# The CA-WN Exchange
> CA-WN Exchange is the forum for action on climate in West Northamptonshire.
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).

## Pages
- [About A](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/about-a.md)
- [About B](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/about-b.md)
- [ABOUT](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/about.md) - Local people taking practical climate action in West Northamptonshire Climate Action-West Northamptonshire [CA-WN] is a welcoming, volunteer-led residents’ group for anyone who wants to help create a greener, healthier and more resilient local community. Whether you are already active on climate an…
- [AIR](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/air.md) - CA-WN'S AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT Air pollution matters. No one likes bad smells but airborne particles can damage human health so it is important to know what is in the air we breath. For Northamptonshire there is just one official site for measuring air pollution. This project complements of…
- [CA-WN Lending Library](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ca-wn-library.md) - The late Brian Webster, author of our notes for anyone interested in a small rewilding project, generously bequeathed a large number of books that are now available for members to borrow. If you have a climate-relevant book that you would like to donate to our CA-WN library please contact the secre…
- [CAMPAIGNS](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/campaigns.md) - THE VERY BASICS OF LIFE CA-WN is taking steps to safeguard the very basics of life – the AIR we breathe, the WATER we drink, the FOOD we eat and the SHELTER we call home. Find out more on these campaign pages: AIR WATER FOOD SHELTER
- [Claim Back Your Space: Working With Nature](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/claim-back-your-space-2.md) - These notes for any group interested in a small rewilding project were written for CA-WN by Brian Webster and illustrated by Clare Robertson-Marriott Before you start Any space can be rewilded by just standing back and letting nature get on with it, and many of our richest wild places were shaped t…
- [CONTACTS](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/contact.md) - CA-WN 💡Climate Action-West Northamptonshire [CA-WN] is a volunteer-run residents’ group aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve biodiversity, and build community resilience to the effects of a changing climate. For any question about, or comment on, Climate Action-West Northamptonshire…
- [DISCUSSION](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/discussion.md) - The CA-WN Exchange is all about community engagement. That's you! The comments section on every post is a space for you to chat with other members, share knowledge and experiences, and share what content you enjoy the most. Please do share your thoughts - if you enjoyed an article we'd love to know…
- [FEATURES](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/features.md) - Climate change affects every part of our lives. Wherever you are, what we eat, how we power our homes, how we run our businesses, in fact how we live our lives, all affected by climate change. CA-WN Exchange Features commissions articles to explore how climate change is affecting our lives particul…
- [How you can help](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/how-you-can-help.md) - CA-WN aims to be a welcoming and inclusive community and there will never be any requirement to do more than you are able to and comfortable with. Equally we want everyone to be able to get involved if they want to. This doesn't need to mean an ongoing or regular commitment. These are some opportun…
- [Local climate and environmental groups](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/local-climate-and-environmental-groups.md) - There are so many brilliant groups local to West Northamptonshire and the neighbouring areas - if there's one in your neighbourhood, why not contact them to get involved. And if there isn't perhaps you could start one? Do let us know of any groups missing from this list. Groups in West Northants Th…
- [People's emergency briefing](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/peb.md) - Community film screening and discussion The People’s Emergency Briefing film features footage from last November’s National Emergency Briefing which brought together leading UK experts in climate science, food security, health, economics, national security and nature. The film presents a clear, mea…
- [EDITORIAL TEAM](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/team.md) - RICHARD HOLLINGUM Retired as a university lecturer and has a PhD in cultural history. He now divides his time between being a trustee at Northamptonshire ACRE, writing for Folk Radio UK and dabbling in photography. ALEXINA CASSIDY Alexina is a Sustainability Consultant focussing on informing, advis…
- [Welcome](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/welcome.md)
- [WHAT'S ON](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/whats-on.md) - Thursday 17 September CA-WN public meeting (online) Tuesday 22 September Six Inches of Soil film showing (Wellingborough) People's Emergency Briefing film screening (Middleton Cheney) Saturday 3 October Braunston Retrofit Saturday 3 October A Just Transition: Jobs, People, Planet (Northampton) Tues…

## Posts
- [CA-WN Public Meeting 17 September – ‘I invented my own job in sustainability’](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ca-wn-public-meeting-17-september-i-invented-my-own-job-in-sustainability.md) - Thursday 17 September 7:45pm - 9:00pm, online We come back after our traditional and much-needed August break with a great guest speaker, and an appropriate one as children settle in to the new school term. Ellen Worrell is a returning speaker, having been a guest in January 2024 representing Green…
- [Hackleton WEB Group Prairie-style planting **updated**](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/hackleton-web-group-prairie-style-planting.md) - We are grateful to Roy Hawkesford of Hackleton Wildlife, Environment & Biodiversity (WEB) for allowing us to reproduce this article, originally published in the parish magazine. This project is a great example of communities working together to improve their neighbourhood for both people and nature…
- [Yes, you CAN do something about the Climate Crisis](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/yes-you-can-do-something-about-the-climate-crisis.md) - Such an important listen. A follow-up to the film we have been screening about the National Emergency Briefing - with more screenings to come, see What's On. Listen. share and have everyone add their signature to the parliamentary petition. So that our government knows that any inaction on this wil…
