The CA-WN Exchange (Page 10)

Planning basics

Why is 'planning' important? The location, design and construction of new buildings has a huge influence on our greenhouse gas emissions as a nation – the sustainability of the materials used, how the buildings are powered, and whether the development is supported by public transport and active travel routes

business

Refilling - the 'new old' way of shopping

Plastic is everywhere – it’s convenient and we use it all the time. The amount of plastic packaging we consume today reflects the lifestyles we live. In my kitchen this morning, I counted well over 50 items which are packaged in plastic – and I like to think of myself as

individual impact

My Three Things for Climate Change

By Alice Whitehead, the founder and chair of Tree Charter community group Save Our Street Trees and communications officer for organic gardening charity Garden Organic I love the idea that three things can change the world. It's easy to feel climate change is too big to tackle as

local matters

A Greener Byfield – promoting sustainability in a village community

India Palmer On Saturday 14th January Byfield village held its first sustainability event in the village hall. The event came about through eco-enthusiasts India Palmer, who lives in Byfield, and Helen Buttrick, working with the village Parish Council. The Parish Council were extremely supportive of promoting sustainability in the community.

podcastshelf

The Countryside Hour from BBC Norfolk

This is a great podcast for anyone who wants to learn about British wildlife and biodiversity. It features ‘farmer and nature lover’ Chris Skinner, who shares his lifetime of experience as a working farmer and wildlife enthusiast. The podcast usually includes a recording from Chris somewhere on his Norfolk farm,

recipes

Bean and Vegetable Hotpot

This is one of my favourite recipes, not least because you can use up any vegetables that are waiting in the fridge for inspiration to strike! The version in the picture contains onions, garlic, a couple of sticks of celery, a tiny piece of root ginger, finely chopped, butternut squash,

meeting reports

CA-WN monthly meeting notes 19 January 2023 link to slides added

Present: Alexina Cassidy, Alix Harrower-Dean, Axel Segebrecht, Briony Askew, Chris Leng, Clare Slater, David Garlick, David Wragg, Ella Mansfield, Emmie Williamson, Harry Mellor, Jane Wood, John Hunt, Michael Lawrence, Mike Longman, Orianne Neyroud, Patsy Hollingum, Peter Nalder, Richard Hollingum, Stan Quirey Apologies: Clare Robertson-Marriott, Dave Musson, Jonathan Harris, Leonie Beale,

local matters Featured

Welcome to Our New Home

🍃January 2023 marks an exciting time for CA-WN (Climate Action - West Northamptonshire) as we launch a new forum for the exchange of ideas, research and content on the climate and biodiversity crisis.https://exchange.ca-wn.org/ For our valued supporters, we thank you for your commitment to CA-WN. 2022

business

Honeywell Bakes – committed to being good

Honeywell Bakes, Welford – committed to being good to each other and the planet and a proud B Corporation.

bookshelf

The Children of the Anthropocene by Bella Lack

The title of this book alone was a learning experience for me – anthropocene means relating to or denoting the current geological age; viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. Bella Lack’s stories of a changing climate are told

Climate Anxiety

This morning I settled down to meditate and frankly I was all over the place. Some days are easier than others but at the moment I am in the midst of a mental struggle. That much I recognise. But struggling about – or against – what? What are these fleeting thoughts that

recipes

Vegetarian Roast Cheese, Cashew and Walnut Loaf

Patsy Hollingum writes: I’ve been making this for our Christmas dinner for around ten years now. It sounds more complex than it is, the end result is well worth the effort, and it takes far less time to roast than a turkey. It is just as tasty served cold,

opinion

What if: photovoltaic panels are installed over car parks?

To stimulate the development of solar energy production the French Senate has adopted a bill to require larger car parks to be covered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. If the French National Assembly approves the measure the law will apply to car parks with more than 80 spaces. Larger car

local matters

Warm Spaces

With a certain amount of irony, the combination of climate change and the rapid increase in fuel costs, it is no surprise that many – if not all – of us are turning down, or even turning off, the heating. Maintaining the most effective and efficient heat in your home is not

opinion

My View: Emma Roberts

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

transport

More Demand, Demand More

In October, Peter Doveston encouraged us to write to our MP to ask why West Northamptonshire Council does not receive appropriate funding for public transport. Continuing his exploration of bus services, Peter talks to two local councillors and the provider of an on-demand bus service. Social concern and competitive edge,

bookshelf

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson

While humans wrestle with net zero targets and greenwashing, other species have had to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as Thor Hanson, an American biologist, reveals in his carefully researched book. His accounts of how squid have responded to warmer waters, and lizards to fierce storms, are poignant

individual impact

My Three Things for Climate Change

by Clare Topping, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Northampton General Hospital As well as being Energy and Sustainability Manager at NGH, a role she has held for 10 years, Clare is also the co-ordinator for Beds and Northants for the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey. She has lived in Daventry for over

air

Air Quality in West Northamptonshire

Report for the week of Guy Fawkes night: CA-WN is monitoring air quality at several sites across West Northamptonshire. The green graphs show abnormal peaks of particulate matter (PM2.5) density at CA-WN sites during the week of Guy Fawkes night 2022. For reference the blue graph is from the

nature

Report from the 2022 AGM of the Wildlife Trust BCN

Jane Wood, Chair of CA-WN, has been a member of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire for a few years, and as the Trust was holding its 2022 AGM in Northampton, it was a great opportunity to find out more about what the Trust is doing – “which turned

council

Council Watch November 2022

CA-WN watching West Northants Council for us all CA-WN has not conducted a survey about what people think of the council’s progress to date on tackling the climate crisis and delivering their sustainability agenda, however for most people the consensus might be summed up as ‘frustratingly slow’. It is

food & farming

Farming Decisions

I was reading articles in Farmers Weekly about the rise in cost of farmers’ inputs such as fertiliser and diesel, and the rise in price of outputs such as grain and milk. This led me to thinking, ‘just how do farmers make short and long-term decisions on managing their businesses?

business

Unusual Rigging – fully committed to circular economy

Unusual Rigging, Bugbrooke – committed to the tenets of the circular economy, zero waste, carbon reduction and resource efficiency by Alexina Cassidy Whether it was the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Ceremonies, Abba Voyage or I’m a Celebrity ‘Walk the Plank’ challenge, you will have seen Unusual Rigging’s work in

recipes

Beans Means … Texture and Flavour

Following on from the earlier post about lentils Patsy Hollingum turns her attention to beans. I am a fan of BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme and earlier in 2022 the topic was beans, a subject to which the team devoted two episodes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/

nature

Creating a meadow area from neglected grassland

Advice from Dave Musson, based on many years' practical experience. Many UK public amenity areas have suffered over the years from cheap, fast grass cutting, which leaves all cuttings on the ground. These cuttings rot down to benefit existing fast growing grass species to the detriment of weaker grasses