Welcome to May’s Update from Climate Action Stokesley & Villages

Thank you for your role in taking urgent action globally and locally on climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.

Diary dates

(event details below)

• Tuesday 21st May 7.30-9pm Whole group meeting, the Globe, Stokesley
• 1st – 31st May ‘No Mow May’
• Saturday 6th – Sunday 12th May National Hedgerow Week
• Tuesday 14th May 1.30-3pm Yatton House Community Garden Working Party, Great Ayton
• Tuesday 14th May 7.00pm Waste group meeting by zoom (details below)
• Thursday 16th May 3.30pm Nature group meeting, the Globe, Stokesley
• Saturday 18th May 10.00-12.00 May Repair Cafe, Bike Health Checks & #Mend It May, Swainby Village Hall
• Wednesday 22nd May 6.00-7.30pm ‘The Energy Source Challenge in Rural Britain’ Talk, Chapelgarth, Great Broughton
• Tuesday 28th May 6.30pm Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) Presentation, Stokesley Town Hall
• Thursday 30th May 7.00pm Food group meeting by zoom (details below)
• Monday 3rd June 7.30pm ‘A Rubbish Talk’, Osmotherley Village Hall

Coming Soon:

Great Big Green Week 8th – 16th June

Great Big Green Week 2024

• Saturday 8th June 10-12 Repair Cafe & ‘Mend in Public’ event, the Globe & town centre, Stokesley
• Saturday 8th June 9.30 & 11.30 Flower Field Tour, Ingelby Greenhow
• Saturday 8th June 1.00-4.00pm CASaV stall at the Village Fair, Great Ayton
• Saturday 8th – Saturday 15th June Environment / Climate Action Displays at the Globe Stokesley, the Discovery Centre Great Ayton, the Hub Hutton Rudby, Labman Seamer
• Wednesday 12th June 6.30pm Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) Presentation, Discovery Centre, Great Ayton
• Friday 14th June 9-12 CASaV Information Stall including LEAD promotion, Stokesley Market

Later in June:

Saturday 22nd June 12.00 Restore Nature Now Gathering, Central London

More information here restorenaturenow

Newsletter

Our online newsletter / magazine focuses on our group’s values and purpose, summed up by our motto ‘Think global, act local’, beginning with global / national / county issues including ways in which you can influence policy, followed by local news and activities you can participate in that develop our relationship with the environment and fight climate change and biodiversity loss.  

Currently we have over 500 people who have joined our Facebook group and nearly 400 people have signed up to our regular emails which is brilliant as this tells us that a lot of local people are interested in what we stand for and what we do as a group. We aim to arrange a wide range of local events and activities each month to inform anyone and everyone about the impact of climate breakdown and diversity loss and importantly engage people in ways that they can individually and as a community act to bring about change.

We have a strong core of active members who arrange these events and activities alongside promoting and communicating how we think globally and act locally but we need more to join us! Please get in touch if you have an interest in being active in supporting our aims if you have:

Organisational skills – join one of our subgroups to help plan events

Repair / people / event skills – volunteering at our Repair Cafes – we welcome fixers of anything and everything plus people who like people and have event running skills

Media / communication skills – help us promote what we do through all forms of communication – online and face to face at our events such as our market stalls and Repair Cafes

Care about food waste and / or want to help those in food poverty – join our rota for collecting surplus food and distributing to those in need

Creative skills – help us design our leaflets and promotional materials

Networking skills – help us reach out to local community groups including schools and businesses to spread our aims

“Think global”

National and global climate action news and campaigns

1st – 31st May ‘No Mow May’

Why do we need No Mow May?

According to the environmental charity Plantlife we’ve lost approximately 97% of flower-rich meadows since the 1930’s and with them gone are vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies.

But your lawn can help! A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground. With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate.

This is why Plantlife calls for people to get involved with #NoMowMay every year, and let wild plants get a head start on the summer.

Best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May and beyond!

How to take part

• Register your lawn or green space. Click here – this helps us to better understand the total number and size of lawns the UK is letting grow for nature.
• Do nothing and let your lawn grow this May… and beyond.

CASaV members have also been active in Hutton Rudby, Stokesley and Great Ayton liaising with the town councils to facilitate some areas of land managed by the councils to remain unmowed this year.

In previous years biodiversity in the unmown council managed areas has significantly increased, for example in 2022, following only cutting the Great Ayton floodplain meadow once in late summer of 2021, it was amazing how many wild flowers flowered that year. Having surveyed the meadow over that summer 136 different species of plants were identified by local expert botanist Martin Allen.

“When I visited in July there were bees on the thistle flowers, hoverflies on the white hogweed, with butterflies flitting in between, and when I walked through the long grass small clouds of a white micro-moth took to the air – this year has been a big pollinator success story for the Floodplain Meadow.” Martin Allen

Visit our website Floodplain meadow – Climate Action Stokesley and Villages to find out more about the work to manage the floodplain meadow to increase biodiversity.

For more information have a look at our Darlington and Stockton Times Climate Column The environmental benefits of taking part in No Mow May article

Saturday 6th – Sunday 12th May National Hedgerow Week

Hedgerows are the often-unsung heroes of the British countryside, yet they form the UK’s largest wildlife habitat, are a major part of our landscape and cultural heritage, and are crucial to halting biodiversity decline and tackling climate change.

Hedge Talks is a series of webinars run by the environmental charity Hedgelink celebrating all that our unsung hedgerow heroes do for us and the environment. They have collected some of the brightest minds in the world of hedges to speak about everything hedgerow!

Also National Hedgerow Week coincides with National Plant Health Week. We all need to do our bit to support hedgerow health, and sometimes that just involves knowing what to look for, and then letting others know! Observatree hosts lots of handy guides and if you do discover any pests and diseases, report them using Forest Research’s  Tree Alert

“Act Local”

This month’s local activities and ideas from our focus groups (Nature, Food, Waste, Energy, Transport) to address biodiversity loss and fight climate breakdown

CASaV Monthly Meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Tuesday 21st May 7.30-9pm

Our next whole group meeting will be on Tuesday 21st May, 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 will have a discussion about the effect of recent weather on food production in the UK and the possible/probable consequences on food prices and food security.planning as well as activities for Great Big Green Week. All welcome!

This is the link to last month’s meeting’s minutes to give a flavour of what we discuss https://climateactionstokesleyandvillages.org/2024/04/03/casav-monthly-meeting-tuesday-16th-april-2024/

Tuesday 14th May, 1:30-3:00pm Gardening working party, Yatton House Community Garden, Great Ayton

There will be a working party on Tuesday 14th May from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Yatton House Community Garden, Guisborough Road, Great Ayton. This is the session rescheduled after inclement weather in April. We will be planting out a selection of perennial vegetable plants. The plants were provided by CASaV members by splitting plants they have in their gardens/allotments. All welcome to come and help with the planting or to have a look around.

Saturday 18th May 10-12 noon Repair Cafe, Bike Health Checks plus free #Mend It May skills workshops, Swainby Village Hall

Our monthly Repair Cafe will be at Swainby Village Hall on Saturday 18th May 10-12.

Alongside our pink T shirted repair volunteers fixing your household items – electrical appliances, wooden furniture, toys & bikes, laptops & mobile phones, blades needing sharpening – the sewing team will also be sharing their skills in darning and visible mending as part of Mend It May, an anti fast fashion initiative encouraging us all to dress sustainably by taking care of our existing clothing and mend rips and tears to extend the life of our wardrobe. Bring along any item of clothing – socks, jumpers, jeans, shirts – and learn creative repair skills. You will be encouraged to post pictures of your creations to social media to spread the word!

Sadly Sustrans couldn’t make it to our April Repair Cafe, but Bicycle Health Expert Andy from Sustrans is joining us to provide free bicycle ‘health checks’ – a thorough check over of your bike to check it’s road worthiness plus small repairs and advice where needed.

May is also BigFix month an initiative that Recycle Devon started a decade ago as a single day and is now a national month. So May’s Repair Cafe will be reporting its repairs to BigFix to add to the national total of repairs carried out in BigFix month – https://www.recycledevon.org/blog/the-big-fix-2024/

As usual, through coming to the Repair Cafe you can save yourself money, the earth’s resources and prevent climate damaging gases from waste going to incineration or landfill. On average, we manage to fix 70% of items, give advice on possible repair steps for 20% and how best to recycle the 10% that are sadly beyond repair (statistics). But 100% of attendees are offered free refreshments of tea, coffee or juice as well as cakes and biscuits!

This month’s free refreshments include Fair Trade beverages and home made sweet treats made with Fair Trade ingredients, kindly donated by Stokesley Co-op, facilitated by Eileen Driver.

New repair and reception volunteers always welcome – come along, have a cuppa and a chat or email Simon Gibbon.

Wednesday 22nd May 18.00-19.30 ‘The Energy Source Challenge in Rural Britain’ Talk, Chapelgarth, Great Broughton

Part of the Global Tees Short Talks three fascinating illustrated talks on the ‘Energy Source Challenge in Rural Britain’ will take place at the beautiful surroundings of the Writers Retreat, Chapel Garth in Great Broughton.  

Chaired by Dr Marcella Sutcliffe, talks will be given by Professor Aimee Ambrose on Decarbonising Off Grid Homes, Dr Rokia Raslan on The Challenge to Decarbonise and Emily Dowd on Methane Leaks detected from Outer Space.A number of members of CASaV have been interviewed by Prof Ambrose’s team as part of her project on improving understanding of how to decarbonise off grid homes funded by Northern Power Grid and Northern Gas Network. So hopefully we will get some early insights into what the team have learned as part of this ongoing project. https://www.shu.ac.uk/centre-regional-economic-social-research/projects/all-projects/decarbonisation-solutions-for-off-grid-communities

All welcome to this free event with donations welcomed towards Actions Around Bethlehem Children (ABCD) Charity. More information here chapelgarth

Tuesday 28th May 6.30pm Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) Presentation, Stokesley Town Hall

LEAD is a £1.2M scheme to stimulate demand for energy efficiency measures in homes across North Yorkshire. The funding has been received from the Department of Energy Security and NET Zero and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be focusing around retrofitting homes to reduce energy consumption. The project will be piloted in seven neighbourhoods around Stokesley and other towns across North Yorkshire.

Led by North Yorkshire Council, the scheme will be focused on specific streets, villages and neighbourhoods where studies have highlighted priority areas and where interest in tackling climate change through retrofitted schemes has been shown. Households in these pilot areas will be offered a free ‘whole house plan’ – a survey of their homes with advice on what would be needed to make them more energy efficient such as new windows and doors, or cavity wall and loft insulation.

A SERIES OF FREE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ORGANISED STARTING ON MONDAY 28TH MAY AT 6.30PM IN STOKESLEY TOWN HALL. FURTHER PRESENTATIONS WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY 12TH JUNE 6.30PM AT THE DISCOVERY CENTRE, GREAT AYTON AND ALSO AT POTTO VILLAGE HALL DATE TBC AS WELL AS AN INFORMATION STALL AT STOKESLEY MARKET ON 14TH JUNE.

ALL WELCOME.

CASaV is actively involved in facilitating this project led by Mark Lewis, one of our CASaV members interested in Energy.

If you are interested in having an audit of your house, please contact us and we will send you information now.

Monday 3rd June 7.30pm ‘A Rubbish Talk’, Osmotherley Village Hall

Environment & Climate Osmotherley (ECO) Group (see below) have organised ‘A Rubbish Talk’ by Tracey Flint, Recycling Officer at North Yorkshire Council on Monday 3rd June at 7:30 pm in Osmotherley Village Hall. A free event where Tracey will cover household recycling, what you can recycle via your kerbside bins and also via other council recycling facilities as well as how the rest of your waste is used.  

Issues / ideas from the groups: Environment & Climate Osmotherley (ECO) Group

CASaV is delighted to have been joined by Environment & Climate Osmotherley (ECO) which is a group of like-minded villagers with shared concerns around our environment & climate change. Their lead, Rebecca Wright notes “We meet once a month & also have four sub-groups exploring Decarbonisation, Sustainability, Flora & Fauna who meet regularly. We hope to encourage other residents & visitors to our village to adopt a more thoughtful & sustainable approach to our environment, and also work with the relevant local authorities to promote sustainable living.”

Contact for more information

Issues / ideas from the groups: Nature

This month’s Nature Group meeting is at 15.30, Thursday 23rd May at the Globe Library In Stokesley. Please join us there.

Contact  Bridget Holmstrom for information

Yorkshire Peat Partnership needs your help!

Did you know that northern Yorkshire’s peatlands currently store 27,410,845 tonnes of carbon?

York Peat Partnership covers an operational area containing 92,946 ha hectares of blanket bog, of which the majority is sadly damaged and leaking carbon back to the atmosphere. 27% of England’s blanket bog is in North Yorkshire, making this a landscape deserving of protection.

Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) is looking for volunteers to help monitor the peat moorlands as part of their restoration work. If anyone is interested in finding out more please contact Bridget Holmstrom.

There are a couple of different opportunities.

1. Nature for Climate (NFC) monitoring campaigns (July-August + October-November – various sites in the North Yorkshire Moors/Yorkshire Dales)

Vegetation monitoring will be carried out during July/August this year on a number of the restoration sites in the North York Moors – the dates/invitations for these days will come out via email later this year to those who contact YPP.

Volunteers can sign up to any days they are available to help and the day will involve visiting plots to conduct vegetation surveys with assistance with a YPP member of staff.

Dipwell monitoring campaign will also be carried out during October-November this year, each of our sites will be visited every 2 weeks during the 12 week period to collect dipwell data with volunteers.

The emails will be sent later in the year to ask if any volunteers can assist on the dates they plan to visit sites.

2. Eyes on the Bog monitoring plots (2-4 times a year on assigned plots usually 1 location)

The long term monitoring programme will be rolled out across the North York Moors and this is where volunteers are responsible for monitoring their own plots 2-4 times a year and sending YPP the data. YPP will arrange plots to be installed on sites accessible for the volunteers and provide training/support/equipment.

If interested, contact YPP (see above) who will be sending a save the date invitation out in the next week or so. This event is not essential to attend for volunteers and other training days in the North York Moors will be arranged once it is confirmed which sites they will be installing plots.

