Cycling City Project in South Gloucestershire
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Spring 2010 NetworkingNews LOCAL ENVIRONMENT NeWS LOCAL ACTION Family Cycle Event - Cycling City project in Bird bike ride On Sunday 18th April there was a fun big cycle South Gloucestershire event along the railway path with ‘birds’ as the theme. Families who turned up on the day collected their score card at one of the 6 stalls along the route. Using the map provided, the challenge was to find the bird related facts at each of the stalls which were then marked on their score cards. People could, and did, start at any of the stalls which were situated along the Bristol to Bath Railway Path and at Grimsbury Farm. Medals were also awarded to approx 400 children who found two or more facts. Face painting and free bike checks were on offer at Warmley Station, and Falconry Displays (Siston Common) and owl encounters (Staple Hill tunnel). If you want to see a map of the route, go to www.cyclewest.co.uk The event was run by South Gloucestershire Council Transport team, the Wildways Project and Cycle City Bristol. Further information visit www.betterbybike.info or Phone In 2008 South Gloucestershire Council, jointly with Bristol City Council, ✆ 01454 863640 were chosen as Britain’s first Cycling City and government funding totalling £11.4 million has been awarded to the area to transform cycling infrastructure enabling a significant investment in cycling. The aim of the Cycling City project is to double the number of cyclists in the greater Bristol area. New routes have been built between: ❙ Parkway Station and Bristol ❙ The University of the West of England and Parkway Station ❙ The University of the West of England and Frenchay Hospital There are also routes currently under construction between: ❙ Bradley Stoke and Parkway Station ❙ Bradley Stoke and The Mall, Cribbs Causeway ❙ Emersons Green and the Bristol to Bath Railway Path To find out more visit www.betterbybike.info or phone ✆ 01454 863640 ClimateChange Domestic Renewable Energy for SG Residents Council offices inYate Working in partnership with Severn Wye win Eco Award Energy Agency, Staff have moved into South Gloucestershire Council’s new eco offices South Gloucestershire on Badminton Road, Yate which has won an “excellent” rating from the Council are pleased to construction industry’s top environmental watchdog. The 72% BREEAM announce the extension of their SG Futurenergy (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) grant scheme into 2010/11. rating was awarded for its environmental features and high recycling of building materials during construction. SG Futurenergy grants provide residents of South Gloucestershire with grants of £500 towards domestic Features include: renewable energy installations, helping to cover capital ❙ solar panels to provide hot water expenditure costs. There is also a low interest loan ❙ rainwater harvesting to flush the loos available for these installations of up to £3,500. The ❙ natural ventilation and lighting scheme has been very popular and over 100 homes ❙ woodchip biomass boiler to provide most of in South Gloucestershire now have renewable energy the heat installations. ❙ heat recovery Severn Wye Energy Agency can provide free advice on what sustainable energy measures are suitable for your home and refer you to their network of approved installers. For further information call 200 less cars on the road ✆ 01452 835087, or visit www.swea.co.uk/proj_SouthGlosRE.shtml The opening of the Council Offices in Yate has brought about new ways of working and a raft of Green Travel measures. Around 370 staff signed 10:10 Campaign up to car share reducing the amount of cars on the roads by 200. Some staff are cycling to work Competition winners! and making use of good quality shower facilities. Last year the Council signed up to the 10:10 Two new bus services have been introduced campaign www.1010uk.org and got off to and an existing one enhanced, providing a a good start with an internal screening The Age reliable frequent service from Longwell Green, of Stupid climate change film. At the same time Kingswood and Emersons Green. a competition was launched to see which team could come up with the best idea on how to save Pool cars provide a vital service for those without cars on site - video conferencing 10% carbon emissions and embed the idea into is available and many staff are working from home, at other offices or out on site their service delivery plans. The winning idea – all whilst maintaining strong links with the public. was submitted by Jim Mathison and Katherine Kearns, Community Landscape Project Officers in the Council’s Community Services team. Success for part-night street lighting project The winning idea: “Trial pictorial At the March meeting of the South Gloucestershire Environment Forum, meadows as Mark Rosher (Charfield Parish Council) and Andy Porter (Electrical alternatives to annual Manager, SGC) both gave a presentation on the success of the part-night bedding