Outline bid to the Community Fund Climate Action … › 2020 › 01 › ...1 Outline bid to the...

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OutlinebidtotheCommunityFundClimateActionFund,December2019First,giveusabriefoutlineofyourproject-whatdoyouwanttodoandwhy.TransformingOurTown:WilmslowandHandforth,CheshireWilmslowandneighbouringHandfortharetownssouthofManchesterwhichdespitetheirreputationforaffluence,haveconsiderableareasofpovertyandsocialdeprivation,andtheyareamongthehighestusersofenergyandproducersofwasteintheNWofEngland.Forthepasttenyearswehavebeenworkingtoimprovethesustainabilityandliveabilityofourtown(www.transitionwilmslow.co.uk)whichispartoftheTransitionTownsNetwork.Now,withsupportfromtheClimateActionFund,wecanbuildamorerobustclimatechangepartnershipandupscaleourworksoastoreducetheTown’scarbonfootprint,inawaywhichimprovesthehealthandwellbeingofourcommunityandtheplanet.WewanttoworkwitheveryoneinourcommunitytomakeourcontributiontoreducingCO2emissionsandpromotingbiodiversity,betterairqualityandclimateresilience.Wewanttopromotepublichealthbyreducingairpollution,promotingactivetravelincludingcyclingandwalking,andimprovingmentalhealthbyimprovingaccessforeveryonetoopenspaces.Wewanttogrowmorefruitandvegetablesincommunityspacestoencourageahealthydietandtohelpeveryonegrowwhattheycan.Wewanttoreduceourdependenceonplasticsandbuyingnewthingstoreducefossilfueluse.WewanttoreduceourCO2emissionsthroughthesesixgoals:

1. RestoreOurPeatBog2. PlantTrees3. DevelopSafeCyclingandWalkingPaths4. DevelopMoreCommunityGardens5. Reducedomesticandbusinessenergyusage6. ReduceandReuse

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1. RestoreOurPeatBog:Ourgoalistorestoreourlocalpeatbog,LindowMoss.Arestoredpeatbogwillcapturecarbon,providefloodresilience,promotebiodiversityandprovideabeautiful,peacefulplacewithaccessibleareasforpeopletowalkandcycle,toenjoythefloraandfaunaandlearnaboutourmostfamousresident,LindowMan,andtheMesolithicforestthatprecededhim.LindowMossisapeatbogofinternationalecological,historicalandarchaeologicalimportance.ItislistedintheSelectedHeritageInventoryforNaturalEnglandandhasbeendesignatedasanHistoricandCulturalLandscapeinourrecentlyapprovedWilmslowNeighbourhoodPlan(https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/planning/neighbourhood-plan/wilmslow/wilmslow-ndp-referendum-version-reduced.pdf)However,muchofLindowMossisbadlydegradedasaresultofmanyyearsofpeatcutting.PeatlandsareamongstthemostvaluablelandscapesonEarthandastarkreminderofhowimportantournaturalenvironmentistoourwellbeing.Occupyingjust3%oftheEarth’ssurface,peatlandsareourlargestcarbonstoreonland.Theyareofglobalsignificanceforbiodiversitywiththemajorityofpeatlandspeciesandhabitatsrare,threatenedordeclining.Theyareplaceswherepeoplederivecleanwaterandfood,andcanactasbuffersforenvironmentaldisasters,suchasflooding.Degradedbogslikeoursareatriskoffires(causingincreasedcarbonemissionsandalsoreleaseofstoredatmosphericpollutantsintotheatmosphere)andbiodiversityisseriouslyimpacted(https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/).WewillworkwithourpartnerstorestoretheMoss,nowthatpeatcuttinghasceased,initiallybyrestoringwaterlevelsacrossthecurrentpeatcuttingareaanddevelopingfringewoodlandsaroundthewiderMosslandscapeextendingouttoneighbouringMobberley.Thiswouldprovideourtownwithanextensivecarbonsink,togetherwithincreasedbiodiversityandfloodresilience.OurrestoredMosswillbecarpetedwithgreenandgoldenSphagnummoss,theregeneratingmireinterspersedwithfenandwoodland,surroundedbyfringingwoodlands.OurvisionfortheMoss,togetherwithfulldetailsoftheworkwehavedonetoraiseawarenessoftheit’swiderculturalandecologicalimportanceinourcommunity,isdetailedonhttps://transitionwilmslow.co.uk/lindow-moss/.WewillseekfundingforaccesstotheMossforeveryone,withduckboardsforwheelchairs,cyclistsandwalkerstoprovidealungforourtownandaplaceofpeaceandtranquilityforeveryone.Potentialpartners:CheshireEastCouncil,CheshireWildlifeTrust,SaltersleyCommonPreservationSociety,WilmslowTownCouncil,MobberleyParishCouncil,NaturalEngland,

