Action on climate change in Devon and dates for the diary
Devon Climate Emergency | June 2024
Welcome To Our June Newsletter!
There are many actions already taking place across Devon that are successfully reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience and implementing the Devon Carbon Plan and Climate Adaptation Strategy. Here are our picks for the month!
You can see more positive actions and stay updated throughout the month by visiting the Taking Action page on our website.
Devon Organisations Secure Funds in Latest Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Round
Several Devon organisations have been granted funds from Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, a UK government initiative to reduce carbon emissions in public sector buildings.
It provides funding to upgrade and retrofit these buildings with energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies.
One of the successful organisations is Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, which has been awarded £1.8 million.
Walking Bus Reducing Emissions at West Croft School
West Croft School in Bideford has launched a second Walking Bus route with the support of adult volunteers trained in road safety. Similar to a regular bus, the Walking Bus follows a fixed route, picking up children at designated stops along the way.
Replacing motorised transport with active travel combats climate change by reducing traffic, fuel usage and emissions.
New Walking, Cycling & Wheeling Route to Open Near Newton Abbot
The first phase of creating a safe and convenient walking, cycling, and wheeling route between Newton Abbot and Ogwell is nearly complete, with a new road section and fencing at Bakers Park finished and road improvements at Steppes Meadow underway.
The route will encourage active lifestyles, reduce car journeys, and improve access to the town centre.
New Project Uses Power of Community to Tackle Impacts of Climate Change
Communities across the South Hams, East and Mid Devon, Teignbridge, Exeter, Plymouth, and Torbay are being invited to help collect information on the impact climate change is having on nine threatened nocturnal mammal species – seven bat species, hazel dormice, and hedgehogs – as well as the habitats they depend on.
‘Connecting people and landscapes in a changing climate’ will bring together regenerative farming and conservation to build a community around nature-friendly food production.
Checking nest boxes for dormice, image by Emily Marnham/PTES
Free Support for Businesses in South Hams to Decarbonise
Businesses in the South Hams area are being offered free specialist advice from Libraries Unlimited, funded by South Hams District Council, to help them reduce their carbon footprint.
The initiative aims to assist firms in identifying actions to improve their environmental approach.
Participating businesses can then apply for Rural England Prosperity Fund grants of up to £10,000 to implement their plans. Currently, 24 businesses in the South Hams have enrolled in the project.
Sustainable Tiverton Supports Young People to Take Action
Sustainable Tiverton has a new Youth Development Worker to support young people around climate breakdown and future sustainability. They are linking up with young people already doing fantastic work locally and tracking down youth-led ideas from across the world to inspire new local action.
Over the next 6-months, they will work out what action young people would like to get involved in, making Sustainable Tiverton more youth centred, then help work up ideas and identify resources for projects.
Volunteers Sought to Support Schools in Their Climate Action Journey
Climate Ambassadors are being recruited to support schools in their climate action journey!
The Climate Ambassador programme is a Department for Education funded project in association with the University of Reading, EAUC and STEM Learning, in partnership with nine regional institutions.
Secretariat Works with the University of Exeter on Monitoring Indicators
The Devon Climate Emergency secretariat has been working with the University of Exeter to review, update and expand the monitoring indicators for the Devon Carbon Plan. The team at the Centre for Energy and Environment, University of Exeter, have made good progress at identifying publicly available data sets to track progress towards the majority of the 62 milestones in the Plan. Further work will now take place to determine how best to present this data for the partnership and the public, on the website. This will then be shared in the newsletter once it is live in coming months.
The latest minutes of the partnership are available on the website.
Organisation Spotlight - Program Agency
Program Agency are proud to have signed the Devon Climate Declaration.
The South West based marketing and communications agency is committed to using marketing for good, helping to elevate organisations that have a positive impact on people and planet.
They've recently become a Certified B Corp, as part of their own commitment to be a force for good.
Program publish their annual carbon footprint reports and client disclosure report; something they're pushing for others to make public. The team also run an internal programme educating employees on reducing environmental impact, as a business and individuals, led by their dedicated Sustainability Champion.
If you would like to sign our Declaration, please visit our website:
Find out about upcoming events, funding and opportunities across Devon below.
Turn the Tide Teignbridge CIC present Troubadour Theatre’s premier production of Whose Wild World?