- [This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/this-changes-everything-by-naomi-klein.md) - This book was recommended by Dan Shaw, who was guest speaker at our July 2026 meeting. This is what he said about it: This Changes Everything was very impactful on me. I really like Naomi Klein, and this book was just such a great summary of the problem of climate change. It showed the systemic nat…
- [Report of Public Meeting 16 July - Entering into civil resistance and the consequences of taking on the British state](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-public-meeting-16-july-entering-into-civil-resistance-and-the-consequences-of-taking-on-the-british-state.md) - Our guest speaker for July was Daniel Shaw, who was imprisoned for his part in a Zoom call organising a Just Stop Oil protest. This meeting was recorded and is on our YouTube channel, Dan's presentation is available here. He started his presentation by remembering the thousands of people who have d…
- [What CA-WN means to me](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/what-ca-wn-means-to-me.md) - If you’re reading this, you’re visiting the CA-WN Exchange, and you too understand that climate change is real and affecting us now – just look out of the window at the third heatwave of the year (or don’t because it’s probably covered to stop the room reaching volcanic heat). Are you scared? Frust…
- [Tipping Points](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/tipping-points.md) - The slippery slope of the climate abyss - Justin Rowlatt discovers how global warming may trigger irreversible changes to our planet. In 2022 Radio 4 broadcast five 15 minute Tipping Points programmes. They give a very clear factual overview of how and why we are at tipping points: https://www.bbc.…
- [A brief overview of climate dynamics (and how we try to predict changes)](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/a-brief-overview-of-climate-dynamics-and-how-we-try-to-predict-changes.md) - A general transcript of the 16 April 2026 presentation to CA-WN by Dr Colleen Golja. _____________________ Preface by CA-WN Planet Earth sits in the infinity of space, powered by our sun, a nuclear reactor 150 million kilometres away. Since day one, roughly 4,600,000,000 years ago, geological proce…
- [Report of Public Meeting 18 June](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-public-meeting-18-june.md) - Our speaker this month was Dez Dell, who has many strings to his bow but spoke to us about active travel. Dez’s slides will be made available soon, in the meantime a recording of the meeting is on our YouTube channel. Apologies: Clare Slater, David Garlick, David Reed Present: Alison Barlow, Christ…
- [Parents For Future UK](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/parents-for-future-uk.md) - Thank you to Rachel Tighe for this introduction to Parents For Future. Parents For Future UK (PFF) was formed in 2019 by a group of mums to help engage more adults to join the climate crisis. Our vision is to achieve climate justice, creating a safer, fairer and liveable planet for all children. We…
- [Podcastshelf - ‘Screw This… Let’s Try Something Else’](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/podcastshelf-screw-this-lets-try-something-else.md) - An arresting title for a podcast and it doesn’t disappoint. In this short podcast series the presenters visit places around the country where local people have literally taken matters into their own hands to change their communities for the better. One group raised funds to buy houses and refurbish…
- [Wanted: volunteer Water Wardens](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/wanted-volunteer-water-wardens.md) - CA-WN needs to establish how many volunteers might be prepared to routinely check the quality of the local freshwater that flows into our rivers and canals. This map below illustrates in blue our main watercourses, but it doesn’t show the many smaller streams we might come across when out walking i…
- [Notes from Public Meeting 21 May 2026](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/notes-from-public-meeting-21-may-2026.md) - Please note one of our occasional socials is coming up at Northampton Museum on Saturday 13 June from 2pm to 4pm. We meet downstairs in the café, all welcome, it's very informal so feel free to drop in at any point. Delivering Change Locally Our speaker this month was Stuart Dawks, CEO of PECT, an…
- [A well-adapted UK](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/a-well-adapted-uk.md) - The Climate Change Committee’s latest Climate Risk Assessment1 acknowledges that since the Climate Change Act was passed nearly 20 years ago, the UK has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 42%. However, according to this latest assessment, little progress has been made on preparing ourselves fo…
- [CA-WN field trip to Courteenhall](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ca-wn-field-trip-to-courteenhall.md) - CA-WN was lucky enough to be invited on a tour of Courteenhall farm, which sits between Roade and the southern border of Northampton. We are very grateful to Dr Johnny Wake and his colleague Jack for sharing their time and expertise. There was so much to see and learn about. If you want to visit yo…
- [Sir John Major on Climate Change](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/sir-john-major-on-climate-change.md) - In an interview with BBC Newsnight and BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir John Major, former Conservative Prime Minister, spoke about the growing challenges faced by governments today and why climate change must be treated as a long‑term priority1. Why Governing Has Become Harder Sir John explained that being P…
- [Notes from 16 April CA-WN Public Meeting and a 'field trip'.](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/notes-from-16-april-ca-wn-public-meeting-and-a-field-trip.md) - Our April guest speaker was Dr Colleen Golja, Imperial College Research Fellow at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and Environment, Imperial College London. Dr Golja gave an overview of the climate as a dynamical system and how this impacts the UK under past and present climate change. You…
- [Crisis, what crisis ... [2]](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/crisis-what-crisis-2.md) - The annual report of the World Meteorological Organization gives details of these key climate indicators for 2025: Climate change. It’s real. It’s us. It’s bad. We're sure. And we can fix it. But we need to act now. Reference World Meteorological Organization: State of the Global Climate 2025 report
