Last year East Cambridgeshire District Council was called to 35 fly-tips which included a fridge or freezer.

Shockingly, just one fridge containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that has not been disposed of properly causes the same contribution to the greenhouse effect as a small household’s annual electricity requirement or a car’s annual mileage. *

Solar panels on the roof of a detached house would have to generate electricity for a year to compensate for the environmental damage caused.

This is because the chemicals used in them can leak out over time. Their capacity to warm the atmosphere is thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide.

Cllr Julia Huffer, said: “Fly-tipped or abandoned fridges or freezers have the potential to have a have hugely damaging effect on our environment.

“This time of year, many people are considering buying new kitchens or taking advantage of discounts for fridges and freezers in the January sales.

“Unfortunately, while many people are keen to purchase new goods, disposing of the old ones responsibly is not so appealing.

“If you do need to dispose of your fridge please, please do so responsibly.”

You can do this by:

• ordering a bulky waste collection service from the council. We currently charge £30.25 for 3 household items. Fridges and freezers are £30.25 each as this requires additional handling costs to dispose of the gasses
• taking advantage of take-back services from retailers
• taking your fridge or freezer to a household waste recycling centre, such as the one at Witchford (*not ammonia fridges often used in vehicles, caravans, and boats as these are not classed as household waste and need to be disposed of via properly licenced commercial contractors who can be found through a Google search). If residents have any further questions, please contact the waste management team wmt@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

We would like to remind households to refuse the services of any waste collector who cannot prove to you that they are a registered waste carrier and cannot satisfactorily confirm where they are taking the waste to.  Do not be tempted by cheap offers, it is cheap for a reason but the fixed penalties are not.

For more information on fly-tipping visit the Environmental health pages on our website.

The post Don’t leave your fridge out in the cold appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Ely is only the third Cathedral in the UK to achieve this outstanding achievement which was given by the Christian conservation charity A Rocha UK and reflects the Cathedral’s commitment to place creation care at the heart of everything they do.

This stunning and much admired, Romanesque and medieval Cathedral is not only prominent in the local community, but also globally recognised as a spectacular venue and visitor attraction. The Cathedral’s recent Annual Report illustrates 2023 as the lowest year so far in carbon emissions, being a reduction of 42% from the peak in 2019. They have achievements across all areas of the Eco Church survey that would be expected from a gold awarded church, but they also have many initiatives that demonstrate their creativity and forward thinking approach, including: cutting paper use by adopting downloadable service sheets, regular litter picks, an innovative approach to food waste and engagement with Fareshare (https://fareshare.org.uk/) – a national charity that turns food surplus into meals. The stunning land and gardens around the Cathedral are being managed for nature and include recently planted hedgerows, being a release site for rescued hedgehogs and plans to plant an orchard.

Helen Stephens, Church Relations Manager, explained “Our huge congratulations to Ely Cathedral on their well-deserved gold Eco Church award. Everything about their approach sets them out as an exemplar of what it means to be a gold awarded church, and their strong engagement in local networks provides opportunities to share their learning and experience as well as explain what drives their care for the environment”.

The Cathedral has demonstrated a love and respect for God’s created world through prominent talks and events as well as behind the scenes action. Ely Cathedral’s community environment group, RENEW, was formed in 2019 and joined forces with the Cathedral Chapter’s Environment Working Group in 2021 to use the Eco Church framework to strategically and methodically progress their net zero targets and environmental action.

Chair of Environment Working Group Alison Binstead said “We are all absolutely delighted to gain the recognition of Gold A Rocha Eco Church Award. It really has been a huge team effort across every area of Cathedral life and has brough with it so many positive changes. As a heritage building, we are fully aware of the challenges ahead and remain committed to both the financial & resource investment required to improve our carbon footprint moving forward. The support we have received from Eco Church right through bronze, silver and gold has been excellent and we look forward to continuing our environmental improvement journey with the exceptional team of people we have here at Ely”.

The Very Revd Mark Bonney, The Dean of Ely summed it up in saying, “it is enormously gratifying that our care for God’s creation has been recognised in this way. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those on our Environment Working Group, the Cathedral’s Surveyor to the Fabric and Archaeologist, our fundraising team, Ely Cathedral Trust and our decarbonisation engineers at JG Consulting. We especially thank those who have done so much towards this in an entirely voluntary capacity, first by establishing the RENEW group in 2019 and – since 2021 – as members of the Cathedral’s Working Group. The Revd Jenny Gage (formerly our Minister for Social Justice), who died in 2022, was instrumental in getting us started on this journey. This award is a fitting testament to her memory and a fantastic recognition of all that we do – and will continue to do – to respect the natural world”.

For more information about the work of Ely Cathedral’s Environment Group and how you can be involved visit – https://www.elycathedral.org/community/environment-action

Press release from Ely Cathedral

The post Ely Cathedral Wins Gold! appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Founded in 2003, it has grown into a vast network with millions of members in over 5000 volunteer-run local groups worldwide. The website provides a platform where individuals can give away items they no longer need or find treasures they seek, all for free. It is a grassroots, non-profit organisation that focuses on reducing waste, promoting reuse, and creating a strong sense of community.

Need a cosy chair to complete your study nook? Imagine finding that perfect piece with no price tag attached-just pure generosity. Or perhaps you have some unused kitchen appliances taking up space in your home? Share the love! Freecycle allows you to give those items a new lease of life, finding them a grateful new owner. Let the joy of helping others fill your heart!

Using Freecycle has numerous benefits. By participating, you actively contribute to reducing waste and promoting the circular economy. It saves you money by allowing you to find items you need without having to buy them. Whether you’re an environmentally conscious warrior or new to the sustainability scene, Freecycle welcomes everyone with open arms. Every effort, no matter how small, contributes to the greater good.

Joining the Ely Freecycle community is simple. Follow these steps:

• Visit the homepage and sign up for an account, or log in if you already have one. 
• Navigate to the Ely Town page and click Join Town. 
• You can then let the community know what you need or have to offer by creating your first wanted or offer post. 

Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference in preserving the environment, building a sustainable future, and keeping stuff out of landfills. 

Let’s change the narrative together, one item at a time, and create a brighter future for ourselves and the generations to come!

© 2024 The Freecycle Network (R). (http://www.Freecycle.org). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in various countries.

Press release from Ely UK Freecycle

The post Join the Ely Freecycle Community appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

The form, which takes 10 minutes to complete, helps the council’s energy advisers to better understand an individual’s circumstances, such as the type of home they live in and whether they are receiving benefits.