Ideas from the groups: Food

This month’s Food Group meeting is on Thursday 23rd May 19.00

by zoom – contact Wendy for a link to join

May Seasonal eating

Eating food in season (local as far as possible) can have substantial positive impact on climate breakdown by reducing high-energy input from artificial heating or lighting needed to produce crops out of the natural growing season. In May’s section we will look at what foods are in season right now together with a seasonal recipe.

Right now the following are freshly in season: asparagus, basil, broccoli, carrots, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, jersey royal and new potatoes, lettuce and salad leaves, mint, nasturtium, new potatoes, parsley, oregano, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, rosemary, sage, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, tarragon, watercress, wild nettles, wild garlic

Growing Your Own: May tips

Home-grown food does not need to be transported from source to market. This reduces air pollution as planes, ships, trucks and cars are not used to bring the food to your plate. It’s also been shown that growing your own leads to less food waste and you can ensure that it is grown without artificial fertilisers, pesticdes and herbicdes. This year, why not try one new vegetable, such as salsify sometimes called the vegetable oyster! Grows like a parsnip. Or Golden beetroot or Romanesco calabrese (produces the beautiful green heads you only occasionally see in a greengrocer. Mathematicians may notice the fractal design of the florets!)

Recipe of the month: Asparagus & new potato frittata

Recipe here

More information here:

Seasonal eating

how-to-eat-seasonally

Foodshare: Now Premier Food Store as well as the Co-ops

Every night, every week Jenny Earle, joint Food Group lead, organises volunteers to collect surplus food from our local Co-op stores as well as the new Premier Food Store in Great Ayton. The food is then distributed locally to those in need, not only reducing food waste which produces carbon gases affecting our climate but also providing a huge benefit to the community.

New volunteers are always welcome, please contact.

Ideas from the groups: Waste

This month’s Waste group meeting Wednesday 14th May 7.00pm by zoom – contact Simon Gibbon for a link to join, (previous notes)

Not-so-local Repair Cafes –  Middlesbrough (11th May)

The Stokesley and Villages Repair Cafe (next one 18th May Swainby Village Hall) has been helping other areas to start repair cafes.  Saltburn Repair Cafe held its second cafe on 6th April in the Community Hall (Facebook) and another will take place on Saturday July 6th and Middlesbrough Friends of the Earth has plans for its first repair cafe on 11th May in the Friends Meeting House on Cambridge Road – (Facebook). If you know people in Saltburn or Middlesbrough suggest they volunteer to get these off the ground, so much to repair so little time, so more hands make lighter work.  The contacts are Rob Tucker to volunteer for Middlesbrough (also volunteer meeting at 7pm on 18th April at Meeting House) or Rowan to volunteer for Saltburn.

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle: current local actions you can take to prevent / reduce waste

Whether household waste goes to landfill or incineration climate damaging carbon gases are produced. Here are some current local options for reducing waste at source and for reusing / recycling your unwanted or waste items that will not only cut carbon emissions but in some cases benefit those in our local community. It’s a big win / win.

Shop local – less travel, less packaging

Food at your local farm shop, farmers market or small high street shop is usually locally grown or reared so less carbon emissions and often sold without the layers of plastic packaging so reducing waste. You can usually choose the exact quantity you want so less food waste too. We have some good farm shops nearby including:

Roots Farm Shop & Café, East Rounton DL6 2LE

Fletchers Farm Shop, Woodhouse Farm Great Ayton TS9 6HZ

Spilman’s Farm Shop, Church Farm, Sessay, ThirskYO7 3NB

Five Houses Farm Shop, Crathorne TS15 0AY

Shop in bulk – costs less & less packaging too!

You can also reduce packaging by buying in bulk, particularly through organisations like Zero Waste Bulk Foods. Very simply, you order the food you want then they send food in reusable bags. Once you’ve decanted your food from them, simply return them via pre-paid post. They then take them to a local dry cleaner who washes them to a food safe standard, ready for the next customer.

https://zerowastebulkfoods.co.uk/

Agonising about waste? Waste Agony Aunt is here for you!

Kate from the Waste subgroup is always delighted to receive your queries about how you can reduce / reuse / repurpose / recycle (almost!) any item. Here are some queries she’s received recently:

Q “I’ve been having a garden shed sort out and I’ve got loads of plastic plant pots I can’t use”

A “All Strikes Garden Centres have a reuse / recycling facility”

Klondyke & Strikes Garden Centres say: We are providing our customers with a pot recycling facility through all our garden centres. This will make it easier than ever to reduce unnecessary plastic waste in the garden and prevent further plastic waste ending up in landfill. We can take all shapes, sizes and colours of pot or tray, as long as they’re plastic and not polystyrene. Please wash them before you bring them to us. We will also be offering to recycle your used plastic compost bags.

Q “I’ve got a drawer full of old pens – how can they be recycled?”

A “Rymans have a pen recycling facility”

Rymans offer pen recycling in all of their stores, nearest Northallerton and Darlington. They’ve collected over 1,900,000 pens which they convert into charity donations.

Also ink and toner cartridge recycling is available in all stores and they provide customers with a 50p discount for each cartridge returned (discount is only available when making a subsequent purchase of ink / toner in store on the day of making the return and is for a maximum of 5 cartridges per transaction).

Under the Waste Battery Regulations, they offer a take-back scheme for all portable waste batteries. Recycling boxes can be found in all of their stores, alternatively, you can find your local waste portable battery recycling facility at http://www.recyclenow.co.uk. Most supermarkets and shops that sell batteries will have collection bins for used batteries, and some town halls, libraries or schools may also set up collection points.

Q “I’ve got an old pallet and want ideas how to use it in the garden”

A “Try upcycling a pallet into a herb garden”

How to do it here

Issues / ideas from the groups: Transport

Development of Local Transport Strategy

Barry Warrington, CASaV lead for Transport summarises the Development of the Local Transport Strategy:

During 2023 North Yorkshire County Council initiated a consultative process under the banner of ‘Let’s Talk Transport’. This was in response to the fact that in 2022 the Dept for Transport announced that they expected all local transport authorities to have in place a fit for purpose Local Transport Plan (LTP) which sets out a strategic vision and a case for investment in transport in their area. (Although the government as yet has not provided any guidance as to the nature of such a strategy.)

This consultative exercise has involved an online survey and paper based survey activity, numerous public meetings. Almost 5000 people responded. Subsequently a stakeholder questionnaire was issued to over 700 groups including businesses, charities and interest groups. A total of 100 responses were received. The Council then set in train a process for organisations who had expressed an interest in a more detailed discussion. This is in addition to ongoing liaison with key partners and stakeholders. CASaV have contributed to this process in the form of a document covering 20’s Plenty, Active Travel, Bicycle Bus, Wheels to Work, Public Transport, Charging Points.

In addition Barry Warrington Transport Lead for CASV attended a Zoom meeting on the 20th Oct with related organisation from throughout the County. The meeting attended by the Assistant Director for the Environment and Paul Haslam the lead Councillor for Climate Change provided little more than an insight into the consultative process and an account of the situation to date. It was not a meeting to have any real discussion of possible ‘deliverable’.

An update was provided in a report published by North Yorkshire Council on the 18th December entitled ‘Update on the Development of the New Local Transport Plan – approval to publish public engagement findings’ – 18th December 2023 Update / 4th February 2024 Update.

In terms of Climate Change this document indicated that proposed changes and development were required to take into account ‘How will this proposal impact on the environment’ and that ‘One of the requirements of the new LTP process is to develop a quantitative carbon reduction plan’ ‘One of the governments three policy objectives for the LTP is to reduce impact of transport on the environment’

Read Barry’s full report here: local-transport-strategy-consultative-process/

Signing off

If you have any news or any event / activity you would like promoting on next month’s (June) update please email Kate Gibbon by the end of May.

Kate also helps promote activities via Facebook and Instagram so let her know if there is anything that you would like shared via our Facebook page and Instagram if you are not a Facebook / Instagram user.

Hope to see you at the CASaV whole group gathering on Tuesday 18th May at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Kate Gibbon,

on behalf of the Climate Action Stokesley and Villages Steering Group Steering group:

Bridget Holmstrom, Caryn Loftus, Jack Turton, Ron Kirk and Simon Gibbon

Welcome to April’s Update

from Climate Action Stokesley & Villages

Thank you for your role in taking urgent action globally and locally on climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.

Diary dates

(event details below)

Monday 8th April 18.30-20.00 York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Election Transport Hustings, Friargate Meeting House, York

Tuesday 9th April 13.30-15.00 Gardening working party, Yatton House Community Garden, Great Ayton

Tuesday 9th April 19.00 Waste (& Repair Cafe) subgroup zoom meeting

Saturday 13th April 10.00-12.00 Repair Cafe & Bicycle Event at the Globe, Stokesley

Saturday 13th April 10.00 – 13.00 Coffee & Cake morning with Osmotherley Environment & Climate Group, Osmotherley

Tuesday 16th April 19.30 – 21.00 CASaV whole group meeting, the Globe, Stokesley

Thursday April 16th 19.30 Food subgroup zoom meeting

Thursday April 18th 15.30 Nature subgroup meeting, the Globe, Stokesley

Monday 22nd April 19.00 York & North Yorkshire Mayoral Election Climate & Nature Hustings, online

Monday 22nd April Earth Day – international day of care for the environment

Saturday 27th April Coffee & Cake Morning with Osmotherley Environment & Climate Group, Osmotherley

Wednesday 1st May 10.30 Wildflower Walk, Ingelby Bank Foot

Save the Date! Wednesday 22nd May 18.00-19.30 ‘The Energy Source Challenge in Rural Britain’ Talk, Chapelgarth, Great Broughton (more info next update)

Newsletter

Our online newsletter / magazine focuses on our group’s values and purpose, summed up by our motto ‘Think global, act local’, beginning with global / national / county issues including ways in which you can influence policy, followed by local news and activities you can participate in that develop our relationship with the environment and fight climate change and biodiversity loss.  

Currently we have over 500 people who have joined our Facebook group and nearly 400 people have signed up to our regular emails which is brilliant as this tells us that a lot of local people are interested in what we stand for and what we do as a group. We aim to arrange a good range of local events and activities each month to inform anyone and everyone about the impact of climate breakdown and diversity loss and importantly engage people in ways that they can individually and as a community bring about change.

We have a strong core of activists who arrange these events and activities alongside promoting and communicating how we think globally and act locally but we need more to join us! Please get in touch if you have an interest in being active in supporting our aims if you have:

Organisational skills – join one of our subgroups to help plan events

Repair / people / event skills – volunteering at our Repair Cafes – we welcome fixers of anything and everything plus people who like people and have event running skills

Media / communication skills – help us promote what we do through all forms of communication – online and face to face at our events such as our market stalls and Repair Cafes

Care about food waste and / or want to help those in food poverty – join our rota for collecting surplus food and distributing to those in need

Creative skills – help us design our leaflets and promotional materials

Networking skills – help us reach out to local community groups including schools and businesses to spread our aims

“Think global”

National and global climate action news and campaigns

York & North Yorkshire Mayoral Election

The election for the first York and North Yorkshire Mayor will take place on Thursday 2 May 2024. In the build up to the election different organisations have arranged opportunities for the public to directly question candidates on their plans for a range of issues. Here we are promoting opportunities to question candidates on issues related to climate change.

Monday 8th April 18.30-20.00 York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Election Transport Hustings, Friargate Meeting House, York

The mayor will have powers and funds to improve transport through a consolidated, devolved, multi-year transport settlement, as well as powers for housing and infrastructure, and responsibilities for community safety and other roles currently held by the county’s police, fire and crime commissioner.

York Cycle Campaign and York Civic Trust are heading a list of organisations that are sponsoring an election hustings at Friargate Meeting House in central York on April 8th 18.30-20.00 which will concentrate on transport issues.

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister for the Lib Dems, Keane Duncan for the Conservatives, Kevin Foster of the Green Pary, David Skaith of the Labour party and Independents Paul Haslam and Keith Tordoff are all expected to attend.

Elly Fiorentini of BBC Radio York will moderate a BBC Question Time style question and answer session with the candidates. Everyone is invited to attend.

This meeting follows a York & North Yorkshire Mayoral Transport Hustings Meeting (online) held 19th March 2024 which was attended by Barry Warrington, CASaV Lead for Transport see his full report on our website here: meeting-mayoral-hustings-transport

The York & North Yorkshire (YNY) mayoral candidates views on environmental matters

Community-based environmental groups in the YNY region such as North Yorkshire Climate Coalition (CASaV is part of this), Thirsk Friends of the Earth and York Friends of the Earth are particularly interested to hear how each of the candidates would use the considerable powers available to the new mayor to drive YNY’s transition to become net zero carbon by 2034 and carbon negative by 2040 (routemap). In the run-up to the election, to ensure that voters have the information they need,  NY Climate Coalition wants to highlight where the candidates stand on both local and wider environmental issues (e.g. energy-efficiency and energy infrastructure, rooftop solar, river and marine water quality, restoring nature, ‘green economy’ skills, public transport, active travel, net zero support for business) and have offered them an opportunity to outline their views through a survey.

The results of this survey can be seen via the link below as the candidates respond

nyclimatecoalition.org/mayoral-election-info

Monday 22nd April 19.00 York & North Yorkshire Mayoral Election Climate & Nature Hustings, online (link to register below) – your chance to question the candidates directly

How will the candidates use their powers to tackle the climate and nature emergency? How will this impact our quality of life? Don’t miss an opportunity to find out where the candidates stand at a special online hustings event with candidates on Monday 22 April at 19.00 organised by the NY Climate Coalition.

The following candidates have confirmed their participation:

David Skaith (Labour), Felicity Cunliffe-Lister (Liberal Democrats), Keith Tordoff MBE (Independent), Paul Haslam (Independent), Keane Duncan (Conservative) declined our invitation due to other commitments, Kevin Foster (Green Party) initially accepted our invitation but has withdrawn due to other commitments.