- [Great UK WaterBlitz](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/great-uk-waterblitz-2.md) - Over a late April weekend citizen scientists around the country set about collecting freshwater samples from their local water courses. CA-WN took part to find out what was involved in contributing to FreshWater Watch’s Great UK WaterBlitz1. Twice a year WaterBlitz volunteers sign up to receive a w…
- [Green skills training programme](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/green-skills-training-programme.md) - India Palmer at Warwick University is currently recruiting applicants for a green skills training programme, aimed at 18-30 year olds. The programme is designed for anyone passionate about climate action and wanting to build future-ready green skills while connecting with peers across the UK and In…
- [Crisis, what crisis ...](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/crisis-what-crisis.md) - … the crisis that our politicians and the populist media prefers not to mention. CA-WN doesn’t do capital P Politics but it would be socially irresponsible if we didn’t couple the climate crisis to the elephant in the room. And call for action. First, the expert briefings on climate change for poli…
- [Report of CA-WN Public Meeting 19 March 2026](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-ca-wn-public-meeting-19-march-2026.md) - Our March guest speaker was Caroline Kuzemko, Professor of Political Economy and Climate Change at Warwick University. Professor Kuzemko's areas of focus include the politics of climate policy, energy transition and the geopolitics of phasing out fossil fuels and bringing in clean energy. Her lates…
- [Farming in crisis: Farming Policy 2026](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/farming-in-crisis-farming-policy-2026.md) - 2025 was a dismal year for many farmers: the summer drought reduced yields for cereals and many other crops, the government cut off the Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI) without warning, and budget changes to Inheritance Tax threatened many farm businesses. However the weather improved in the au…
- [Student housing and climate responsibility in West Northamptonshire](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/student-housing-and-climate-responsibility-in-west-northants.md) - Aashvi Shah - Undergraduate Stage S (Placement Year at WNC). Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology: University of Kent Students in West Northamptonshire, and across England, are living at the intersection of the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis. Cold bedrooms, rising rents and v…
- [Local Nature Recovery Strategy](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/local-nature-recovery-strategy.md) - CA-WN submitted a response to the WNC consultation on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy that invited us to get involved, share our ideas, and be part of something amazing for our natural environment. We hope many other local individuals and groups did too. Now we await the outcome of the consultat…
- [Seedy Saturday 2026](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/seedy-saturday-2026.md) - Sienna Mahoney, journalism student at the University of Northampton, attended the annual Seedy Saturday event and sent us this report. Seedy Saturday hosted their twelfth annual seed swap at the Doddridge Centre on 21st February 2026. The event aims to promote community between local gardeners base…
- [50 Families project](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/50-families-project.md) - CA-WN is proud to be a member of the West Northamptonshire Sustainable Food Network. We recently received this update from the Network about the 50 Families project, a great example of agencies working together. Building a sustainable future for our communities is about connecting and building bett…
- [CA-WN Public Meeting 19 February 2026](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ca-wn-public-meeting-19-february-2026.md) - ‘Northampton in 100 Years’ by Mike Longman, Vice Chair of Northamptonshire Natural History Society Present: Allan Bell, Caroline Gooch, Clare Slater, David Garlick, Emily Evans, Faye Spencer, Harry Mellor, Jane Wood, Jean Troy, Leonie Beale, Martin Coombes, Peter Nalder, Rupert Knowles, Sandra Lee…
- [Report: Braunston Retrofit](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-braunston-retrofit.md) - At an 21 March event organised by Braunston Climate Action Network, talks were given by householders who have made, or are making, the move to lower carbon homes. The highly informative presentations covered heat pumps, planning, funding, the Passivhaus Standard and EnerPHit, the Passivhaus refurbi…
- [Green Spaces Semilong](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/green-spaces-semilong.md) - By Sienna Mahoney, Journalism student, University of Northampton. “It’s worth it in the end because it makes people happy,” said Lou Troy. Lou, one of the volunteers at Green Spaces Semilong, helped to rebuild the children’s park and some of the patches around Semilong. One place in particular was…
- [Valentine's Day Give & Get event](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/valentines-day-give-get-event.md) - NEED A TREE? HAVE UNWANTED SAPLINGS IN YOUR GARDEN? In answer to those questions over 60 saplings were donated for our inaugural Valentine’s Day 'Give and Get' tree event - with many finding new homes across West Northamptonshire. DONATIONS WELCOME - VALENTINE’S DAY 2027 Take good care of any young…
- [How a Plant-Based Diet can help the climate](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/how-a-plant-based-diet-can-help-the-climate.md) - In the first of two articles Martin Coombs, a member of the CA-WN Steering Group sets out his case for following a plant-based diet. There are many reasons to adopt a plant-based diet (PBD): the avoidance of animal exploitation, a reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG), improvement in the environment…
- [Report of CA-WN Public Meeting 20 November](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-ca-wn-public-meeting-20-november.md) - November's guest speaker was Adrian Jarvis, Chair of Leicestershire CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England)1. Prior to semi-retirement, Adrian had a long career in the energy industry and his talk to us on energy and land use encompassed both his enjoyment of the countryside and his expe…
