energy efficient homes across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and beyond Read More 1 Oct 2025 Bishop’s Castle's Community Heat & Wind Network project update The good and the bad news Read More 1 Sept 2025 Shaping careers and growing the economy. Oh! And tackling climate change! A young climate activist's perspective Read More 30 Aug 2025 Middle Marches Community Land Trust launches White Grit Meadows Appeal Preserving unique habitats for wildlife in the Marches Read More 1 Aug 2025 Want to make your home more energy efficient? Find out what support is available from Marches Energy Agency Read More 26 Jul 2025 Reflections on the new National Food Strategy for Shropshire Shropshire Good Food Partnership consider if this is the solution we have been waiting for Read More 17 Jul 2025 Launch of the second share offer by Shropshire and Telford Community Energy Investment in Tremlowes Solar Farm in North Shropshire off to a good start! Read More 1 Jul 2025 Clean air for Shropshire Tips on how you can help improve air quality including how to tackle engine idling Read More 21 Jun 2025 Local groups meet with Julia Buckley (Labour MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham) Q&A focused on how we can better protect Nature and take climate action Read More 17 Jun 2025 Shropshire Council's approval of 200,000-bird intensive poultry unit overturned by High Court New environmental considerations for planning authorities Read More 7 Jun 2025 Big Green Week (7-15th June) comes to Shropshire Local library plays host to diverse range of climate activities Read More 19 May 2025 Interesting conversations at Morville Annual Community event Renewable energy popular with farmers, and a new argument for heat pumps? Read More 1 May 2025 Having climate conversations with the people you know We are the 89% who want their Governments to take action on climate Read More

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< Back The role of the Upper Onny Farmers' group Nick Read with information supplied by Cath Landles 1 Feb 2024 One of the farmers groups in South Shropshire We are fortunate in South Shropshire to have existing landscape-scale farmers’ groups, including the Upper Onny Farmers Group (UOFG), a key component in the restoration of wildlife habitats across 220 square km within the Shropshire Hills National Landscape (the new name for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). UOFG was formed in 2018 and comprises 20 farmers who farm in and around the Upper Onny Valley, which lies in the Shropshire Hills between the Long Mynd and the Welsh Border. The group is co-ordinated by Cath Landles of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Partnership. Since its launch it has been involved in two Defra Test and Trials of the proposed new Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, produced 17 Whole Farm Plans, delivered 10 farm-based environmental workshops and demonstrations, created and restored hay meadows, species rich grassland and wood pasture, protected water courses, restored hedgerows, created orchards and encouraged a shift towards regenerative farming practices. The current focus is to put together an application to the Landscape Recovery Scheme (LRS), designed to support large-scale projects that require long-term funding to achieve their outcomes. [Photo: Upper Onny Farmers' Group visiting James Rebank’s farm in Cumbria] Previous Next

