County Durham’s Environment Partnership Newsletter: Winter 2017 Altogethergreener

Oliver Sherratt Chair of Environment Partnership

Welcome

Welcome to the Winter edition of the Altogether Greener newsletter. We have a great issue here with a special centre spread featuring the Environment Award winners. We had an excellent night at the ceremony on 23 November where we celebrated the fabulous projects, which are taking place across the county. Once again, we were A huge well done to everyone treated to an amazing array of who took part in this year’s environmental projects. Environment Awards.

What is inspiring is the The awards are now in their 28th year strength and depth of and are organised by the County Durham volunteers who give up Environment Partnership to recognise their time for environmental great design, environmental guardianship causes and the ever- growing and community spirit. engagement of school and young volunteers, which gives This year saw 53 entries to the awards from all areas of tremendous encouragement County Durham. Judges had a very difficult task and in for the future. the end shortlisted 33 entries. Of these entries, 12 were given the award of Category Winner and 21 were Highly Please get in touch if you Commended. have any news for a future edition of this newsletter, we would love to hear from you. Once again, there was a wide range of excellent Our contact details are on the projects, which highlighted the commitment of back page. individuals, and groups who give up their time to make County Durham a better place for people to live and I would like to take this visit. Volunteers from all over the county opportunity to wish you all are working hard, dedicating their time to a Happy Christmas and best improve their local environment. wishes for 2018. These awards are a unique opportunity to celebrate their fantastic achievements.

For details of the winners, please see centre pages. If you are interested in sponsoring the 2018 awards please get in touch, contact details on the back page. 2

Operation Spruce up Steve Bhwomick, Chair of the Coastal, heritage and landscape group Durham County Council’s environmental programme, presenting Miss Meade with a Caring for your environment award. ‘Operation Spruce Up’, has received positive feedback since its launch in November 2016. Twelve areas across the county Caring for your have now benefited from a ‘spruce up’ involving jet washing; painting; gully cleaning; shrub planting; highways re-marking Environment Awards and much more. Children at Primary School, took part in a poster Miss Dorothy Meade, from Gilesgate, was recently competition to encourage people to keep the village clean presented with A Caring for your Environment award for and tidy. Spruce Up is now taking place in Coundon. the work she has done over the last two decades for the Heritage Open Days programme. For more information visit www.durham.gov.uk/spruceup

Miss Mead has led guided events and discussions on the Coastal, heritage and landscape history of Kepier Hospital and Loggia in Durham City, which was built in around 1180 to relieve the poor and to welcome pilgrims to Durham. Seascape The coastal, heritage and landscape group are engaged Local nature partnerships in a project led by Durham Heritage Coast partnership and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which Launch of Achieving Environmental Growth, will be known as Seascape. Seascape is a partnership and a publication for elected members. community approach to protecting and celebrating the A user friendly printed guide fascinating stretch of coastline and communities of South for each elected member in the Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham and . North East has been developed by the North East The scheme will appoint a programme manager and Nature Partnership (NEENP) with external relations officer who will prepare a delivery plan, collaborators ranging from local with the aim of a programme being carried out between authorities, Public Health England 2020 and 2024. For more information go to www.durhamheritagecoast.org/our-coast/seascape and universities and local business, including support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Woodlands As part of the newly agreed Woodlands Revival project The guide aims to provide an engaging and succinct a programme of thinning woodlands is underway with outline of the benefits and opportunities that the private contractors. This will extend to new planting sites natural environment provides in delivering health with the Woodland Trust. benefits, facilitating a green economy and adapting and managing the impacts of climate change. A baseline data report has been started and a number If you would like more information please contact of factors are being researched to produce a picture [email protected] of the area to help understand potential opportunities or 0191 584 3112. and funding options for further woodland creation and community engagement in woodland management. County Durham Environment Partnership celebrates projects that improve and enhance the environment in County Durham and we certainly had lots to celebrate at the awards ceremony on 23 November at the Radisson Hotel.

County Durham Environment Awards 2017 supported by: Banks Group; Durham County Council; Durham University; Durham Wildlife Trust; Groundwork; Northern Echo.

Built environment

Winner • Crook Hall Visitor Centre, Durham

Highly Commended • Teesdale House,

Climate change

Winner • The Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, Durham Community partnership

Winners • Growing Forward Together, Station

Highly Commended • Northumbria Water Courtyard, Durham • Lumley Park Burn Restoration, near Bournmoor

Craftsmanship

Winner • Brothers at War, Witton Park

Natural environment

Winner • Bale Hill, Dene Burn and Four Lane Ends Woods, Castleside Places and spaces

Winners • Cornerstone Sensory Garden, Evenwood

Highly Commended • Witton Park Memorial Garden • Durham Floral Displays • Village Centre Improvements • Community WOW factor, Newfield/ Pelton Lane Ends

Schools and colleges

Joint Winners • In2Nature,Wingate Nursery

In2Nature, Wingate Nursery School School • Community Forest and Beach Club

Highly Commended • The Environment Club, Durham Johnston School

Wheatley Hill Community Forest and Beach Club

Volunteer group of the year

Winners • Van Mildert College Outreach, Durham City

Highly Commended • Community Allotment for More Mature Folk, Newfield Allotment Site • Friends of Stockton Road Cemetery, Durham • Friends of Wharton Park, Durham • The Bloomers, Volunteer of the year - under 18

