On Tuesday 15th April the second of CASaV’s bi-monthly talks on “Revitalising our Estuaries: Tales from the River Tees” was be given by Henry Short and Judy Power from the Tees Rivers Trust.
Many of the UK’s estuaries have experienced high levels of pollution and habitat loss over the last 100 years leading to localised extinctions of many species. The River Tees is no exception with 90% or intertidal habitat lost to land reclamation, and the river being declared ecologically dead in the 1970s. The Tees used to be home to both Oysters and seagrass, but populations of both have dropped drastically around the UK in the last 50 years and have become extinct in the Tees.
The team at the Tees Rivers Trust are working to bring them back. This talk explored the biology of these species, the reasons for their decline, methods and challenge behind restoration and the benefits that these species can provide.
If you missed the talk you can watch a recording, see the presentation slide and read a summary here.
Climate Action Stokesley and Villages – Monthly Meeting
The talk was followed by updates on CASaV activities.
1. Energy:
- Scaling Back of Advice on Home Improvements and Energy Saving: On behalf of North Yorkshire Climate Coalition being put together by Zero Carbon Harrogate was putting together a bid to the combined York and North Yorkshire Mayor’s carbon negative fund to provide 6 one stop pop-up shops around North Yorkshire to provide home improvement and energy saving advice over 2 years. This bid would have included a shop in Northallerton, so CASaV as part of NYCC has provided a letter of support. Just before submission the bid was scaled back to 3 locations over 1 years so as to meet the fund cost requirements and so there will no longer be anything happening locally, as Northallerton was not deemed to be sufficiently large compared to other locations in York and North Yorkshire. We await sight of the final bid application in order to assess what might be possible locally in the future.
2. Nature and Biodiversity:
- Heather Burning Consultation: A government consultation on the burning of heather is a significant concern for some members, particularly regarding air quality in the local area during periods of low wind. Please participate in the consultation: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/peatland-protection-team/heather-and-grass-burning-in-england/ You can learn about the background to why moor burning is an issue from our article in the Darlington and Stockton Times – with links on our website here.
- New Biodiversity Legislation: New legislation coming into effect in December is being met with “outrage” and claims of being “not workable” by landowners. However, positive intentions of the legislation, focusing on biodiversity, flood risk management, climate action, and air quality. We should be encouraging public support for these aims to counteract landowner lobbying.
- Friends of Great Ayton Station Planters: The group is facilitating the purchase of new planters for Great Ayton station, funded by Friends of Great Ayton Station, with a focus on pollinator-friendly planting.
- Swift Boxes: Efforts are underway to install swift boxes donated some years ago, with the Tannery in Great Ayton being a potential location.
- Weed Killer on Football Fields: A query was received regarding the use of weed killer on football fields in Great Ayton, but the group lacked the capacity to follow it up. A forthcoming bill in Parliament aims to restrict pesticide use by parish and town councils, which the Nature group will address.
- Collaboration with Stokesley Station Coffee + Kitchen: The Food and Nature groups are collaborating with the plant-based cafe/restaurant at Stokesley station to develop their garden, including ideas for planting and a child-focused watering initiative.
- Connection with Stokesley Primary School Gardening Projects: The group is establishing connections with the primary school involved in gardening projects.
- Nature Journaling Idea: Following a visit to the Harrogate Climate Coalition, an idea emerged to potentially organise nature journaling sessions as a different type of activity to engage a wider audience and address potential eco-anxiety. This would involve a paper-based journal for observations of nature (photos, drawings, collected items).
- Zen Pen Sessions: “Zen Pen” is described as a nature-based mindful creative writing session run by Jackie , which helps people relax and connect with nature. There is a suggestion to potentially run Zen Pen sessions in June, possibly outdoors, perhaps at the Yaton House community garden.
3. Transport and Infrastructure:
- Speed Monitoring for 20mph Limits: The group has met with the highways team to discuss monitoring speed levels in Stokesley and Great Ayton. If average speeds are below 24mph in identified areas, the council is willing to consider implementing 20mph speed limits. Monitoring sites have been identified, and funding options (potentially Section 106 money) are being explored.
4. Waste and Circular Economy:
- Repair Cafe Success: The repair cafe is reported to be going well, having themed events focused on circularity. It is recognised as a leading repair cafe based on recorded data, with 36 events held. Other repair cafes in the surrounding area (Middlesbrough, Northallerton, Saltburn, Guisborough) are also increasing, and there is new interest from Ingleby Barwick.
- Mend It May: A related initiative, “Mend It May,” organised by members of the Repair Cafe Sewing Team, will involve two free basic sewing/mending sessions to teach skills like sewing buttons and hemming. Attendees will receive a small sewing kit, utilising donated materials from the Repair Cafe.
5. Community Engagement and Well-being:
- Eco-Anxiety: Discussion arose about how to support people, particularly younger individuals, experiencing eco-anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by climate change, leading to inaction. The nature journaling and Zen Pen ideas are partly seen as ways to address this by offering more accessible and less overtly action-oriented engagement with nature.
- Collaboration with Yaton House Community Garden: The Yaton House community garden is suggested as a potential venue for events like nature journaling or even the AGM. The manager is supportive and can discuss their work on sustainability with adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.
- Sustainable Coast: As part of Scarborough Big Ideas by the Sea festival on Saturday 17th May 12pm to 3pm – Sustainable Coast: What is going on with the sea? What do we want the sea to be? With talks by Paul Rose, Hugo Tagholm (OCEANA), and Mike Cohen (National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations). St. Mary’s Church, Castle Road, Scarborough. A Pay What You Feel Event, booking recommended. – https://www.bigideasbythesea.com
- Easter Egg Donation for Nightlight: Please contact Jenny Earle if you have unwanted Easter eggs which will be donated to Nadia for the Nightlite charity – jennyearle@casav.uk.
- Climate Column in Local Publication: CASaV produces a monthly climate column. The recent article was on encouraging wilder gardens (“Let it Grow”) – https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/25065156.embracing-uncut-grass-now-vital-ever/. Ideas are being sought for future articles (around 500 words, with potential for accompanying images). The articles have been well received by the readership, with one letter of complaint after article linking continuing peat burning to air pollution risks.
- Meeting Schedule: The next meeting is scheduled for the third Tuesday of May (20th of May). The group aims to have plans for the Big Green Week more developed by then.
Climate Action Stokesley and Villages 