- [Growing CA-WN](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/growing-ca-wn.md) - It’s time to take practical climate action. A new year welcomes us to a world driven at the highest levels by greed and self-interest. As a matter of self-defence it’s time to act collectively in our own interests. The many groups across the county working on the preservation of our natural environ…
- [You can watch the Briefings too](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/you-can-watch-the-briefings-too.md) - On 27 November 2025 hundreds of MPs, Peers, and leaders from business, faith, sport, and culture gathered in Westminster for a National Emergency Briefing - briefings that described the rapidly escalating climate and nature crises that are set to make the UK increasingly unrecognisable and dangerou…
- [Christmas Mincemeat](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/christmas-mincemeat.md) - Home-made mincemeat is, I think, much nicer than shop-bought. Even the “luxury" mincemeat found on the supermarket shelves is not as good as one you can produce with a bit of spare time (it really is relatively quick to make) and with good quality dried fruit. You can also vary which dried fruit yo…
- [National Emergency Briefing letter](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/national-emergency-briefing-letter.md) - On 27 November 2025 hundreds of MPs, Peers, and leaders from business, faith, sport, and culture gathered in Westminster for a National Emergency Briefing. They were presented with the latest evidence showing that the United Kingdom must urgently prepare for a cascade of serious societal impacts. T…
- [It's Your Neighbourhood](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/its-your-neighbourhood.md) - Although I'm writing in November, no one will have forgotten the colourful displays of summer flowers we all enjoy so much each year around Northampton town. The flowers are for Northampton Town Council’s entry to the annual, national Britain in Bloom competition, supported by the Royal Horticultur…
- [Preloved](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/preloved.md) - Mick Lorkins asks "SO what is preloved and why should you consider buying preloved items?" If you have ever been to your waste recycling centre and looked at what people throw away you will see lots and lots of items that could have been donated to a charity shop or just given away or perhaps left…
- [BIOSPHERE: a drama](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/biosphere-a-drama.md) - Theatre Director Olivia Munk1 invited CA-WN to the Royal & Derngate Theatre for the 21 November 2025 première of Olivia Foan’s2 drama BIOSPHERE. Many of us accepted and these are my personal observations. The inspiration for the drama was a 1991 experiment in self-sufficient living called Biosphere…
- [The Long Long Grass of Home](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-long-long-grass-of-home.md) - “Alas, this will kill that” A melancholy phrase uttered by Claude Frollo in Victor Hugo’s Notre-Dame de Paris, referring to the fatal impact the printing press would have on gothic architecture. I sense we feel this pain today, inflicted through the consequences of fast-paced technological change,…
- [Climate & Nature (CAN) Champions Launch Event](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/climate-nature-can-champions-launch-event.md) - On the evening of 19 November 2025 I was lucky enough to attend a Zoom call along with over 70 other people from across Northamptonshire, all enthusiastic about working for the climate and nature in their local areas. These people are CAN Champions, part of a scheme created by NCALC (Northamptonshi…
- [CA-WN has a new Chair](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ca-wn-has-a-new-chair.md) - Jane Wood, CA-WN’s Chair for its founding four years, has handed the reins to Harry Mellor. For a local student’s project both were questioned about being CA-WN’s Chair. Here’s what they said. Q1 What made you want to join CA–WN? HARRY MELLOR "We didn’t join CA-WN. CA-WN joined us. We had both been…
- [Council Watch October 2025 - how are the new brooms doing?](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/council-watch-october-2025-how-are-the-new-brooms-doing.md) - Nearly half a year ago a new administration took charge at West Northamptonshire Council. In the days after the May election many people voiced concerns about the new Reform leadership - no local manifesto, lack of experience of local government, potentially reluctant councillors who stood as ‘pape…
- [Student Voice on Climate & Politics](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/student-voice-on-climate-politics.md) - Jason Sparkhall writes as a final year student at the University of Northampton studying BA Politics and International Relations. He has an interest in encouraging youth voices in social, climate, and environmental affairs and one day hopes to stand to become a Member of Parliament. West Northampto…
- [Indicators of Global Climate Change](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/indicators-of-global-climate-change.md) - The latest available data is presented in the following infographic that shows key indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence. The bad news is that every indicator is moving in the wrong direction. But scroll through the doom and gloom and read the good news - the authors say…
- [National Emergency Briefing](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/national-emergency-briefing.md) - On Wednesday 27th November at 9am in Westminster Central Hall, the UK's first National Emergency Briefing by 9 of the UK's leading experts will share the latest evidence and cascading risks across all dimensions of the climate and nature crisis at a closed-door, invitation-only session. I have sadl…
- [Pumpkin and Ginger Soup](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/pumpkin-and-ginger-soup.md) - At this time of year, if friends are dropping in for lunch it’s great to offer a bowl of warming soup with crusty bread. Many of us have pantries groaning under the weight of garden produce, and with Halloween and Guy Fawkes night on the calendar, I opted to make a pumpkin, apple and ginger soup. P…
- [Report of AGM and Public Meeting 16 October 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-agm-and-public-meeting-16-october-2025.md) - The notes below cover both the 2025 AGM and the October public meeting, which consisted of an open discussion about CA-WN’s current activities and future plans, with attendees invited to suggest new ideas. The meeting was recorded and is available to view on CA-WN’s YouTube channel. 💡Check out our…
