Our whole group meeting was held on Tuesday 19th March, in The Globe Community Library, North Road Stokesley, from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. As well as hearing updates from the various sub-groups we focused on planning for Big Green Week (8-16 June).
Read about what was discussed at our February meeting.
Notes from March’s Meeting
Matters Arising
Coat of Hopes
The Coat of Hopes was created to capture people’s hopes for the future ahead of COP26, after going on a pilgrimage to Glasgow, now it is on continuing pilgrimage across the UK. The Coat of Hopes is currently at Roots Farm Shop, having received loads of tender loving care at our Repair Cafe last Saturday.
If you didn’t see it at the Repair Cafe then go to Roots on Wednesday 20th 6.30pm – 8.30pm to see the coat, hear about why it was created and see what other people hope for. Or on Thursday 21st you can join the pilgrimage and walk with the Coat of Hopes.
Reply from Rishi
CASaV wrote to ask Rishi Sunak to reverse his erroneous actions on developing further UK oil and gas, we explained how new information has shown that UK oil and gas will not reduce UK energy prices and will not increase UK energy security.
However, Rishi Sunak did not acknowledge the facts we had presented him with, but instead stated that UK oil and gas was essential for UK energy security and has to trounce all other considerations.
Darlington and Stockton Climate Columns
The column written by Kate on the peril of plastic was published late week, which we highlighted with a display and leaflet at Saturday 16th March’s Repair Cafe.
April – Bridget – No mow May / Bloom in June
May – Kate – Climate justice
June – Mark – Energy – LEAD project
Updates from CASaV Groups
Energy
Research
Caryn was interviewed as part of a project to understand how to decarbonise off-grid houses by a researcher from Sheffield Hallam University. Caryn’s house is not connected to the gas grid, so she was asked about what systems the house has, why these systems and what could be improved or done differently if she was to do things now.
Action: All contact Caryn if you want to contribute to this research.
HUG2 Meeting
The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub embedded within the Tees Valley Combined Authority has arranged a meeting in April at Stokesley Town Hall to engage with people about local decarbonisation of domestic heat.
LEAD – Local Energy Advice Demonstrator
Launch events have been rescheduled and now planned for w/c 27/5 Stokesley, w/c 10/6 Great Ayton and w/c 24/6 Potto.
Food
Seed share
Wendy had her annual free seed stall at the Farmers’ Market on 2nd March in Stokesley. This year as last year there was more interest in vegetable seeds than flower seeds, in contrast to previous years where flower seeds were more popular.
Perennial vegetables
Nature’s World – 30 years ago, Anne was part of the team which planted the forest garden at Nature’s World. Forest gardens involve multilayer planting of perennial plants, which both provide food as the garden matures and increases biodiversity. Having given a talk to Middlesbrough Climate Action Group, Anne saw that we could do it again and the booklet “Grow with Nature” explains a lot of the concepts.
Yatton House
The Yatton House Garden is making good progress with an area due to be planted with perennial vegetables donated by CASaV members, it is open every Tuesday afternoon, go and have a look.
Food share
Jenny is now collecting from the new Premier store in Great Ayton, this is welcome addition as there is now less waste food from the Coops since they stopped putting dates on fruit / vegetables. Looking into whether there may also be excess food from petrol station in Great Ayton.
Eco-shop in Stokesley
There is a small chance that an “economical shop” will be opened in Stokesley, where people pay a fixed amount and are able to choose certain number of items.
Long Table in Stroud
The Long Table is a restaurant where you pay what you can afford or you can donate pay it forward meals for people who can’t afford anything, they have a daily no choice menu using food that would have gone to waste. A bit similar to NiteLight in Middlesbrough who also provide a pay it forward scheme to donate meals for people who can’t afford anything.
Nature
Dark Skies
A Dark Skies event was held in the Discovery Centre in Great Ayton and a leaflet has been produced, which explains why dark skies are important and what you can do to make our skies darker.
Gardening for Wildlife
A talk on Gardening for Wildlife was given in Faceby, much of the content of which you can learn from our gardening for biodiversity leaflet
River Leven
The River Leven group has been inactive for a while, but now a new River Leven officer has been appointed activity should increase, with a meeting expected in May.
Nature Group Meeting on Thursday 21st 3.30pm in the Globe
Transport
Road safety
Barry at webinar this evening to quiz mayoral candidates on road safety.
Moorsbus
Moorsbus will running at weekends from 1st June to end of September.