These details can then be used to help signpost residents – particularly those on low incomes living in poorly insulated homes – to the best help available to reduce energy use and costs. To check if you may be eligible for one of these funding schemes, please visit the Action on Energy funding page (external link).

Over a period of two years the council aims to spend up to£2m investing in energy efficiency measures for non-gas homes in East Cambridgeshire, as part of a wider £10m government grant scheme called the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG 2) secured by the Action on Energy partnership.

Action on Energy also provides wider support to help residents with resources, guidance, and advice on home energy efficiency and retrofit. This can be found on the new Action on Energy Cambs website (external link). 

Lisa Eves from the Home Energy Team said: “Energy prices have increased again from 1 January.

“Typically, an annual energy bill for a dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit is now around £1,928. That’s an increase of around £94 a year, based on the current price cap unit rates.

“We know for many of our residents, paying energy bills is challenging and we want to do all we can to help people increase the energy efficiency of their homes.

“As well as providing general help and advice, we are particularly keen to target hundreds of residents across the district we think are eligible for Government funding.

“Accessing the Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG) funding – which can be spent on energy efficiency measures for the home – could help them save hundreds if not thousands of pounds.”

Complete the grant funding application form form on the Action on Energy Cambridgeshire website (external link) 

Or, for more information contact the Home Energy Team on 01353 665555 to discuss further or to check if your property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You can also find your EPC if you have one on the Government’s website (external link).

The cost of living pages on the council’s website contain general information and advice on how to save energy.

Weekly Energy Drop sessions are also available free of charge to members of the public every Tuesday at the council’s offices in Ely. Simply drop in between 10am and 1pm or call 01353 665555 to pre-book an appointment.

Tips for saving energy in the home

• Turn down your thermostat by just 1°C to save £100 a year
• Shorten showers to 4 minutes to save £70 a year
• Turn appliances off standby mode to save £50 a year
• Use reflective radiator panels to save £25 a year
• Be aware which devices in your home use most energy (external link) according to the charity National Energy Action.

Tips for heating your home

• Use the HACKS energy saving calculator (external link)  to review the current energy set up in your home and find solutions to make your home more energy efficient.
• Visit the Energy Savings Trust’s myths about solar page (external link) to read up more about solar panels
• Find out more about retrofitting your home on the TrustMark’s website (external link). 
• Ofgem (external link) has lots of information about environmental and social schemes, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Smart Export Guarantee, on their website.

Switching to a green tariff is better for the environment. Find out more on the Energy Savings Trust website (external link)

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Save money during Energy Saving Week appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Its estimated up to 500 households in the village, which have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D – G, may be eligible for the scheme.

Up to £10million funding has been secured from the government by Cambridgeshire councils as part of the Cambridgeshire Energy Retrofit Partnership.

The grant can be used to pay energy saving initiatives such as providing loft, cavity and solid wall insulation, clean energy and heating such as Solar PV or Air Source Heat Pumps.

Representatives from East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Home Energy Team will be knocking on doors alongside installers who are able to complete measures, as part of its on-going work to help residents tackle the cost of living crisis and to help make their homes as energy efficient as possible.

Haddenham is the first of many locations they will be visiting over the coming months, however the Government funding is available for householders who live in non-gas heated owner-occupied properties or privately rented homes with an EPC rating of D – G.

Eligibility for householders living in these homes can include:

•  Residents in receipt of means tested benefits

• Gross household income less than £34,500 per annum

• Residents who are badly affected by cold.  This can be through illness/disability, age or pregnancy. 

Anyone whose household income exceeds £34,500 annually but is still struggling to pay their bills, or if the home is gas heated, will be asked additional questions to see if they qualify for any other available schemes.

Lisa Eves from the Home Energy Team said: “Increasing the energy efficiency of your home is important, both for you and the environment. As well as helping to lower energy bills and increasing your comfort, it can also play a part in protecting your health. This can be done in many ways such as changing your main heat source to one that is more eco friendly to installing retrofit measures that increase the insulation of your home.

“While we often see most of the benefits in winter, such as keeping your home warm at a lower cost, in the summer months it is easier for a well-insulated house to stay at a comfortable temperature.”

For more information contact the Home Energy Team on 01353 665555 to discuss further or to check if your property has an EPC.

You can also complete an online enquiry form on the Action on Energy Cambridgeshire website

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Grant Boost to Help Residents Get Energy Efficient appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Potential “Community Energy Champions” are invited to attend a meeting at St Mary’s Church, Ely on 15 June 2023 – to be inspired, encouraged and supported to develop a local community energy project, in with their local community.

Aimed at addressing the current energy crisis and the climate change challenge, projects could take on a variety of different formats like local energy clubs where people get together to share experiences of reducing energy costs and improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

Or, it could be local residents getting together with greater “bargaining power” to put solar PV panels on their roofs and being able to get a good deal from a supplier who could install ten systems locally rather than just one.

More ambitious projects could involve establishing community Solar energy Farm as at the village of Reach or a community wind turbine as in Gamlingay; a village wide Heat Pump Network as at Swaffham Prior or an Award-Winning Community-based Eco Building – like the Gamlingay EcoHub.

Jethro Gauld, Chair, East Cambs CAN said, “More projects like these would also help East Cambridgeshire District Council meet its climate targets set in the wake of the 2019 Climate Emergency declaration.”

Event Organiser Peter Bates considers that, “East Cambridgeshire communities should get engaged and work towards finding local solutions to reducing energy costs and help towards mitigating the effects of climate change. It is even possible for some renewable energy projects to reduce the cost of electricity locally and get paid for sending it back to the National Grid.”

He said that, “East Cambs CAN wants to act as a facilitator for encouraging the development of local energy projects and help “Local Energy Champions” to have access to expertise and other resources based upon experiences from across England and Wales.”

Lorna Dupre,Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Environment and Green Investment Committee, responsible for the County Council’s energy policy stated, “Our ambition is to deliver net zero carbon emissions for Cambridgeshire by 2045, and support communities and our natural environment to adapt and thrive as the climate changes. I fully support this initiative from East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network which aligns with the County Council’s recently approved Community Energy Policy. The County Council has established some key principles to steer its future energy collaborations with local communities, and is now scoping what resources may be available to support communities to bring forward and deliver successful community energy schemes.”

