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 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 10 Apr 2025 Celebration of South Shropshire Climate Action’s Achievements End of Project event held at the Discovery Centre, Craven Arms on 10th April 2025 Read More

Shropshire Climate Action: Energy Efficiency Improve Energy Efficiency Do it in the right order 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. Below is a summary of measures to consider taking in your own home. You can find more information in our Energy Efficient Homes Information Sheets . "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 It's vital to ensure that you address any damp problems and that you have appropriate ventilation and moisture control to avoid subsequent issues with damp and mould. Options include: t rickle vents, extractor fans, and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) First retrofit priorities Draughts. Drainage - maintain gutters, downpipes and drains. Condensation and damp - see above. Asbestos - may be discovered during a retrofit and likely to require specialist removal or treatment. 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 ti me, over a number of years. You could fit internal wall insulation when you are: Installing a new kitchen or bathroo m Replacing or repairing plaster or plasterboard Or just emptying and decorating a room Fit e xternal wall insulation if you need scaffolding, which is a significant cost, for any reason: Working on rendering or painting Fitting replacement windows Windows & 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. Care has to be taken to manage damp. In particular, condensation can form if a waterproof layer is installed on the cold side of any insulation. Some of the issues to consider are covered in this video: 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 The ease with which you can insulated a suspended timber floor varies depending on access: If you have access, insulation can be hung between the joists, suspended on net fastened to the bottom of the joists. Without access, you need to lift the floorboards, which is usually a big job. Concrete slab floors are, obviously, hard to insulate. You need to lay a layer of insulation with a floating timber sheet floor on top of it. All skirting has to be removed first, and doorways and the bottom of steps dealt with.

Shropshire Climate Action: Nature and Biodiversity Nature & biodiversity Loss of biodiversity The crisis we face is both a carbon and an ecological crisis. T he UK has lost almost half of its biodiversity (the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi) since the 1970s and 15% of the 8,431 species found here are threatened with extinction (RSPB State of Nature 2019). The UK ranks in the lowest 10% of countries internationally for its (lack of) biodiversity and a study by the Natural History Museum published in 2021 reported that overall 41% of UK species were in decline, and that 26% of UK mammals are at risk of extin ction. Biodiversity is important; it underpins global nutrition and fo od security and impacts on economic growth, it contributes to human health and wellbeing for both physical and mental health, it enables clean air, clean water and healthy soils and it provides us all with beauty and wonder. Land management for biodiversity also supports carbon reduction, the two are inextricably linked, and critical to success is the relationship between food production and ecology, through farming systems that support high nature value. There are key policy drivers to improve ecological health, such as Nature Recovery Strategies for each county. The post-Brexit Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) is intended to support measures that improve “public goods” – those things provided by land management that are not provided primarily through market mechanisms, including the ability to store carbon, supply clean water etc Within Shropshire local initiatives are moving the biodiversity agenda forward. Woodlands Local targets are to expand an d restore woodland cover in ways that are sympathetic to nature and the landscape. Local examples include: The Ancient Woodland Restoration Project The Trees Outside Woodland Scheme Roadside verges and hedgerows Effective management of roadside verges and hedgerows can have significant impacts for biodiversity gain and also help sequester carbon. CPRE Shropshire’s Hedgerow project helps prov ide vital wildlife corridors for nature. Contact CPRE for more information and to sign up to the planting days via their website Restoring Shropshire Verges Project ( RSVP) is part of the Stepping Stones project, a National-Trust led partnership. The pro ject covers 200 km2 and includes the Long Mynd SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and the Stiperstones NNR (National Nature Reserve). The aim is to create ecological connectivity; connecting wildlife habitats by strengthening or creating “Stepping Stones” and corridors of habitats between and around these two core sites. Other partners include Shropshire Highways, Plantlife, Caring for Gods Acre and Shropshire Hills National Landscape (the new name for this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).   RSVP vo lunteers ‘adopt’ verges, sowing and planting wildflowers to support wildlife. Partners in biodiversity enhancement Friends of Mortimer Forest help preserve and enhance the natural environment in Mortimer Forest which covers South Shropshire and North Herefordshire and to encourage its use to promote mental and physical health and educational activities. Going Wild in Bishop’s Castle is a project to ‘green’ Bishop’s Castle and encourage biodiversity by planting trees, hedgerows, herbs, shrubs, ponds, nest boxes etc. Land, Life & Livelihoods is a community initiative operating in the Clun Forest and working with farmers and the wider community. Marches Meadow Group operates on both sides of the Welsh Marches in Shropshire and Powys. They are interested in the management and conservation of wildflower rich hay meadows of all sizes from patches of lawn upwards. Join up and attend events, walks and talks. Middle Marches Community Land Trust (MMCLT) is a community-led Trust based in the Middle Marches which is committed to the promotion and development of sustainable and environmentally responsible agriculture. It protects, conserves, restores and enhances the environment through the purchase, lease and management of land. Shropshire Wildlife Trust manage over 40 Nature Reserves across Shropshire and run local groups and events across the county. Join a biodiversity collage workshop to explore the pressing issue of biodiversity loss Click here for information Local examples Sarah’s blog tells the story of an 11-acre field in south Shropshire bought in 2018 and now managed for nature (with wetland, meadow, woodland and ponds). Pam's Pools is a permaculture and wildlife project near Bridgnorth working to enhance the biodiversity of an 110 acre site centred on disused quarry pits.

