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 3 Mar 2025 River Clun Update and petition to Stop the Pipe Objecting to Severn Trent's plans to transfer sewage effluent for the River Clun to the River Onny Read More 1 Mar 2025 Net Zero Progress - How are we doing in Shropshire? - not well - a NWRR update How the North West Relief Road for Shrewsbury jeopardises Shropshire's climate commitments Read More 10 Feb 2025 Beavers finally arrive in the Old River Bed, Shrewsbury! Hooray! Read More 3 Feb 2025 Net Zero Progress - How are we doing in Shropshire? Report on progress in Shropshire county Read More 1 Dec 2024 New sustainable fashion initiative in Oswestry Borrow clothes from Oswestry Library Read More 1 Dec 2024 Minsterley Meadows success Fundraiser saves nationally important Shropshire grassland Read More 20 Nov 2024 Follow up webinar to the Accelerating Change conference on climate action for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Planning the next steps for the network Read More 6 Nov 2024 Ludlow Quaker Meeting holds a Climate Fresk Promoting discussion about the climate emergency and actions we can take in our communities Read More 2 Nov 2024 Shropshire residents ask National Trust AGM to support the Climate and Nature Bill Ask your MP to support the Climate and Nature Bill too Read More 1 Nov 2024 As world leaders meet at COP29 - Shropshire takes action Sign up to the Climate Action Webinar on 20th November & Nature Recovery Conference on 6th December Read More 18 Oct 2024 Telford and Wrekin Borough Climate Change Annual Conference Working in partnership to adapt our communities to an uncertain future Read More 18 Oct 2024 Climate campaigners find common ground with Helen Morgan, North Shropshire MP On the topics of awareness raising, pensions, energy and farming Read More 1 Oct 2024 Shropshire's North West Relief Road update What is the current status of Shropshire Council's planned road around the north-west of Shrewsbury ? Read More 1 Oct 2024 Oswestry Climate Action Hub (OsCAH) The community hub with a mission to "Make, Share, Grow, Repair" Read More 20 Sept 2024 Wellington's award winning cycle powered delivery service Green Award winners at BBC Radio Shropshire's Make a Difference Awards 2024 Read More 17 Sept 2024 Is this the greenest house in Telford? Hear how local home owner, Mike King, has created a carbon neutral home Read More 2 Sept 2024 Teach the Future campaign Making our schools more sustainable Read More 28 Aug 2024 Action to protect our rivers in Shropshire 22nd September World Rivers Day Read More 1 Aug 2024 What is Going Wild in Bishop’s Castle? How the project is developing to support local wildlife Read More 1 Aug 2024 A New Government: Is this the Green revolution we have been waiting for? Read More

< Back River Clun Update and petition to Stop the Pipe Alison Weeks 3 Mar 2025 Objecting to Severn Trent's plans to transfer sewage effluent for the River Clun to the River Onny The River Clun and its catchment has changed significantly over the past 70 years. People who live here can remember tickling trout in the ‘50s and ‘60s and there were freshwater crayfish and pearl mussels up and down the catchment. There was a rich biodiversity of river invertebrates, butterflies, otters etc, and a clear river bed. There was much less sediment and turbidity as uplands and land adjacent to waterways remained unploughed. More water was retained in uplands and wider undisturbed areas of peat. The presence of pearl mussels meant Clun was designated a SAC (Special Area of Conservation), meaning that regulations prevent building development in the Clun catchment, because no new nutrients from sewage treatment can be discharged into the river; this has socio-economic consequences for bringing new people into the area and retaining families, maintaining schools, jobs, and work. The Onny pipeline proposal by Severn Trent is an example of the pressure put on the area because of the declining state of the river. This proposal will pump sewage effluent from new developments in Bishops Castle along a pipeline into the Onny to avoid the Nutrient Neutrality regulations in the Clun; in other words, exporting the problem downriver. There is significant local opposition to this. If you’d like to object to this scheme, you can find more details and sign the Stop the Pipe petition here . The River Clun Monitoring Group was set up in 2022 to monitor the river quality. Our aims are to raise awareness of how the water quality of the Clun impacts on all our lives; to increase monitoring where new groups form (and provide equipment); to present data for clear interpretation of the water quality and biodiversity and to work with local and national groups to improve water quality of rivers. We make monthly measurements of physical properties (temperature, water flow, height, total solids/conductivity): this tells us about seasonal and weather-related changes. We measure ammonia, which comes from sewage, agricultural inputs, and fertilisers; nitrate which is from soil and manure; phosphate, which is from sewage, fertilisers, washing machines, agricultural waste; turbidity, which is a measure of suspended and dissolved matter in the river; and invertebrates which tells us about the longer-term health of river ecology. We have about 30 volunteers who take part in the monitoring. We work closely with the landowners whose river stretches we sample. We have regular volunteer meetings, checking and calibration of equipment and monitoring methods and our steering group meets every 2 months to oversee it all. In 2025 a number of events are planned around the river. From 29th May/ June 8th: there will be River Clun Festival: with art, music, talks, Ellie Chowns MP. Other events which are being planned are in August an event in the Upper Clun, in September the Clun Climate Environment groupwill hold a half day event at Clun Memorial Hall. In September the second Dennis and Margaret Twist Memorial event will be focussed Food and Land. You can watch the excellent BBC Countryfile programme broadcast on 12th January about improving waterways in Shropshire and encouraging the recovery of atlantic salmon in the River Onny. Previous Next