- [Climate Drama: 21 November](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/climate-drama-21-november.md) - BIOSPHERE is a drama exploring the current storm of the climate crisis, capitalism, and technology. Inspired by the true story of experimental living trapped within an enclosed biome intended to provide the essentials for human life, this is a new play about our relationship to nature, technology a…
- [Happy Birthday CA-WN](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/happy-birthday-ca-wn.md) - As we celebrate CA-WN’s birthday these are highlights from our first four years. ROOTS: South Northamptonshire Action on Climate [SNAC] Before CA-WN there was SNAC, formed in 2019 when residents from across the area came together to talk about the climate emergency. Convinced of the urgency to do m…
- [Reducing the environmental impact of Children’s Parties](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/reducing-the-environmental-impact-of-childrens-parties.md) - This article was written by Joely Martin, currently on Maternity Leave from West Northamptonshire Council where she works as a Sustainability Officer. As a parent, it’s an exciting new chapter when your child starts primary school. New skills, new friends and before long, parties almost every weeke…
- [2071: The World We’ll Leave Our Grandchildren by Chris Rapley & Duncan Macmillan](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/2071-the-world-well-leave-our-grandchildren-by-chris-rapley-duncan-macmillan.md) - This book (originally a play) is a remarkable achievement – it condenses the complex and difficult topic of climate change into 200 easy to follow pages, many of which contain only one paragraph. It was written just before the landmark 2015 COP in Paris but its content remains pertinent to today’s…
- [What is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy?](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/what-is-a-local-nature-recovery-strategy.md) - Local nature recovery strategies are being developed in 48 regions across the UK in response to both the global 30% Nature recovery by 2030 targets as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework1 and the UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan2. Local Nature Recovery Stra…
- [Rethink: should we stop flying?; how can flying be less polluting?](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/rethink-should-we-stop-flying-how-can-flying-be-less-polluting.md) - Plans for a second runway at Gatwick airport have recently been given the green light. This follows approval of expansion plans for Luton airport, and positive signals from the government about the long-discussed third runway at Heathrow earlier this year. Gatwick expects annual flights to increase…
- [Youth speaking truth to power: Speech to WNC Scrutiny Committee, 19 August 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/youth-speaking-truth-to-power-speech-to-wnc-scrutiny-committee-19-august-2025.md) - This speech was given to a 'Call-In Hearing' of the council's Place and Resources Overview and Scrutiny committee by Pippa Knowles, aged 17. The purpose of the meeting was to review a decision made by WNC's Cabinet to remove the council's Net Zero targets and revise existing strategies to remove re…
- [Net Zero Stocktake 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/net-zero-stocktake-2025.md) - The Net Zero Stocktake 2025 assessed progress in setting and strengthening whole-economy net zero targets and evaluated more than 4,000 entities on whether current plans and strategies contain the key components for deep decarbonisation. The world must reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions in the…
- [Public Meeting 18 September 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/public-meeting-18-september-2025.md) - This meeting was intended to provide an opportunity for an open discussion of CA-WN’s purpose and future focus. With a number of apologies and relatively low attendance, it didn’t quite go to plan! However we did enjoy a wide-ranging and informative conversation. Our next meeting on Thursday 16 Oct…
- [My View - Who scrutinises the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero?](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/my-view-who-scrutinises-the-department-for-energy-security-and-net-zero.md) - This article was written by Mike Reader, MP for Northampton South, who will also be the guest speaker at our September 2025 meeting Scrutinising the department for energy security and net zero Delivering the Clean Energy Mission and reaching net zero is critical for the UK. At the heart of it sits…
- [Becoming a Vegan](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/becoming-a-vegan.md) - Mick Lorkins, CA-WN Steering Group member and founder of Northamptonshire Woodland Community Volunteers, shares his account of going vegan. I thought I would document my journey on becoming vegan as it is not quite like switching on and off a lightbulb, it is more of an exploration. The starting po…
- [Bankers’ backlash](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/bankers-backlash.md) - The backlash against climate action continues as UBS1 follows other banks in quitting the UN-sponsored Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)2. The NZBA recognises that banks can play a major role in enabling the transition to a net-zero emissions economy by providing financing solutions. The banks in th…
- [The 89 Percent Project](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-89-percent-project.md) - According to recent science as many as 89% of the world’s people want governments to take stronger action on climate, a fact not reflected in the media, which might explain why the 89% don’t know that they are the global majority. The 89 Percent Project, launched in April 2025 with CCNow Joint Cove…
- [Muck spreading season](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/muck-spreading-season.md) - The ground is being prepared for what is to come, on our fields and in our Council Chambers, and in all our lives. Here’s what was sprayed in a discussion on abandoning the Council’s Net Zero pledges: Extremists Communists Anti-capitalists Lunatics Brown rice and sandals brigade Those who plait the…
- [Pesticides and your pet](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/pesticides-and-your-pet.md) - This article was originally produced as a leaflet by Leicester Friends of the Earth, who have kindly allowed CA-WN to reproduce it. Do you own a pet? Do you use tick, flea, lice and worm treatments? Are you worried about your pet getting poisoned? If so, please read on. Tick, flea, lice and worm tr…