This is your chance to question the mayoral candidates directly on how they will use their considerable power to address climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. The more of us who attend this online meeting, the more impact we can make. This takes place on International Earth Day – attending the online meeting is an important way to demonstrate your care for our environment and everyone’s future

To find out more and register to attend use this link

nyclimatecoalition.org/climate-nature-hustings

Factory Farming, Climate Breakdown & Biodiversity Loss

North Yorkshire has been ranked as the sixth worst county for shocking numbers of animals confined in factory farms according to a recent investigation commissioned by Compassion in World Farming reveals a staggering increase in the numbers of livestock permanently housed indoors or without access to pasture. The full picture of all the UK factory farm data has been pulled together into an interactive map, launched on 13th February

ciwf.org.uk/our-campaigns/factory-farming-map

The map shows ‘hotspot’ counties where large numbers of dairy cows, laying hens, broiler chickens and pigs are permanently housed indoors or without access to pasture, as well as overall numbers of confined livestock per region.

As well as an animal welfare concern, factory farming is a major contributor to the climate change challenge, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

Factory farming produces greenhouse gases throughout the ‘supply chain’. For example, forest clearance to grow the crops and rear the animals reduces vital carbon ‘sinks’ and releases gases previously stored in the soil and vegetation.

Factory farming also requires large amounts of energy in order to function. This isn’t just to rear the animals, but also to grow the vast amounts of feed they need. According to a study published by The Royal Society, feed is the dominant energy user, taking around 75% of the total energy required. The rest is needed for factors such as heating, lighting and ventilation.

In addition, waste from factory farming is polluting our rivers and leading to biodiversity devastation.

If you want to act on this you can contact Compassion in World Farming to know more and support their campaigns here action.ciwf

Also the Soil Association currently has a petition asking the UK Governments to implement a ban on new intensive poultry units, support farmers to exit this damaging industry, and take action to reduce chicken consumption to more sustainable levels.  

soilassociation.org/stop-killing-our-rivers

Monday 22nd April Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970 it is now an international day of promoting care for our environment. This year’s focus is to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of microplastics, rapidly phase out all single use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion. More information here

earthday.org/earth-day-2024/

Last month our Waste group produced a display at the Globe, Stokesley to show highlight the perils of micropastics and how we can all make simple swaps in our household items to reduce single use plastics. The display will return to the Globe this month together with our information leaflet Fight the Plastic Peril, also available from our website

Fight the Plastic Peril

Use your voice to tell co-op stores to take more action on climate change and the environment

The Co-op has become the first UK convenience retailer to have its net zero targets validated by the globally recognised Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). More info here

co-op-net-zero-targets-validated-by-science-based-targets-initiative

But there could be even more done if Co-op members let the company know action on climate change is important to them. If you are a member of Co-op you own a business that is run for and by its members. The Co-op are currently seeking your views and priorities on key issues and what you care about such as climate change, waste, packaging etc. The survey below allows you to express your views, and what you think your Co-op should take action upon.

coop survey

“Act Local”

This month’s local activities and ideas from our focus groups (Nature, Food, Waste, Energy, Transport) to address biodiversity loss and fight climate breakdown

CASaV Monthly Meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Tuesday 16th April 7.30-9pm

Our next whole group meeting will be on Tuesday 16th April, 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 will focus on planning activities for Great Big Green Week. All welcome!

This is the link to last month’s meeting’s minutes to give a flavour of what we discuss – March Meeting Notes.

Tuesday 9th April 13.30-15.00 Gardening working party, Yatton House Community Garden, Great Ayton

There will be a working party next Tuesday 9th April from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Yatton House Community Garden, Guisborough Road, Great Ayton. We will be planting out a selection of perennial vegetable plants. The plants were provided by CASaV members by splitting plants they have in their gardens/allotments. All welcome to come and help with the planting or to have a look around.

Saturday 13th April 10-12 noon Repair Cafe plus Bicycle Event,

The Globe Library, Stokesley

Our monthly Repair Cafe will be at The Globe Library, Stokesley on Saturday 13th April  10-12, together with a Bicycle Health Expert from Sustrans

April is a great month for getting further into the great outdoors on your bike – the air is warmer and nature in springtime is beautiful! As well as bringing along your household items in need of repair- electrical appliances, toys, clothing & textiles, computers (laptops, tablets) & mobile phones, wooden furniture, clocks & watches, blades in need of sharpening – for fixing by our enthusiastic volunteers, we are having a special focus on bicycles. Our trusty bike repairer Pete will be joined by Andrew from Sustrans who will be providing free bicycle ‘health checks’ – making sure your bike is ready for the road and giving advice and simple repairs if it isn’t.

Through coming to the Repair Cafe you can save yourself money, the earth’s resources and prevent climate damaging gases from waste going to incineration or landfill. On average, we manage to fix 70% of items, give advice on possible repair steps for 20% and how best to recycle the 10% that are sadly beyond repair (statistics). But 100% of attendees are offered free refreshments of tea, coffee or juice as well as cakes and biscuits!

This month’s free refreshments include Fair Trade beverages and home made sweet treats made with Fair Trade ingredients, kindly donated by Stokesley Co-op, facilitated by Eileen Driver.

New repair and reception volunteers always welcome – come along, have a cuppa and a chat or email Simon Gibbon.

Saturday 13th & Saturday 27th April 10.00 – 13.00 Coffee & Cake Morning, Environment & Climate Group Osmotherley,

Osmotherley Methodist Chapel

Join Environment & Climate Osmotherley Group for a refreshing cuppa and a slice (or two!) of their delicious home made cakes (including vegan options) and a chat about their aims for addressing biodiversity loss locally and climate change matters more widely in the beautiful, historic Methodist Chapel, Osmotherley.

Wednesday 1st May 10.30 Wildflower Walk, Ingleby Bank Foot

The weather is getting warmer, the mornings and evenings are getting lighter – a great time to get outdoors and see nature’s beauty on our doorstep. To get a better appreciation of what’s growing wild around us the Nature subgroup has arranged for local expert botanist Ann Press (who developed Nature’s World in Middlesbrough) to take you on a wonderful Wildflower Walk, identifying all the local species including those which can be safely eaten and which have therapeutic value. Feeling closer to nature helps us want to preserve it, essential in these times of huge biodiversity loss. For more information please contact Bridget Holmstrom or just turn up on the day at Ingelby Bank Foot

Issues / ideas from the groups: Nature

This month’s Nature Group meeting is at 15.30, Thursday 18th April, at the Globe Library In Stokesley. Please join us there.

Contact  Bridget Holmstrom for information

Yorkshire Peat Partnership needs your help!

Did you know that northern Yorkshire’s peatlands currently store 27,410,845 tonnes of carbon?

York Peat Partnership covers an operational area containing 92,946 ha hectares of blanket bog, of which the majority is sadly damaged and leaking carbon back to the atmosphere. 27% of England’s blanket bog is in North Yorkshire, making this a landscape deserving of protection.

Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) is looking for volunteers to help monitor the peat moorlands as part of their restoration work. If anyone is interested in finding out more please contact Bridget Holmstrom.

There are a couple of different opportunities.

1. Nature for Climate (NFC) monitoring campaigns (July-August + October-November – various sites in the North Yorkshire Moors/Yorkshire Dales)

Vegetation monitoring will be carried out during July/August this year on a number of the restoration sites in the North York Moors – the dates/invitations for these days will come out via email later this year to those who contact YPP.

Volunteers can sign up to any days they are available to help and the day will involve visiting plots to conduct vegetation surveys with assistance with a YPP member of staff.

Dipwell monitoring campaign will also be carried out during October-November this year, each of our sites will be visited every 2 weeks during the 12 week period to collect dipwell data with volunteers.

The emails will be sent later in the year to ask if any volunteers can assist on the dates they plan to visit sites.

2. Eyes on the Bog monitoring plots (2-4 times a year on assigned plots usually 1 location)

The long term monitoring programme will be rolled out across the North York Moors and this is where volunteers are responsible for monitoring their own plots 2-4 times a year and sending YPP the data. YPP will arrange plots to be installed on sites accessible for the volunteers and provide training/support/equipment. The plots can be arranged and set up on suitable sites at any point in the year, we do however have a training day/event coming up 23^rd or 24^th April (date not confirmed yet) which is designed to give an overview to Eyes on the Bog programme, meet other volunteers and provide training to volunteers who would like to be involved. The event will be held in Ilkley.

If interested, contact YPP (see above) who will be sending a save the date invitation out in the next week or so. This event is not essential to attend for volunteers and other training days in the North York Moors will be arranged once it is confirmed which sites they will be installing plots.

Ideas from the groups: Food

This month’s Food Group meeting is on Thursday 25th April 19.00

by zoom – contact Wendy for a link to join

April Seasonal eating

Eating food in season (local as far as possible) can have substantial positive impact on climate breakdown by reducing high-energy input from artificial heating or lighting needed to produce crops out of the natural growing season. In April’s section we will look at what foods are in season right now together with a seasonal recipe.

Tasty fruit and veggies available now include asparagus, basil, broccoli, chives, dill, jersey royal new potatoes, lettuce & salad leaves, new potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, watercress, wild nettles, wild garlic

Try some seasonal young nettle tips in a tasty dish for flavour and freshness (and for free!)

Nettle pesto

Serve this vibrant vitamin packed sauce with your favourite pasta. Link to recipe here: Nettle Pesto Recipe

More information here:

Seasonal eating

how-to-eat-seasonally

Growing & gardening tips month by month: April

Top tip! When buying seed note that ones labelled as F1 may show hybrid vigour but their uniformity can mean all your cauliflowers are ready at the same time. So chose carefully!

Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the first half of the month, maincrop potatoes in the second half.

Sow seed outdoors for beetroot, carrots, Swiss chard, summer cauliflower, kohl rabi, lettuce, leeks, radish, turnip, spring and pickling onions, peas and perpetual spinach in well-prepared soil.

Try sowing unusual vegetables such as salsify (see pic above), Hamburg parsley, or scorzonera.

Foodshare: Now Premier Food Store as well as the Co-ops

Every night, every week Jenny Earle, joint Food Group lead, organises volunteers to collect surplus food from our local Co-op stores as well as the new Premier Food Store in Great Ayton. The food is then distributed locally to those in need, not only reducing food waste which produces carbon gases affecting our climate but also providing a huge benefit to the community.

New volunteers are always welcome, please contact.

Ideas from the groups: Waste

This month’s Waste group meeting Wednesday  9th April 7.00pm by zoom – contact Simon Gibbon for a link to join, (previous notes)

Not-so-local Repair Cafes – Saltburn (6th April), Middlesbrough (11th May)

The Stokesley and Villages Repair Cafe (next one 13th April Stokesley) has been helping other areas to start repair cafes.  Saltburn Repair Cafe will hold its second cafe on 6th April in the Community Hall (Facebook) and Middlesbrough Friends of the Earth has plans for its first repair cafe on 11th May in the Friends Meeting House on Cambridge Road – (Facebook). If you know people in Saltburn or Middlesbrough suggest they volunteer to get these off the ground, so much to repair so little time, so more hands make lighter work.  The contacts are Rob Tucker to volunteer for Middlesbrough (also volunteer meeting at 7pm on 18th April at Meeting House) or Rowan to volunteer for Saltburn.

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle: current local actions you can take to prevent / reduce waste

Whether household waste goes to landfill or incineration climate damaging carbon gases are produced. Here are some current local options for reducing waste at source and for reusing / recycling your unwanted or waste items that will not only cut carbon emissions but in some cases benefit those in our local community. It’s a big win / win.

Spotlight on our local zero waste shops

The best way of dealing with waste is to avoid creating any in the first place. Zero waste stores make use of containers you already have plus you only buy exactly the amount of food you need so this cuts down on food going to waste as well. Often it works out much cheaper as well for example cinnamon powder typically at a zero waste store is £2.40 for 100g whilst packaged at a supermarket is typically £3.00.

Roots Farmshop, East Rounton

As well as selling unwrapped fresh fruit and vegetables Roots provides several ways you can refill your own containers for a range of frozen fruit, vegetables and bakery goods as well as toiletries and household cleaning products.

What Planet Are You On, Guisborough

As well as dried food goods (flour, sugar, rice, pasta, nuts, cereals, herbs & spices) and sweets this store will refill your olive and rapeseed oil containers. They stock a range of biodegradable, plastic free kitchen and bathroom items as well. You can order online to collect in store.

Earth Unwrapped, Northallerton

Bring your own containers to refill with dried foods such as pasta, rice, nuts, fruit and granolas alongside eco-friendly cleaning, household and bodycare products and plastic-free alternatives for everyday items.

Sweet Treats (refill section), Thirsk

This shop selling locally made chocolates and cakes has recently extended to include a zero waste section selling a range of dried food goods for your own containers.

Off the Scale, Castleton

As well as selling fresh bakery items and local bottled milk and juices Off the Scale has zero waste, fill your own containers with dried foods including rice, pasta, pulses, herbs and spices.

Agonising about waste? Waste Agony Aunt is here for you!

Kate from the Waste subgroup is always delighted to receive your queries about how you can reduce / reuse / repurpose / recycle (almost!) any item. Here are some queries she’s received recently:

Q “I’ve just bought a new sofa and I need to get rid of my old one”

A”Try the British Heart Foundation’s home furniture collection”

Did you know that the British Heart Foundation will collect your unwanted (but still usuable!) furniture and other large household goods like electrical appliances directly from your home? They then sell them in their furniture stores at an affordable price and funds go towards their life saving research. Click here for more information and to arrange a local collection British Heart Foundation local collection

Q “I’m fed up with all the fruit and veg single use plastic packaging from supermarkets”

A “Try your local farm shop or town market stall”

Buying your fruit and veg loose at your local farm shop, town market stall and high street greengrocers not only means less packaging (or no packaging if you bring your own bags!) but you also get to choose exactly the amount you want so saving food waste. By shopping locally you’re not only supporting local businesses but also saving carbon emissions in your travel.

For local farm shops look here farmshops in north-yorkshire

For local markets locations and dates look here markets

If you’re feeling creative you can even make your own string bag for your fresh produce shopping here

produce-bag-crochet-pattern/

Q”I hate throwing my medication blister packs into my black bin as they’re not accepted in my blue recycling bin – what can I do?”

A”It’s complicated….but there are some things you can do”

Medication blister packs are complex and expensive to recycle as the plastic and metal components are difficult to separate and potentially harmful as they may contain unused medication so not accepted in your kerbside recycling.

