CA-WN Exchange

water

The Big River Watch May 4-6

The Big River Watch is back for another exciting weekend of citizen science Our rivers are in trouble. They're struggling under the weight of plastics, sewage, chemicals, and much more, with no river stretches in England or Northern Ireland classified as being in good overall health. But you

council

WNC Local Plan Consultation

West Northamptonshire Council has prepared a draft Local Plan, out for consultation until 2 June. ‘Local Plan’ is a fairly bland term which perhaps doesn’t convey how very important this document is in determining the future shape of our area and communities – in the case of this Plan until

meeting reports

CA-WN 18 April Meeting Report

This month we welcomed as our guest speaker WNC Councillor Jonathan Harris. Jonathan is a member of the council’s Sustainability Group and has represented the council at UK100 training workshops. He talked to us about the proposed Climate Strategy for West Northamptonshire Council, why it is necessary and how

council

Council Watch - March 2024

The workings of local democracy are alien to most people, and not easy to get to grips with. It is really important that local residents who want to engage with the process and hold their elected representatives to account get the opportunity to do so. Council meetings are one such

opinion

Govt U Turn on Climate

A Number 10 spokesperson this morning confirmed that public awareness of the climate crisis had reached a tipping point. They said “A younger generation of voters are telling us that government inaction in the face of the facts is putting their future prosperity at risk. The evidence is clear1. From

food & farming

Join Northampton Town's Food Waste Project

By Damon Fox from Northampton Town Community Trust We are very excited to be launching a new project at the Community Trust with Schools, Businesses and families called Cobblers Tackle Food Waste. This is part of a funded project running until the end of 2024 looking at how we can

meeting reports

CA-WN 21 March Meeting Report

The subject of this month’s meeting was "Climate psychology". Climate psychology can help us understand the roots of the climate and ecological crisis, the psychological impacts and defences, and ways in which we can help ourselves and others to cope and take action. Our guest speaker was

bookshelf

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

I am daily more convinced that the solution to the climate crisis is changing people’s minds. And the answer to this lies not in facts and figures but in storytelling – it’s very difficult for human beings to change our behaviour and we won’t do it of our

local matters

Hackleton WEB

CA-WN were recently invited to attend a meeting of Hackleton WEB group (Wildlife, Environment and Biodiversity). This summary of the event is written by Stephen Clarke, WNC Councillor for Grange Park and Hackleton ward, and reproduced with his kind permission from his Facebook page. On 5 March 2024, I attended

council

Council Watch March 2024 - LCWIP and Air Quality Public Consultations

Here at CA-WN we try to make a habit of both responding to relevant consultations issued by West Northamptonshire Council, and of sharing those responses with our audience. We did not respond to the recent consultations on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) for Daventry, Brackley and Towcester as

bookshelf

How Bad Are Bananas

Our book recommendation this month comes from Joely Slinn, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Sustainability Officer For those of us seeking to improve our daily impact on the planet, this book is a useful tool for just that. The How Bad Are Bananas? book by Mike Berners-Lee breaks down the science

water

Nene Rivers Trust

Rickileigh Edwards, Project Support Officer at the Nene Rivers Trust, outlines their projects in our area. Introduction to the Nene Rivers Trust Nene Rivers Trust, formerly River Nene Regional Park, is part of the national Rivers Trusts movement across the UK and Ireland. Together we work to mitigate the impacts

air

Air Quality Statement to WNC meeting, 22 February 2024

Dave Pearson, a leading Northamptonshire campaigner for clean air, gave a statement to West Northamptonshire Councillors at their Council Meeting. Read it in full below, or watch the recording of the WNC meeting on YouTube - Dave's statement starts 17 minutes in. It's also worth watching

meeting reports

CA-WN 15 February meeting report

We were delighted to welcome as our guest this month Alison Holland, founder and director of Brightwayz, a social enterprise dedicated to active travel1. Brightwayz is based in the other half of Northamptonshire, where the team runs lots of practical projects to promote and support active travel; they also provide

local matters

Show the Love

Every year the Climate Coalition1 organises two important annual climate events, the Great Big Green Week and Show the Love. As a member of the Climate Coalition the Women’s Institute (WI) has been taking part in Show the Love for years. CA-WN always contributes to the Great Big Green

opinion

My View – Phil Bignell

I am Ward Member for Long Buckby, a classic rural Ward, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee at WNC and finally Chair of Bugbrooke Parish Council. In each of these roles I feel it gives me an opportunity to have some influence on Climate change. It is easy to think

local matters

The 10th Northampton Seedy Saturday

by Shena Cooper Fruitful Abundance is organising the 10th Northampton Seed Swap on 10 February 2024. Their mission is to alert people to the reasons why FOOD is so important in helping slow Climate Change and to help them make alterations in their lives which will improve life for them

bookshelf

The Joyful Environmentalist by Isabel Losada

This book recommendation comes from Judy Sumner of the Wellingborough Eco Group. Isabel is on a quest to find everything she can possibly do to help save the planet. She has decided to change her life to embrace every action both large and small from campaigning to changing her diet

meeting reports

General Meeting notes January 2024

This month we welcomed two guest speakers - Ellen Worrell and Hannah Bedard from Green Welford1. This group has been working very hard to make Welford more environmentally friendly including putting on Kidsfest events in 2022 and 2023 – family-friendly events designed to introduce children and their families to a greener

council

WNC 2024/25 Draft Budget Consultation

West Northamptonshire Council’s annual budget is now out for public consultation, ending on 23 January (link below). It won't be the most fun you'll ever have in your life, but if you can find the time to respond please do. There's a transcript

nature

Tinder for trees?

CA-WN was introduced to ‘tree harvesting’ at a recent event near Corby organised by a Dutch group, More Trees Now. One of the attendees was CA-WN’s newest Steering Committee member, Mick Lorkins. The idea is to collect – ‘harvest’ – young trees that under normal circumstances wouldn’t survive to adulthood

council Featured

WNC Tree Strategy Consultation

West Northamptonshire Council have invited local people to share their ‘views on the development of our Tree Strategy’. The consultation opened on 29 November and closes on 1 January 2024, so we don’t have long to respond. There is a link to the consultation at the bottom of this

CA-WN Exchange - the latest

An interesting mix of new posts for you … West Northamptonshire Council gives us something to celebrate1. Across the UK two tonnes of clothing are bought every minute - Luke Costin discusses low-price fast fashion and a growing awareness among consumers that something has to change2. West Northamptonshire Councillor Zoe Smith

opinion

My View - Zoe Smith

CA-WN gives a Councillor the space to speak about climate action

council

Council Watch - December 2023

In November 2023 West Northamptonshire Council gave us something to celebrate. They approved two Climate Strategies – for Estate and for Construction & Maintenance. The strategies are detailed, thorough and set out comprehensive plans for reducing carbon emissions from WNC’s own land and buildings (‘estate’), land and buildings used for