< Back SSCA visit to the NMITE exhibition in Herefordshire Mike Bourke 6 Feb 2023 Higher Education gets retrofitting Members of the SSCA Energy and Retrofit Group visited the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) , a new university located in Hereford which offers a range of engineering degrees and short courses including on the sustainable built environment. They viewed the very energy-efficient building and the retrofit displays of wall insulation (external and internal), floor insulation and windows. Only organic materials were used (no plastic). 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 Celebrating the launch of our walk through Ludlow’s green spaces leaflet Trice Astill 4 Oct 2023 Connecting residents and visitors to Ludlow's urban green spaces On the 4th October representatives from local Ludlow organisations, including Ludlow Library, Hands Together Ludlow, and Friends of Whitcliffe Common, joined us for an evening stroll around the town’s green spaces using the recently republished walk leaflet produced by Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Ludlow branch and SSCA and designed by local artist Sarah Jameson. We wound our way around the castle walls, through the gardens, past the sycamore tree, leaves still green, onto the high paths overlooking the Teme and down to the Millenium Green. Over the Dinham Bridge and along the Bread Walk by the river, past the rock layers, waterfall, weirs and salmon run. We walked up the steps to Whitcliffe, following the path to Ludford and over the bridge to Lower Broad Street then up past the Butter Cross to St Laurence’s Church and the Jubilee Garden. There our walk ended as dusk fell. If you know Ludlow you might consider why this short walk took us nearly 2 hours? That is the purpose of the walk: we took time – time to “stand and stare” and really look for wildlife and to listen to birdsong and to sounds of the river, time to breathe and relax, time to talk, to get to know each other and to swap information and knowledge. We saw mistletoe above the insect hides on the tree by the castle, goosanders diving on the Teme by Dinham Bridge among the mallards, dippers on the rocks by Ludford bridge and a farewell flypast of swans at sunset over the Readers House. We heard blackbirds alarm calling, the chatter of jackdaws and winter song of robins. We admired the linear garden in pots along Lower Broad Street and the flower colours glowing in the lowering light and finally enjoyed the peace of the Jubilee Garden. Members of the group noted how the walk is an opportunity to discover a different side to Ludlow “ Although I’ve lived here all my life and played here as a child, with the group I’m seeing it in a new way “; and to take a step back from a busy life: “ It’s been so relaxing after work. I wouldn’t normally have done something like this but it’s helped me destress ”; and engage and learn about the natural world: “I love the soothing sound of the river, just being near water ”. It also offered us a more engaging way to get to know one another while walking outside, rather than meeting around a table. The three aims of producing the map and walk were for residents and visitors to discover, observe and enjoy the wildlife in Ludlow town, improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing by connecting to Nature and offer a sustainable tourism option for visitors. If you or your organisation are interested in the Walk Through Ludlow’s Green Spaces leaflet you can download your own copy as well as an A3 poster of the walk from SSCA’s new website here . Alternatively Ludlow residents can obtain a paper copy free of charge from the Hands Together Ludlow office and visitors can access them from Ludlow Visitor Information Centre (for a small cost). Previous Next

Shropshire Climate Action: Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin's emissions Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin's emissions We often get questions about whether the county is making progress on reducing its Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. While GHG savings can be measured for say a household or an organisation (using carbon footprinting tools ), and there are some general estimates available of the impacts of particular actions (e.g. not driving a petrol car) based on academic research, there is no easy way of calculating a figure for the county bottom-up. However, we can use the data provided by the Department for Energy and Net Zero which are calculated top-down, with Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin apportioned a percentage of the UK emissions based on its geography and characteristics. Below is a progress chart for Green House Gas emissions for Shropshire, Telford& Wrekin. To keep within our carbon budget and to around 1.5C of warming, we need to get to an average of approx 2.5t CO2 emissions per individual in the UK by 2030 so are not currently on track to do that. Shropshire's emissions According to the Impact community carbon calculator* , Shropshire’s residents are responsible for emitting 3,467,883 tonnes of CO2e per annum.** This pie chart shows the relative impact of the Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs) across the sectors represented in the South Shropshire Climate Action “Next Steps” report. * The Impact tool has been developed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Exeter University as a data visualisation tool which allows you to look at household emissions within geographical boundaries (parishes, local authority areas, etc). **(CO2e stands for Carbon Dioxide equivalent; the warming impacts of any GHG can be measured relative to that of a molecule of CO2, the standard unit of measurement). A note on data There are many carbon calculators and each measures greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in different ways. Comparing the results from different calculators can lead to misunderstandings or false conclusions. Please read this even if, or especially if, data is not your thing. When South Shropshire Climate Action wrote the Next Steps report transport’s contribution to Shropshire’s GHGs was assessed at 37%. This was based on the most accurate published data at the time from the UK government, but the government data did not include any assessment for the two most significant agricultural GHGs, methane and nitrous oxide. In more recent published data sets these two GHGs have been added, and this changes the percentage contributions from other sources, such as transport. Thus, the Impact Calculator assesses agriculture as 27% and transport as 32%. It is important to understand that the apparent reduction in transport’s contribution to Shropshire’s GHG emissions is not because there has been a decrease in transport emissions, but reflects that agricultural emissions were significantly under stated in older published datasets. The two most significant sectors for GHGs in Shropshire remain as agriculture and transport, and both need to be addressed if we are to reach net zero.