This event forms part of a National Campaign – “Community Energy Fortnight” running from 10th – 23rd June 2023

More information can be found on the East Cambs Climate Action website, where you can book to attend the event: https://eastcambscan.org/developing-community-energy-projects-in-east-cambridgeshire-event/

Press release from East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network (CAN)

The post Wanted “Community Energy Champions” to Develop Local Low Carbon Energy Projects Across East Cambridgeshire appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Every year the District Council sets itself 20 challenging actions to help it achieve its goal to become net carbon zero by 2040.

The latest action plan, which can be downloaded here, includes taking direct action to reduce the Council’s own emissions, helping others to reduce their emissions and supporting nature recovery in East Cambridgeshire.

Initiatives for the following year include:

• Delivering 24 electric vehicle charging points in three East Cambridgeshire car parks
• A return of the successful Create an Orchard programme which aims to capture carbon while creating at least 26 publicly accessible orchards across the district
• Working with East Cambridgeshire Partnership Forum to set up a climate café where anyone with an interest in the environment can meet up to discuss new and exciting ideas for addressing climate change
• A commitment to make home energy improvements worth £1.75 million to its existing housing stock 

The council will also look at:

• Installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on its E-Space North office building, to generate at least half its electricity needs over a year
• Targeting a 20 per cent reduction in paper use
• And exploring the potential to use low carbon fuel, such as HVO in its waste and recycling lorries.

East Cambridgeshire District Council first declared a climate emergency in 2019. Since then its annual 20-point action plan has helped it save more than 76 tonnes of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change and boost the natural environment in the district.

Councillor Julia Huffer, chair of the Council’s Operational Services Committee, said: “Climate change is real and it is here now. By working together with residents we have an opportunity to be at the forefront of the green agenda.

“We will do this by coming up with practical, creative and environmentally friendly ways that I am confident will take us on a journey to be net carbon zero by 2040.”

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council Announces Top 20 Environmental Actions appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Figures published this month show the Council has already started to make cuts to its own carbon emissions, with a massive 76 less tonnes of carbon emitted in 2020/21 compared with what it emitted before the Council declared a climate emergency in 2019.

That is equivalent to the weight of six double-decker buses or 15 African elephants.

The savings have been reported in its latest Environment Plan which documents how the Council is seeking to achieve an 80% cut in emission by 2030 and become net carbon zero by 2040.

As well as cutting its own emissions, the Council is also committed to supporting others to reduce their own environmental impact, as well as acting to help nature recover and thrive throughout the district.

Initiatives which have contributed to the carbon savings and nature recovery in the last 12 months  include:

• The opening of Cambridgeshire’s largest tree maze in Ely Country Park, which as well as being fun and free also helps capture carbon from the 5,000 hornbeam trees planted
• The launch of a community orchard programme, which has helped create or regenerate 20 publicly accessible orchards across the district
• Undertaking energy efficiency improvements at the Council’s offices in Ely, including installing more energy efficient glazing and LED lighting
• Implementing a new grass cutting and wildflower management plan to help support greater biodiversity

Over the last 12 months, the Council estimates it had a carbon footprint of 1,241 tonnes of Co2e (carbon dioxide equivalent). To achieve net zero by 2040 its focus will be to continue to adopt challenging organisational targets to reduce energy use whilst at the same time generate its own renewable electricity.

Future initiatives over the coming years are likely to include:

• Reducing the emissions of its waste collection fleet – currently the largest emitter of Co2 – by investing in low carbon or electric vehicles
• Using the Council’s own office space and other buildings to generate renewable electricity
• Working with Sanctuary Properties, low-income private homes and park homes to carry out home energy improvements to hundreds of energy inefficient properties
• Continuing to purchase green energy from the National Grid
• Minimising staff business miles

Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are really pleased to see our carbon emissions starting to come down, despite the on-going challenges we have all faced recently from Covid to the cost of living.

“It’s important that despite these issues we don’t lose sight of the huge challenge we face around climate change and reversing biodiversity loss. And it strikes me how much these things are interlinked.

“For example, if there is one thing the Covid pandemic taught us, it is how much we value high-quality parks and open spaces, watching wildlife in their natural habitats and taking great pleasure from a new area sown with wildflower seeds. And if these are all local, we travel less and spend less money getting there, for the benefit of the environment and our pockets.

“At the same time, the costs of living rises are causing everyone real difficulties, especially the eye-watering rise in our gas, electricity, oil and petrol prices. By reducing our fossil fuel consumption through better home insulation or driving a little bit less, we can help offset those higher prices as well as doing our bit to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

“East Cambridgeshire District Council is committed to doing everything it can to help reach our target of becoming net carbon zero by 2040 and I very much look forward to seeing more and more exciting initiatives put in place over the coming years.”

You can access the full Environmental Plan for 2022 here

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council’s Carbon Emissions Down, Tree Planting Up appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Music will be in plentiful supply, with more than 20 Bands performing over two stages throughout the Festival, and a Neon DJ event on the Friday night.

The event is family friendly, with Fairyland Trust running activities for children Saturday and Sunday and Eco friendly stalls will provide ticket holders with refreshments and shopping opportunities.

There will be many other activities throughout the weekend including Willow Weaving, Carol Banks Jewellery demo, Wellness Sessions, Family Yoga Sessions, Grow Your Own demo, Mandolin Workshop, Children Activity Spot, Storyteller, RSPB activities stall and Face Painting and Hair Braiding, there really is something for everyone to enjoy!

Day tickets and Camping Tickets are available; the campsite consists of a wildflower grassy field with a beautiful pond, surrounded by colourful nectar mixes, and over 3 acres of newly planted trees and hedges.

There are also many pretty rural walks nearby, the walk to Ely along the River Great Ouse is particularly beautiful, with amazing views of Ely Cathedral. 

The Festival sites on a small hill within the 12 acre field of the campsite with amazing sunsets and Ely Cathedral as a backdrop – it’s a perfect setting!

For Camping or Day tickets visit the website: https://www.madhattersfestival.co.uk/

Press release from Mad Hatters Campsite and Music Festival

The post The Mad Hatters Music Festival Returns for its Second Year appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

The Council, which declared a climate emergency in 2019, is the first local authority in Cambridgeshire to sign up to the scheme.

It hopes becoming independently accredited as an Investor in the Environment will help it meet its ambitions to become net carbon zero by 2040.

As part of the scheme, the Council will continue to look at ways it can reduce carbon as part of its day-to-day operations. This will include initiatives such as reducing the amount of paper it uses, encouraging all staff to recycle and exploring ways it can make significant carbon savings by investing in renewable energy or switching to electric vehicles.