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EnglishHeritage,EnvironmentAgency,UniversityofManchester,ManchesterMuseum,ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity,SocietyforEcologicalRestoration,CroghanPeat.2.PlantTrees:

OurgoalistodoubletreecoverinWilmslowandneighbouringHandforthby2040.AspartofourcontributiontotheWilmslowNeighbourhoodPlan,TransitionWilmslowacquiredacomprehensiveBlueSkydata-baseoftreecanopycoverinandaroundWilmslow.Wearecurrentlyusingthistodevelopatargetedtreeplantingprogramme:a) InthecountrysideWeundertookadetailedlandscapecharacterassessmentin2013whichhasnowbeenincorporatedintotheapprovedWilmslowNeighbourhoodPlanhttps://wilmslownp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Wilmslow-LCA-Introduction-2.pdfWewanttoincreasetreecoverinawaywhichstrengthensratherthandetractsfromthelandscapecharacterofourlocalcountryside.Thiswillinvolvebufferplantingalongsideexistingwoodland,carefullysitednewwoodlandandencouragingtreegrowthwithinhedgerows.Potentialpartners:FarmersandLandowners,NFU,WilmslowTownandHandforthParishCouncils,NeighbouringParishCouncils,BollinValleyPartnership,NationalTrustRiverlandsProject,WoodlandTrust,AlderleyEdgeGolfCourse.b) Inthetown

Wehavemappedandcategorizedourstreetsaccordingtotheirtreecover.Wewillfocusonsuccessionplantingintreelinedavenuesandnewplantingwherefewtreesarepresent.Thereisalsomuchscopefortreeplantingwithinprivategardensandwearedevelopinggoodpracticeguidanceforthiswithaprofessionalarborist.WealsowishtoensurethatthesubstantialamountofbiomassthatisharvestedfromWilmslow’sgardens(treefellingandpruning)iscollectedforuseinco-firingforelectricitygeneration(biomasssubstitutesforfossilfuelsanddoesnotmakeanetcontributiontoglobalwarming).

Potentialpartners:Schoolchildren,House-holders,CheshireEastHighways,WilmslowandHandforthTownCouncils,LocalArboriculturalContractors

Doublingtreecoverwillcontributesignificantlytocarboncapture,willaddbiodiversityandfloodresilience,increasetreecanopycoverandprovideamorebeautifulandpeacefullandscape.