Joint Winner • 1st Burnmoor Scouts, Fencehouses • Young Firefighters, 1st Burnmoor Scouts

Young Firefighters, Sacriston

Volunteer of the year - over 18

Winner • Alan Leathard, Stanley

Highly Commended • Bob Sorley, Burnhopefield • Fernie Boorman, • Howard Smith, Sedgefield • Malcolm Watson, South Moor, Stanley Award accepted by Chris Hindmarch centre (civic pride • Norman Midgeley, Sedgefield officer) on behalf of winner Alan Leathard. • Richard Judd, Leadgate

Waste Management

Highly Commended • Hazardous Waste Reduction and Zero to Landfill, Barnard Castle • Illuminating Waste, Greener business

Highly Commended • Buddy Bench – Inclusive Education, County Durham 3

Environment in your community

The partnership are working with Sainsbury’s ‘Waste less save more’ and HUBBUB to reduce food waste in the area by collecting food from their local Tesco and Morrison’s to put in the ‘Fridge for all’.

People can get involved by donating unwanted edible food as well as using the fridge. Opening times are 10am to 4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Alive, 19 Church Street, Shildon. For enquiries, Blooming with success phone 01388 417 600. County Durham won a series of awards in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Northumbria in Bloom gardening competition, including best overall entry. Green stress busters Growing Durham, the community County triumphs were as follows: growing project of Food • Durham (small city category) – Gold, category winner Durham, is very keen to work and the Percy Boydell Trophy for best overall entry. with employers and employees • Chester le Street (large town category) – Silver Gilt and to establish edible work place category winner. growing, encouraging employees • Stanley (town category) - Silver. to grow some fresh fruit and veg in their lunchbreaks. A work place allotment is a great Shildon’s Fridge for All stress buster, it doesn’t have to take a huge amount of space and can be relatively easily created. Shildon Alive launched their first community fridge If you want to explore what you might do at on 20 November 2017, in your workplace contact hannah.murray-leslie@ partnership with Strategic Waste durhamcommunityaction.org.uk or peter.samson@ Management, Durham County durhamcommunityaction.org.uk or call them on 01388 Council. 742 040.

Climate change three consultation events on the Governments “Leading by Example: Cutting Energy Bills and Carbon Emissions in the wide Public and Higher Education sectors” document. Two events have recently taken place in partnership with Feedback from this event will enable North East views to BEIS (Government Department of Business, Energy and be strongly represented. Industrial Strategy) Money to burn? • A national event at Durham Castle brought together Help is at hand to reduce your energy bills and keep your home warm. projects to share best practice on how small businesses Book a free visit with our home can become more energy efficient. One County Durham energy advisor. Funded by project, the Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), provides fully-funded energy audits to SMEs in the county, with a grant fund available to help them reduce the payback period of any energy efficient installations. We offer free, impartial advice to help you: • Save money on your energy bills • Move to the cheapest and best tariff for you • • A regional event in Newcastle, attended by Find out if you’re entitled to a home energy grant For more information, contact our Managing Money Better home representatives from the NHS, Local Authorities, the energy advisor: voluntary sector and the region’s universities, was one of  [email protected]  03000 268 000 4

To find out more about the County Durham Environment Partnership or to get involved: visit: www.countydurhampartnership.co.uk email: [email protected] What’son... call: 03000 264 712 You can also look out for #altogethergreener on Twitter

Snowdrop Walk

24 February 2018 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m

Meet at Coastal carpark, bottom of Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, SR8 3RU

Join our Heritage Coast Officer for a gentle circular walk along the coast to Hawthorn Dene and enjoy the snowdrops. The walk Potato Day ‘No Dig Gardening’ Talk is approximately 4 miles long, please dress for the by Charles Dowding weather. This walk is free 27 January 2018 of charge. Bowburn Community Centre 31 January 2018 10.00 am - 1.00 pm Bowburn Community Centre, Durham Rd, DH6 5AT Durham Organic Gardeners’ 7.30pm – 9.30pm Association invite you to their Potato Day event. There will Talk by national expert in Volunteering opportunities be a great selection of organic no-dig gardening Charles and non-organic varieties Dowding, organised by Civic Pride of seed potatoes for sale. Growing Durham. Help us make your neighbourhood a cleaner, greener place. We There will also be homemade Tickets £7 from https:// can organise activities or provide advice and equipment for your cakes, tea, coffee and light dcacrm.uk/civicrm/event/ own project. refreshments available to info?reset=1&id=8 purchase. Email: [email protected] or call 0300 026 1000.

Love Birds Durham Wildlife Trust Durham Wildlife Trust has numerous opportunities for volunteering, they are always looking for willing volunteers who 14 February 2018 share our passion for wildlife, conservation and broadening awareness. Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, Houghton le Spring DH4 6PU. Please get in touch at www.durhamwt.com/get-involved or telephone on 0191 584 3112. A guided walk of Rainton Meadows, talking about the birds on the reserve, their Durham Countryside Volunteers habitat and how you can get Why not join us and make your own valuable contribution to involved. improving the County Durham countryside? www.durham.gov.uk/countryside To book a place online go to For more information go to www.durhamwt.com/events or call 03000 264 589.

Durham Community Action - A One Stop Shop for Volunteering If you want to gain experience, volunteer in a certain area, get skills for work, volunteer occasionally or help at one off events. Email [email protected], call 01388 742 040 or visit www.durhamcommunityaction.org.uk

National volunteering website check out www.do-it.org