< Back Net Zero Progress - How are we doing in Shropshire? David Matthews 3 Feb 2025 Report on progress in Shropshire county We often get questions about whether the county is making progress on reducing its Greenhouse 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 their geography and characteristics. The progress chart for Green House Gas emissions for Shropshire, Telford& Wrekin displayed (the government reports can be found here . To keep within our carbon budget and to around 1.5C of warming, we need to get to an average of approximately 2.5t per individual in the UK by 2030 so are not currently on track to do that. The Centre for Sustainable Energy and Exeter University have created a very useful data visualisation tool, Impact, which allows you to look at household emissions within geographical boundaries (parishes, local authority areas, etc). For more details, see: Impact Previous Next

< Back The Marches Real Food and Farming Conference: 15th - 16th September Jane Cullen 16 Sept 2023 Our reflections on this fantastic ground breaking local food conference The Conference held at Partridge Farm, near Bishop’s Castle, was a greatly enjoyable day and showed many exciting projects to a new audience – if you are at all interested in your food, where it comes from, how it is grown, how far it has travelled to get to you – you know all the issues - here were practical, pragmatic and possible models that deserve to be known, and adopted, much more widely. The dung beetle safari, led by Claire Whittle who is a farm veterinary surgeon specialising in conservation medicine and regenerative agriculture, demonstrated how dung beetles not only make the structure of the soil much better but rather amazingly also reduce parasite organs in livestock. Claire’s enthusiasm and knowledge lit up those on safari. Another eye opener was the Johnson-Su Reactor which Kate Gatacre opened and described. Although I could not build one in my small urban garden anyone with a bit more space could: all you need is an old pallet, some lengths of drainpipe, wire, fleece, sawdust, green waste and some space. The beautiful, crumbly, clean- smelling compost which was dug out was absolutely perfect. Having experience as a producer I went to the session on Market Linkage, which followed the path between local producers Tish Dockerty and Jan Morgan-Birtles, who trade regularly at the ‘Local to Ludlow’ Market, and a Food Hub in Birmingham, via Slow Food and the Open Food Network. It’s good to see technology making these links quick and practical - for the good of all. Lizzie and Jane Hulton-Harrop also gave an excellent presentation as they charted their move into Regenerative Farming. Pollardine Farm’s soil fertility is improving, rapidly responding to changes in their practice – the first one being a really good rest for the land. There’s much more to hear about this project and the careful research behind the changes, look out for our forthcoming video of the climate and Nature related work being done at Pollardine Farm - which will be available soon. Previous Next

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< Back Announcing the Climate Conference for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin: Saturday May 18th Fiona Morgan 21 Mar 2024 Book your tickets now for this event being held at Shrewsbury Town Football Ground You can now book your tickets to the Climate Conference which will focus on how we can accelerate action to achieve net zero in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and engage local communities to make that happen. The event is being organised by Zero Carbon Shropshire, South Shropshire Climate Action and Save Our Shropshire with support from young people on the Environmental Leadership Programme . The schedule for the day can be viewed on Eventbrite. It includes morning panel discussions and afternoon workshops covering the following themes: land, transport, energy & buildings, circular economy and engagement tools. Organisations are also invited to apply to have a stand at the event. Book your tickets via this Eventbrite link . There are 2 types of ticket: free tickets and a separate ticket option if you wish to make a donation towards the cost of refreshments. Lunch is provided. If your organisation would like to register an interest in having a stand at this event please complete and submit this online form . Charges apply. You can share a stand with other groups. We are looking for volunteers to get involved in helping to organise the event and on the day. If you are interested please contact admin@zerocarbonshropshire.org Previous Next