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3.Developsafecycleandwalkingpaths:Ourgoalistoatleastdoublethepercentageofchildrentravellingtoschoolbywalkingandcyclingby2030,withalongtermvisionofachievingthe90%figuresof1970.Transportisasignificantdriverofcarbonemissionsandenormousnumbersofrelativelyshortjourneysincludingtripstoschoolaretakenbycar.Theyoungpeoplewehaveworkedwithareextremelykeenthatwetargetthisasapriority.Childrenusedtoroutinelytraveltoschoolbyactivetransport(walking,cyclingandpublictransport).Nowveryfew(around10%)havethisopportunity.Asaresultroadsarecongested,dangerousandourtownspollutedwithincreasinghealthimpactssuchasreducedlunggrowthinchildren,asthma,cancer,heartdisease,strokeandcancer.Developingsaferoutesforchildrenisagoodwayofhelpingthemdeveloplifelongactivetransporthabits.Ourneighbourhoodplan(https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/pdf/planning/neighbourhood-plan/wilmslow/wilmslow-ndp-referendum-version-reduced.pdfp.124hasagreenlinksmapwhichwilldevelopwithpartnerstoprovideabasisforsaferoutesforschoolsandafullymappedcyclestrategy(p.137).WehavelookedatthebarrierstotheuptakeofwalkingandcyclinginWilmslowandHandforthwhichareoftensafetyparticularlywhilstcrossingaroadjunctionorroundaboutandareaswheretherearepinchpointsintheroad.WehaveworkedwiththelocalcommunitytocreateaproposednetworkoftrafficfreeroutesthatmakeupourNeighbourhoodPlanCyclingStrategythat,ifdeveloped,wouldfacilitatethewidespreaduptakeofcyclingandwalking.Theseroutestakeyouashortdistancetoschools,shops,theleisurecentreandthetowncentre.Thecreationofajoinedupnetworkthatwillfacilitateactivetraveliskeytoencouragingpeopleoutoftheircarsandtotakeupcyclingforshortjourneysundertwomilesandtofeelcomfortablewalkingmore.WorkingwithCheshireEastCouncil’sCyclingandWalkingCommissioner,CllrSuzyAkers-Smith,andtheHighwaysDepartment,wehaveidentifiedonekeyroute,“the81Steps”,whichwewillrestoretoencouragepeopletotravelbetweentheneighbouringparishesofHandforthandWilmslow,aroutewhichiscurrentlyhazardous.Itisabarriertopeoplewhoarelessableandlessfit,andfewstudentsriskitasaroutetotheHighSchool.Thereare81stepsonthistrafficfreecycleroute.WorkingwithCheshireEastCouncilandHandforthParishCouncil,wewillcreateaziz-zagstepfreepathwhichwillnotonlyenablechildrentocycletoschoolwithoutcarryingtheirbikesupanddown81steps,itwillalsocreateaccessforpeoplewhoneedtheuseofamobilityscooterorawheelchairstomoveaboutinasustainableway.Thiswillactasanexemplarcycleroutetoencouragemorecyclingforcommutingandhelpustoobtainfundingtocompleteourproposedgreenlinksandthevitalconnectionsbetweenthem.

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Potentialpartners:CheshireEastCouncil’sCyclingandWalkingCommissioner,CheshireEastHighways,LocalPrimaryandSecondarySchools,CycleWilmslow,FriendsoftheCarrs,WilmslowTownCouncil,HandforthParishCouncil.4.GrowingourOwnFood:OurgoalistodevelopmoreschoolandcommunitygardenssothateverychildinWilmslowandHandforthhastheopportunityintheirprimaryschoolcareertoplant,tend,harvestandeattheirownpotatoes.

Localfoodgrowingreducesfoodmiles,foodpackagingandstoragecostsandimprovesresilience.Involvinglocalpeople,particularlychildreninfoodgrowingallowsforagreatmanyclimateconversationsinawaythatwouldnotbepossibleotherwise.Weplantedthreeminiorchardsin2012(oneinTheCarrspark,oneinMeritonParkinHandforthandoneinasmallurbanpark,TheTemp).WeweregivenpermissionbyCheshireEastCounciltoaddraisedbedsinTheTemp,whichhavenowbeenexpandedto18bedsintotal(https://transitionwilmslow.co.uk/food/community-garden/).Awarded‘Outstanding’byRHSBritaininBloomin2019,thesebedsareusedthroughthespringandsummer,underoursupervision,byaprimaryschoolgroupandotherchildren’sgroups(Brownies,Rainbows,BeaversCubsandGuides)whovisitthegardenstoplant,tendandharvesttheirownfruitandvegetables.Thisgiveschildrentheopportunitytounderstandhowfoodisgrownandhasencouragedparentstogrowtheirown.Around100childrenayearareinvolved.Communitypicnics,applepressingandharvestingdays,andgardeningsessionshaveallowedawiderangeoflocalpeopletoenjoythegardenandthinkaboutwhereourfoodcomesfrom.Leavingaswatheofnettlesandwildflowersattheperipheryofthegardenhasprovidedanenvironmentforbutterfliestoflourish.Wewouldliketoworkwithdiversecommunitiesacrossthetownsincludingfoodbankusers,schools(includingtheHighSchool’sinclusionunit),peoplewithdementiaandlearningdifficultiesandotherswhowouldliketodeveloptheirowngardens,usingourestablishedgardenasanexemplar.Potentialpartners:WilmslowInBloom,WilmslowIncredibleEdible,LocalSchools,AllotmentAssociations,ScoutandGuideGroups,NationalVegetableSociety,ButterflyConservation,RHS,WilmslowTownCouncil,CheshireEastCouncil,FriendsoftheCarrs,FriendsofMeritonPark,InItTogetherDementiagroup,TimeOutLearningDisabilitiesGroup,FoodBanks,AllotmentSocieties,WilmslowandHandforthGardenSocieties,WilmslowGuildGardenSociety.