The Council is hoping to achieve bronze status during the current year and silver status in 2023.

The highest level – green – will be awarded once the more challenging areas to help reduce carbon emissions are tackled.

Councillor Julia Huffer, Chair of the Operational Services Committee, said: “At East Cambridgeshire District Council we’ve already made some impressive strides towards becoming net carbon zero.

“This has included planting community orchards, looking at ways we can support sustainable transport links and investing in schemes to retrofit houses for people on lower incomes so they are more energy efficient.

“We are also reconfiguring our waste collection rounds so the bin lorries use less fuel – which in turn will help us save the equivalent of 12 tonnes of carbon every year.

“By becoming an Investor in the Environment, we will be able to access national resources and support to help us make our dream of becoming net carbon zero by 2040 a reality.”

To help take its first step, the Council signed up to a new Environment Policy at its Operational Services Committee meeting on 21st March and is now focusing on updating its Environmental Plan which includes 20 actions the Council will commit to over the next 12 months.

This will include tree planting, energy saving measures, working with schools, lobbying government and preparing nature recovery strategies.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council signs up to become an Investor in the Environment appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Greater Anglia’s team of station adopters – who help to look after their rail stations for the benefit of their communities – increased the total area of station garden across the network by 7% last year and devoted much of it to creating wildlife friendly areas.

It brings the total amount of railway land converted into garden to over 6,800 square metres.

If each square metre of garden was put end-to-end they would stretch from London to Aberdeen.

In 2021, volunteers created new garden areas – together totalling 362 square metres – at Brundall Gardens, Brundall, Cambridge, Chappel & Wakes Colne, Ely, Great Yarmouth, Ingatestone, Kennett, Lowestoft, Rayleigh, Roughton Road, Salhouse, Sheringham, Sheringham, South Woodham Ferrers and Thetford.

And they increased the size of existing ones at eight stations – Alresford, Battlesbridge, Cantley, Dullingham, Lowestoft, Reedham, Saxmundham and St Margarets – by a total of 79 square metres.

In total, there are now 61 rail station gardens on Greater Anglia’s network.

Each garden provides a vital additional habitat for local wildlife as well as making the stations more attractive and welcoming, contributing to human wellbeing too.

In addition, the volunteers almost doubled the number of flower planters on platforms at stations across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire to 817, up from 454 in 2020.

They have also so far installed 63 insect houses and 66 bird boxes.

In an effort to save water and help station adopters care for their gardens, Greater Anglia and the region’s Community Rail Partnerships have also helped to install 45 water butts across the network.

The gardens, some of which have been developed over many years, are becoming havens for local wildlife populations – with the railway increasingly being recognised by ecologists as a ‘green corridor’ which provides a sanctuary for many different kinds of flora and fauna.

In a recent survey, Greater Anglia station adopters reported a wide range of creatures visiting their stations including many different types of butterflies as well as bees, slow worms, bats, foxes, deer and many varieties of birds, recording over 200 different species.

Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, said, “Thanks to the care and attention of our team of station adopters, we have thousands upon thousands of plants thriving at our rail stations which helps not only to make them more welcoming, but are benefiting the environment too.

“Many of these gardens have been designed to be wildlife friendly, enhancing biodiversity and providing food, shelter and breeding places for many different types of wildlife.

“Some of them are becoming really magical places as a result, helping to support rare types of wildlife and benefiting their communities by helping to improve the local environment and existing more harmoniously with their rural surroundings.”

“This is all helping the railway in East Anglia to lead the green recovery from the pandemic by being a much greener way to travel – and our new fleet of trains will contribute even more thanks to their more environmentally friendly features which reduce CO2 and particulate emissions in the region further still and offer a convenient, comfortable alternative to the car.”

All of Greater Anglia’s station gardens are pledged to the WildEast movement, which aims to return 250,000 hectares back to nature to help reverse the shocking decline in the area’s native wildlife which is suffering badly from habitat loss.

Statistics show that, since 1970, many species have suffered including tree sparrows whose numbers have fallen by 85%, common toads, 68%, nightingales, 93% and hedgehogs whose numbers down from 30 million to just 1 million.

WildEast aims to reverse this decline by asking everyone, including farming estates, industrial estates, housing estates, schools, gardens, allotments and churchyards, to give whatever land they can back to nature.

This can mean planting wildlife friendly areas or simply leaving the land as space for nature.

For more information see WildEast.co.uk/WePledge.

People interested in taking a tour of Greater Anglia’s station gardens can find out more here: Looking for things to do in East Anglia? Take a garden tour by train | Greater Anglia.

Press release from Greater Anglia

The post East Anglian Rail Stations are Quietly Nurturing the Green Shoots of an Eco-Revolution appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

It gives schools the fantastic opportunity to showcase their amazing environmental work for the benefit of pupils and the wider community.

This could include improving energy use, reducing paper, plastic or food waste, or maintaining the school grounds for the benefit of nature.

The council is even offering to fully fund the first year of the scheme to the first 10 schools in East Cambs which sign up.

On completion each school will be awarded Eco Charter status and fly an Eco Charter flag, helping it to demonstrate to Ofsted its commitment to the environment and the steps it’s taking to enhance students’ knowledge of sustainability and implement long-term behaviour change.

Developed in consultation with teachers and educators, the Eco Charter will be delivered in partnership with the Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT).

All primary and secondary schools in the district are being given the opportunity to sign up for the scheme and will receive resources and support to help them achieve it.

Cllr Julia Huffer, Chair of the Operational Services Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We are committed to helping create a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire.

“This new Eco Charter is the perfect opportunity for environmentally conscious schools who want to demonstrate their eco status, while meeting Ofsted’s requirements at the same time.

“I would encourage all schools that wish to create greener, happier, healthier places and a smarter future for their pupils and the wider community, to take part.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and in doing so agreed to explore a wide range of actions to improve the local environment and help mitigate climate change.

Its Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (EnvPlan) outlines the 20 commitments the Council is putting in place to reach its goal of being a ‘carbon net zero’ authority.

Interested schools are being invited to attend a free webinar hosted byEmma-Jane Danielsson, Climate Change Officer for East Cambridgeshire District Council and Heidi Latronico, Environment Education Lead at PECT.

The webinar will explain how the Eco Charter works and the support schools can receive. There will be the opportunity to answer any questions.

