Sustainability and Environment Partnership Latest News

Issue 37 Sustenance

Sustenance is the Environment and Sustainability Partnership Newsletter, and keeps members up to date on new initiatives and projects throughout the year.

The newsletter is available in pdf and text only format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the pdf version.

Sustenance - Summer 2008.pdf (10 pages, 2804kb)

Please note that the file is 3mb in size and may take a while to download.

The previous edition of the newsletter is also available.

The dates for forthcoming roundtables are available.

Sustainability news and forthcoming events.

Partnership News Issue 37 Text Only Version

The North East Climate Change Adaptation Study Launched

The North East Climate Change Adaptation study, launched on 30 April 2008, is the first of its kind. The study makes projections of climate change impacts at a new and improved scale of resolution compared to previous projections for the entire UK government region using such detailed analytical techniques.

The report combines cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art expertise from nationally-recognised professional engineers and scientists with the practical experience of staff working on-the-ground within a range of organisations and bodies across the region.

This study is intended to provide information on the climate changes that the region will face, how these changes will impact on the region’s society, buildings, infrastructure and key economic assets, and what needs to be done now to adapt to the predicted impacts.

This information should be a catalyst and focus for action across all sectors operating across the region.

The practical advice provided in the Adaptation Action Plan, which is founded on sound scientific information, cutting-edge thinking and latest best-practice guidance, can be used by key organisations across the region in the development and delivery of their own climate change adaptation action plans.

Nick Brown MP, Minister for the North East, said: "The study's predictions on future weather patterns in the North East region are interesting and it is, I think, a world first.

I welcome the detailed consideration that has gone into the study, it underlines the need to adjust to climate change as well as take urgent action now to avoid the situation getting worse than it already is. It is a useful study and a timely warning."

The Adaptation Action Plan is closely linked to the Climate Change Action Plan for North East England, a regional framework that incorporates both adaptation and mitigation measures as well as actions for communication.

Meet the Great-Great Grandparents

Looking back Pathe News style, there was plenty to celebrate in good old rose-tinted 1977: the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, a good summer, Virginia Wade winning the Women’s Singles at Wimbledon and washing it all down with lashings of real ale. Lovely it was. It was also the last year we lived within the capacity of the planet to support us all, and the year when the gap between personal wealth and satisfaction with life in the western world started to diverge significantly.

Do I sense a groan coming on? That’s the trouble with sustainability and the environment. People cross the street or correctly point out how hypocritical you are for having a car and, even worse, enjoying holidays abroad. Hardly anyone is prepared to speak up on sustainability because speaking up and ducking at the same time is more than most of us can manage. We all have a guilty footprint to conceal, so keeping below the parapet forgiving each other our sins of emission seems only prudent.

This comforting deception lets us believe that to reduce our high-level consumption will put our loved ones at a disadvantage. To give up 80% or more (as many commentators say we must if there is to be a future for future generations) is unthinkable to a modern family. Unthinkable, but not entirely impossible to imagine if you go back to the almost sepia-tinted days of the fifties. Step forward grandpa and grandma to show how a contented life is possible without destroying the planet (give or take a world war or two and a Great Depression).

My grandparents were pretty typical in that they consumed rather few goods and services and grew their own veg. When they went anywhere it would be by the currently fashionable ‘slow travel’ as that was all there was. Wasting energy and food was a deadly sin. Confirming our grandparents’ ways as good practice is a way forward but we also need to stimulate innovation such as will be provided in Cassop School’s new classroom. With many others I enjoyed the opening of the new Environmental and Sustainability Centre on 6th May and wish it well (see page 5).

Can my generation with all its deficiencies stand up, please? Perhaps we can help by introducing our grandchildren to their great-great grandparents and their sustainable lifestyle while admitting that our own is not a good example and we must improve. But I hope we will all be spared the ice on the inside of the bathroom window. Surely the future won’t be that hard?

Project Fund 2007-2008

2007/08 was another successful year for the Sustainability Partnership Project Fund, with five new projects benefiting from funding!