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5.Reducedomesticandbusinessenergyusageby20%SinceoursuccessfulLEAFprojectin2012wehaveundertakenmorethan200domestic,businessandpublicbuildingenergysurveysusingathermalimagingcamera,whichhasenabledhouseholdersandotherstoseewheretheyarelosingheatandtomakeappropriatechanges,suchasfoilpanelsbehindradiatorsandbetterinsulation.Todatethesurveyshavebeenundertakenbyasmallgroupofvolunteersbutweproposetoworkwithourpartnerstodevelopacommunitywidenetworkofcommunityenergychampionswhoundertakeenergysurveysintheirlocalityandtrainotherstodothesame.WewillworkwiththeHighSchoolEcoGrouptoencouragestudentstoundertakesurveysandactionintheirownhomes.WorkingwiththeWilmslowandHandforthBusinessGroupswewillofferthesameservicetobusinessesandpublicbuildingssuchasChurchesandCommunitySpaces.OneofthegreatsuccessesofourLEAFprojectwastheinclusionof3monthsfundingforaGreenDoctor,whowasabletofollowuptheimagingsurveyswithpracticalstepssuchasinstallationofinsulation,letterboxcovers,draughtstrips,floorinsulationandfoilsbehindradiators.WeproposetoemployaGreenDoctor,workwithCAT(CentreforAlternativeTechnology)toprovideretrofitandinsulationtrainingtoapprentices,buildersandotherstoraiseawarenessofclimatechangeandtheneedforenergyefficiencythroughoutthecommunity.Potentialpartners:WilmslowTownCouncil,HandforthParishCouncil,WilmslowandHandforthBusinessGroups,ChurchesTogether,WilmslowHighSchool,CentreforAlternativeTechnology,GroundworkTrust,humblebee.eco.6.ReduceandReuse:Ourgoalistoinvolvethecommunityaswidelyaspossibletotaketheirownstepstoreducetheiruseofsingleuseitemsincludingplasticsandtohelpthemlearnhowtorepairratherthandiscard.Manufactureofplasticusesfossilfuelsandsendingitemssuchasclothingtolandfillgeneratesmethane,animportantclimategas.Recycling,whileimportant,isnotthecompleteanswerasittoousesenergy.Reducingtheamountwebuy,andrepairingwhatwehave,isofvitalimportanceinthebattleagainstclimatechange.WehaveachievedPlasticFreeCommunitystatusforWilmslowfromSurfersagainstSewage(October2019).Wealreadyhavesomeexemplarbusinessesavoidingplasticsandencouragingrefills,andoneofourHighSchoolstudentsisourRefillchampion.Refillisanationalprojectwherebusinessesareencouragedtodisplayastickerintheirwindowtoshowthattheywillfillreusablewaterbottlesforfree,andwhoencouragethesitingofwaterfountainsinpublicplaces.WeareworkingwiththeHighSchoolincludingitsInclusionUnitandRecyclingClubstoreducesingleuseplasticthroughtheirPlasticReductionPolicyandEcoChampions.OurvolunteershavedoneassembliesandtalksintheHighSchoolandinPrimary

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Schoolstoraiseawarenessofplasticwaste.SevendifferentschoolgroupsparticipatedinaMassUnwrapreturningplastictoasupermarketaspartoftheOurPlasticFeedbackcampaign.WehaveinstigatedaseriesofregularRepairCafeswhichencouragepeopletorepairitemsandalsoallowthemtoshareorlearnnewrepairingskills.Byencouragingskilledvolunteerstosharetheirskills,peopletobringintheiritemsforrepair(toys,bikes,walkingframes,furniture,clothing,knittingandelectricitems)andlocalpeopletocomeandobserve,weareraisingawarenessoftheimportanceofbecomingaRepairingCommunityandsharingtheskillswehave.OurRepairCaféhasgeneratedconsiderableinterestlocallyandothersarefollowingourexample.