An invite to the webinar, which will take place after half term, has already been sent out to primary and secondary schools in East Cambs, however, if you missed it you can still sign up for the ECO Charter Webinar Event here.

For further information about the Eco Charter in advance of the webinar visit www.pect.org.uk/projects/eco-charter

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Schools in East Cambs Given Opportunity to Sign Up for Eco Charter appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

The WI has a proud history of taking action to protect the environment and Climate Change is a key priority for us.  As a founding member of The Climate Coalition (www.theclimatecoalition.org), along with over 150 other organisations such as the National Trust, Oxfam and the RSPB; we work to protect what we love from climate change.

This Valentine’s Day, Ely City WI are showing the love and turning green by taking part in the Coalition’s campaign.  Throughout February we will have a magnificent display in Ely Library which will showcase all sorts of green hearts, made by our members, in support of the action to help mitigate climate change.

Our members have knitted, drawn, sewn, crocheted, stuffed and created a plethora of green hearts as part of the ongoing awareness to tackle climate change.  The display will be available from 1st February until 27th February 2022 so do pop down and take a look.

More information on the campaign and how the WI is involved can be found here:  www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/climate-change 

Our next meetings are on February 14th (bring a pen and wear red (optional)) and March 14th in the Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street where our Guest Speaker will be Marie Brown.  Why not come along?  Bring a friend?  Meet new friends?  Socialise?  Enjoy an evening out?  Do something different and find out that it’s not all ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ but ‘Journey and Join’; the WI really does have something for everyone so why not start your journey with us and come along and see what we are all about?

You can visit our website: https://wielycity.wixsite.com/home or find us on Facebook just search Ely City WI).  You can also email us at elycitywi@yahoo.com 

We are Ely City WI.  We are.  We can.  We do.

Press release from Ely City WI

The post Start with a Heart! appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Figures released by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs show that 56.6% of waste was sent for reuse, recycling or composting the year ending March 2021.

This is a one per cent increase on the previous year and puts East Cambridgeshire in the top 25 local authorities in England, highlighting the council’s strong commitment to a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire.

Since the introduction of wheeled bin recycling services in 2013, the district’s recycling percentage has increased from 33.4% (2012/13) to 56.6% (2020/21). Of 320 councils responsible for waste collections in England, East Cambridgeshire has moved from 257th to 25th position in the recycling league table.

Cllr Julia Huffer, Chair of the Operational Services Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “The improvement in our recycling rates since the introduction of our wheeled bin recycling service in 2013 has been nothing short of astonishing.

“From a low recycling rate we are now pushing towards our target of 60%.

“We must say a huge thank you to our residents. However, we know we cannot be complacent and will continue to promote and encourage people to recycle with the help of our recycling champion Michael Recycle.”
    
The wheeled bin recycling service involves:

• A blue lidded wheeled bin recycling collection, including paper, glass, food and drinks cans, plastic bottles and hard plastic food containers, cartons and cardboard. This is collected fortnightly.

• A green lidded wheeled bin collection for garden and food waste. This is also collected fortnightly.

• Refuse in black sacks is collected weekly

For more information on the waste and recycling service in East Cambridgeshire please call 01353 665555.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post East Cambridgeshire in Top 25 for Recycling Household Waste appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Schools, parish councils and community centres are among the eligible groups who could receive up to 10 free fruit trees and essential equipment needed to plant their very own orchard.

There is plenty of time to apply before the deadline on January 30th but the number of trees available is limited so get your applications in quickly.

The programme forms part of the Council’s top 20 commitments in their second annual Environment and Climate Change Action Plan which aims to reduce carbon emissions and boost the natural environment.

Councillor Julia Huffer, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “Since launching this scheme, we have had several applications from local schools, community groups and many more all looking to play their part for our environment.

“The scheme is easy to apply for and open to a range of different groups and is a great way for communities to come together to create something really lovely for everyone to enjoy.

“This is a really great scheme and I look forward to seeing all of the new orchards spring up across the district and seeing them flourish over the years to come for future generations to enjoy.”

To be eligible to create an orchard, you need permission from the landowner to plant, enough space to plant each tree around five metres apart and a sunny spot providing your trees with between six and eight hours of sunshine each day.

In addition to this, you will also need soil with good drainage and to provide a commitment to get the wider community involved in and access to your project.

Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis.

The orchard scheme runs alongside the Council’s own planting scheme which will see approximately 60 locally sourced, native deciduous trees planted across the district.

You can find out more about the orchard scheme and how to get involved on the Council’s website here: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/create-orchard

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Grow a Greener East Cambridgeshire appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

At an East Cambridgeshire District Council Operational Services Committee meeting, it was unanimously agreed that, in principle, ESpace North provided the best opportunity for the Council to kickstart the implementation of its own renewable energy infrastructure.

Further investigation will now be carried out into the costs before a final decision is made by the Council to proceed.

Councillor Julia Huffer, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “In June this Committee approved the Council’s Environment Plan which included a set of actions the Council aims to undertake over 12 months – one of which was to explore whether the Council could operate its own renewable energy infrastructure with the long-term target of generating enough renewable energy to match the energy used by the Council in its buildings, street lights and storage depots.

“This is the first step towards achieving that and could mean ESpace North becomes a beacon – a shining light – for our future goals here.”

ESpace, which is owned by the Council, was identified as an ideal location for the solar panels following an investigation into matters such as planning, land and property ownership, financial investments and returns.

The venue ticked the boxes for its roof structure, ability to easily fix panels to it, the orientation of the roof, its size and pitch and the prospect of how much energy could be generated.

Councillor Huffer said: “Our preliminary investigations indicate that the solar panels would cost approximately £50,000 to install with an estimated payback on that investment of six to eight years and a lifespan of 25.

“This makes the investment very favourable – allowing us to save around 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year – which is 2% of our carbon footprint at the Council – and paying for around 60% of electricity use at ESpace with the potential to sell excess electricity back to the grid later down the line.

“In short there appears a sound environmental and financial basis for progressing this proposal to a more formal tender stage and continuing to strive to meet our objectives as laid out in the Environmental Plan.”

In Autumn 2019, East Cambridgeshire District Council declared a climate emergency and agreed to explore a wide range of actions to improve our local environment and help mitigate climate change.

One such commitment was the preparation of an annual Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. This was launched in June 2020, with a second plan approved in June 2021.