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine at Durham Botanic Gardens – Durham University

This project aimed to construct a vertical axis wind turbine at the entrance to Durham Botanic Gardens in order to provide green electricity for the new entrance kiosk at the site whilst improving public understanding of wind powered micro generation. The project received funding towards the provision of high quality educational interpretation boards and information leaflets.

Bowes Museum Goes Green – Bowes Museum

This project aimed to assess and reduce the overall environmental impact of the Bowes Museum, and to encourage greater use of an important heritage site by more sustainable means. Project funding was awarded to the project, to kick start a comprehensive survey and analysis of the building, management and its public use in order to highlight areas where environmental efficiency could be improved, and make recommendations for future projects to tackle this. The project’s focus included energy, waste, water, education and travel.

Croft Education Centre Feasibility Study – Groundwork West Durham and Darlington

Funding was secured towards a feasibility study for the Croft Education Centre, Annfield Plain. The aim of the project is to construct an iconic sustainable multi use building of 300 square metres that will be groundbreaking, and as far as is possible, carbon neutral.

Bus Shelter Solar Powered Lighting in Teesdale – Teesdale Local Strategic Partnership

The aim of this project was to provide sustainable lighting to various bus shelters in the Teesdale area, with a view to improving safety and addressing public transport service users’ vulnerability, and as a result, encourage increased use of the public transport network.

Sustainability in the Curriculum – Grove Primary School, Consett

This project received funding to develop an educational and awareness raising programme for the school and wider community following the instalment of photo voltaic panels to the school roof. The school were keen to capitalise on the installation and build the new sustainable school feature into the curriculum, as well as using them to raise understanding of sustainable development issues in the local community.

Well done to all the successful applicants. Applications are now open for 2008-2009.

What is the Sustainability Partnership Project Fund?

The fund, managed by Durham County Council’s Sustainability Team, aims to support innovative, sustainability projects in the County. Projects must demonstrate partnership working and grants of up to £1,500 are available. With interest expected to be as high as it was last year, priority is given to projects which feature new innovative ideas not previously seen in the County.

For further information on this year’s successful projects or to find out more on the fund contact Claire Fairclough, Durham County Council on 0191 3833043.

Compost Awareness

As part of County Durham's initiative to encourage recycling, residents are being offered the opportunity to try out home composters at massively discounted prices!

We have encouraged nearly 40,000 residents to start home composting, making a significant reduction in the amount of organic waste sent to landfill, but there is still more that can be done. Composting is for everyone - not just for gardeners, just give it a try you'll be surprised how easy it is! 220 litre bins are available for £17.00 (SRP £27.99) and 330 litre bins (about the size of a small wheelie bin) are available at £20.00 (SRP £37.99). There is a limit of 2 bins per household. You can also buy a 7 litre kitchen caddy for only £4.00 when you buy a compost bin (one kitchen caddy per household, whilst stocks last).

The scheme is taking place thanks to a partnership between the County Council and WRAP - the Waste & Resources Action Programme - a government-funded initiative to promote recycling. We have around 270,000 households in the County currently composting their organic waste and they are all enjoying great plant food for their gardens. Composting also cuts down on bills at the garden centre, as making your own costs nothing!! Around 30 per cent of household waste is organic and can be composted, including dead flowers, leaves, grass cuttings, raw fruit and vegetables. Home composting will help people make a valuable contribution to improving the environment by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and provide them with free, nutrient-rich compost for a blooming garden.

Residents can order their compost bin by calling Tel 0845 0770757.

Can you help us spread the composting message?

Durham County Council in association with Wrap are keen to promote the composting message to residents across the County. Volunteers wishing to help promote composting within their local community will be given full training by Wrap to become a "Master Composter" and will support a wider networking group. Anyone wishing to become a Master Composter is required to attend a free 4 day training course provided by Wrap (date & venue to be confirmed). For further information please contact Vicki Burrell (Waste Strategy, Projects and Waste Minimisation Officer) on 0191 3835691 or Vicky Hazell (Waste Technical Support Officer) on 0191 3835553.