Shropshire Climate Action: Our climate reports South Shropshire's "Next Steps" Report (2021) South Shropshire Climate Action wrote the ‘Next Steps’ Climate Action Plan which was launched in May 2021. The plan set out practical and achievable steps to enable the Ludlow constituency (as it was known then) to achieve a carbon net zero target by 2030, whilst also contributing to human and environmental health and well-being. The report covered the themes of Land & Biodiversity, Transport, Energy & Buildings, and Communities & Education. In June 2021 (in the frenetic days leading up to COP26) Philip Dunne, M.P. for the Ludlow Constituency, presented the 'Next Steps' Report in the House of Commons and placed the report written by his constituents directly into the hands of the chair of COP26, Alok Sharma M.P. To download the South Shropshire Climate Action report (2021) click on the links below. Download the Next Steps Report (Summary) Download the Next Steps Report (Full - 72mb) South Shropshire Climate Action's End of Project Report (2025) Over 3 years, South Shropshire Climate Action (SSCA) has engaged with community groups, businesses, schools and local networks to begin implementing the strategy outlined in the “Next Steps” Climate Action Plan. Funding from an anonymous donor paid for two Project Co-ordinators, Nick Read and Fiona Morgan (working as a job share). The End of Project report (2025) outlines the Project Co-ordinators' activities, in conjunction with the many volunteers, organisations and networks that comprise South Shropshire Climate Action. Whilst some thematic areas have seen significant progress and a fifth theme of Repair-Reuse-Recycle has been added, others have been difficult to implement. A grant from Shropshire Council’s Climate Change Task Force enabled a research project involving four case studies to be conducted, using Action Learning Research methodology, to ascertain why some approaches to decarbonising Shropshire communities were successful, and others not (see the link to the full Action Learning Research Project report 2025 below). SSCA also helped with Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin’s first county-wide climate conference, drawing delegates from all over Shropshire, on the theme of how to accelerate change towards achieving net zero carbon. Of particular interest was the inclusion of young people in the conference planning and delivery through the Environment Leadership Programme (ELP). The End of Project report concludes with reflections on the last three years, to inform future developments, as the work continues under the auspices of Shropshire Climate Action. Download the Next Steps End of Project Report 2025 Download the Action Learning Project Report 2025 The Zero Carbon Shropshire Plan (2021) The Zero Carbon Shropshire plan was produced by Shropshire Climate Action Partnership in 2021 and looked at how Shropshire as a whole could get to net zero by 2030. Download the Zero Carbon Shropshire Plan A note about Net Zero We appreciate that achieving net zero by 2030 is ambitious, requiring resources and commitments from national and international agencies far beyond our ability to influence. However, SCA in conjunction with Shropshire Council and the Church of England have all adopted 2030 as the date because more urgent action is required than is being achieved by the government’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.

< Back Interesting conversations at Morville Annual Community event David Matthews 19 May 2025 Renewable energy popular with farmers, and a new argument for heat pumps? Last month, SCA was at the Morville Annual Community event. It was very well attended, and it was great to talk to several local farmers about renewable energy and how they are combining solar with agriculture (primarily sheep grazing) on the same land. There was interest too in battery storage, and the installation of wind turbines, now some of the planning restrictions have been lifted. According to the Impact Community Carbon Calculator, Morville has a higher than average carbon footprint, thanks to the widespread use of oil for home heating. The Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) attending the event were highlighting theft of fuel from oil tanks as a leading example of crime affecting rural communities in Shropshire. Perhaps that’s another argument for having a heat pump installed? Previous Next

