Public Meeting 18 September 2025

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 October is the Annual General Meeting and we hope to have a more in depth look at CA-WN’s role and focus then.

Present: Leonie Beale, Helen Dyson, Rupert Knowles, Mike Longman, Mick Lorkins, Harry Mellor, Jane Wood

Apologies: Alexina Cassidy, Teresa Cox, Eluned Nicholls, Clare Robertson-Marriott, Clare Slater 

These are a few key points that came out of our discussion – minutes are less comprehensive than usual given the nature of this meeting, and the meeting was not recorded. 

• Helen is new to CA-WN, but was involved with the Trees for Welford group and is now part of a new umbrella group, Wild Welford, planning to undertake various projects in the village.
• Mike has a meeting scheduled with Id Verde (WNC contractor) – they are working with the RSPB to put in place bird monitoring across the area. Mike will shall more information after the meeting.
• The Northamptonshire Natural History Society is organising a Festival of Nature on 19 September 2026 at Delapre Abbey. It will carry on into the evening to enable astronomy and a bat walk to be included in the event. Mike is keen to contact local groups who might be interested in participating by having a stand at the event.
• Harry mentioned Britain Talks Climate, in conjunction with More in Common, they have looked at what people are interested in hearing about – it isn’t climate! According to their recent report, the general public are much more interested in nature. Should we think about replacing ‘Climate’ in our name and with ‘Community’? Rupert felt definitely not as climate is so important. Mike suggested ‘Action’ might be more of a stumbling block for people as they perceive it as political.
• An issue for CA-WN is the attitude towards climate change of the new administration at WNC. The attention of the general public is focused on issues like flags and conflict instead of climate.
• Helen advised that when talking to people about climate in relation to Trees for Welford, there is a generational difference, with younger people more receptive. We need to be telling the story of people who are directly affected by climate change. Some young people are very stressed about climate change. 
• Mike – climate change is happening all around us. For example species such as Ivy bees in his garden are relatively new migrants enabled to colonise the UK by climate change.
• Harry – we need people who don’t think like us to understand the things we understand. This can’t be done by preaching or talking down to people. People have an affinity with nature. Over the last couple of years we’ve been to events, set up stalls, published the Claim Back Your Space booklet, but have not gained much by way of momentum or membership as a result. We are going to run the important Building Resilience project which may be more successful.
• Jane mentioned the Climate & Nature Champions scheme being run by Northants CALC; Helen has volunteered to be the Climate & Nature Champion for Welford.