Currently Superdrug stores with pharmacies (nearest to us are Harrogate, Chester-le-Street and Bridlington) will take empty blister packs for no charge but only a ‘personal quantity’ which are given directly to the pharmacist.

Boots, which previously only had blister pack recycling in a few stores in the southeast of England, recently announced that they are planning to extend this to stores across the UK within the next year but only 15 packs at a time and although you can receive Advantage Card points you also need to buy £10 worth of goods in store. More information here: boots-launches-blister-pack-recycling-pilot

You can take action! Ideally the pharmaceutical companies who originally produce and package the medication should take ownership of recycling the packaging. You can act by signing this current petition demanding that one of the largest pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline provide recycling of medication blister packs.

Petition here: recycling-for-medication-blister-packaging

Q”I’ve got loads of old cookery books I don’t use which have lost some pages so no good for the charity shop”

A”Try the Upcycling Project of the Month”

Got a few old books that are too damaged to go to a charity shop AND need something to keep your sharp kitchen knives safe on your kitchen worktop? Try this simple idea which repurposes a few books into a useful kitchen item. Info here diy-knife-holder

And if your kitchen knives aren’t as sharp as they could be remember to come along to our next Repair Cafe where our Phil ‘Blades’ will skilfully sharpen them for free!

Issues / ideas from the groups: Transport

Development of Local Transport Strategy

Barry Warrington, CASaV lead for Transport summarises the Development of the Local Transport Strategy:

During 2023 North Yorkshire County Council initiated a consultative process under the banner of ‘Let’s Talk Transport’. This was in response to the fact that in 2022 the Dept for Transport announced that they expected all local transport authorities to have in place a fit for purpose Local Transport Plan (LTP) which sets out a strategic vision and a case for investment in transport in their area. (Although the government as yet has not provided any guidance as to the nature of such a strategy.)

This consultative exercise has involved an online survey and paper based survey activity, numerous public meetings. Almost 5000 people responded. Subsequently a stakeholder questionnaire was issued to over 700 groups including businesses, charities and interest groups. A total of 100 responses were received. The Council then set in train a process for organisations who had expressed an interest in a more detailed discussion. This is in addition to ongoing liaison with key partners and stakeholders.

CASaV have contributed to this process in the form of a document covering 20’s Plenty, Active Travel, Bicycle Bus, Wheels to Work, Public Transport, Charging Points.

In addition Barry Warrington Transport Lead for CASV attended a Zoom meeting on the 20th Oct with related organisation from throughout the County. The meeting attended by the Assistant Director for the Environment and Paul Haslam the lead Councillor for Climate Change provided little more than an insight into the consultative process and an account of the situation to date. It was not a meeting to have any real discussion of possible ‘deliverable’.

An update was provided in a report published by North Yorkshire Council on the 18th December entitled ‘Update on the Development of the New Local Transport Plan – approval to publish public engagement findings’ – 18th December 2023 Update / 4th February 2024 Update.

In terms of Climate Change this document indicated that proposed changes and development were required to take into account ‘How will this proposal impact on the environment’ and that ‘One of the requirements of the new LTP process is to develop a quantitative carbon reduction plan’ ‘One of the governments three policy objectives for the LTP is to reduce impact of transport on the environment’ Read Barry’s full report here: local-transport-strategy-consultative-process/

Round up of last month’s events

March was a busy month with lots of well attended events and activities, raising public awareness of the impact of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss as well as practical solutions we can all take to address this.

Middlesbrough Food Partnership held a Food Summit on 26th March 2024. Jenny, Food Group joint lead attended and reported that it was very well attended with a wide variety of excellent talks and workshops. The Middlesbrough Food Partnership acts as a central connecting network and hub for all things food related in Middlesbrough. Use this link for more info:

goodfoodmbro

Dark Skies Family Activity Event was held by the Nature Group at the Discovery Centre, Great Ayton on 9th March. Familes and individuals attended and enjoyed using the hands on computer simulations of the night’s sky and a well illustrated display explained the problems of light pollution and it’s impact on biodiversity with practical solutions to address the issue. A leaflet on Dark Skies produced for the event is available via our website  dark-skies-matter-to-wildlife-and-us/

An Open Spring Garden at 19, The Avenue, Stokesley was held on 11th March kindly by the owner with support from the Nature Group, with several people enjoying seeing a wealth of spring blooms and learning about how the garden is maintained without artificial chemicals and encourages wildlife.

The Gardening for Wildlife Talk given by Nature Group’s Helen and Bridget fascinated and inspired a packed Faceby Village Hall. A leaflet on Gardening to increase Biodiversity is available here  how-to-tackle-biodiversity-breakdown-in-your-garden/

The monthly Repair Cafe took place on 16th March at Swainby Village Hall where we celebrated our two year anniversary by repairing out 1000th item which was the very special Coat of Hopes, a moving and inspiring piece of collaborative art in the form of a patchwork coat covered with people’s fears and hopes related to climate change. You can read more about the Coat Hopes time in North Yorkshire in the Darlington and Stockton Times article – here.

Signing off

If you have any news or any event / activity you would like promoting on next month’s (May) update please email Kate Gibbon by the end of April.

Kate also helps promote activities via Facebook and Instagram so let her know if there is anything that you would like shared via our Facebook page and Instagram if you are not a Facebook / Instagram user.

Hope to see you at the CASaV whole group gathering on Tuesday 16th April at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Kate Gibbon,

on behalf of the Climate Action Stokesley and Villages Steering Group Steering group:

Bridget Holmstrom, Caryn Loftus, Jack Turton, Ron Kirk and Simon Gibbon

Our whole group meeting was on Tuesday 16th April, 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 activities for Great Big Green Week (8-16 June).

Energy

The Local Energy Area Demonstrator (LEAD) Programme

LEAD is launching after the Mayoral election. There will be launch meetings organised by the main project partner (Align Property Partners) on 28th May in Stokesley Town Hall at 6.30pm and on 12th June in the Discovery Centre, Great Ayton at 6.30pm. We are also looking into having a market stall in Stokesley on 24th June to generate further interest

CASaV’s role is to promote LEAD locally (i.e. find people who are interested in free energy advice) and promote the events. Posters should be available in mid-May, so looking for CASaV member volunteers to put up event posters local to them.

Mark and Joanna met with Susan Manson, Community Energy Development Officer at North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, she is working on a number North East and Yorkshire LEAD projects. She suggested CASaV could look for ideas / approaches from Community Energy England (CEE), more locally Circular Malton & Norton and the North Yorkshire Council Climate Change Officer (Jos Holmes). There is a need to consider the level of ambition of energy saving we should be mainly focusing on so not total lifestyle changes (1 room living), rather making people’s homes more comfortable and energy efficient, so some whole house retrofits, with the main focus on simple measures that save some money and make there homes more comfy.

To find out more about retrofitting locally, NESTA have a “Visit a Heat Pump” project running until July 2024, to which a number of CASaV members have signed up and our website has a number of home energy case studies.

Food

The Premier shop in Ayton is now contributing to the food share which we distribute nightly.  Currently it provides more than all the Co-ops combined.

The group are have been in contact with Quorn with a view to doing some activity during Big Green Week, nothing has been agreed as yet. CASaV will have a presence at Great Ayton Fete on 9th June.

The Stokesley bus stop garden now has a selection of herbs.

Nature

It is planned to organise a number of visit to Anne Heard’s wildflower garden in Ingleby Greenhow.

A guided walk will take place at 10.30am on 1st May led by Anne Press, along Ingleby Bank Foot.

The Nature group are also becoming more involved in the Dark Skies initiative, with more activity to occur towards September as the nights get darker.

No Mow May is happening in Stokesley again.

The Nature Group has also been looking a producing some 10 point action plans for encourage people to take action for nature to complement the CASaV Leaflets.

Transport

Barry highlighted the absence of joined up thinking in the North Yorkshire Transport strategy.

The transport group activity engages with government in order to nudge them towards climate friendly actions. Barry Warrington attended the North Yorkshire Council’s Transport Strategy Consultative Process meeting on 20th October 2023, his notes are here (231020NYC Local Transport Strategy Consultative Process), our of this process will emerge a local transport plan which was tabled at the NYC Executive meeting on 18th December (Update on the development of the new Local Transport Plan approval to publish public engagement) since then NYC has produced further updates on the plan – (14th February 2024 -Update on the Development of the New Local Transport Plan.pdf).

Transport has also been a key part of the new York and North Yorkshire Mayor, with a transport hustings being held on 19th March 2024, which Barry attended, you can read Barry’s impressions here (Zoom Meeting 19th March 2024 Mayoral Hustings Meeting) .

Moorsbus will start on 29th June, with timetable / routes for 2024 still being finalised, but details will be similar to 2023. Please use it or loose it.

Waste

CASaV now has 2 Eco-banners (https://eco-banners.co.uk): the pop-up banners are made of fully recyclable materials, polyester which can be recycled with PET bottles and the frame is made of wood.

Repair Cafe: 76 items repaired on Saturday 13th April in Stokesley, where we joined by 3 people who are planning to help with Middlesbrough Repair Cafe, which we are supporting to get started.  Kate, Jane, Joanna and Sarah part of the Repair Cafe sewing team helped the Explorer scouts to convert old tents into new aprons and duffle bags.

Mend in Public – 20th April – https://www.fashionrevolution.org/frw-24-mend-in-public-day/ – while we can’t do an event on Saturday, we hope to do something as part of Great Big Green Week.

Books – The Climate Action Stokesley and Villages Book Bank is now up and running, you can find all the details on https://casav.uk/books.  Currently the books are moving around, we are looking into options of keeping the books possibly at the Globe.  There are also details of how you can share your books as part of the CASaV Book Bank. Simon will look into whether the books could be hosted by the library. Of course don’t forget to search our local libraries catalogues to see if they have a book you are interested in, while they don’t have a huge collection of physical books these are complemented by e-books, plus we can ask them to purchase books we think would be appropriate.

Environment and Climate Osmotherley

The newly formed Environment and Climate Osmotherley has decided to become a group of CASaV.

Saturday Coffee mornings in the Methodist Church in Osmotherley have proved to be successful with wide ranging discussions on climate issues and an opportunity to survey the villages views with a questionaire about grass cutting – so far with 14:1 in favour of longer grass and an opportunity to sign up 3 new members. The next planned coffee morning is on Saturday 27th April at 10am.

While there is interest in running a Repair Cafe in Osmotherley, there aren’t sufficient volunteers in Osmotherley, so the names will be passed to Stokesley and Villages Repair Cafes.

Next meeting Environment and Climate Osmotherley 1st May – plan for Great Big Green Week events and the new green Osmotherley show categories.

Great Big Green Week 8 – 16 June

During Great Big Green week CASaV is looking to both hold events and enable others to hold events, so please get in touch if you know of others who want to be involved. See what others did in 2023 – GBGW 2023 Highlights.

A number of events are already planned:

• 8th June – Repair Cafe in Stokesley with some of the repairing happening as a “Mending in Public”, sewers sat on the benches on the High Street, perhaps with the CASaV photoframe to allow all to capture the moment.
• 8th June – CASaV stall at the Great Ayton Fair
• 8th June – Nature Group trips to Ingleby Greenhow wildflower garden.
• Possibly 16th June – further opportunity to visit Ingleby Greenhow wildflower garden.
• All week rotating displays – Globe, Discovery Centre, Labman, Quorn, Station Coffee & Kitchen – LEAD, Plastic, Dark Skies, CASaV, Climate Justice

Guisborough Eco-Group (GEG)

GEG holds regular meetings at 4pm on the first or second Monday of the month in Guisborough Library which include talks on subjects of interest.

The last meeting has a talk from Stronger Shores where they heard how kelp, sea-grass and oysters capture carbon, help to reduce plastic waste and reduce coastal erosion.

Future talks are planned on bats and retrofitting.

Other Events of Interest

16th April Simon attended – Rivers Trust Conference: Embracing River Buffers – Agenda: Welcome and Opening Remarks, The Rivers Trust 20 Years On, Through the Keyhole: Around the nations, Breaking Down the Barriers, Empowering farmers and land managers for cleaner waterways, Beyond the Buffer: Piecing together mosaic habitats, Closing Remarks.

Recordings of Zoom sessions: Link may not work for others? will hopefully be on YouTube in due course.

The conference focused on river buffers, with a lot of talk of how difficult it was for farmers to deal with the changes that are required to protect rivers.  I was surprised that only some farmers realise that improved environmental condition of a farm was key to help with the agriculture too in the long term at least.  The River Trusts find it difficult to get their message across to many farmers, there are exceptions especially where groups of farmers have realised that they can apply for many catchment related grants.  It seems that River Trusts are largely only successful where the economics works for individual land owners, i.e. subsidies and grants drive action.

Welcome to March’s Update from Climate Action Stokesley & Villages

Thank you for your role in taking urgent action globally and locally on climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.

Diary dates (event details below)

• Saturday 9th March 11 – 1pm Dark Skies Family Activity Event, Discovery Centre, Great Ayton
• Monday 11th March 2.30pm – 4.30pm 2.30pm – 4.30pm Open Spring Garden at 19, The Avenue, Stokesley
• Tuesday 12th March 1.30 – 3.00pm Yatton House Community Garden working party
• Tuesday 12th March 7.30pm Gardening for Wildlife Talk, Faceby Village Hall
• Saturday 16th March 10-12 noon Repair Cafe & display on reducing single use plastics at Swainby Village Hall
• Wednesday 13th March 7.00pm Waste Group meeting by zoom
• Tuesday 19th March 7.30 – 9 pm Whole CASaV Group meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley
• Wednesday 20th March 6.30-8.30pm Coat of Hopes display at East Rounton
• Thursday 21st March 3.30pm Nature Group meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley.
• Thursday 28th March 7.00pm Food Group meeting by zoom

Newsletter

Our online newsletter / magazine focuses on our group’s values and purpose, summed up by our motto ‘Think global, act local’, beginning with global / national issues including ways in which you can influence policy, followed by local news and activities you can participate in that develop our relationship with the environment and fight climate change and biodiversity loss.  

“Think global”

National and global climate action news and campaigns

The Big Plastic Count 11-17th March

Nearly 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging are thrown away by UK households every year, and just 12% is recycled in the UK.

It’s time the government got serious about tackling the plastic crisis. You can help by taking part in The Big Plastic Count!

