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

individual impact

popcawn - People Power - February 2024

Do you ever feel powerless or overwhelmed when you hear about the latest extreme weather event or species on the verge of extinction? You’re not alone. One of my personal lowest points was when I comforted my 10 year old son, upset while watching a lone seal pup drift

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

transport

Roads to Nowhere

CA-WN's transport specialist uses a current local example to illustrate why public service development needs to keep in step with housing development. I came across this article in the Chronicle & Echo recently:  VIDEO: ‘Extremely unhappy’ villagers call for ‘road to nowhere’ in Northampton to be built urgentlyConstruction

nature

Tree Harvest gathered in

What a great morning at Martin Moore Wood harvesting trees! Over 30 people turned up, young and old – some to literally get stuck in and dig up some young trees, others from local Litter Wombles groups filled bags with old plastic tree guards. As well as the Wombles, and CA-WN

business

ERLS Vehicles - Second-Hand Electric Vehicles for a Greener Tomorrow

I made a recent visit to ERLS Vehicles in Brixworth to find out more about ‘The UK’s First, Fully ECO-Showroom’. ERLS have received a number of awards and nominations for their business, namely as a Finalist in AutoTrader’s ‘Sustainability Initiative Award 2023’ and Highly Commended in Car Dealer

meeting reports

CA-WN goes to the Museum

A big thank you to everyone at the CA-WN social event at Northampton Museum on Saturday 20 January. There were around 25 people there, ranging in age from 11 to 80+. Thanks also to the really helpful members of staff on the Museum front desk and in the café. Some

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

bookshelf

Reflections by Mark Avery

I’ve been a subscriber to Mark Avery’s interesting and enjoyable monthly Newsblast since he was the (free of charge) keynote speaker at a conference CA-WN co-organised with Northamptonshire ACRE. So I was keen to read this, his new book about wildlife and wildlife conservation. Reflections is a concise

recipes Featured

Seville Orange Marmalade

One of the things I look forward to in January is replenishing our marmalade stock. Home-made marmalade is a true delicacy and bears no resemblance to even the very best shop-bought variety. Its flavour is distinctive and wakens up the taste buds in a way that nothing else can. Now

individual impact

popcawn - January 2024

COP-out or COP-down? What’s in a ph(r)ase? The success or failure of COP28 was widely deemed to be down to whether it was agreed to phase out (success) or phase down (failure) fossil fuel use globally. It turned out to be neither of those phrases, and in

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

individual impact

popcawn - December 2023

COP28: the COP that steals Christmas? While many of us may be winding down for the end of the year celebrations, global climate action is ramping up with the start of the 28th annual Conference of the Parties (COP28) this week. Great! I can relax and start planning our family

opinion

My View - Zoe Smith

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

food & farming

Cover Crops

What are ‘cover crops’ and what are they for? Winter, 20241 Many years ago, a farming friend told me that villagers backing onto his field had been complaining of pesticides being sprayed onto wheat from the air and drifting into their gardens.  In fact he was not spraying at all:

recipes

Christmas Cabbages

About this time of year cabbages of every shape and size appear in the shops, and being mid-winter, we all need the vitamins and minerals they impart.  What is more, they are inexpensive, and can be very versatile.  If you really don’t know what to do with a cabbage,

bookshelf

Last Chance to Find Duke

This is something different to lighten the mood, an utterly charming cartoon story by a Chinese author and illustrator – which explains why its English language speech bubbles have to be read from right to left. An insect researcher called 063 sets off to find a rare species of cricket whose

podcastshelf

Fed with Chris van Tulleken

This is a podcast series from BBC Sounds which explores the story of chicken, its progression from scrawny jungle fowl to the most widely consumed animal protein on the planet, and what that says about us. It is almost an urban myth that modern humans think food comes from supermarkets,

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