You can find the full agenda item on the Council’s website:  https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/meetings/operational-services-committee-15112021

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Solar Panels Could Light the Way For Council Renewable Energy Plan appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

The plan, which was unanimously approved at last night’s Operational Services Committee, includes the Council’s top 20 commitments for 2021/2022.

The Action Plan focuses on what the Council can do to mitigate climate change and seek to boost the natural environment in the district, with new measures for this year including new tree planting, energy efficiency improvements to buildings and reducing emissions from our waste vehicles.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council has reached many of its targets set out in its first action plan adopted in June 2020, including making the switch to a 100 percent renewable energy electricity from 1st October 2020, changing all Council owned street and car park lights to LED lights and the adoption of two Supplementary Planning Documents for the natural environment and climate change.

Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Since declaring a climate emergency back in October of 2019, this Council has made tremendous strides to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made despite a large majority of time since this being dominated by our COVID-19 response.

“But despite the pandemic, the Council has continued to work tirelessly to deliver the actions set out in last year’s Action Plan and I am thrilled to have made such valuable progress over the past year.

“However, we must not rest on our laurels and now is the time to step up our approach, go further and achieve more. I’m therefore delighted we have agreed our new top 20 commitments for the coming year. 

“Protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions is a real team effort and by pulling together, we have the opportunity to make a real difference and achieve a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire.”

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank all residents who continue to get involved with the Council’s Ideas Forum by submitting your suggestions on what the Council could do to tackle climate change.

“We have all seen just how much of a positive impact the environment can have on not only our physical health but out mental health too and I am so pleased to see so many people getting involved in such an important matter.”

Councillor Julia Huffer, Member Champion for Waste and Recycling, as well as Climate Change and the Natural Environment, said: “The approval of our second Environment and Climate Change Strategy Action Plan is a testament to all of the hard work that has been undertaken so far and a reaffirmation of our commitment to the environment.

“We have carried out a great amount of work over the past year and I am really looking forward to continuing our efforts and making tangible changes in the next twelve months.”

A list of 20 commitments for the upcoming year have been detailed within the report, this includes to:

• Over £1m to spend on energy efficiency improvements to at least 100 homes in the district, plus £100,000 to improve the energy efficiency of ECDC’s main office building, The Grange
• implement new grass cutting and wildflower management arrangements in suitable locations, to help support greater biodiversity
• adopt a new Cycling and Walking Strategy for East Cambridgeshire and use that strategy as the basis for influencing change, bidding for funds and for negotiation with developers
• create a new tree-based maze in the district by running a competition with children to design the maze, and then planting out the winning maze design in a suitable location
• Set up an orchard planting programme, whereby ECDC will offer free fruit trees to community groups, schools or parish councils
• develop a preliminary ‘nature recovery strategy’ for East Cambridgeshire, to feed into Cambridgeshire wide nature recovery actions and frameworks
• Reduce emissions from our waste collection vehicles by reconfiguring the routes the vehicles take to reduce the miles they have to travel, saving fuel, emissions and money

You can find the full list of commitments on the East Cambridgeshire District Council’s website here (page 43 of Appendix A):  https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/agendas/Agenda%20Item%208.pdf

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council Forges Forward with Environmental Commitments appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

They’ve come together to hold an Eco-Festival in the countryside just outside Ely, on the weekend of 18th – 20th June.

The event will be one of the first large scale gatherings in the East of England following the majority of coronavirus restrictions being lifted on May 17th.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend, both locals and tourists, as demand for tickets has already been high. 

Organiser Claire Murray, who runs the Mad Hatter’s campsite, which will be the venue, said, “We’ve all been starved of human contact and fun for so long. This is the moment to mark the return to normal life with family, friends, and the rest of society. 

‘I can’t wait to see people smiling and enjoying themselves again. I’m particularly looking forward to the bands, and doing some dancing!”

The event is designed to appeal to people of all ages, so no one is excluded from the celebration of finally beating Covid.  

It features live bands, building a giant bug hotel, delicious vegan food cooking demonstrations, a kids’ disco, outdoor cinema, a storyteller, a magician, a Mad Hatter’s tea party, a range of stalls, and beware of your valuables… a pickpocket! (But don’t worry, he gives his ill gotten gains back.) 

The government has said it wants the UK to have a “summer of fun” following the bleak days of the pandemic.

“I’m very much up for that,” Claire says, “And I know so many others are as well. It’s time to return to normal and enjoy life.” 

A key feature of the Eco-Festival is that it’s designed to offer environmentally friendly entertainments and activities, with a range of eco-alternatives for every lifestyle. 

For example, it will showcase how to repair clothes and repurpose electrical items, instead of throwing them away, and use products such as beeswax wraps instead of cling film around the home. 

Florists Martha Waterhouse and Sharon Hellyer are exhibiting at the festival. Both grow their flowers, including dahlias, zinnias, cornflowers, in an environmentally friendly way just outside Ely.

They want to demonstrate how people can have beautiful flowers about the house without the need for mass-production and shipping from overseas.

“The festival is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people, and restart our businesses,” Martha says. 

“Everything has been so quiet during coronavirus, with no events like weddings, and this offers a great chance to get going again. It will also be wonderful to socialise with people once more. We have really missed that.”

Claire adds, “As well as being one big party, we want to make people think about how they can live more environmentally friendly lives in future. It’s not as hard as some believe, and could be an eye opener for many. The festival is all part of building a better future after coronavirus.’

The event will also raise money for a range of charities attending the festival, along with the Addenbrooke’s Hospital Trust, in recognition of the work of the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The festival will follow all current coronavirus precautions.  If any new Covid restrictions are imposed, and the festival has to be postponed, it will be held next year with all tickets carried over. 

For more information, email Claire on clairemurray50@gmail.com or call 01353 676233. 

Press release from Mad Hatters Campsite

Photos: Claire Murray. Martha (in field of flowers) and the Festival Site

The post Kicking Back from Covid With Environmentally Friendly Festival Fun appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

This is great news for Ely and Cambridgeshire Companies, as this new service provides a “True Closed Loop” recycling service for compostable packaging from restaurants and workplaces to help companies reduce landfill.

Envar Composting and Countrystyle Recycling Ltd have partnered with Vegware to launch collections for compostable food service disposables in Cambridgeshire. This follows the recent announcement of Countrystyle Recycling’s expansion into the Cambridgeshire area, through operations at its Thetford depot and from the St Ives composting facility of its sister company, Envar Composting.