Count your plastic for one week – 11-17 March 2024.

For one week in March, thousands of schools, households, community groups and businesses will be coming together to count their plastic waste. And you can join them.

Almost a quarter of a million people took part in The Big Plastic Count in 2022. This revealed that almost two billion pieces of plastic packaging are being thrown away a week. This year you can help build even more evidence to convince UK ministers to lead the way at the global talks that could finally phase out plastic pollution for good.

More information in this link:

Big Plastic Count

Drax: still burning rare forest wood and how you can act to prevent this

A power company, local to us, that has received £6bn in UK green subsidies has kept burning wood from some of the world’s most precious forests, the BBC has found.

Papers obtained by Panorama show Drax took timber from rare forests in Canada it had claimed were “no-go areas”.

It comes as the government decides whether to give the firm’s Yorkshire site billions more in environmental subsidies funded by energy bill payers.

Drax says its wood pellets are “sustainable and legally harvested”.

The Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, is a converted coal plant which burns wood pellets. In 2023, it produced about 5% of the UK’s electricity. The site has become a key part of the government’s drive to meet its climate targets.

Its owner, Drax, receives money from energy bill payers because the electricity produced from burning pellets is classified as renewable and treated as emission-free. However, Drax is only considered as zero carbon in the UK as international carbon accounting rules state that greenhouse gas emissions from burning wood are counted in the country where the trees are felled as opposed to where they are burned.

More information here: BBC report on Drax

The Stop Burning Trees organisation says that Drax is not a renewable energy company and is not emission free as it emits 12 million tonnes of carbon a year. They note that this investigation has revealed that, despite claiming otherwise, they used 40000 tonnes of wood from precious old growth forests in Canada last year and therefore consider that the UK taxpayer should not be subsidising Drax.

If you agree with this view you can act by following this link Stop Burning Trees and writing to your MP.

Join the call to ban single use packaging in restaurants

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues we face. Yet at hundreds of thousands of cafes, bars and restaurants across the country, we’re still being served food and drink in single-use packaging – even when we’re eating in.

City to Sea, the non-profit organisation behind the Refill campaign (which CASaV actively supports – see in Waste section below), is calling for an urgent ban on ALL single-use packaging served to customers eating-in at restaurants, cafes and bars – will you consider joining them?

The use of single-use packaging in dine in facilities is wasteful and completely unnecessary – especially when it can easily be avoided by replacing using reusable cups, crockery and cutlery which get washed and reused instead of single-use packaging which is thrown away after just one use.  

That’s why City to Sea is calling on Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Barclay to take single-use off the menu for good.

If you are interested you can sign the petition calling on the government to urgently ban single-use packaging in dine in settings here Ban Single Use Packaging in Restaurants

“Act Local”

This month’s local activities and ideas from our focus groups (Nature, Food, Waste, Energy, Transport) to address biodiversity loss and fight climate breakdown

CASaV Monthly Meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Tuesday 19th March 7.30-9pm

Our next whole group meeting will be 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 will focus on the next steps in the United for Warm Homes and Local Area Demonstrator campaigns. All welcome!

This is a link to last month’s meeting’s minutes to give a flavour of what we discuss. https://climateactionstokesleyandvillages.org/2024/02/11/casav-meeting-20th-february-2024/

Saturday 9th March 11 – 1pm Dark Skies Family Activity Event, Discovery Centre, Great Ayton

To celebrate British Science Week https://www.britishscienceweek.org/ there will be a fascinating, interactive event  Dark Skies: who needs them at 11am to 1pm on Saturday 9th March at the Discovery Centre in Great Ayton. At this family focused event you can find out why Dark Skies matter to all life on earth, the difference between blue light and warm light, and what you can do to protect our disappearing darkness.

Monday 11th March 2.30-4.30pm Open Spring Garden in Stokesley

Be inspired by a beautiful local garden full of spring flowers. This special open garden will take place on Monday 11^th March at 2.30-4.30pm in Stokesley, at 19,The Avenue,Stokesley, please book your place with Bridget Holmstrom via email bridgetholmstrom@hotmail.com

Tuesday 12th March 7.30pm Gardening for Wildlife Talk, Faceby Village Hall

Our gardens matter. Domestic gardens cover more land in the UK than all nature reserves combined. So, while wildlife is suffering from loss of natural woodland, hedgerow, and meadow habitats, our gardens take on an ever more important role. Find out how to best manage your garden to encourage wildlife and biodiversity at the Gardening for Wildlife Talk at 7.30pm on Tuesday 12th March at Faceby Village Hall. There will be a small charge of £5. This includes refreshments and is to help support the Village Hall. Do join us for an interesting evening.

Saturday 16th March  10-12 noon Repair Cafe plus display & activities on alternatives to single use plastic, Swainby Village hall  

Our monthly Repair Cafe will be at Swainby Village Hall on Saturday 16th March 10-12, together with a display and information on ways you can reduce single use plastics in your home and living generally including having a go at making your own fabric shopping bag to replace plastic shopping bags.

You can save yourself money, the earth’s resources and prevent climate damaging gases from waste going to incineration or landfill by bringing along your household items in need of repair – electrical appliances, bikes & toys, clothing & textiles, computers (laptops, tablets) & mobile phones, wooden furniture, clocks & watches, blades in need of sharpening – and have them mended (or receive advice if we can’t) by our friendly volunteer repairers. On average, we manage to fix 70% of items, give advice on possible repair steps for 20% and how best to recycle the 10% that are sadly beyond repair.

Whilst there, have a look at our display on the environmental problems of single use plastics and how you can find alternatives to help fight climate change and biodiversity loss including the opportunity to make your own fabric shopping bag. Bring along an old T shirt to upcycle or use materials provided.

This month’s free refreshments include Fair Trade beverages and home made sweet treats made with Fair Trade ingredients, kindly donated by Stokesley Co-op, facilitated by Eileen Driver.

You will also have the chance to pick up information on the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project through which you may be eligible for a free whole home retrofitting survey (see article below).  

New repair and reception volunteers always welcome – come along, have a cuppa and a chat!

Wednesday 20th March 6.30-8.30pm Coat of Hopes Display – Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton

Katherine Brown from Roots Farm Shop, attended our February whole group meeting to tell us about this fascinating event taking place on Wednesday 20th March 6.30-8.30pm at the Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton. The Coat of Hopes is a patchwork pilgrim coat, made, worn and walked by hundreds of people over hundreds of miles from Newhaven on the south coast of England to the gates of COP26, the UN climate summit, in Glasgow in 2021. The coat is made up of pieces of blanket into which have been sewn or otherwise marked, the griefs, remembrances, prayers and hopes of people along its route and beyond. Following it’s purpose to engage with politicians and decision makers at COP26 to provoke discussion and raise awareness of climate breakdown and it’s impact on climate justice and biodiversity loss, the coat has been taken on a pilgrimage around the UK further raising awareness and engaging with a wide range of communities. Katherine has arranged for the Coat of Hopes to visit our area on it’s journey and this is a special opportunity to see it close at hand and be inspired by the messages created in it’s hundreds of patches. More information here: Coat of Hopes

Yatton House Community Garden working party – Tuesday 12th March 1.30 – 3.00 pm

Global and national research shows that community gardens positively affect biodiversity, local ecosystems, and the well-being of people that work in them.

Locally in Great Ayton the Yatton House Community Garden was established in 2022 to:
• Provide a safe and accessible community garden and space for groups and individuals.
• Provide a space which is fully inclusive by ensuring accessibility and safety are central to the design.
• Bring different sections of the community together.
• Promote awareness of mental health and loneliness.
• Champion environmental impact and climate change through wildlife, biodiversity, and the growing of sustainable organic fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Deliver educational experiences.

To support this great initiative there are monthly ‘Working Party’ days planned, the first of the year having taken place on 9th January with the next opportunity to support the Yatton House Community Garden on Tuesday 12th March, 1.30 – 3.00pm. Pick up useful pruning skills and other gardening know how along with some exercise in the open air by coming along – all welcome! If you can’t make this session, there will be further sessions each month on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Ideas from the groups: Nature

This month’s Nature Group meeting is at 3.30pm, Thursday 21st March, at the Globe Library In Stokesley. Please join us there.

Contact  Bridget Holmstrom for information

North Yorkshire Council Local Nature Recovery Strategy

As required by law under the Environment Act 2021, every county in England will produce a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. These strategies will work together to restore, create and connect habitats across England.

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy will:

• agree priorities for nature’s recovery, such as increasing woodland cover or creating wetlands
• map the most valuable existing areas for nature
• map specific proposals for creating and improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals

Decisions about where and how to recover nature will be reached through consultation with a wide range of people and groups in each county, from ecologists and community groups to health professionals and local businesses.

If you are interested in contributing towards the strategy or would like to sign up for updates follow this link

NYC local-nature-recovery-strategy

North York Moors Nature Recovery Plan – have your say

North York Moors National Park wants to hear from you regarding proposed plans to support nature recovery across the North York Moors.

Alongside partner organisations and stakeholders, they have put together a draft Nature Recovery Plan that will act as a tool to help better deliver on nature recovery objectives, as stated within the Management Plan. It will also provide long-term direction for nature recovery in the National Park and provide guidance for land managers and developers to ensure nature is in a better state than it was before development – otherwise known as Biodiversity Net Gain.

More information here

North York Moors Recovery Hub

Ideas from the groups: Food

Thursday 28th March 7.00pm Food Group zoom meeting – contact Wendy for link to join

March Seasonal eating

Eating food in season (local as far as possible) can have substantial positive impact on climate breakdown by reducing high-energy input from artificial heating or lighting needed to produce crops out of the natural growing season. In March’s section we will look at what foods are in season right now together with a seasonal recipe.

Tasty fruit and veggies available now include cauliflower, kale, leeks, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb, salsify, spinach, spring onions, swede, wild nettles, wild garlic

Try some seasonal fruit (or is it a vegetable – you decide!) in a tasty dessert for flavour and freshness.

Rhubarb, ginger and custard galette

Link to recipe here: Rhubarb galette recipe

More information here:

Seasonal eating

how-to-eat-seasonally

Growing & gardening tips month by month: March

Some quick tips for growing your own in March. Now is the time to:

Plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers. Chit early and maincrop potatoes. Plant asparagus crowns. Sow seed outdoors in mild areas with light soil, eg: broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, onions, lettuces, radish, peas, spinach, summer cabbage, salad leaves, leeks, Swiss chard, kohl rabi, turnip and summer cauliflower.

Ideas from the groups: Waste

Wednesday 13th March 7.00pm Waste Group zoom meeting – contact Simon for link to join

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle: current local actions you can take to prevent waste and benefit our community

Whether household waste goes to landfill or incineration climate damaging carbon gases are produced. Here are some current local options for your unwanted or waste items that will not only cut carbon emissions but in some cases benefit those in our local community. It’s a big win / win.

Recycling pool & swimming equipment at Stokesley Leisure Centre

Worn out swimming equipment like goggles, floats, arm bands and flip flops can’t be put in to your doorstep recycling blue bin and would typically go to landfill or incineration but Stokesley Leisure Centre has usefully installed a Leisure Loop recycling point for all your worn out swimming equipment. The collected materials are then upcycled into useful items.

More information here: https://ecoleisuresupplies.com/

Refill – have you got the app?

Refill is a handy app which connects you to a directory of places where you can consume with less waste i.e. where you can refill your water bottle for free, where you can get a discount by using your own coffee cup, where you can fill your own food containers, putting the power to reduce plastic at your fingertips.

Anyone can download the free Refill app to tap into a global network of places to reduce, reuse and refill. With 300,000 Refill stations, offering refills for water, coffee, food containers and plastic-free shopping, 400,000 app downloads and 100 million pieces of plastic avoided to date, the company has shown that Refill has the power to create a wave of change and stop plastic pollution at source.

Anne Mannix from the Waste Group has been active locally, signing up businesses to the App including where you can get your water container refilled for free.

More information here Refill

Recycling for Good Causes: household items needed!

The CASaV Waste Group are collecting unwanted items which will raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support via the Recycling for Good Causes scheme whilst saving them from going to waste in landfill. The scheme has provided us with a large collecting bag and free collection of a minimum of 10kg of items, with funds going to support people affected by cancer.

Items we are collecting are:

• Jewellery and watches
• Any currency UK or foreign of any age / unchangeable currency (banknotes and coins)
• Mobile phones, video / film / digital cameras, computer games and accessories, MP3 players, ipods, tablets, computers of any age or condition
• Stamps (loose /single stamps, first day covers, presentation packs)

Please have a look through your household and if you have any of these items going spare, please bring them along to our next Repair Cafe on March 16th at Swainby Village the Globe Community Library.

More information here: Recycling For Good Causes

Recycling stationery at Rymans

Do you have a drawer full of plastic pens that have run out or don’t work? Did you know you can recycle them at Rymans, our closest store is in Northallerton but there is also a store in Darlington.

Rymans offer pen recycling in all of their stores. They’ve collected over 1,900,000 pens which we convert into charity donations.

Ink and toner cartridge recycling is available in all stores as well and they provide customers with a 50p discount for each cartridge returned (discount is only available when making a subsequent purchase of ink / toner in store on the day of making the return and is for a maximum of 5 cartridges per transaction).

Under the Waste Battery Regulations, they offer a take-back scheme for all portable waste batteries. Recycling boxes can be found in all of Rymans stores, alternatively, you can find your local waste portable battery recycling facility at www.recyclenow.co.uk.

Recycling Make Up & Toiletry Containers

Whilst you’re in Northallerton High Street recycling your stationery you can pop in to Superdrug and recycle your make up and toiletry containers directly into their special recycling bin. They take empty Foundation bottles, Concealer tubes, Powders and blushers, Mascaras and mascara wands, Eyeliner and eyeshadow palettes, Lipsticks, glosses, and balms as well as other packaging – caps, pumps, and sprays. More information at  Recycling at Superdrug

Boots also offers a make up and toiletry containers recycling facility which requires you to register online and scan your items but you do get Advantage Card points for doing so. More information at how-to-recycle-at-boots

Wear it, don’t waste it

Our neighbouring Climate Action group in Middlesbrough is organising a number of events next month (March) named ‘Wear It, Don’t Waste It’ looking at reducing waste going to incineration and landfill and giving clothes (and toys) to those in need for free. If you have any unwanted toys or clothes that you would like to donate please drop them off at Middlesbrough Environment City offices on Sandy Flatts Lane, Acklam TS5 7YN or at the Acklam Green Centre, Stainsby Road TS5 4JS Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm.