Waste
Repair Cafes
Stokesley Repair Cafes are now tackling approximately 80 items per Cafe and Swainby around 60 items per Cafe. Last Saturday we had 3 volunteers from Richmond who are looking at setting up a repair cafe in Richmondshire, plus a fact finder from Osmotherley looking at whether a repair cafe would be possible in Osmotherley.
The existing Repair Cafes could be more effectively used to extend CASaV’s effect with some volunteers specifically being available to talk about climate and nature. The Repair Cafes are already successful at engagement for example with the Coat of Hopes last Saturday and other activities at previous Repair Cafes on climate justice, warm homes, energy efficiency.
Action: Simon create adverts for additional volunteers
Stokesley Scouts
Stokesley Scouts reached out to the Repair Cafe for help with converting broken tents into aprons and bags, Kate will provide support and investigate who we can work with the Scouts on both repair and climate/nature activities.
Plastic Peril
Following the article in the Darlington and Stockton Times a leaflet has been produced and a display providing visual nudges on who to reduce your plastic use.
A number of groups are keen to use our displays – Labman and Osmotherley Decarbonisation Group.
Agony Aunt
Kate is answering 2 or 3 questions on waste through our Facebook group every week – typically people asking how to get items repaired or how to recycle.
Blister packs
Many people are still keen to recycle blister packs, but their are no local schemes now that the Superdrug scheme has been reduced to personal use in stores with pharmacies of which the nearest are Harrogate and Chester-le-Street. Boots announced that it had a global recycling scheme for blister packs, but it turns out the only stores which accept blister pack are in the south of England with disappointingly none in the north.
Osmotherley Environment Group
The group will hold a coffee morning with seed swap on Saturday 23rd at 10am in Osmotherley Village Hall. Further events are being planned for April which the village cafe goes on holiday and also somethings in Great Big Green Week. The group has a Facebook page.
Guisborough Eco Group
Next meeting 8th April 4pm Guisborough Library – Stronger Shores talk with interactive experiments – manufacture biodegradeable plastic from kelp (used for the window in sandwich boxes).
30th March – 9.30am – 11.30am – Sewing Repair Cafe plus SusTrans bike safety checks.
Also looking into arranging demonstrations on how to make your own toiletries at future repair cafes. Group website – https://guisboroughecogroup.co.uk/
Zero Carbon
Climate Mayoral hustings
The North Yorkshire Climate Coalition (of which CASaV is a member) is talking on behalf of us to all the candidates.
Friends of the Earth and other groups are holding an online hustings on 22nd April on Climate Change with all the candidates invited to answer questions on the climate. We are hoping to have attendance from many organisation as well as 1000’s of residents. All candidates apart from conservative are able to attend.
Friends of the Earth has put together a comprehensive climate policy for the mayor – climate action plan.
The Yorkshire & Humber Climate Coalition has put together 4 Key Challenges for all the metro mayors in the region – climate talking points.
North Yorkshire Council Climate Strategy
Bridget attended a workshop in Harrogate organised by North Yorkshire Council to address their “Climate Change Delivery Pathway” with the community. The meeting was attended by 25 people the majority from close to Harrogate (North Yorkshire is a big county). 5 areas are addressed in 30 minute sessions, the councils pathway in 1 Mitigation: Built Environment, 2 Mitigation: Transport, 3 Mitigation : Renewable and community energy, 4 Supporting Nature – this includes landuse / farming, 5 Engagement and communications. A lot of time was spent on engagement and communications. There is also a webinar on Thursday 21st 7pm – 8.30pm – contact Jos Holmes if you want to attend and say which 2 of the 5 themes you are intersted in.
NYC Climate Change Strategy – currently only the draft version is available online.
Communications
Pull-up banners – looking to get 2 eco-banners (PET not PVC, wood frame) – one why CASaV exists and how to join / find more information and a further one to highlight how you can get involved with CASaV or to highlight CASaV’s activities. You can help / What can you do? Join up one stress that everybody’s welcome.
The first version drafts are:
Action: All – email suggestions for poster content / format
Gazebo – we will purchase a pop-up 3m x 3m commercial gazebo for use at events – https://www.costway.co.uk/3-x-3m-pop-up-commercial-gazebo-with-sidewall.html
Great Big Green Week: 8-16th June
Events
Looking to engage other organisations: Christ Church Great Ayton / Osmotherley Decarbonisation Group / Parish Councils / Stall Great Ayton Fete 8th June (highlight nature – last year gave away sunflower plants) / Repair Cafe 8th June Stokesley / Guisborough Eco-event 8th June.
Action: All – reach out to other groups to encourage events for Great Big Green Week and offer CASaV support to publicise etc.
Climate Action Stokesley and Villages 