Potentialpartners:ClimateConsciousWilmslow,TheRepairCaféFoundation,WilmslowArtisanmarket,WilmslowSustainableMarket,Ansa(CheshireEastRecyclingandWasteOrganisation),WilmslowSchools’Partnership,WilmslowCleanTeam,WilmslowTownCouncil,HandforthParishCouncil,ChurchesTogether.Weappreciateyoumaynotyethaveallthedetailsofyouridea,buttohelpusbuildagoodunderstanding,pleasealsoincluderesponsestothefollowing:Q1:Whatandwhereisyourorganisationandcommunity?Wewanttoknowwhoyouareandwhereyourworkishappening.Howarethepeopleinyourcommunityinthelead?WeareTransitionWilmslow,amemberoftheTransitionTownsNetworkworkingacrossWilmslow,Handforthandsurroundingcommunities.Wilmslowisatownof26,000peopleinthenorthofCheshireEastandapproximately14milesfromthecentreofManchester.Wehavebeenworkinginourtownfortenyears,anddetailsofourworkareonourwebsite,http://transitionwilmslow.co.uk.Wehaveundertakenworkinenergyconservation,neighbourhoodplanning,landscapeassessments,treeplantingandbogconservation.WehaveledoncommunityinitiativessuchasobtainingPlasticFreeTownstatus,wehaveplantedorchardsandbuiltasuccessfulcommunitygarden.Weareagroupofindividualswithdiverseskillsincludingacademics,healthcareandotherprofessionals,energyconsultants,engineers,youthandcommunityworkersandotherswhohaveconsiderableexperienceinsettingupandrunningsuccessfulprojects.

• Q2:Whatdoesyourpartnershiplooklike?Whatorganisations,sectors,groupsandpeoplehaveyoubeenworkingwithandspeakingwithaboutthisfund?Haveyouworkedtogetherpreviously?

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WehavediscussedandworkedonthisapplicationwithCheshireEastCouncilincludingitsWalkingandCyclingCommissioneranditsleadforClimateProjects,HandforthParishCouncilandWilmslowTownCouncilandCycleWilmslow.Wehavebeenworkingwithawiderangeoforganisationsondevelopingtheseproposalsoveranumberofyears.Theseinclude:TheWilmslowNeighbourhoodPlanGroup,CycleWilmslow,ClimateConsciousWilmslow,CheshireEastCouncil,WilmslowTownCouncil,HandforthParishCouncil,WilmslowInBloom,IncredibleEdibleWilmslow,FulshawWI,PlasticFreeWilmslow,FriendsofSaltersleyMoss,CycleWilmslow,FriendsofTheCarrs,theWilmslowNeighbourhoodPlanGroup,ChurchesTogetherinWilmslow,LindowPrimarySchool,StAnne’sPrimarySchool,GorseyBankPrimarySchool,WilmslowAcademy,WilmslowHighSchool,WilmslowGuild,WilmslowWellsforAfrica,ManchesterUniversity,ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity,CheshireEastRamblers,theCheshireEastCountrysideAccessForum,theNationalTrust,CheshireWildlifeTrust,theRiverlandsProject,TheWoodlandTrust,theMerseyForestandtheNFU.IfweareinvitedtoprepareaStage2proposalwewillseektofirmuptheindicativepartnershipswhicharelistedagainstourspecificobjectives,togetherwithanoverallprojectsteeringgroupdrawnfromourkeypartners,includingWilmslowTownCouncil,HandforthParishCouncilandCheshireEastCouncil.Q3:Whathaveyoubeendoing,todate,totakeactiononclimatechange?Describetheworkyouhavedonesofar,andtheimpactithashad.Describeyourvisionforclimateactioninyourcommunity(noworinthefuture).Whatareyouaimingtoachieve?Doyouhaveanyresultsthatyoucouldshare?Overthelastdecadewehaveworkedonraisingawarenessofawiderangeofclimaterelatedissueswherewefeltwecouldinfluenceandcapturetheimaginationofourcitizens.WehaveraisedtheimportanceofLindowMossthroughworkshops,talksandagreatmanyguidedwalksforchildrenandadults,aswellasdevelopingacademiccollaborations.PeatextractionhasnowceasedsoitisnowimperativethattheMossisrestoredassoonaspossibletostopmoreCO2lossandallowittobecomeacarbonsink.Wehaveundertakenover200energysurveystohelppeopleunderstandwheretheyarelosingheatfromintheirhomesandadvisingonremedialactiontoreducebillsandenergyusage.WehavetriedtoraiseawarenessoftheimportanceofactivetransportbyencouragingfamiliestogooutcyclingwithfamilybikerideswithCycleWilmslow.Wehaveorganisedguidedwalkswithchildrenandadultstoshowthemnewplacestoenjoywalkinglocally.Wehavedevelopedourcommunitygarden,transforminganunlovedareaofgrasstoabeautifulcommunitygardenwithraisedbeds,anorchardandabutterflyarea,providingbiodiversityandplantstoabsorbcarbon.WeinitiatedandledPlasticFreeWilmslow;reduceduseofplasticswillreducefossil