Upcycling project of the month: a (plastic free!) shopping bag from an old T shirt

A great way to save resources going to waste as well as reducing the need for single use plastic shopping bags, follow this link T shirt bag to make a handy bag from an old T shirt. Or come along to this month’s Repair Cafe on March 16th 10-12 at Swainby Village Hall and we’ll show you how.

Ideas from the groups: Energy

Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) project

LEAD is a £1.2M scheme to stimulate demand for energy efficiency measures in homes across North Yorkshire. The funding has been received from the Department of Energy Security and NET Zero and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be focusing around retrofitting homes to reduce energy consumption. The project will be piloted in a number of neighbourhoods including around Stokesley.

Led by North Yorkshire Council, the scheme will be focused on specific streets, villages and neighbourhoods where studies have highlighted priority areas and where interest in tackling climate change through retrofitted schemes has been shown.

Households in these pilot areas will be offered a free ‘whole house plan’ – a survey of their homes with advice on what would be needed to make them more energy efficient such as new windows and doors, or cavity wall and loft insulation.

About 325 plans will be facilitated through the project, comprising in-house assessments, whole house plan development in collaboration with the householder, and elements of design work, leaving the resident with a clear plan of action and next steps to implement their retrofit project.

CASaV is actively involved in facilitating this project, led by Mark Lewis, one of our CASaV members with an interest in energy matters.

It is hoped that there will be a formal launch of the project next month. If you would like more information or to participate in this project, please check our website for updates LEADproject

Round up of last month’s events

Free seed & seedling stall at Stokesley Farmer’s Market

Wendy, Food Group joint lead, reports a popular response to her free seed and seedling stall where enthusiastic home growers quickly snapped up dozens of free seed packets as well as Welsh onion and Jerusalem artichoke seedlings, making donations to CASaV in the process.

Rosedale Peat Bog Restoration Guided Walk

Fourteen participants were taken on an informative and inspirational guided walk by members of the York Peat Partnership (YPP) around the peat bog restoration area in Rosedale, organised by Nature Group lead Bridget. They saw at first hand the damage erosion has done to the bogs which act as natural carbon capture. The erosion causes the peat to dry out which means that CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The group were heartened by seeing how the YPP is reversing some of the erosion through coir ‘leaky dams’ to contain water and also replanting nearly a million peat bog plant plugs such as sphagnum moss and cotton grass. If you are interested in supporting this work for example volunteering to monitor the restoration of the bogs contact Bridget Holmstrom

February Repair cafe at Stokesley Globe

Our monthly Repair Cafe was yet again well attended with over 80 household items being mended, and so saved from going to waste in landfill or incineration, including this visibly mended cashmere sweater which delighted it’s owner. Refreshments included Valentine’s themed sweet treats made from Fair Trade ingredients and there was a display about Transform Trade  and the links between Fair Trade and Climate Justice. £50 was given to Transform Trade  from donations made.

.Co-op Foodshare continues!

Every night, every week Jenny Earle, joint Food Group lead, organises volunteers to collect surplus food from our local Co-op stores and resdistributes it locally to those in need, not only reducing food waste which produces carbon gases affecting our climate but also providing a huge benefit to the community.

New volunteers are always welcome, please contact.

Signing off

If you have any news or any event / activity you would like promoting on next month’s (April) update please email Kate Gibbon by the end of March.

Kate also helps promote activities via Facebook and Instagram so let her know if there is anything that you would like shared via our Facebook page and Instagram if you are not a Facebook / Instagram user.

Hope to see you at the CASaV whole group gathering on Tuesday 19th March at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Kate Gibbon,

on behalf of the Climate Action Stokesley and Villages Steering Group Steering group:

Bridget Holmstrom, Caryn Loftus, Jack Turton, Ron Kirk and Simon Gibbon

NB Due to changes to Action Network, our email tool, you cannot currently respond to this email via the ‘reply’. If you wish to respond to this email / contact CASaV please use this email: climateactionsav@gmail.com

Welcome to February’s Update from Climate Action Stokesley & Villages

Thank you for playing your part in taking urgent action globally and locally on climate breakdown.

Diary dates

(event details below)

Saturday 10th February 10-12 noon Repair Cafe, free sewing workshop & Transform Trade Big Brew  at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Tuesday 13th February 1 – 3.30 pm Community Garden Working Party, Yatton House Community Garden, Great Ayton

Tuesday 13th February 7.00pm Waste Group zoom meeting

Tuesday 20th February 11 – 1 Guided walking tour of Rosedale peat bog restoration (natural carbon capture) with the Yorkshire Peat Partnership

Tuesday 20th February 7.30 – 9 pm Whole group meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Thursday 22nd February 7.00pm Food Group zoom meeting

Friday 2nd March 9-11 Free Seed Giveaway Stall Stokesley Market

Tuesday 12th March 7.30pm Gardening for Wildlife Talk, Faceby Village Hall

Newsletter

Our online newsletter / magazine focuses on our group’s values and purpose, summed up by our motto ‘Think global, act local’, beginning with global / national issues including ways in which you can influence policy, followed by local news and activities you can participate in that develop our relationship with the environment and fight climate change.  

“Think global”

National and global climate action news and campaigns

The Climate Coalition letter to party leaders

The Climate Coalition is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action on the climate and nature crises. Along with sister organisations Stop Climate Chaos Cymru and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland it is a gathering of over 130 organisations including the National Trust, Oxfam, RSPB and the Women’s Institute, with a combined supporter base of 20 million. As this is election year, the organisation reminds us of the need to show all politicians, political parties and candidates that we need urgent action to address the climate and nature crises

The Climate Coalition has launched an open letter to the leaders of the main national political parties, calling on them to commit to doing everything they can to meet our national and international commitments to tackle climate change and protect and restore nature. The open letter is for local groups and organisations to use our collective voice to call for change. The open letter sets out a vision for the world that we want to live in – where children breathe clean air, where wildlife is thriving, where our homes are powered by renewable energy, and where communities have adequate resources to rebuild their lives after extreme weather events.

Following discussion at the last CASaV whole group meeting, Caryn has signed the open letter on behalf of CASaV. If you are part of other local groups or organisations (churches, town councils, conservation groups, community libraries etc) please consider signing the letter to ask our politicians to listen to communities across the UK and take action on climate and nature. theclimatecoalition.org/community-open-letter

If you’re not part of another community group there will be future opportunities to get involved. More information here: https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/take-action

Climate Justice, Transform Trade & The Big Brew 2024

Climate justice is the concept which recognises that, although global warming is a global crisis, its effects are not felt evenly around the world. The worst effects of the climate crisis – for example extreme heat, flooding and crop failures – are disproportionately felt by countries and communities in areas of the world which often do least to contribute to climate breakdown. Big corporate trade deals can drive up carbon emissions and block action on climate change whilst people centred trade can be more protective of the planet.

Transform Trade is a global community of farmers, workers, collectives, campaigners, donors and supporters, which works together for trade that values people over profit. Focusing on farming (including tea production) and fashion manufacture in South Asia and East Africa, the organisation partners with farmers, workers and artisans to help them benefit from more sustainable and equitable trade. In the UK they advocate and campaign for changes to business practices and government policy.

The Big Brew is now an annual event running through February and March to raise funds and awareness of the importance of people centred trade and climate justice. At February’s Repair Cafe on February 10th (more information below) there will be home made cakes and treats made from fair trade ingredients, fair trade beverages and information leaflets so you can learn more.

The Oxford Real Farming Conference 2024

Every January the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) connects people in the UK and around the globe who want to transform our food and farming system. ORFC aims to be the place to share progressive ideas. Subjects usually include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, organic farming and indigenous food and farming systems. The programme encompasses farming practices and techniques as well as addressing the bigger questions relating to our food and farming system.

This year’s conference included presentations on Perennial Veg from Riverford Organics, the Veterinary Role in Ecological Sustainability and Turning Fashion into a Climate Solution amongst many pertinent to those interested in food, farming and climate breakdown and biodiversity loss solutions.

All talks are available as recordings to listen to now here: https://orfc.org.uk/orfc-archives/

The Call of Fatal Optimism: a poem

One of our supporters, Robert Thorniley-Walker, wrote and submitted this poem to the Darlington & Stockton Times (which published it in on January 12th) in response to Rishi Sunak’s comments to a letter from the Northallerton Climate Action Group.

Robert noted that this was a “new year poem for 2024, the year we will pass the 1.5°C warming threshold into ‘dangerous’ conditions”.

The Call of Fatal Optimism

The D&S editorial back in September, “A heated Debate”
Suggested cuts to emissions have a date that’s far too late.
To his constituents Rishi wrote and explained,
“The plans to meet net zero will only succeed if public support is maintained.”

One point five degrees
Does this explain why denial and fatal optimism and are now the norm?
We know 2024 will face drought, fire, flood and never ending storms.
We lament inaction for covid-spread and each past tragedy,
But none question our absurd ‘climate emergency’ strategy.
Three years of promises are now well gone.
And ever increasing emissions in those critical years can never be undone.
The hopes of Paris 2015, with a maximum temperature rise
Now abandoned, as we sail past one point five.
The current favourite of political boasts
Is just to stop migrants in their small boats.
Yet policies will now scorch North Africa and the Med:
Too bad for those who’ve not yet fled.
Our hyper optimism just makes no sense
As the Barrier can’t save our current pretence
That all will be fine in ‘Marrakesh-on-Thames’.
A haven from an adjacent continent in flames.
“The plans to meet net zero will only succeed if public support is maintained.”

Two Degrees
Net zero by 2050 is considered fine
As a distant target to bring emissions back in line
Why, oh why, one asks, do we emit yet more,
We know full well that temperatures by then will soar.
We think it’s fine, to construct for a far distant time,
And leave a legacy of concrete, steel and brick as evidence of our crime.
We say we would construct in low or minus-carbon if we could
And refuse to research or copy old pre-industrial structures in stone and wood.
Even with no fossil fuels and a total emission freeze
The best we could hope for this decade is a massive two degrees,
Which would still displace two million souls
As they flee from flood and heat-parched soils to cooler goals.
“The plans to meet net zero will only succeed if public support is maintained.”

Three degrees
The next generation will struggle to survive
And face fearful choices, to stay alive.
Do we care, that the current young won’t find a way
To reduce the carbon from the air that we’ve released in much cooler days?
They will see the time for tipping points and temperature cascades,
That will bring, heat on heat, far beyond any human aid.
All our folly at trying to negotiate with thermodynamic law
Will bring disaster on a Black Death scale, as we jump to three degrees or more.
“The plans to meet net zero will only succeed if public support is maintained.”

Five degrees
As the planet then flips to over five,
Fewer than half living things survive,
Scavenging on an alien land
In fiery transition from loamy soil to barren sand.
The killing of our own kin and progeny – ‘progenicide’,
A democratic choice from which we can’t hide.
We who don’t care to think it a Sin,
To vehemently believe we owe the future nothing.
“The plans to meet net zero will only succeed if public support is maintained.”

By Robert Thorniley-Walker
Member of Climate Action Northallerton, Member of Osmotherley Decarbonisation Group
Civil Engineer, Author of the novel ‘Greenhush’

“Act Local”

This month’s local activities and ideas from our focus groups (Nature, Food, Waste, Energy, Transport) to address biodiversity loss and fight climate breakdown

CASaV Monthly Meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Tuesday 20th February 7.30-9pm

Our next whole group meeting will be on Tuesday 16th January, 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 will focus on the next steps in the United for Warm Homes and Local Area Demonstrator campaigns. All welcome!

NB If you have any spare seeds for our March Seed Stall Giveaway (see below for details) please bring along to the meeting.

Saturday 10th February 10-12 noon Repair Cafe, Free Sewing Workshop & Transform Trade Big Brew at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Show your love for the planet this February by coming to our 21st Repair Cafe at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley on Saturday 10th February 10-12.

You can save yourself money, the earth’s resources and prevent climate damaging gases from waste going to incineration or landfill by bringing along your household items in need of repair – electrical appliances, bikes & toys, clothing & textiles, computers (laptops, tablets) & mobile phones, wooden furniture, clocks & watches, blades in need of sharpening – and have them mended (or receive advice if we can’t) by our friendly volunteer repairers. On average, we manage to fix 70% of items, give advice on possible repair steps for 20% and how best to recycle the 10% that are sadly beyond repair.

By special request, the sewing goddesses will also show you how to use / get the best out of your sewing machine or help you take your first steps in using a sewing machine if you’ve never used one before. Bring your sewing machine along for a sewing tutorial about your own machine or we will have a couple that you can try your hand at to learn the basics. You can make your own Valentines tote bag (or cushion cover) – all materials provided or you can bring your own fabric if you wish.

This month’s free refreshments will be linked to Transform Trade’s Big Brew (see above) and include Fair Trade beverages and home made sweet treats made with Fair Trade ingredients and you can pick up a leaflet to read more about this organisation’s aims and donate towards their funds if you wish.  

You will also have the chance to pick up information on the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project through which you may be eligible for a free whole home retrofitting survey (see article below).  

New repair and reception volunteers always welcome – come along, have a cuppa and a chat!

Yatton House Community Garden working party – Tuesday 13th February 1 – 3.30 pm

Global and national research shows that community gardens positively affect biodiversity, local ecosystems, and the well-being of people that work in them.

Locally in Great Ayton the Yatton House Community Garden was established in 2022 to:
• Provide a safe and accessible community garden and space for groups and individuals.
• Provide a space which is fully inclusive by ensuring accessibility and safety are central to the design.
• Bring different sections of the community together.
• Promote awareness of mental health and loneliness.
• Champion environmental impact and climate change through wildlife, biodiversity, and the growing of sustainable organic fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Deliver educational experiences.

