food & farming

Transforming Food, Transforming Lives: Join West Northamptonshire’s Sustainable Food Network

This introduction to the work of WNSFN comes from the network's Project Manager, Matt Passchier. Matt has a varied background including working in catering, and currently at the Hope Centre in Northampton. Addressing the climate impacts of our food systems is a key component of climate action -

council

WNC Climate Change Strategy Consultation

West Northamptonshire Council is currently consulting on its draft Climate Change Strategy - the consultation ends on 19 January 2025. CA-WN previously responded to an earlier consultation on the Strategy. Ours was one of just 101 responses, so every response really does make a difference! CA-WN was also invited to

recipes

Cait's Festive Christmas Pie

The time for Christmas menu choices is suddenly here and, digging around in my memory, I discovered this old family favourite.  A friend of mine recommended it when it was my turn to host family Christmas and I needed to feed several vegetarians, myself included. It sounds fiddly to make,

recipes

Patsy's Festive Tipple

Many of us like a warming draught of mulled wine during the Christmas festivities, and this year we have decided to ring the changes and try something slightly different. Rather than reaching for a couple of bottles of red plonk and a sachet of mulled wine spices, adding brown sugar

bookshelf

Climate Psychology book recommendations

During 2024 we have had two very illuminating talks on Climate Psychology from Dr Emmie Williamson, retired clinical psychologist. (Links to meeting notes and recordings below.) In her latest talk Emmie recommended some further reading on this important topic, which we were keen to add to our Bookshelf. Don'

podcastshelf

Generation One: The Climate Podcast

This podcast is hosted by leading climate experts from University College London and has covered a range of topics from electric batteries to trees and climate finance. It has an engaging mix of scientific expertise and enthusiasm. The two latest episodes cover biodiversity, with a report on the release of

opinion

Storm Bert

This article is by Sienna Mahoney, a Journalism student at the University of Northampton. Storm Bert recently covered most of the UK in rainfall, with places like Northampton being the most affected. The storm started at low pressure in the mid-Atlantic, making its way to the UK on November 25,

local matters

Buddies of Beckets Park

This article is by Sienna Mahoney, a Journalism student at the University of Northampton. Buddies of Beckets Park (BOB) was started in 2016, since when it’s organised Northampton’s first Mela (Indian festival), mindfulness events, and more. BOB was started by Nick Stephens and Joy Ormond, two people who

meeting reports

Report of 21 November CA-WN public meeting

This month we welcomed back Dr Emmie Williamson for the second in her series of three talks on Climate Psychology. Her previous talk1 was an overview of the topic; this time she gave us a deeper dive into the psychological roots of our response to the climate crisis. Emmie’s

business

Marlec Engineering – The Winds of Change

It all started in a field in Rutland. Back in the 1970s, a Rutland farmer was struggling to keep the batteries for his electric fences charged up, so he asked John Fawkes, a retired engineer, to come up with a solution. The Rutland Windcharger was born – a simple, reliable, quiet,

transport

Northampton's Market Square Revitalised

Good news, the Market Square has now officially reopened in Northampton town centre, and with it a chance to promote the potential of pedestrianised spaces. There has been criticism as to the progress of this regeneration project, particularly in respect of the temporary relocation of the market stall holders to

nature

Understanding the Biodiversity Crisis

It is increasingly recognised that biodiversity loss or the loss of Nature is as existential a threat as the climate crisis. The relationship between Climate and Nature and the importance of the global biosphere in mitigating climate change impacts was first acknowledged at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 26

food & farming

Plastic Packaging for Fruit and Vegetables

Recently the organisation WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) has been calling for the removal of all plastic packaging from fresh fruit and vegetables1.  This is not as simple as they make it sound. A short article in the Fresh Produce Journal today (22nd October) by Jack Ward, director

nature

West Northants Council: Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Roy Hawkesford from Hackleton reports on a Webinar for parish councillors, organised by Ruth Rolls, WNC's Nature Recovery Strategy Officer (Environment, Countryside & Parks, Assets & Environment. The purpose of the meeting was to outline the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) which will go out for consultation soon1.

podcastshelf

Greta Thunberg speech to COP25

This recommendation (a video rather than a podcast) comes from Teresa Cox, which has recently joined CA-WN's steering group. Teresa says: I've recently been studying a short course, Climate Change: Transforming your organisation for Sustainability. As part of this there is a link to Greta'

meeting reports

Report of 17 October CA-WN AGM and Monthly Meeting

October’s meeting started with the CA-WN Annual General Meeting, including election of officers. This was followed by a presentation from Marga Witteman, one of the co-founders of the More Trees Now movement in the Netherlands. Working with a range of organisations, individuals and community groups, this initiative has enabled

local matters

West Northamptonshire Area Climate Summit 2024

On Wednesday 9 October 2024 representatives from West Northamptonshire town and village councils met at Delapré Abbey for the area’s first ever Climate Summit. Over 50 delegates took this first step in a five-year programme intended to develop and support local projects aimed at dealing with, and lessening the

Talking action - popcawn October 2024

Last month’s popcawn was all talk…about why it’s important to talk about climate change and how to do it. One reason talking is good is that it is often a precursor to doing, and it’s vital that we do something. Talking alone will not reduce carbon

transport

WNC Local Transport Plan

The Local Transport Plan (LTP) is a document that sets out a long-term strategy for transport in West Northamptonshire and is currently open for public consultation. This consultation is due to end on the 17th October so it is really important to start getting feedback in. Have your say on

recipes

Creamy Fresh Tomato Soup

September.  Season, we’re told, of mists and mellow fruitfulness.   The poet didn’t mention unending torrents of rain.  Perhaps an oversight on his part, or perhaps it didn’t scan. Fortunately, my tomato plants are tucked up snugly in our old (but still weatherproof) greenhouse.  Unfortunately it is not

podcastshelf

The Great Simplification

Each episode of The Great Simplification consists of an interview by the host Nate Hagens with someone able to provide insight into an aspect of the climate and biodiversity crises (or 'polycrisis'). Most episodes come in at over an hour which allows time to explore the subject matter.

bookshelf

English Pastoral: An Inheritance by James Rebanks

Having just seen Six Inches of Soil, a documentary film about regenerative farming1 (which I highly recommend), this book seemed an appropriate one to add to our Bookshelf this month. It is a wonderful book, beautifully written and telling a story that carries a great deal of power coming from

food & farming

Six Inches of Soil film report

Six Inches of Soil was co-hosted at the Arc Cinema, Daventry on Thursday 19 September by CA-WN and ActNow Consulting Ltd. This thought-provoking film about three young farmers putting regenerative principles into practice has received wide attention round the country.  But there have been no public showings in West Northamptonshire.

housing

Visit to Nottingham Energy Partnership

Nottingham Energy Partnership (NEP) is a climate change and fuel poverty charity working across Nottinghamshire. They share CA-WN’s aims of reducing carbon emissions, increasing resilience and lessening reliance on fossil fuel. On our visit we were welcomed by their Chief Executive Officer, Miranda Cumberbatch, their former CEO Philip Angus

business

If only ...

London is about to trial an electric bus that looks like a tram, has a claimed range of over 200 miles and batteries that can be topped up in ten minutes at bus stands fitted with overhead charging points. The ieTram1 is manufactured at a purpose-built plant in Basque Country,