- [The Energy Transition Show - Electric Farming in New Zealand](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-energy-transition-show-electric-farming-in-new-zealand.md) - This podcast episode features an interview with Mike Casey, a Kiwi tech entrepreneur turned cherry farmer. He started by gradually converting his farm to run on electricity, much of which is generated on site. In terms of electric machinery he’s a true early adopter, importing New Zealand’s first e…
- [Disasterology by Dr Samantha Montano](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/disasterology-by-dr-samantha-montano.md) - Dr Montano calls herself a Disasterologist to get across what she does better than the traditional title of Emergency Manager. The book details her journey from a naive teenager who set out to help with the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to an academic who points out that ‘disaster…
- [Carbon Literacy Training September 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/carbon-literacy-training-september-2025.md) - Following the great success of our previous Carbon Literacy training courses, we're looking forward to offering the next 4-week course starting 2nd September 2025. After completing the equivalent of one day's worth of training and committing to carbon-reducing actions, you will be deemed Carbon Lit…
- [Great UK WaterBlitz 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/great-uk-waterblitz-2025.md) - Last year we wrote a piece1 suggesting you might like to take part in the Great UK WaterBlitz. This is a fantastic initiative that enables us all to do something positive about the shocking condition of many bodies of water in the UK, by using a simple free kit to test the quality of the water in y…
- [Net Zero](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/net-zero.md) - Net Zero, like its friend ULEZ, has become a rallying cry, a flag up a political flagpole. But the noise of it flapping in the wind cannot drown out the fact that Net Zero and ULEZ are our true friends. And if Net Zero and ULEZ are ultimately good for us why all the fuss? And what is the Net Zero a…
- [Report of public meeting 17 July 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-public-meeting-17-july-2025.md) - July's guest speaker was Ruth Rolls, WNC Nature Recovery Strategy Officer. Ruth gave us an excellent overview of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for West Northamptonshire. The meeting was recorded and is available to watch on YouTube1, and Ruth's slides are available to download2. On Saturday 13…
- [Council Watch - 2025 Climate Action Scorecards](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/council-watch-2025-climate-action-scorecards.md) - Council Climate Action Scorecards are produced by Climate Emergency UK – the latest scorecards were released in June based on data from 1 January 2020 up to 31 October 2024 (for most questions). There are 73 questions in total across 7 categories. There’s a careful methodology behind the scorecards…
- [Strong Message Here: The New Brexit](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/strong-message-here-the-new-brexit.md) - Net Zero is getting a lot of attention recently, possibly even becoming that most cliched thing, a political football. This podcast, presented by Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci, explores the ‘use and abuse of language in politics’. It’s both entertaining and insightful, and this particular episod…
- [Greener Pastures: How ‘Mechanical Cows’ Are Redefining Rural Energy](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/greener-pastures-how-mechanical-cows-are-redefining-rural-energy.md) - VIDA Bioenergy is a wholly owned subsidiary of VTTI, a global leader in energy infrastructure, based in the Netherlands. VIDA bioenergy was launched in January 2025, with the aim of it becoming one of Europe’s leading biomethane producers, dedicated to transforming biomass into renewable energy. As…
- [Lieutenancy Climate and Sustainability Walk; Saturday 17 May, 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/lieutenancy-climate-and-sustainability-walk-saturday-17-may-2025.md) - After a chilly start, it turned into a glorious day with hedges and ditches a froth of white, hawthorn and cow parsley, meadows with jewels, buttercups and campion, and dark woods carpeted in sinister garlic mustard. Although we did not count, some thirty people set off shepherded by guides from No…
- [Take A Break!](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/take-a-break.md) - Numerous news and consumer programmes on radio and TV have recently discussed the over-use of mobile phones, and in particular, the impact mobile ownership has on children and teenagers. Schools have banned their use since the first decade of this century, but have been overwhelmed by the impossibi…
- [Simple Salads for Sultry Days](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/simple-salads-for-sultry-days.md) - It really has been far too hot to cook recently. We have used up almost all our pre-cooked meals from the freezer, and most of the time we’ve opted for something “quick and simple”. You can make a salad with almost anything, either raw or cooked and cooled – potato salad is one of our favourites, o…
- [Reasons to be Cheerful](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/reasons-to-be-cheerful.md) - It is easy to get caught up in a web of negativity so with the sun blazing a path for the blue sky this evening, I decided to take a walk to some of the seedlings of progress that have appeared over the last year or so. The New Junction - Billing Road and Park Avenue South Not so long ago this was…
- [Come What May by Lucy Easthope](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/come-what-may-by-lucy-easthope.md) - At CA-WN we’ve talked quite a bit recently about ‘adaptation’ to climate change, especially in our discussion on this topic at our April meeting. It’s evident that as a society and individuals we need to do more to prepare ourselves for a world of changed climate. Lucy Easthope has decades of exper…
- [Report of public meeting 19 June](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-public-meeting-19-june.md) - Our guest speaker this month was Bruce Durham, founder of Harborough Woodland (HW)1. This community group have made a tremendous impact since their beginnings 5 years ago – you can read more about their story here2. They are also running a free training event on Saturday 28 June – details on their…