< Back Oswestry Climate Action Hub (OsCAH) Sascha Robinson 1 Oct 2024 The community hub with a mission to "Make, Share, Grow, Repair" The Oswestry Climate Action Hub (OsCAH), based in the heart of the town centre at 36 Bailey Street, is transforming the local community by empowering residents with an endless supply of events and initiatives from mends and upcycling, to skill shares, to growing your own plants. Their mission is simple: "Make, Share, Grow, Repair". Talking to Hannah, one of the OsCAH organisers, it’s clear that they want to develop a community-driven group. As environmental concerns grow, it serves as a beacon of hope in the centre of Oswestry. When attending their ‘crafts and mend’ on Sunday afternoon, I met a handful of their regulars engrossed in activity. The fact that I can even say ‘regulars’ emphasises how welcoming the hub has become. People want to come back, again and again. Newcomers popped in throughout the afternoon, grabbing a cuppa and engaging in the session. In this space, you were allowed the time to learn and understand without judgement. I left feeling revitalized with the passion to ‘do more’, which is the important part of OsCAH: encouraging everyone to be more climate conscious whilst building a space welcome for all. Climate action shouldn’t weigh you down with the feeling that you aren’t doing enough; it should energise you. OsCAH intends for you to leave with a new climate conscious skill which you can pass on to those around you. OsCAH are currently raising funds to support the long-term future of the hub. If you are interested in finding out more please email communityoswestry@gmail.com 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 SSCA Four years on: Our next steps Jane Cullen 3 Oct 2023 Looking ahead for 2023 and beyond SSCA is now four years old and we are halfway through our benefactor’s very generous donation. The coordinators have enabled SSCA to continue to strengthen networks across Shropshire, building closer links with local climate and environment groups and wider voluntary and local government organisations, to support the county’s transition towards net zero. This in turn benefits peoples’ health, wellbeing and finances. This work has culminated in the development of our new website which showcases the fantastic work that is already happening across Shropshire to help inspire individuals, communities, and organisations to take climate and environmental action. We will notify you of the launch of the new website very soon.SSCA is now entering a decisive phase which requires us to make moves towards acquiring future funding to sustain our work. This is more vital than ever. Any support, advice, or experience that readers can offer would be very welcome. This could take the form of a small monthly donation from as many supporters as possible. If you are willing and able to do this please set up a BACS transfer to the following bank account: Marches Energy Agency; Sort Code: 08-92-99; Account Number: 65044713; Reference: DONATION SSCA-NCZ. We need volunteers to support our many initiatives including the retrofit exhibition, producing and sharing user friendly toolkits and videos to support and inspire people to take local climate and Nature action, updating our new website, writing articles for the newsletter and representing us at events and talks. Please contact us by email on SSCA@mea.org.uk you will be very warmly received. Our next steps: Action Learning Project The major focus of our time and energy over the next 12 months will be on an Action Learning Research project. We have received a grant from Shropshire Council’s Climate Change Taskforce to undertake an exploration of 3 or 4 communities in South Shropshire and how they can adapt and develop resilience in the face of the Climate and Nature crises as they transition towards net zero. The purpose of the project is to learn from their experience, to find out what is successful, what is not and as far as possible the reasons. One aspect to emphasize is that these projects have to be driven by the community itself, it is not being done to or for them!We are working on developing some project possibilities covering a number of types of community including: a primary school (how to decarbonise a school); a town at the beginning of the climate action process (how to decarbonise a community); a very rural parish (how to decarbonise a remote community); an organisation with county wide membership (how to use an existing network to effect change across communities); and finally an old community building (how to decarbonise a building and use it as a wider community resource to effect behaviour change). I hope you find our future exciting and that you will enthusiastically support this refocusing of direction. 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

< 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 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