To support this great initiative there are monthly ‘Working Party’ days planned, the first of the year having taken place on 9th January with the next opportunity to support the Yatton House Community Garden on 13th February, 1.00 – 3.00pm. Pick up useful pruning skills and other gardening know how along with some exercise in the open air by coming along – all welcome! If you can’t make this session, there will be further sessions each month on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Rosedale guided walking tour of peat bog restoration Tuesday 20th February 11 – 3.00pm (rescheduled)

What has climate change got to do with peat bogs? Peat bogs play a crucial role in the carbon cycle. Peat bogs in good condition have the potential to offer a significant nature-based solution to tackling climate change as they are capable of absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide known as “carbon sinks”. Sadly we are in danger of losing this valuable resource as much of the UK’s peat bogs are in decline. The Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) is doing important work locally in restoring eroded peat bogs.

Unfortunately the weather last month thwarted our planned visit but luckily this has been rearranged to Tuesday 20th February 11am – 3pm. This will be a fantastic opportunity to see this important restoration, guided by staff from the YPP.  If you would like to join this guided walk, please contact Bridget Holmstrom for more information or to book a place.

Friday 2nd March 9-11 Free Seed Giveaway Stall Stokesley Market

Growing your own seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers not only provides you with the freshest produce but also significantly cuts the carbon emissions from heated greenhouses and transporting over long distances. Also no packaging from shop bought!  The growing season will soon be upon us so what better time to plan your allotment / growing patch / windowsill! The Food Group’s Wendy will be holding a Free Seed Giveaway on March 2nd at the Stokesley Farmers’ market. If you have any spare / surplus seeds please bring these to the whole group meeting on 20th February or pop them into the box provided at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley. Happy growing!

Gardening for Wildlife Talk Tuesday 12th March 7.30pm Faceby Village Hall

Warmer, brighter days are on the way so a good time to start planning the growing year in your garden. With over 15 million gardens in Britain, covering an area larger than all our national nature reserves put together, what we choose to do with our gardens really does matter for nature and biodiversity. Whether we are in a town centre, or the countryside, our gardens have the ability to act as mini nature reserves for local wildlife, as well as forming habitat corridors – bridging gaps between surrounding areas of habitat. To help you plan your garden with nature in mind there will be a Gardening for Wildlife Talk at  Faceby Village Hall, 7.30pm 12^th March. There will be a small entrance fee. All welcome.

Ideas from the groups: Nature

Regular monthly zoom meetings – contact  Bridget Holmstrom for link to join

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

As required by law under the Environment Act 2021, every county in England will produce a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. These strategies will work together to restore, create and connect habitats across England.

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy will:

• agree priorities for nature’s recovery, such as increasing woodland cover or creating wetlands
• map the most valuable existing areas for nature
• map specific proposals for creating and improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals

Decisions about where and how to recover nature will be reached through consultation with a wide range of people and groups in each county, from ecologists and community groups to health professionals and local businesses.

North Yorkshire Council are holding a consultation on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, please provide your input via this link  Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation | North Yorkshire Council

Ideas from the groups: Food

Thursday 22nd February 7.00pm Food Group zoom meeting – contact Wendy for link to join

February Seasonal eating

Eating food in season (local as far as possible) can have substantial positive impact on climate breakdown by reducing high-energy input from artificial heating or lighting needed to produce crops out of the natural growing season. In February’s section we will look at what foods are in season right now together with a seasonal recipe.

Tasty fruit and veggies available now include brussel sprouts, cauliflower, beetroot, celeriac, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips

Try a couple of these immune boosting veggies in this seasonal recipe – perhaps as a Valentine’s Night meal!

Beetroot, stilton and kale wellingtons

Recipe here: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/beetroot-stilton-kale-wellingtons

More information here:

Seasonal eating

how-to-eat-seasonally

Love food, hate waste this Valentine’s Month  

Whilst you’re cooking up a storm with your seasonal veggies and fruits aim to reduce food waste as much as possible. 60% of food waste comes from our homes, 18 million tonnes of climate damaging carbon dioxide is generated by UK homes annually from wasted consumable food and drink and eight meals could be saved each week if we stopped binning our food at home. To address this have a look at the ideas and recipes here for reducing food waste: https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/

Make the most of your freezer for avoiding waste – some great ideas from BBC Morning Live available on iPlayer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0h7zyfq

Growing & gardening tips month by month: February

A good time to start sowing sweet peas in any pot or receptacle indoors so they get a head start when it is warm enough to plant outside.

Regular sowings of mixed salad greens can be cropped when showing a few leaves and will then regrow.

If you have garlic sprouting it is worth planting it although it may not have time to split into cloves. (Best planted November/December.)

If your sprouts are sprouting, welcome them and eat them like sprouting broccoli.

Ideas from the groups: Waste

Tuesday 13th February 7.00pm Waste Group zoom meeting – contact Simon for link to join

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle: current local actions you can take to prevent waste and benefit our community

Whether household waste goes to landfill or incineration climate damaging carbon gases are produced. Here are some current local options for your unwanted or waste items that will not only cut carbon emissions but in some cases benefit those in our local community. It’s a big win / win.

Confectionery & biscuit tubs – reuse or recycle for charity – ends 11th February!

In the UK we buy tens of millions of these plastic tubs every year!

Make sure your tubs don’t go to waste by using them at home as FREE handy containers or if you don’t need them take your clean, empty plastic confectionery and cracker tubs to any Greene King managed site until 11 February 2024 to be recycled.

Simply leave your tubs with a Greene King staff member at the bar or welcome station within one of their locations.

After 11 February, all tubs will be collected and taken to a plastic reprocessing centre where they’re shredded, before being sold onto plastic manufacturers to use in place of virgin plastics. All money raised from the sale of Tub2Pub plastics will be given directly to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Our closest Greene King pub is the Kings Head in Newton Under Roseberry but check the website for others near to you.

tub2pub/

Recycling for Good Causes: household items needed!

The CASaV Waste Group are collecting unwanted items which will raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support via the Recycling for Good Causes scheme whilst saving them from going to waste in landfill. The scheme has provided us with a large collecting bag and free collection of a minimum of 10kg of items, with funds going to support people affected by cancer.

Items we are collecting are:

• Jewellery and watches
• Any currency UK or foreign of any age / unchangeable currency (banknotes and coins)
• Mobile phones, video / film / digital cameras, computer games and accessories, MP3 players, ipods, tablets, computers of any age or condition
• Stamps (loose /single stamps, first day covers, presentation packs)

Please have a look through your household and if you have any of these items going spare, please bring them along to our next Repair Cafe on February 10th at the Globe Community Library.

More information here: Recycling For Good Causes

Wear it, don’t waste it

Our neighbouring Climate Action group in Middlesbrough is organising a number of events next month (March) named ‘Wear It, Don’t Waste It’ looking at reducing waste going to incineration and landfill and giving clothes (and toys) to those in need for free. If you have any unwanted toys or clothes that you would like to donate please drop them off at Middlesbrough Environment City offices on Sandy Flatts Lane, Acklam TS5 7YN or at the Acklam Green Centre, Stainsby Road TS5 4JS Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm.

Ideas from the groups: Energy

Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) project

LEAD is a £1.2M scheme to stimulate demand for energy efficiency measures in homes across North Yorkshire. The funding has been received from the Department of Energy Security and NET Zero and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be focusing around retrofitting homes to reduce energy consumption. The project will be piloted in a number of neighbourhoods including around Stokesley.

Led by North Yorkshire Council, the scheme will be focused on specific streets, villages and neighbourhoods where studies have highlighted priority areas and where interest in tackling climate change through retrofitted schemes has been shown.

Households in these pilot areas will be offered a free ‘whole house plan’ – a survey of their homes with advice on what would be needed to make them more energy efficient such as new windows and doors, or cavity wall and loft insulation.

About 325 plans will be facilitated through the project, comprising in-house assessments, whole house plan development in collaboration with the householder, and elements of design work, leaving the resident with a clear plan of action and next steps to implement their retrofit project.

CASaV is actively involved in facilitating this project, led by Mark Lewis, one of our CASaV members with an interest in energy matters.

If you would like more information or to participate in this project, please check our website for updates – LEADproject

Round up of last month’s events

Recent Repair Cafes in Swainby 20th January and further afield in February!  

Our January Repair Cafe in Swainby dealt with 63 items, including chairs, watches, clocks, spades, knives, sewing machines, radios, jackets, boots, bags, hair straighteners, …….

If you had been in Saltburn on February 3rd you might have had a sense of deja-vu as volunteers from our Repair Cafe helped Saltburn hold their first repair cafe and they borrowed our pink t-shirts for this first event. Over 60 items were brought for repair and with 30 people helping to repair, provide refreshments and do the admin. It was a very successful event and the Saltburn team felt they learnt a lot, making them more confident to organise future repair cafes. Simon, our Repair Cafe lead, noted “I found it really useful to watch another group adapting our repair cafe model, and so picked up some tips on how to make ours easier to run”.

We are also hoping that Northallerton, Middlesbrough and Redcar will soon have their own repair cafes as well and we have even been contacted by a group in Newcastle who are planning one for Jesmond, so hopefully an idea that’s time has come and will make an even bigger contribution to reduce waste, by giving items a longer life and avoiding them having to be recycled or disposed of.

If you have local friends who are good at repair or just want to help at our repair cafes please let me know, and if they are further afield, then we may be able to put them in touch with a local repair cafe or give them some tips on how to start a new repair cafe where they are.

Allerton Park Waste Recovery guided visit 31st January

Following a number of successful and interesting previous guided visits to our local waste recovery park near Thirsk, Bridget Holmstrom arranged another opportunity last month to see at first hand how our household waste and recycling is managed. This was well attended and well received, stimulating avid discussions on how best our waste could be managed.

Co-op Foodshare continues!

Every night, every week Jenny Earle, joint Food Group lead, organises volunteers to collect surplus food from our local Co-op stores and resdistributes it locally to those in need, not only reducing food waste which produces carbon gases affecting our climate but also providing a huge benefit to the community.

New volunteers are always welcome, please contact.

Signing off

If you have any news or any event / activity you would like promoting on next month’s (March) update please email Kate Gibbon by the end of February.

Kate also helps promote activities via Facebook and Instagram so let her know if there is anything that you would like shared via our Facebook page and Instagram if you are not a Facebook / Instagram user.

Hope to see you at the CASaV whole group gathering on Tuesday 20th January, 7.30 at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Kate Gibbon,

on behalf of the Climate Action Stokesley and Villages Steering Group Steering group:

Bridget Holmstrom, Caryn Loftus, Jack Turton, Ron Kirk and Simon Gibbon

Happy New Year and welcome to January’s Update from Climate Action Stokesley & Villages

Thank you for playing your part in taking urgent action globally and locally on climate breakdown.

Diary dates

(event details below)

• Tuesday 9th January 1 – 3.30 pm Yatton House Community Garden working party, Great Ayton
• Friday 12th January 10.30 – 12.30 Energy Open Home, Great Ayton (part of the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project
• Tuesday 16th January 11 – 1 Guided walking tour of Rosedale peat bog restoration (natural carbon capture) by Yorkshire Peat Partnership
• Tuesday 16th January 7.30 – 9 pm Whole group meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley
• Saturday 20th January 10-12 noon Repair Cafe at Swainby Village Hall
• Tuesday 23rd January 2-2.45 pm Community Energy England zoom meeting (see website)
• Wednesday 31st January 2pm Allerton Waste Recovery Park guided visit

Newsletter

Our online newsletter / magazine focuses on our group’s values and purpose, summed up by our motto ‘Think global, act local’, beginning with global / national issues including ways in which you can influence policy, followed by local news and activities you can participate in that develop our relationship with the environment and fight climate change.  

“Think global”

Veganuary

In our December Climate Column in the Darlington and Stockton Times we suggested the super-six ways in which we can take action to address climate breakdown, the 

first of which focused on food. Following a largely plant-based diet can be healthier and produce less carbon emissions. Choosing local produce benefits our local farmers and also cuts food miles. Look at our website for where to buy local/sustainable food plus recipes for tasty plant-based treats and using every part of your veggies and fruit to reduce waste, as well as tips for growing your own.”

Why not try some plant based meals in January as suggested by Veganuary and check out the new Seasonal Eating section below?

Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try solely plant based food for January and beyond. There are three main reasons people give for wanting to try this and all are equally valid and evidence based: to improve their own health, to better protect animals and to reduce the impact on our planet (climate breakdown, deforestation, pollution, and wildlife decimation). More information here: veganuary

EU has now agreed that ecocide is a crime

The EU has recently agreed to create new offence that aims to punish the most serious crimes against the environment. There will be a new law aimed at preventing and punishing “cases comparable to ecocide”. This landmark decision comes after months of negotiation between the European Council, Commission and Parliament and reflects the European Parliament’s recommendation earlier this year to tackle “ecocide-level crimes”.

More information here

Here in the UK, you can make the most of a rare opportunity to directly influence the legislative process and respond to the public consultation on a new ‘ecocide bill’ for Scotland.

The consultation process takes less than 3 minutes and is a hugely impactful way for you to speak up for nature. The consultation will run until Friday 9 February 2024.

The ecocide bill includes substantial sanctions designed to deter individuals in the positions of power from making decisions that directly result in the most severe cases of environmental harm.

More information here: stopecocide

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2024 26 – 28th January

It’s 45 years since the first Big Garden Birdwatch. Last year, over half a million people looked out for birds, making Birdwatch the largest citizen wildlife survey in the UK.

Although some species are showing signs of increasing in numbers, several are showing serious decline. The reasons behind the declines in garden bird sightings are complex and continue to be investigated. Fewer green spaces, pollution and a changing climate are just some of the challenges faced by many birds. By better understanding what is happening we are better equipped to find solutions. Looking back over the last 45 years, one thing Big Garden Birdwatch has revealed is that for some birds, our gardens are increasingly seen as places to find food, water and shelter during the winter.

You can use this opportunity to feel more connected to nature and contribute towards gathering key scientific data. More information here: BigGardenBirdwatch

“Act Local”

This month’s local activities to promote care for our environment and fight climate breakdown

CASaV January Monthly Meeting at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Tuesday 16th January 7.30-9pm

Our next whole group meeting will be on Tuesday 16th January, 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 will focus on the next steps in the United for Warm Homes and Local Area Demonstrator campaigns. All welcome!

NB If you have any spare seeds for our March Seed Stall Giveaway (see below for details) please bring along to the meeting.