Dawlish, in the marque on the lawn, 7th June 2024 – 18.00 – 20.00
Turn the Tide is proud to bring an interactive community theatre company performance to Dawlish! Bring your imagination, bring your sense of humour and bring your outrage to explore the impact of human behaviour on our beautiful planet.
Be part of the UK’s biggest celebration of action to tackle climate change and protect nature, taking place in communities nationwide from 8th to 16th June 2024.
In celebration of the launch of the Energy Local Totnes Club, with its new access to local, affordable, renewable hydroelectric power from the Totnes Weir Hydro, there will be a fun and informative afternoon next to the Totnes Weir. There will be children's activities, tours of the Hydroelectric station and information about Energy Local Totnes, as well as Energy Saving advice and a food and drink stall.
Please book your hydroelectric tour or children's activity slot in advance if you can, (it's really helpful for our planning) at: admin@tresoc.co.uk
Every bite of local food can help to support local farmers, reduce food miles, promote regenerative farming, strengthen communities, and improve health and wellbeing.
That's why the Devon Food Partnership are encouraging everyone to make small, simple changes to local food. Whether you shop at farmers' market, visit a farm shop, or sign up to a box scheme, together we can make a big difference.
You can share your pledge on the Every Bite Counts webpage as well as access resources to help you on your local food journey. Share your pledge by Sunday 30 June and you will be entered into a prize draw for a chance towin a Food Drink Devon hamper from Greendale Farm Shop!
Join us in building a more sustainable food future, one bite at a time!
A talk and discussion about the practicalities and opportunities of nature recovery in the UK, with practitioners and experts on the subject. With speakers from Ambios andCows in Clover. This event is Part of the Community Resilience Forum.
Featuring local performers, live music, contemporary art by some of the South West’s leading artists, workshops, street entertainment, and more. Local artists have joined ACT to create events that involve, engage, excite, illuminate, and explain what our changing climate means for us, and what we can all do to reduce our impact on the planet and improve our lives.
Devon County Council (DCC) is administering grants and resources for tree planting, supported by The Woodland Trust and The Forestry Commission. DCC are looking for community groups, including schools, town and parish councils that would like to plant trees on their land. The land can be public or private, but ideally the land should be publicly accessible, or at least accessible to a specific community group (i.e., orchards and allotments).
Through the new Water Restoration Fund, local groups can apply for funding to bolster their capacity and capabilities for delivery of on-the-ground projects which improve the water environment.
Grants to Help Get People Back on their Bikes this Summer
Grants of up to £3,500 are available to deliver cycling events to get people back on their bikes this summer.
The Big Bike Revival Programme will support activity to encourage people who do not currently cycle to consider either starting or returning to cycling.
The closing date for applications is the 25th June 2024.
Designed to seed and support schemes to increase the amount of reuse and improve involvement and awareness of reuse projects such as Repair Cafés, Libraries of Things and clothes swap events in East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, and West Devon.
To encourage and support more groups, two rounds of funding are proposed every year and applications can only be made once every 2 years (i.e., once every 4 rounds). The closing dates are:
Round 1: Wednesday 26thJune 2024
Round 2: Wednesday 27th November 2024
For more information or to request an information and application form, please contact Jennifer.cooper@devon.gov.uk.
There are many actions already taking place across Devon that are successfully reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience and implementing the 
Several Devon organisations have been granted funds from Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, a UK government initiative to reduce carbon emissions in public sector buildings.
Plymouth residents can nominate their local climate legends online as part of a Plymouth Climate Connections' initiative.
The first phase of creating a safe and convenient walking, cycling, and wheeling route between Newton Abbot and Ogwell is nearly complete, with a new road section and fencing at Bakers Park finished and road improvements at Steppes Meadow underway.
Communities across the South Hams, East and Mid Devon, Teignbridge, Exeter, Plymouth, and Torbay are being invited to help collect information on the impact climate change is having on nine threatened nocturnal mammal species – seven bat species, hazel dormice, and hedgehogs – as well as the habitats they depend on.
Businesses in the South Hams area are being offered free specialist advice from Libraries Unlimited, funded by South Hams District Council, to help them reduce their carbon footprint.
If you would like to sign our Declaration, please visit our website:
Find out about upcoming events, funding and opportunities across Devon below.
Pledge to Eat Local For a Chance to Win a Hamper
Nature Recovery: Can Totnes be Wild?