County Durham’s Top Village

The search has begun for County Durham’s Calor Village of the Year 2008 and competition organiser Durham Rural Community Council (DRCC) is encouraging entries from every village in the County with a population of 5,000 or less.

The competition is designed to look at four areas of village life: People, Environment, Communication and Business, with judges seeking out “well-balanced, pro-active and caring communities that have made the best local opportunities to enhance the quality of life for all inhabitants”.

Entering the local competition is a great way for community groups - working together with the support of residents - to achieve a common goal. The wining villages will be nominated to go forward to represent the County in the national final with the opportunity of sharing in the prize fund totalling more than £40,000.

Entry form can be requested from DRCC by calling Ken Hazelwood on 01207 529621. The closing date for the County competition is Monday 23 June 2008.

Cassop Does it Again!!

Following on from the school’s success at the 2007 Teaching Awards which we reported in the last issue, Cassop Primary School has opened Cassop Environmental and Sustainability Centre. The Centre, officially launched on 6 May 2008 by Kevin Brennan MP, Undersecretary of State for Children and Young People, is part of “Cassop Environmental Extra”.

The Environmental and Sustainability Centre is a non-profit making project and is supported by Durham County Council, WWF and Durham Wildlife Trust. The project increases the vast educational resource that head teacher, Jim McManners, and his staff have created at the school.

The aims of the Centre are to enable groups of all ages to become more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about environmental and global issues through first hand experience.

For more information or to reserve a slot contact Jim McManners at Cassop Primary School on Tel. 0191 3770293.

New Partnership – New publication Name!

As you will have seen in the previous edition of the County Durham Sustainability and Environment newsletter, we asked for suggestions for a new title for our publication which would capture the essence of the new partnership. John Wearmouth of County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) made the winning suggestion of ‘Sustenance’.

On the theme of suggestions, if there are any particular subjects you wish to be included in your newsletter please let us know! We try to find articles that will be of interest to as broad a range of people as possible but if there’s something you feel is missing please tell us!

Magnesian Limestone Natural Area Partnership

The Magnesian Limestone Natural Area Partnership (MagLime NAP) seeks to inform the work of Natural England, County Durham and other partners within the area of the Magnesian Limestone Plateau. As described in the Forum Reports (page 9), the Landscape Scale Partnership has several aims including acting as an umbrella for environment-led regeneration projects and programmes. The initial stage in the process was to involve all the key stakeholders so that they had the opportunity to develop the vision, the action plan and the partnership. The Environment Council was invited to facilitate the establishment of the MagLime NAP on behalf of all partners and to evaluate the process to capture learning for the development of future partnerships.

Interested organisations in the area were invited to take place in a three stage process that involved a series of developmental, interactive events. These took place throughout February and March and was attended by many organisations from different sectors, including those not traditionally linked with the landscape such as business and education. The workshops focused on key components of the partnership and output includes the vision, action plan, criteria (for prioritising projects), principles and model.

An evaluation of the process has identified a number of learning points both for the MagLime NAP and the application of the set up process to other Partnerships, whether in a different area or of a different scale. The process enabled the partnership to find an agreed way forward which is now being progressed by a Task Group composed of partner volunteers from Durham County Council, Natural England, Forestry Commission, Durham Biodiversity Partnership, Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, Woodland Trust, Durham Heritage Coast and Durham Rural Community Council.

For further information including the Summary Evaluation Report on the Establishment of the MagLime NAP please contact Sue Mullinger on Tel. 0191 3834078 or Ingo Schüder on Tel. 0191 2293386 .

Action Packed Futures Festival 2008 Important update

In the spring issue of the newsletter, we reported that this year's 'Action Packed Futures Festival' was scheduled to take place on Sunday 6 July at the Chester-le-Street Riverside Park. We are sorry to inform you that the event will no longer be taking place on this date. The Festival Steering Group hope that the event will still be able to go ahead later in the year and are working to try and make this possible but at this stage are not in a position to confirm any more details. If you have already booked your place at this year's festival we will be contacting you all directly over the coming weeks.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but hope to report more positive news in the future. Further updates will be provided via email or visit www.durham.gov.uk/la21.