Yatton House Community Garden working party – Tuesday 9th January

Amazingly given all the recent rain, Tuesday 9th January looks dry for the first working party of the year between 1:30 and 3:00 pm. Given it is forecast to not be windy or freezing cold we could prune the apple tree in the community garden along with any weeding that needs doing. All welcome to come and help.

Apologies for late notice of this event but if you miss this there is opportunity to join the next community garden working party on Tuesday 13th February (and thereafter the 2nd Tuesday of each month).

Energy Open Home Great Ayton – Friday 12th January 10.30 – 12.30

As part of the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project (see last month’s update), Caryn and Mike are holding an open home in Great Ayton on Friday 12th January between 10:30 and 12:30. Come and find out why they chose to heat their home with a ground source heat pump and how they made the house more energy efficient over a number of years.

A photographer from North Yorkshire Council will be coming along to take some photos for LEAD project promotional material. To book a place email Caryn or phone 0777 3048250. If you can’t make it, you can read a case study about the work.

More information here:  here

Rosedale guided walking tour of peat bog restoration Tuesday 16th January 11am

What has climate change got to do with peat bogs? Peat bogs play a crucial role in the carbon cycle. Peat bogs in good condition have the potential to offer a significant nature-based solution to tackling climate change as they are capable of absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide known as “carbon sinks”. Sadly we are in danger of losing this valuable resource as much of the UK’s peat bogs are in decline. The Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) is doing important work locally in restoring eroded peat bogs.

On Tuesday 16^th January there will be a fantastic opportunity to see this important restoration, guided by staff from the YPP.  If you would like to join this guided walk, please contact Bridget Holmstrom for more information or to book a place.

The plan is to meet at the lay by on Knott road, Rosedale at this location 54.402227, -0.927967 (W3W takeover.swordfish.clinic) at 11am for introductions and a quick briefing followed by a walk along a section o f the Lyke Wake Walk to look at some of the restoration work that has happened. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the layby and it will be very wet and boggy under foot in places, so it is recommended that people wear either wellies or good walking boots with gaiters if people have them. Also recommended are water-proof trousers if you have them, even if it is a dry day, it can get bitterly cold this time of year and the more layers the better!

After about an hour and a half at this site, there will then be a quick break for lunch then drive down through Rosedale Abbey and over to the second site, Low Row Mires. We’ll park in a layby here, 54.385699, -0.855547 (W3W eyeliner.graceful.unstated) on the road to Egton. There will be a 15 minute walk from here across to the Lyke Wake Walk and see the erosion that is happening, this site hasn’t had the restoration work done yet, it is planned for the new year, and there will be a chance to talk about the erosion and what will be done etc. with up to an hour and a half on site.

This is a suggested outline for the day by YPP staff and will depend on various interests and discussion points and it will of course all be very weather dependent! If weather is particularly inclement just the morning part may take place.

Sophie who is involved with the “Eyes on the bog” monitoring plots will be one of the YPP team coming across for the day, if you have any questions on this then this would be a good time to have a chat in person about it.

If you would like to join this guided walk, please contact Bridget Holmstrom for more information or to book a place.

You will need appropriate footwear and plenty of warm layers, including hats and gloves. We will stop for a quick lunch break between sites so would recommend that you bring a packed lunch, flasks with a warm drink if you have them, and plenty of water to drink.

Repair Cafe Saturday 20th January 10 – 12 noon Swainby Village Hall

Our first Repair Cafe of the new year take’s place on Saturday, 20th January at Swainby Village Hall 10 – 12 noon. Our friendly pink T-shirted volunteers will be on hand to fix your broken household items (electrical appliances, clothing and textiles, computers and mobile phones, crockery and ceramics, blades in need of sharpening) or give advice if we can’t.

Our feedback notes that this is always a friendly, welcoming event as well as an opportunity for you to save money, save our earth’s precious resources and save waste going to landfill or incineration. Refreshments included all for free (donations to cover costs of the repair cafes and towards other waste reducing activities are welcome).

New repair and reception volunteers are always welcome – please contact.

Wednesday 31st January 2pm Allerton Waste Recovery Park guided visit

Following a number of successful and interesting previous guided visits to our local waste recovery park near Thirsk, we have arranged another opportunity to see at first hand how our household waste and recycling is managed. For more information and to book a place, please contact Bridget Holmstrom

Take part in research into decarbonisation solutions for off grid (and partially off grid) communities

Are you off the gas and/or electric grid? If so, you might like to take part in some new research. Sheffield Hallam University are undertaking research into decarbonisation solutions for off grid communities looking at reducing the environmental impact of heating and powering homes not connected to the gas and/or electric grids. The research includes an energy use survey which will ask questions like, for example: how many rooms does your home have? How many people live there and what ages are they? What fuel do you use to heat the home? Do you plan to switch to an EV and if so over what timescales? As opposed to questions like: How many KwH did you consume last month? So, it should be easy to complete without specialist knowledge or having precise information to hand.

They also request that participating households take part (if they’re able to) in a more discursive one-hour interview about how they feel about their current energy arrangements and what they enable and what they restrict in terms of lifestyle, work, family life etc. And how they feel in principle about the various low carbon options that exist etc. They also ask participants if they can return to them later in the project to get their views on the solutions they are proposing in terms of future energy solutions for off grid or partially off grid homes.

They are aiming to start our engagement with occupants in February 2024 and that phase of the research may go on for several months.

If you are interested, please contact here

Seasonal eating: January

Eating food in season (local as far as possible) can have substantial positive impact on climate breakdown by reducing high-energy input from artificial heating or lighting needed to produce crops out of the natural growing season. In this new monthly section we will look at what foods are in season together with a seasonal recipe.

Tasty fruit and veggies available now include apple, beetroot, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chicory, horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, pear, potatoes, rhubarb, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips.

More information here:

Seasonal eating

how-to-eat-seasonally

If you have bought or grown a stalk full of Brussel sprouts, the little ones at the top (or indeed any) make a delicious salad.

brussels-sprouts-salad

Or why not try a warming celeriac soup which uses in season celery and celeriac:

celeriac-soup-with-toasted-hazelnut-crumble

Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) project

LEAD is a £1.2M scheme to stimulate demand for energy efficiency measures in homes across North Yorkshire. The funding has been received from the Department of Energy Security and NET Zero and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will be focusing around retrofitting homes to reduce energy consumption

The project will be piloted in a number of neighbourhoods including around Stokesley.

Led by North Yorkshire Council, the scheme will be focused on specific streets, villages and neighbourhoods where studies have highlighted priority areas and where interest in tackling climate change through retrofitted schemes has been shown.

Households in these pilot areas will be offered a free ‘whole house plan’ – a survey of their homes with advice on what would be needed to make them more energy efficient such as new windows and doors, or cavity wall and loft insulation.

About 325 plans will be facilitated through the project, comprising in-house assessments, whole house plan development in collaboration with the householder, and elements of design work, leaving the resident with a clear plan of action and next steps to implement their retrofit project.

CASaV is actively involved in facilitating this project and Mark Lewis, one of our CASaV members interested in Energy, gave a presentation at the November whole group meeting where he outlined the group’s role to:

Build awareness of the project and encourage residents within the neighbourhoods to have a plan developed

Promote the project and ensure residents know how to register their interest

Work with the team to support the running of specialised events for the project

Support the team to facilitate 325 plans during the project

If you would like more information or to participate in this project, please check our website for updates – LEADproject

Community Quilt Update: United for Warm Homes

Thank you to all of you who created (knitted, appliqued, embroidered) 56 beautiful squares for our United for Warm Homes Community Quilt, our creative ‘petition’ calling for (1) urgent support for those unable to afford energy bills, (2) a new programme to insulate our heat leaking homes and (3) an energy system powered by cheap, green renewables. Our youngest square creator was aged 9!

To spread the word as far as possible and for biggest impact we presented the completed quilt to Yvonne Peacock, the chair of the North Yorkshire Council parliamentary constituency councillors group to pass this on to Rishi Sunak on December 19th at County Hall and also spoke at the meeting to raise awareness of United for Warm Homes but also to discuss how our organisation can work more closely with the North Yorkshire Council on climate change strategy etc. We were well received and the opportunity for our organisation to contribute to was discussed. More information to follow.

More information here: United For Warm Homes

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle: current local actions you can take to prevent waste and benefit our community

Whether household waste goes to landfill or incineration climate damaging carbon gases are produced. Here are some current local options for your unwanted or waste items that will not only cut carbon emissions but in some cases benefit those in our local community. It’s a big win / win.

Christmas sweet tubs – reuse or recycle for charity

After enjoying your Christmas sweets, make the most of the (free!) quality plastic container by reusing it as handy storage for bits and bobs around the house. Too many containers? Green King pubs around the country are collecting the tubs to recycle and donate the proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support. Our closest Greene King pub is the Kings Head in Newton Under Roseberry but check the website for others near to you.

tub2pub/

Crisp packets into waterproof and warm sleeping bags!

Metallised crisp packets, as with all composite packaging are very difficult to recycle and usually go to landfill or incineration. However, they can be upcycled into valuable waterproof and warm emergency sleeping bags for homeless and vulnerable people. Nite Light CIC in Middlesbrough, where our Food Group take surplus food to weekly (see below), is still appealing for your metallised (i.e. foil on the inside) crisp packets.

There is a collection point in the Globe, Stokesley or you can take directly to Nite Light at units 3 & 4 North Street, Southbank, Middlesbrough (just opposite Asda Southbank). They are currently being made up into emergency sleeping bags and being distributed as the need is increasing with this colder weather.

Recycling for Good Causes: household items needed!

The CASaV Waste Group are collecting unwanted items which will raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support via the Recycling for Good Causes scheme whilst saving them from going to waste in landfill. The scheme has provided us with a large collecting bag and free collection of a minimum of 10kg of items, with funds going to support people affected by cancer.

Items we are collecting are:

Jewellery and watches

Any currency UK or foreign of any age / unchangeable currency (banknotes and coins)

Mobile phones, video / film / digital cameras, computer games and accessories, MP3 players, ipods, tablets, computers of any age or condition

Stamps (loose /single stamps, first day covers, presentation packs)

Please have a look through your household and if you have any of these items going spare, please bring them along to our next Repair Cafe on January 20th in Swainby and the bag will also be available at the next CASaV monthly meeting on January 16th.

More information here: Recycling For Good Causes

Last month’s events & updates from the sub groups

Reducing waste and reducing energy bills information stall at Stokesley Market Friday 8th December

Led by Anne Mannix, the Waste group arranged an information stall at the weekly Friday market. Volunteers were joined by Tracey Flint, Recycling Officer for North Yorkshire Council, and recycling queries were discussed as well as ideas on how to cut waste including upcycling materials into Christmas decorations and gift wrap. We also shared information on reducing energy use at home including the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project which will provide a free retrofitting survey (details of the project above) and gave away a dozen draught excluders made at our recent upcycling crafting workshops.

Further information stalls are planned to raise awareness and engage with the public on all matters to fight climate breakdown and prevent biodiversity loss. Please contact if you have ideas and would like to join us.

Our next Stokesley market stall will be the Food Group’s Seed Giveaway stall in March, information in February’s Update but donations of seeds welcome now at any of our Repair Cafes or whole group meetings.

Nature Group

– meets regularly by zoom (see separate emails for information)

The Nature Group decorated a (25 year old!) tree with decorations made from upcycled waste to promote sustainability for the Stokesley Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival which ran throughout December until 5th January. At time of this email the results were not yet published but our tree was very much admired and prompted discussion on sustainability. In addition to the Peat Bog restoration tour on January 16th, further opportunities to learn more about our changing environment and how to fight biodiversity loss are planned.

Waste Group

(page) – monthly zoom meetings, next meeting Tuesday 9th January 7.00pm, please contact if you would like to join

December’s Repair Cafe

The December Repair Cafe took place at the Globe Community Library in Stokesley on Saturday 9th December. As well as the volunteers wearing festive headgear vegan mince pies and hot mulled juice were served and over 80 household items were brought in for repair and advice and most saved from going to waste. After the event volunteers headed to a local vegan cafe for a sociable Christmas lunch. As always, a big thank you to all volunteer repairers, reception and refreshment volunteers. New volunteers are warmly welcome!

We combined the event with a Climate Justice Meet Up and had discussions and computer simulations on the impact of climate breakdown with visitors from Northallerton Climate Action and Castleton. A ‘Postcards to Rishi’ table was available and several postcards were written to our local MP / PM about our concerns of the impact of climate breakdown on the most vulnerable communities in the world.

Allerton Waste Recovery Park Visits

Last year the Waste Group organised several popular visits to the Allerton Waste Recovery Park to see at first hand how our black bin waste is dealt with, including incineration. Due to demand, further visits are now being arranged, if you are interested please email or contact Bridget Holmstrom.

Food Group

(site) – monthly zoom meetings, next meeting Thursday 18th January at 18.00, please contact if you would like to join

Co-op Foodshare Every night, every week Jenny Earle, joint Food Group lead, organises volunteers to collect surplus food from our local Co-op stores and resdistributes it locally to those in need, not only reducing food waste which produces carbon gases affecting our climate but also providing a benefit to the community.

New volunteers are always welcome, please contact.

Stokesley U3A: Food, glorious food, veggie style!

This veggie food group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm in Stokesley Town Hall. The group is for collaborative folks who are interested in sharing ideas, knowledge,recipes and enthusiasm for veggie style food. Wendy Smith, joint Food Group lead, attended and spoke at the November session.

Signing off

If you have any news or any event / activity you would like promoting on next month’s (February) update please email Kate Gibbon by the end of January.

Kate will also be helping promote activities via Facebook and Instagram so let her know if there is anything that you would like shared via our Facebook page and Instagram if you are not a Facebook / Instagram user.

Hope to see you at the first CASaV whole group gathering of the new year on Tuesday 16th January, 7.30 at the Globe Community Library, Stokesley

Kate Gibbon,

on behalf of the Climate Action Stokesley and Villages Steering Group Steering group:

Bridget Holmstrom, Caryn Loftus, Jack Turton, Ron Kirk and Simon Gibbon

Our next whole group meeting will be on Tuesday 16th January, 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 will focus on the next steps in the United for Warm Homes and Local Area Demonstrator campaigns.