Somerset Wildlife Trust - Climate Friends

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News & Updates

Find out the latest news on the Climate Friends campaign here

26/11/07 Somerset Climate Action Groups Networking Event

Following on from the success of Climate Friendly Fortnight, Somerset Wildlife Trust are pleased to announce that a networking event will be taking place before Easter 2008 to help support the work of existing community climate change groups across the county. This event will be run in partnership with Somerset County Coucil and Ecos Trust and will be kindly supported by the Co-Operative Group. Look out for further details in the near future!

24/11/07 Comment on Somerset County Council's Climate Change Strategy

Somerset County Council has recently released its draft Climate Change Strategy for public consultation. Somerset Wildlife Trust will be putting together its own recommendations but if you would like to have your say please visit www.somerset.gov.uk/climatechange. The closing date for responses is January 7th so act now!

20/11/07 Climate Change March on December 8th

Join people all around the world to demand that world leaders take the urgent action we need to prevent the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate. The National Demo in London will be one of many demonstrations on climate taking place all around the world on the same day, midway through the UN Climate Talks in Bali. A coach is leaving from Glasonbury at around 8am and stopping at Wells on the way. Please contact Patricia Carrol on 01458 835810 for further details.

24/09/2007 National Search for England’s Young Climate Change Champions

The search for nine young climate change champions has begun. Defra is looking for 11-18 year olds who feel passionately about the environment and climate change. Those who successfully demonstrate that they can encourage their friends, family, school and community to make positive changes to reduce their carbon footprint may face an exciting year ‘in office’. The opportunities include working with Government Ministers, involvement in a European fact finding expedition and leading a regional public awareness campaign. To enter the Climate Change Champions 07/08 competition and gain more information go to: www.climatechallenge.gov.uk.

22/09/2007 Still More to Come for Somerset!

We are now nearing the half-way point in Climate Friendly Fortnight. A number of successful events have already taken place, the highlights of which include the first of two film showings in Illminster, a well attended climate change network event at the Forum 21 AGM in West Somerset, SWT's Member's Day in Wells and several open homes and gardens throughout the county. However, there is still lots more to come over the next two weekends and throughout next week so please support your local events and find out more about climate friendly living.

13/09/2007 Somerset Gearing up for Climate Friendly Fortnight

Climate Friendly Fortnight will be launched at this weekends Somerset Wildlife Trust member's day at Bishop's Palace, Wells. With at least 30 events planned across the county for the two weeks and plenty of media coverage the Fortnight promises to be a great success. We will bring you updates throughout and urge as many people as possible to support their local event and learn more about climate friendly living! Thank you to all the groups and individuals who have kindly put on events for this campaign.

9/09/2007 Together We Do Make a Difference

Even before Climate Friendly Fortnight begins, the focal point of the Climate Friends Campaign, people have been telling us about the changes they are planning, or already doing, to lead a greener more sustainable life. Collectivly the people of Somerset have pledged to save over 61,000kg of carbon dioxide - that's equivalent to driving 17,800 miles or having to heat 15 homes all year! But we still need people to tell us about what they are doing so that we can show politicians and policy-makers how seriously the people of Somerset are about tackling climate change.

03/09/2007 The Year of Food and Farming has begun!

Running from September 2007 to July 2008, the Year of Food and Farming is a campaign which aims to promote healthy living to young people by giving them direct experience of the countryside, farming and food. The scheme will target primary and secondary schools, and teacher training institutions and will focus around three core areas of visits, growing experiences and cooking or preparing food. As well as being a great way of getting children interested in a healthier and more wholesome lifestyle, the campaign will also help schools to achieve the Healthy Schools standard. The Prince of Wales has shown his full support of the campaign and has announced his involvement as Patron of the campaign. In a message from HRH, he announced that ‘one of the most alarming aspects of recent times is the growing disconnection of young people from the land.’ The Year of Food and Farming looks to be a step in the right direction towards tackling this issue and creating better awareness. The campaign is urging all corners of the countryside to get involved and give their support at www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk.

03/09/2007 Golledge – Leading the Way in Sustainable Business Operation

Golledge, an electronics company based in Ilminster, have really taken the initiative to significantly improve the sustainability of their business. As keen supporters of the Wildlife Trust, they have become aware of the need to address such issues and have made some incredible steps towards reducing their impact upon the environment. These range from big projects such as looking into acquiring solar panels to the smaller things like turning off unnecessary lights and providing green literature for lunchtime reading. They have also adopted a recycling and card shredding facility, which has reduced their waste by a significant skip load per week. They are switching to a sustainable electricity supplier and now ensure that all stationary where possible is bought from green suppliers. Several of the employees have even switched their cars – including a couple of 3 litre Mercedes’ - for Toyota Prius’! We sincerely hope that more businesses follow in the footsteps of Golledge and take on such sustainable actions, bringing benefits for all.

17/08/2007 Eco-Hero Awards Launched by MP

On Friday 17th August, the first of the Eco-Hero awards were presented at the Dunster show by MP Liddell Grainger. The Eco-Hero Award scheme was set up by the West Somerset Area Group of the Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) and was launched at the show with a speech from Mr Liddell-Grainger; he announced his commitment to environmental issues and offered full support of environmentally beneficial projects. The first award was given to Charles and Angela Birch of Watchet, who have been putting into practice ways of reducing waste and conserving our natural resources. They will be opening up their garden to the public (by appointment only) on 15th September as part of Climate Friendly Fortnight. Mr Liddell-Grainger will also be opening up his garden during this time; we look forward to continuing support from our local MPs.

11/07/2007 - Climate Friends Press Release – Wildlife Feels the Heat Too

Somerset Wildlife Trust is looking for people who want to be friends of the climate to get in touch. Climate Friends is a regional campaign involving other Wildlife Trusts in the South West, which aims to work with as many people as possible to accelerate the switch to climate friendly living. David Westbrook, policy and campaigns manager for SWT said: “We are currently looking for local people who are willing to spread the word about the benefits of climate friendly living by organising an event during Climate Friendly Fortnight.

Climate Change is the single largest threat to our wildlife today. Many of our charismatic Somerset species are at risk, including otters, dormice, hedgehogs, amphibians, bluebells and many of our wading birds on the Somerset Levels and Moors. (Look on the impact map to see how these species are affected.) Campaign co-ordinator James Nightingale, said: “SWT are focusing so much on climate change because we see it as a major threat to wildlife… it is our duty to do what we can to avoid dangerous climate change and help species to adapt to the changes that are occurring now.”