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fuelconsumption.WehavestartedaseriesofRepairCafestoencouragemendingratherthandiscardingtoreducewaste.TheimpactonLindowMosshasbeenthatpeatextractionhasnowceased,awarenessofitsimportanceisgreatlyincreased,withmorethan300childrenand200adultstakenonguidedwalkswhilemanyothersattendedworkshopsandmeetings.Wehaveundertakenmorethan200energysurveyswhichhaslednotonlytoraisedawarenessofenergyusagebutalsotopracticalaction.OurworkontheimportanceofactivetransporthasincludedawellattendedlecturegivenbyaninternationalexpertonsustainabletransportwhichincludedadiscussionandactionforchangewithourWalkingandCyclingCommissioner,someofwhichisincludedinthisbid.OurawardwinningCommunityGardenreachesmorethan100childrenayear,andtheirfamiliesandfriends.Wealsoregularlyrespondcollectivelytoplanningapplicationsandcommunityinitiativestogivevoicetotheneedforclimateaction.MembersofTransitionWilmslowwerecloselyinvolvedinthedevelopmentoftheWilmslowNeighbourhoodPlanwhichwassponsoredbytheWilmslowTownCouncil.ThePlanwasapprovedinOctober2019andprovidesavaluableblue-printforclimatesensitiveplanninginWilmslowwithoverarchingpoliciesforSustainableConstruction,SustainableSpacesandSustainableTransport.Everyinteractionthatwehavewithourcommunity,whetherinthecommunitygardenorundertakingenergysurveys,whethergoingintoschoolsorworkingwithbusinessestoreducesingleuseplastic,forexample,orparticipatingintheNeighbourhoodPlananditsLandscapeCharacterAssessment,leadstoimportantclimateconversationswhichareessentialifpeoplearetofeelabletoplaytheirpartinpreservingandimprovingtheplanetforfuturegenerations.Q4:DescribeyourcollectivegoalorvisionfortakingactiononclimatechangeDescribeyourvisionforyourclimateaction.Whatareyouaimingtoachieveandwhatdoes/willitlooklikeinpractice?Howandwhydidyoudecideonthisgoal?Wehavebeenworkingtogetherforadecade,sothesegoalshaveemergedovertime.TheurgentneedforClimateActionisbecomingincreasinglyrecognisedandasaresultwehavehadmanymorepeoplejoiningourgroupoverthelastyearandwehavedevelopednewlinkswithemerginglocalorganisationssuchasClimateConsciousWilmslow,agroupofparentsandstudentsveryconcernedabouttheClimateEmergency.Ourgoalsaredetailedabovebutinsummary:

• Restoreourlocalpeatbog,LindowMoss.• DoubletreecoverinWilmslowandneighbouringHandforthby2040.• Atleastdoublethepercentageofchildrentravellingtoschoolbywalking

andcyclingby2030,withalongtermvisionofachievingthe90%figuresof1970.