plant displays street lighting project in Charfield - the main benefits being substantial in some areas, (summer savings on carbon emissions as well as reduced energy bills. bedding is grown in heated glasshouses, Councillors from other parishes attended and as a result 8 other parishes pictorial meadow are actively looking into carrying out such a project within their parishes - in seed sown in situ) as well as lobbying for inclusion of a consultation with their communities and Safer and Stronger Groups. For further review of annual bedding in Service Improvement Plan.” information contact either [email protected] or Congratulations to them both! [email protected] 2 | Networking News | Spring 2010 Here We Come Cutting Household A-Wassailing! Cider was splashed on Carbon Emissions in apple tree roots and toast placed in branches South Gloucestershire at the community wassailing ceremonies People in South Gloucestershire have been offered the chance to help held to awaken the cut carbon emissions by monitoring their energy use. orchards at Grimsbury Farm and Willsbridge Under a new scheme, selected families will be asked to keep a check on their Mill in January this year. energy consumption for up to two years to show the kind of savings they can achieve. The homeowners have been chosen from across the district and live in The word Wassail comes from the Anglo Saxon, ‘Wes types of homes that are typical of the housing stock within the area. Hal’, which means to be in good health or good fortune and ‘Wassailing orchards is an age old UK tradition of Each household has received an in-depth energy use protecting fruit trees and ensuring a bountiful crop. survey, followed by an individual action plan for reducing emissions. Expert advice will also be provided for a year to help them carry out their action plans and to look at how they can reduce their carbon footprint as much as possible. The scheme is part of South West Target 2050 – the name coming from the Government aim to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. There were no restrictions on the types of properties that were considered but selected households will be expected to become case studies to inspire other local householders to take action. Mathew Riddle, South Gloucestershire Council’s After the beating of noisy instruments to scare away executive member for community care evil spirits and apple pests that might be nibbling the and housing, said: “This is a big challenge. We have identified people who are emerging buds, the Communal Wassail cup kindly serious about reducing their carbon footprint and energy bills, as well as willing to provided by Keith Goverd from English Quality Apple be advocates for positive action on climate change within their community.” Juice was passed around and traditional Wassail songs sung. Willsbridge Mill’s annual tree dressing event Year 5 students from Parkwall Primary years ago Willsbridge Valley was an equatorial visited the Mill to produce a stunning swamp forest immersed in water. Now the visual display for the annual Tree Siston Brook (a shallow stream which races Dressing Festival. This year’s festival through it) may, as a result of climate change, theme was a watery one to link in the rise and flood the valley. To reinforce the link Copenhagen climate change conference. with and raise awareness of issues concerning water, the sculptures used materials that had a The workshop aimed to examine the past and connection with water. For more information future water levels at the Mill. 300,000 million visit: www.commonground.org.uk Networking News | Spring 2010 | 3 NaturalEnvironment Children Plant Community Orchard The Friends of Leap Valley and Avon Wildlife Trust have worked with the children at Bromley Heath Junior School to plant an orchard. Leap Valley is a public open space near the school and old maps show that there were several orchards nearby. With the help of Ruth Worsley, Community Education Officer from Avon Wildlife Trust, 120 children from Bromley Heath visited Leap Valley during November last year to learn more about wildlife, and trees in the valley. Back at school other classes did fruity art work and learnt about why it is better to grow or buy local fruit. Finally, the children from the Eco School Action Team helped the Friends of Leap Valley to plant fruit trees with names like Arlingham Schoolboy, Ashmead’s Kernel and Winterbourne Magnum. These trees will form the new Leap Valley Community Orchard. Marcus John, Head teacher at Bromley Heath Junior School, says “This represents a great opportunity for our children to participate in improving their local nature reserve and to learn about local history and food production. Our children already grow food in eight raised beds at school and this will add another dimension to their understanding of sustainable food production.” The project was funded by a South Gloucestershire Council Environment Grant and expertise on planting and management of the orchard has been given by Graham White of Mr Fruit.