Countrystyle’s new trade waste collection service and Envar’s composting capabilities together bring sustainable solution waste management to catered offices, college restaurants and schools. All used Vegware containers, cups and cutlery (made from plants using renewable, lower carbon, recycled or reclaimed materials) can now go in the Countrystyle food waste bin. Within a maximum of 10 weeks of collection, Envar Composting’ processes will transform these materials into high quality compost for application to local horticulture and farmland.

Collections will be made using one of Countrystyle’s dedicated dual pod vehicles, which has the added benefit of reducing the carbon footprint of collections and limiting waste miles to Envar Composting’s treatment facility at St Ives.

Vegware’s Senior Waste Management Consultant, Eilidh Brunton, commented that: “Foodservice wants hygiene and sustainability. Vegware disposables are ideal for socially distanced catering, but also meet the desire of diners for an environmentally sustainable solution to disposable waste. Vegware holds the deepest set of compostability certifications in the sector, and now our clients in Cambridge can compost their used Vegware products. We are delighted to be working with Countrystyle Recycling and Envar Composting to ensure our customers can meet their sustainability goals.”

Countrystyle’s Business Development Manager, Joe Hemsley-Rudd, added: “This new partnership enables Vegware to deliver its commitment to ‘Close the Loop’, a solution for foodservice customers in the Cambridgeshire area. Countrystyle’s close working connections with Envar Composting enable us to deliver a truly local closed-loop recycling solution”.

Envar’s Managing Director, Andy Sibley commented: “We have worked closely with Vegware for some time recycling products from their customers in London and the South East, to ensure effective composting to our required quality standards and to feedback ways in which contamination can be reduced. We look forward to rolling out this established partnership in the Cambridgeshire area.“

Countrystyle’s dual pod collection vehicles are already making their rounds in the Cambridgeshire area and our team is on hand to take enquiries about Vegware and any food waste collections.

Countrystyle Recycling and Envar Composting are part of the family-owned Heathcote Holdings Group of resource management companies and Countrystyle’s operations are based out of Envar’s flagship composting facility at St Ives, Cambridgeshire. This facility produces quality PAS100 and CQP certified soil conditioner for the agricultural, viticultural and horticultural markets, as well as manufacturing quality biomass fuels.

For more information get in touch: Joe.Hemsley-rudd@countrystylerecycling.co.uk

Press release from Countrystyle Recycling

The post Helping Cambridgeshire Close the Loop on Vegware Waste Collections appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Annual data, which reviews recycling in local authority areas, is published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). 

The latest data shows that East Cambridgeshire has improved its recycling rate, beating all other local authorities in Cambridgeshire for 2019/20.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “Our improving recycling rate and position nationally is a testament to all of the hard work being undertaken by our residents.

“We are incredibly proud of this position however, we must not rest on our laurels and we will continue to strive for a higher recycling rate of 65% which is set out in our 2020-23 corporate plan.”

Compared with DEFRA’s figures from 2010/11, the district has seen their recycling rate increase by more than 20%, up from just 37.3% to 56.5% and black sack waste reduction by 134.1kg, from 502.3kg to 368.2kg per household.

Councillor Julia Huffer, member champion for waste and recycling, said: “This is a great achievement for East Cambridgeshire and one that every resident should be proud of as it is their daily efforts that secured us these amazing results.

“More and more of us take our responsibility for looking after the environment very seriously and as a Council, will we continue support our residents’ ambitions to reduce waste and recycle more which will help us progress to a greener future.”

The overall household recycling rate 2019/20 for England is 45.5%.

The findings from the DEFRA report can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-collected-waste-management-annual-results

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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East Cambridgeshire District Council’s commitment to reaching net zero carbon emissions has been illustrated by the green goals it has reached this year.

Following the declaration of a climate emergency, the Council created an Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan which set out the authority’s top 20 actions for tackling climate change in 2020/2021.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Council has still made significant strides towards meeting their goal and completing a number of actions set out in the plan.

After public consultations, both the Climate Change and Natural Environmental Supplementary Planning Documents were approved by the Council’s Finance and Assets Committee, making the area’s environmental aims a formal consideration in all future planning decisions.

In addition to this, the Council has also begun to implement a culture of homeworking to lower carbon emissions from business travel.

Plans to make some of the Council’s own land assets richer in biodiversity have been enacted after the Wildlife Trust identified three areas for tree and meadow planting that can now be taken forward by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Alongside the Council’s switch to a 100% renewable electricity contract at its headquarters, all street and car park lights in areas managed by the Council have been switched to LED bulbs over this winter.

With the term of the first Action Plan coming to an end in June this year, the Council has relaunched its Ideas Forum to give residents an opportunity to offer their ideas on how the Council could further reduce their carbon emissions and aid the natural environment in 2021/2022.

Until 28th February, residents can submit their thoughts to the Ideas Forum before they are collated and considered by the Council to help form the next annual Action Plan.

Once created, the 2021/2022 strategy will be presented to the Operational Services Committee in June 2021 for formal adoption.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “The Council’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions across the district has been underlined by the progress we have made towards meeting the goals we set out last year.

“While we are incredibly proud of the work we have done so far, we know that we must not rest on our laurels and the creation of the second Action Plan will allow us to keep up the momentum we have gained since declaring a climate emergency.”

Councillor Julia Huffer, Member Champion for Climate change and the Natural Environment, said:

“The reopening of the Ideas Forum provides our residents with the perfect opportunity to continue to have their say and send the Council their ideas on how we can tackle climate change and boost the natural environment.

“I would urge all of our residents to submit their suggestions to the Ideas Forum before the deadline on 28th February.” 

Residents can submit their ideas in a number of ways including online, by visiting the East Cambs website, emailing climatechange@eastcambs.gov.uk or by calling the Customer Services Team on 01353 665555 during office hours.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council Continues to Take Strides Towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

East Cambridgeshire District Council added another piece to its armoury to help safeguard the district’s environment by adopting its new Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The implementation follows a unanimous vote by members at the council’s Finance and Assets Committee to formally adopt the Climate Change SPD.

Now that the Climate Change SPD has been adopted by the Council, it will in February become a material consideration to be used by the Council’s Planning Department in all future planning decisions.

The Climate Change SPD will help the planning system achieve developments which have a lower impact on the climate and will encourage developers to do their bit to help mitigate their impacts on our environment. 

The document seeks to ensure that developers have the environment at the forefront of their application and includes guidance relating to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, increasing the energy efficiency and adaptability of buildings as well as safeguarding renewable energy infrastructure.