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.

Shropshire Climate Action: Land management Land management Land management is a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHG), though unlike other industries, the majority are not carbon dioxide, but other molecules such as nitrous oxide and methane. The management of ruminant animals is a key feature to achieving net zero carbon. Approximately 80% of the total carbon found in terrestrial ecosystems is in the soil, and the soils ability to store carbon is three times that of the atmosphere and second only to the oceans. SCA's Land and Biodiversity Group supported by evidence from Cranfield University and Natural England have produced the Carbon in Land in Shropshire report (2023) on the carbon audit of soils and vegetation, indicating that Shropshire’s soils offer significant potential to store more carbon. Key messages are: In all habitats (even woodland) significantly more carbon is stored in the soil than in the biomass (the growing plants) Peatland offers significant potential to store carbon, but only if properly managed, otherwise it becomes a net carbon emitter Because of the amount of land involved, how we manage local grassland and arable cropping will have significant impact. Find out our views on using land for solar farms . Peatland restoration Shropshire contains significant areas of peatland. Whilst peat is consid ered as a significant carbon sink, it is only effective if pro pe rly managed. Almost all of England’s pea tlands, including Shropshire’s, are drying out and emitting, rather than sequestering, carbon. It is a local priority, therefore, to rewet peatland and enable it to sequester (store) more carbon (see the video "Just Add Water"). We should encourage agricultural practices that increase soil organic matter in Shropshire’s grassland, and which reduce carbon loss in arable land by reducing tillage. Support for these actions is being facilitated through the Farming in Protected Landscape project (FIPL). Rebuilding the soil with livestock Rebuilding the soil. One Somerset cattle farmer’s experience of changing his grazing regime for the better (6 minutes). Maintaining good organic matter levels Looking at maintaining organic matter levels in arable and grassland (3 minutes). Trees & hedgerows on a dairy farm How trees and hedgerows are used on Tim Downes' Shropshire dairy, beef and arable farm (5 minutes). CPRE Shropshire's Hedgerow Heroes project (2021 to 2024) What the project has achieved and the benefits of hedgerows to the countryside (11 minutes). Life in the hedge: how to manage hedgerows for wildlife A talk by hedgerow management expert Nigel Adams on hedgerows and how best to manage them for their health, longevity and biodiversity (1 hour 40 mins, but worth the watch!). Agroforestry on upland farms A Soil Association (October 2021) video of 3 upland farmers in Scotland, Brecon and Devon and their experiences of using agroforestry (11 minutes). The benefits of agroforestry Two Scottish livestock farmers talk about the benefits of trees and woodland on their farms (4 minutes). Woodland benefits for poultry farms A Cumbrian poultry farmer on the benefits of woodland (2 minutes).