- [Reform to what?](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/reform-to-what.md) - I will start with a promise, to myself more than anyone else, that the next thing I write for the CA-WN Exchange will return to the subjects of local transport, pedestrianisation and localism. Subjects that I believe are essential not only to the green cause but to the prosperity of West Northampto…
- [Flour Power: How The Good Loaf Changes Lives Daily](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/flour-power-how-the-good-loaf-changes-lives-daily.md) - The Good Loaf CIC (Community Interest Company) is a Northampton-based social enterprise that is ‘as passionate about giving people a chance as we are about producing delicious artisan bread’. The Good Loaf has been transforming lives since it opened in 2015. Located in the historic Boot and Shoe Qu…
- [The Riches of Uncut Grass](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-riches-of-uncut-grass.md) - Eluned Nicholls, Parish Councillor in Kingsthorpe, shares her experience of No Mow May We are now in the third year of No Mow May1 and Kingsthorpe Village’s verges and greens are showing signs of a remarkable recovery from years of being cut to within inches of life. Take a walk along Lower Leys or…
- [Rare Earth Podcast + The Rest Is Politics on Net Zero](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/rare-earth-podcast-the-rest-is-politics-on-net-zero.md) - Rare Earth - Is Net Zero a toxic brand? It's no secret that not everyone thinks Net Zero is a good idea - those on the climate-sceptic end of the spectrum see it as misguided at best, and even some who understand the harsh reality of climate change don't see Net Zero as a helpful framing of the sol…
- [And So I Roar by Abi Daré](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/and-so-i-roar-by-abi-dare.md) - This book is the first winner of the Climate Fiction Prize1, launched this year. The team behind the prize explained why: We want to reward and showcase powerful stories that depict the human response to climate change; how it impacts us and how society responds. For societies to fully grasp the cl…
- [My experience of installing an Air Source Heat Pump](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/my-experience-of-installing-an-air-source-heat-pump.md) - This article comes from Mick Lorkins, CA-WN Steering Group member and founder of Northamptonshire Woodland Community Volunteers. We think it provides exactly the sort of honest and comprehensive information householders need - if you have an experience of making 'green' home improvements that you w…
- [Solar panels trial on polytunnels](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/solar-panels-trial-on-polytunnels.md) - CA-WN's Farming Correspondent, Rupert Knowles, shared this article about flexible solar panels on polytunnels being used to power farm equipment, and added some comments of his own on the possibilities of technology for fruit harvesting. Hugh Lowe Farms trials polytunnel solar panelsElectric Berry…
- [Report of public meeting 15 May 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/report-of-public-meeting-15-may-2025.md) - May’s speaker was Natasha Ginks. Natasha is a qualified Retrofit Co-ordinator with considerable practical experience as well as qualifications in the field of home retrofit. Natasha’s presentation was titled "Where to start with retrofit" - the slides are available to download1 and a recording of t…
- [Carbon Literacy training Summer 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/carbon-literacy-training-summer-2025.md) - Following the great success of our previous Carbon Literacy training courses, we're looking forward to offering the next 4-week course starting in early June. After completing the equivalent of one day's worth of training and committing to carbon-reducing actions, you will be deemed Carbon Literate…
- [New in CA-WN Exchange for May](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/new-in-ca-wn-exchange-for-may.md) - This month's CA-WN Exchange highlights the sustainability achievements of West Northamptonshire Council over the past four years1, includes insights from Steering Group member Mick Lorkins2, and features a post about grasses3 along with regular bookshelf,4 podcast5 and recipe6 suggestions. And it's…
- [A Journey Through Grass](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/a-journey-through-grass-2.md) - Members of CA-WN are involved in a grassland project, which aims to draw attention to the nature recovery potential of areas of grassland from road-side verges to small meadows. As a member of this group I considered it worthwhile to explore the importance of grassland and its relationship to human…
- [Council Watch May 2025 – End of Term Report](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/council-watch-may-2025-end-of-term-report.md) - Four years ago, the first West Northamptonshire Council was elected – a unitary authority that replaced four predecessors: Daventry Borough Council, Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council and South Northamptonshire District Council. Lots of shoes to fill, and not an easy trans…
- [Super Food Salad](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/super-food-salad.md) - The veggie boxes have reached that point in the year when the main thing on the list is brassica of varying sorts, onions, and, thank goodness, carrots. Whilst we really enjoy carrot salad, and lovely though steamed calabrese and broccoli are served cold in a vinaigrette sauce, it’s good to ring th…
- [Meet the Steering Group - Mick Lorkins](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/meet-the-steering-group-mick-lorkins.md) - Q1. What is your motivation for being involved with the environmental movement and with CA-WN in particular? I retired in 2023 and have always been keen on environmental issues and wanted to do more. Before retirement I would always ensure that, as part of my job as a project manager, environmental…
- [The Bee Sting by Paul Murray](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-bee-sting-by-paul-murray.md) - Paul Murray’s novel, The Bee Sting, which won the inaugural Nero Gold Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker prize, is a critically acclaimed tragicomic saga about an Irish family. It is also a book that, according to its author, cannot and should not ignore the climate crisis. Murray states that…
- [Happy Heat Pump Podcast](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/happy-heat-pump-podcast.md) - Our latest contributor to the Meet the Steering Group feature, Mick Lorkins, mentions in his piece that he has installed an Air Source Heat Pump in his home, along with other eco-friendly improvements. Coincidentally I recently became aware of this podcast specifically dedicated to demystifying hea…