< Back Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s visit to Bishop’s Castle’s wind turbine public meeting in April Mike Watkins 1 Apr 2023 Lightfoot (members of SSCA 's network) show their support for the development of the Bishop's Castle Heat Network At a public meeting in Bishop’s Castle this month, called to report on the progress of the projected Wind-Turbine-powered Bishop’s Castle’s Community Heat & Wind Network , over 70 people responded to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s request for a show of hands to vote on the authenticity of the climate crisis, the use of on-shore Wind-Turbines as one means of countering it and, specifically, on whether a Wind Turbine should be used for BC’s Community Heat & Wind Network . There was an overwhelmingly positive response to all his questions, with only a few dissenting or undecided. Hugh proffered an opportunity to those unconvinced or unsure to join his team to visit and learn from other renewable energy projects that will be covered as part of the Channel 4 documentary, which is to be screened in the autumn. The Heat and Wind network, designed by Sharenergy and Carbon Alternatives with funding from Shropshire & Telford Community Energy , would supply heat from an air-source heat pump powered by a Wind Turbine, which could be pumped to at least 100 houses in the Town as well as the Community College, the SpArC Leisure Centre and Enterprise House. The Heat Network would not be financially viable without the Wind Turbine. The scheme would result in a massive reduction in carbon emissions for the Town – which has an above average carbon footprint, dependent, as it is, on oil and LPG heating - and enable people to get rid of their boilers and oil tanks. A response is awaited from Shropshire Council to a pre-planning application for the Wind Turbine. A FAQs document about the scheme can be accessed via this link . To find out more about the project please e-mail: climateaction@lightfootenterprises.org Previous Next

< Back Aims of the Climate Conference for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin: 18th May Sarah Gibson 10 Apr 2024 Why we need to accelerate change and spur on climate action in our communities A conference at Shrewsbury Town Football Club on Saturday 18 May will bring people together to inspire and stimulate them to act within their communities to address the urgent changes required to bring about net zero. “The challenges are immense,” said Colin Preston of Zero Carbon Shropshire, one of the event organisers. “Carbon emissions in the Shropshire Council area are currently 2.5 million tonnes per year, we need to get this down to 1 million tonnes by 2030. In the Telford & Wrekin area emissions are 1 million tonnes per year and this needs to come down to 0.5 million tonnes by 2030.” Young people, who stand to be most affected by the consequences of climate change, will take a leading part in running the conference, including participants from Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Environmental Leadership Programme for 18 – 25 year-olds. “ Our young leaders are passionate about finding new and different ways to do things and making change that starts in communities. As well as being a great opportunity for them to meet and create connections with organisations working towards the same goals in the county, they will be helping to draw out key actions that will be taken by communities going forward from this day,” said Jen Allerton, Youth Engagement Officer at Shropshire Wildlife Trust. During the morning there will be a series of short talks. First up will be Dr Sam Hampton, a climate behaviour expert from Bath University, who will talk about the power of individuals to influence the political agenda and make lifestyle choices that drive down emissions when action is taken collectively, helping to keep the global temperature rise within safe limits. Other speakers will focus on the particular challenges faced by different sectors including land, nature, food and farming; transport, energy and housing and the circular economy. The afternoon will bring people together into workshops to explore and share skills and knowledge with the aim of encouraging public engagement and collaboration. Tickets available now The conference is open to individuals, groups and businesses. Tickets can be booked at Eventbrite with the option either to make a donation or for free tickets. Lunch is provided. Environmental groups and small businesses are invited to take out a stand at the conference for a small fee. To register an interest in this please complete the online form . The event is being organised by Zero Carbon Shropshire, South Shropshire Climate Action and Save Our Shropshire and sponsored by Shropshire Homes and Kier. “As a company which has implemented its own green initiative, Shropshire Homes is pleased to support the Climate Conference. We believe it is an important event to encourage the county’s organisations to work together to make a real difference to climate change in Shropshire and the wider area,” said Rebecca Hayward. Previous Next

< Back Have Your Say: Help shape the future of EV charging in Telford and Wrekin Sam Paul 24 Oct 2025 Survey now open Telford & Wrekin Council is inviting residents, businesses, and community groups to take part in a new series of public surveys aimed at improving electric vehicle (EV) charging across the borough. The survey is now and will be open for four weeks. It’s quick to complete, mobile-friendly, and tailored to different groups so you’ll be asked questions that are relevant to you. Your feedback will help guide future investment and planning, making sure EV infrastructure works for everyone, from daily commuters to visitors and local businesses. For more information: Have Your Say: Help shape the future of EV charging in Telford and Wrekin | Newsroom To complete the survey: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/j4gd16 Previous Next