Doing it Different: Part deux!!

You may have caught the TV programme ‘The Woman who stops Traffic’ shown on Channel 4 earlier in the year. The programme showed how Kris Murrin worked with officers in Durham County Council and other organisations to persuade people to try a different (and more sustainable) mode of transport for the day.

At the time the council received feedback from people saying ‘I would have done it differently if the weather was better’ or ‘If I’d know about it earlier I’d have given it ago?’ or ‘How do we get involved?’

We’re keen to promote sustainable travel in Durham and would like to prove that people weren’t just doing it for the cameras, as well as give all those people who would like to have taken part, a chance to join in.

Now, freed from TV scheduling restrictions that meant a group of determined, hardy souls braved the weather on a wet, windy, wet, cold and wet day in January, we’d like to challenge the people of Durham to ‘Do it Different’ again. We’re planning two events this year, aimed at promoting sustainable travel and encouraging less dependency on the motor car.

The first, on Thursday 19 June , will be aimed at encouraging businesses in and around Durham City to promote sustainable travel options to their workforce.

The second promotion will be a series of events in European Mobility Week, from 16 - 22 September. During this week we will be launching a number of physical improvements around the County which promote sustainable travel and will be holding events such as ‘The Durham Big Ride’ and working with organisations to improve sustainable travel around the County.

If you or your workplace would like further information or are interested in taking part, please email travelplanning@durham.gov.uk..

Team Update

Stephen Beresford has been appointed the new Sustainable Development Officer. Stephen has been with the County Council for 8 years and was previously Sustainability Assistant in the team.

Jonathan Seymour has joined the Sustainability Team as the new Officer Supervisor from the Environmental Health section at Sedgefield Borough Council.

Jacqui Warren is leaving for pastures new. Jacqui, the Sustainable Communities Officer, who has successfully delivered the Brighter Futures Together Toolkit will be Sustainability Officer at City of York Council. She will be greatly missed but we wish her well for the future!

Recycle Now Week 2 - 8 June 2008

Once again the Waste Awareness Partnership led by Durham County Council are supporting the Government's Annual National Campaign called "Recycle Now Week". A series of waste awareness roadshows are being held across County Durham to promote waste minimisation, reuse, recycling and composting to the public. Free promotional items will be given away at the events as well as advice given. We have three confirmed events happening across the County, two of which have a theatrical group in attendance called "The Lord of the Bins". The act will be providing entertainment and advice on waste reduction & recycling to the public. The following dates have been confirmed:

Thursday 5 June, 2008 - Asda, Bishop Auckland (Lord of the Bins attending)

Friday 6 June, 2008 - Durham Market Place (Lord of the Bins attending)

Sunday 8 June, 2008 - Raby Castle Plant Fair, Staindrop

Greener living advice for communities and homes

On 2 April 2008 the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn launched the Act on CO₂ Advice Line as part of a package of measures to tackle climate change on an individual and community level. The national free advice line has been set up to help the public reduce their carbon footprint, save water and reduce waste.

The Energy Saving Trust, which will operate the service, will be given more than £100m over the next three years to deliver a broader programme for green homes. The agenda will include a network of one-stop advice centres to be opened around the country over the next 12 months.

Mr Benn said "If we do this together, as a community, and tell each other about what we're doing, and support each other, then transforming our country together will be a lot easier than if we pretend we're doing this alone".

The Act On CO₂ Advice Line is 0800 512012 or further details can be found by visiting the Energy Saving Trust website.

Gold Mine

In recent years Killhope Lead Mining Museum in the North Pennines has been making progress in turning itself into a beacon of sustainability. The museum, near Cowshill in the North Pennines, has recently been awarded the gold standard from the Green Business Tourism team. The Lead Mining Museum also received a gold award the North East Tourism Awards in the Sustainable Tourism category.

Killhope has been establishing wildlife areas and stocking local and environmentally friendly products in its shop in addition to its excellent educational work with local schools.

The museum is committed to increasing its environmental credentials and is continually trying to develop the reservoirs and woodland at Killhope.

For more information tel. 01388 537505.