- [Hedgehog Awareness Week](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/hedgehog-awareness-week.md) - The 2025 national campaign to help hedgehogs runs from 4 –10 May. Do you have hedgehogs in your neighbourhood? Hedgehogs play a vital role in controlling insect populations and are an important part of our ecosystem, but they face growing threats from habitat loss and road traffic. What can we do?…
- [17 April Public Meeting report](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/17-april-public-meeting-report.md) - This month’s meeting was slightly different to the usual format featuring an external guest speaker. Instead CA-WN’s Chair led an open discussion about climate adaptation risk – what are the risks to the residents and environment of our area from climate change and what should we be doing to prepar…
- [Simnel Traybake](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/simnel-traybake.md) - This delicious fruit cake is traditionally made at Easter Tide. It is a little fiddly to produce, as it requires several distinct stages but the end result is a wonderfully moist cake with a subtle spicy flavour and a lovely crunchy topping, so it is well worth the effort. The baking tray recommend…
- [popcawn April 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/popcawn-april-2025.md) - CA-WN is not a political group and The CA-WN Exchange is not a political platform. But CA-WN cannot stay silent at election time. Our elected representatives hold all the levers of power essential for delivering on CA-WN’s mission: the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from West Northamptonshir…
- [Climate risk and energy transition](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/climate-risk-and-energy-transition.md) - We usually publish one book and one podcast recommendation each month on CA-WN Exchange. This month instead of a book, I’m going to suggest reading a short article published on LinkedIn*, and tie that in with two podcasts. The article, ‘Climate, Risk, Insurance: The Future of Capitalism’ is by Günt…
- [Meet the Steering Group - Harry Mellor](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/meet-the-steering-group-harry-mellor.md) - As others in the Steering Group are busy with local election matters it falls to someone with zero personal election interest to introduce themself. Q1. What is your motivation for being involved with the environmental movement and with CA-WN in particular? Simple questions that in my case warrant…
- [20 March Public Meeting report](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/20-march-public-meeting-report-2.md) - We were lucky enough to have two speakers this month. Alan Ryan and Sarah Parr from the RAIN Northants project, part of WNC’s Flood and Water Management team, spoke to us about the work the project is doing to make our area more resilient to flooding, and about what individuals and communities can…
- [Trees for Welford](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/trees-for-welford.md) - CA-WN recently received this email from Hilary Hunt of Trees for Welford (TfW), and it's such a great good news story we wanted to share it. I am pleased to say that we have completed our Feasibility Study project and finalised our Report on the challenge of setting up a sustainable community proje…
- [Council Watch April 2025 - new Climate Change and Tree Strategies](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/council-watch-3.md) - This article has been written by Sienna Mahoney, a Journalism student at the University of Northampton. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) have published aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions in Northampton. In early 2022, the council committed to deliver net zero as an organisation by 2030 and f…
- [popcawn - March 2025](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/popcawn-march-2025.md) - Wokeness is trouble. Wokeness is bad. It’s gone. It’s gone. So said President Donald J Trump in his 4 March 2025 address to US Congress. Is this the template for leadership that we can expect in West Northamptonshire? Why have words like Woke or acronyms like ULEZ been weaponised in speech, print a…
- [See the Light - Leading the Way](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/see-the-light-leading-the-way-2.md) - Green Day released the single “See the Light” in 2009, as the closing track on their album ‘21st Century Breakdown’. As a counterpoint to the album’s depressing but omniscient title there is some good news going on in the heart of Corby, Northamptonshire, where See Limited is showing how businesses…
- [The Problem with Methane (CH4)](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-problem-with-methane-ch4.md) - Addressing methane is important because it accounts for about one third of all the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. In more detail, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with over 80 times the 20-year warming power of carbon dioxide. However, in the atmosphere it breaks do…
- [‘Drill, baby, drill’: a who's who](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/drill-baby-drill-a-whos-who.md) - 'Burn, baby, burn', a deliberately incendiary slogan associated with riots in the USA 60 years ago, has been taken up and repurposed. ‘Drill, baby, drill’, ostensibly aimed at reducing dependence upon foreign energy supplies, is yet another populist appeal in support of a distinct worldview whose c…
- [Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food … and Why Can’t We Stop? By Chris van Tulleken](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ultra-processed-people-why-do-we-all-eat-stuff-that-isnt-food-and-why-cant-we-stop-by-chris-van-tulleken.md) - Chris van Tulleken and his identical twin Xand are familiar faces on our TV screens, especially to children and their parents from the CBBC show Operation Ouch! I was prompted to read this book after watching a documentary made by Chris van Tulleken on the topic of Ultra-processed Food (UPF)1 - Irr…
- [Feed: Ultra-processed foods, plastics, transport](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/feed-ultra-processed-foods-plastics-transport.md) - Our Bookshelf recommendation this month is Ultra Processed People, about ultra processed food (UPF) and how it is affecting us as consumers, in all senses of the word. The equally important relationship of UPF to climate change might not be immediately apparent, though it does feature in the book.…

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