< Back In December we clanged for COP28 in Shrewsbury Fiona Morgan 9 Dec 2023 Part of the Climate Justice Coalition Day of Action On the 9th December groups and individuals, including those from environmental and faith organisations, met in Shrewsbury as part of the Climate Justice Coalition Day of Action and held a protest march “WHILE COP TALKS - WYLE COP RISES!”. Gathering at the bottom of Wyle Cop, we made the most of Shrewsbury’s traffic-free weekends to march and drum together around the town helping to raise the alarm about the lack of action on the climate crisis, stopping to support the North West Relief Road protest outside Market Hall. 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 Beavers finally arrive in the Old River Bed, Shrewsbury! Julie Howe 10 Feb 2025 Hooray! Shropshire Wildlife Trust has released the long-awaited beavers into the site prepared for them in the Old River Bed. The pair are reported to be settling in well, and the boardwalks at the site are now open for quiet visits. For more information on the benefits the beavers can provide for the ecosystem and for water management, visit the SWT website . See also an interesting BBC news report about the beavers, on their release day. Previous Next

< Back One month on from the Climate Conference - watch the film...and the next steps David Matthews 25 Jun 2024 Make your vote count on the 4th July for Climate and Nature .... It’s been just over a month since our climate conference. We’re delighted to be able to share the short film of the conference produced by local film maker Robin Fellows-Weir here. Accelerating action on the Climate crisis and Nature will need increased focus from government and business, but also a recognition by local people that everyone needs to reduce their consumption of resources and get their carbon emissions down below two tonnes per year. We need the people of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to join in, and to do so we can: Lead by example Listen to the concerns of family, friends and colleagues, and help them to understand the changes required Get involved in local action and share what we’re doing. In summarising the conference outputs, we identified some common threads that can give focus as to what and how we might look to the future: Collaborative working (what does this entail and how can it be achieved?) Skills sharing and training Developing a progressive conversation outside the “green bubble” Meeting people where they are Creating a Green Network Collaboration. The conference identified practical issues and challenges in areas such as Housing and Energy, Transport, Circular Economy, and Land, Nature, Food and Farming. These diverse topic areas require tangible actions, through targeted projects, case studies and exemplar initiatives and the development of fiscal mechanisms and incentives. The presentation slides for the key note speech by from Dr Sam Hampton (University of Oxford and University of Bath) "Collective action and behaviour change to tackle the climate crisis" can also be read here. Dr Sam Hampton Conference Key Note Speech 18.5.24 .pptx Download PPTX • 11.01MB We’re continuing to work on all the conference outputs, so please let us know if you’d like to get involved. We’re working on the creation of a climate coalition, with a programme of work over the next three years. We’ll keep you updated as these plans develop over the next couple of months. Finally, we have a great opportunity right now to use our voices to influence change. We can lobby election candidates and use our votes to encourage the new Government to take action on the Climate and Nature crises. Let’s do it! 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

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Shropshire Climate Action: Home page   Read More Welcome! Shropshire Climate Action (SCA) is an action driven coalition of local people, organisations and businesses, all dedicated to helping Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin take climate action. SCA brings together the South Shropshire Climate Action, Zero Carbon Shropshire and Shropshire Green Exchange networks because a co-ordinated and collaborative response is needed to tackle the climate and Nature crises at a local level. This website is full of information about the actions we can take as individuals, communities, schools, town and parish councils and businesses to support Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to reach net zero by 2030. See how you can get involved in the invaluable work that local organisations in our network are already doing to protect Nature, reduce our carbon emissions and improve our health and wellbeing across the topics of energy and housing, land and biodiversity (including food), transport and repair reuse-recycle initiatives. Together we can take action to lessen the impacts of the climate and Nature emergency. Read more about us here Read our Climate Action Reports What is the Climate Emergency? Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin's carbon emissions How to take action Explore our website to find practical advice and information on taking climate and nature action across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and how you can get involved with local organisations. Energy & Buildings Land & Biodiversity Transport Reuse, Repair, Recycle Green Your Money Individual action Community action Councils Schools & Youth Groups Local Businesses Local Lobbying Eco anxiety Local climate groups How to get involved Help make Shropshire Climate Action an effective channel for accelerating climate action – we can do it with you, we can’t do it without you Please email us at: contact@shropshireclimateaction.org Or get in touch about any of the following activities using the form below. Contact us Sign up to our monthly newsletter here Volunteer with us or join our working groups & meetings Share your local news, actions & events with us Make a donation here Get in touch with us! First Name Last Name Email Message Send Please see our Privacy Policy. Thank you for your message we will respond as soon as possible!