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• DevelopmoreschoolandcommunitygardenssothateverychildinWilmslowandHandforthhastheopportunityintheirprimaryschoolcareertoplant,tend,harvestandeattheirownpotatoes.

• Reducedomesticandbusinessenergyusageby20%• EverychildinWilmslowandHandforthby2025hastheopportunityat

leastonceintheirprimaryschoolcareertoplant,tend,harvestandeattheirownpotatoes.

• Involvethecommunityaswidelyaspossibletotaketheirownstepstoreducetheiruseofsingleuseitemsincludingplasticsandtohelpthemlearnhowtorepairratherthandiscard.

Thekeytoachievingthesegoalswillbetoupscaleouractivitybyemployingasmallprojectteamwhowillbeabletobuildonourestablishednetworkstoestablishstrongfunctionalpartnershipsasproposedaboveagainsteachofourobjectives.Q5:Whodoyoufeelisdoingthebestclimateactionwork?Tellusaboutwhatyou’veseenelsewhereandwhoyou’relearningfrom.

WeareamemberoftheTransitionTownsnetwork(http://www.transitionnetwork.org)whoprovideinvaluableadvicetolocalcommunitieswantingtotakeactionatalocallevel.WehavelearnedfromneighbouringcommunitiessuchasAshtonHeyeswhichdeclaredthemselvesalowcarbontown,andCongletonwhohavedevelopedcommunitycyclingandcommunityorchards.WehavestronglinkswiththeCentreforAlternativeTechnology.WehavebeenimpressedbytheworkoftheTyndallCentreattheUniversityofManchesterhttps://tyndall.ac.uk/partners/university-manchesterandbyorganizationssuchastheManchesterCarbonCoophttps://carbon.coop/whoprovideadviceonenergy.Theorganizationhttps://www.ggdot.orgprovidesinformationondietarychoicesandcarbonandisledbyoneofourmembers.IncreasingnumbersoforganizationsareinvolvedinpeatrestorationincludingtheIUCNPeatlandProgramme.SurfersagainstSewagehaveinformedandsupportedourPlasticFreeinitiative.

Q6:Howareyouengagingwithothercommunities?Haveyouorothersinyourpartnershipworkedwithothercommunitiesanddifferentplacestotakeactiononclimatechange?WehaveestablishedacoalitionofgroupstoformtheCheshireEastClimateAlliance,withTransitiongroupsfromneighbouringBollington,MacclesfieldandCongleton.Bollington,

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Chorlton,NorthwichandAlderleyEdgehavesetupclimateactiongroupsasaresultofourinitiatives.WehavecollectivelyrespondedtotheCheshireEastClimateStrategy.During2019TransitionWilmslowestablishedanewandimportantlinkwithWilmslowWellsforAfrica.WilmslowWellsisavolunteerrundirectactioncharityworkingtoprovidewatertoAfricancommunities.TheyoperateincollaborationwithtrustedandexperiencedpartnerorganisationsbothhereathomeandinAfrica.Ratherthanprovidingwells,recentprojectshaveofteninvolvedwaterharvestingandstorageasanalternativewaytodeliversafe,cleanwatertocommunities.Todate,WilmslowWellshasdistributedover£930,000to149projects,foranadministrationcostlessthan£8,000.TheprincipalmethodoffundraisingisanopendayforprivategardensinandaroundWilmslow.Thisyear,forthefirsttime,TransitionWilmslow’scommunitygardenwasincludedintheOpenDay.WeseegreatscopeforcommunicatingtheimpactsofclimatechangeoncommunitieselsewherebypromotingtheworkofWilmslowWellsforAfricaaspartofthisinitiative.Asthisisjusttheinitialideastage,pleasedonotspendtoomuchtimeonansweringthesequestions

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TransitionWilmslowOutlinebidtotheCommunityFundClimateActionFund,December2019:AppendixPictures

LindowMoss:degradedpeatextrudingCO2The81steps:puttingoffallbutthemostdetermined

MassSupermarketUnwrap RepairCafe

GrowYourOwnintheCommunityGardenandAppleHarvestandPressing

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