Councillor David Brown, Chairman of the Finance and Assets Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We all have a role to play to protect the environment and reduce climate change and as a Council, this is something we take very seriously.

“The Climate Change SPD aims to make the environment a priority consideration and alongside our Natural Environment SPD, will allow us to make sure developers take steps to reduce their impact on our climate and boost the natural environment across the district.

“These two documents complement each other and I would encourage everyone who hasn’t seen them already, to read them to further understand the steps being taken by the council to safeguard the environment for future generations.”

To view the Climate Change SPD, as agreed at Committee, please visit the SPD homepage at: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/agendas/7%20-%20Climate%20Change%20SPD%20App%202.pdf

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post East Cambs Adopts New Climate Change SDP appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is relaunching its Ideas Forum to give residents an opportunity to submit their thoughts on how the council could reduce their carbon emissions and boost the natural environment.

The relaunch allows residents to submit their ideas ahead of the creation of the council’s second annual Climate Change Action Plan.

The Ideas Forum was first launched in December 2019 following the Council’s decision to declare a climate emergency.

The aim of the Ideas Forum was and continues to be, to provide residents with the opportunity to share their ideas with the Council to help reduce carbon emissions and, ultimately, become a net zero carbon emissions organisation.

The Ideas Forum is also the place to offer suggestion how we could boost the local natural environment of East Cambs.

The annual deadline for residents to submit ideas to the forum is 28th February.

Responses will be collated and considered by the Council to help create the next annual Action Plan which will be adopted by the Operational Services Committee in June 2021.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “The Council has a considerable role to play in reducing its own carbon emissions, as well as helping a reduction across the district as a whole, and this is something we take very seriously.

“Since declaring a climate emergency last year, we have already undertaken a large number of steps towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

“We want to continue to engage with our residents to gain their ideas for our next action plan and are urging everyone to submit their suggestions to the forum by 28th February to be considered by the Council.”

The Council has already completed several of its top 20 commitments for 2020/21 (which it set itself in June 2020) including, installing LED lights in all Council-owned car parks and streetlights, switching to 100% renewable energy electricity tariffs at the Council’s head office and commercial buildings and prepared and consulted on climate change and natural environment supplementary planning documents.

Residents can submit their ideas in a number of ways including online, by visiting www.eastcambs.gov.uk/climatechange, emailing climatechange@eastcambs.gov.uk or by calling the Customer Services Team on 01353 665555 during office hours.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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A Creative King’s Ely student has reached the finals of a prestigious fashion design competition.

Namo Sajarattanachote, who is in Year 13 at King’s Ely Sixth Form, has been named a finalist in this year’s RECO Young Designer Competition, hailed the largest upcycling fashion design contest in Thailand.

Sponsored by Indorama Ventures PCL, the competition is organised to raise awareness about how polyester ‘waste’ can be used to create brilliant, inspiring designs. RECO also aims to demonstrate new skills, and it comes as a surprise to many that the designs submitted are created from ‘waste materials’.

From hundreds and sometimes thousands of entries, Indorama Ventures selects thirty shortlisted candidates to attend eco-design workshops led by professionals in the design industry, providing skills and knowledge for practical execution. Ten finalists – of which Namo is one – then use this knowledge to produce their upcycled design collection to show at the final event.

Alison Rhodes, Director of Art at King’s Ely, said: “We are absolutely thrilled for Namo! He is passionate about design and it is wonderful that his creative talents are being recognised in this way. For this year’s RECO competition, young designers had to submit a fashion collection containing one conceptual design and two ready-to-wear designs, all online. They were also required to show how 60 per cent of the garment could be made of recycled materials. Namo has done exceptionally well to reach the finals and we wish him well in showcasing his creations at the runway show events over the forthcoming weeks.”

The Art Department at King’s Ely is a thriving, inspiring environment where all students are encouraged to engage fully with the state-of-the-art facilities available. The Department specialises in Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art, Sculpture and Photography, and students realise ambitious outcomes, regularly achieving some of the highest exam marks in the country. In 2018, King’s Ely also won the Art and Craft Award at the prestigious Education Business Awards.

To discover more about opportunities at King’s Ely, go to: www.kingsely.org

For more information about the RECO competition, visit: www.indoramaventures.com/en/updates/reco-young-designer?year=2020 

Press release from King’s Ely

The post King’s Ely Designer through to Finals of Esteemed Competition appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is now open for comments from its residents, businesses and organisations within in the district.

It follows a unanimous vote by members at the Finance and Assets Committee, who voted in favour of the Climate Change SPD going to public consultation for six weeks.

The Climate Change SPD aims to help the planning system achieve development which has a lower impact on the climate and to encourage developers to help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The consultation details the proposal of four new policies, which include:

* Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by ensuring development proposals incorporate sustainability measures

* Reducing energy demand in existing buildings by encouraging developers to look for wider energy efficient improvements to buildings

* Making development more resilient and adaptable to increasing temperatures and future change

* Safeguarding renewable and low carbon energy sources so that there is a continued operation of renewable energy generating technology.

The Climate Change SPD will work in unison with the Natural Environment SPD, which has already been approved for adoption.

Councillor David Brown, Chairman of the Finance and Assets Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:

“East Cambridgeshire is a growing area and with growth comes a responsibility to balance competing demands and mitigate the negative impacts of that growth as far as is reasonably possible.

“We would like to urge residents, businesses and organisations to take part and have their say on this SPD during the consultation period.”

The consultation is open for comments until November 23rd 2020.

To view the Climate Change SPD and take part in the consultation, visit our current consultations page (https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/consultations/current-consultations) or our SPD homepage at: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/local-development-framework/supplementary-planning-documents

 Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Climate Change SPD Consultation – Have Your Say appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is making its next steps towards net zero carbon emissions by making two big green energy switches for its buildings and carparks.

Since 1st October, the Council’s head office, the Grange and its commercial buildings based in Ely and Littleport have switched to a 100 percent renewable energy green tariff electricity contract.

This is in tandem with the council changing the lights in all of its owned car parks to have LED bulbs.

The moves to switch to renewable energy sources and LED lighting are two of 20 commitments of the Action Plan that forms part of a long-term vision to mitigate climate change and boost the natural environment in East Cambridgeshire.

It comes two weeks after council members voted in favour of adopting a new Natural Environment Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and agreeing to consult, from 13th October, on a Climate Change SPD. 

Other commitments on the action plan include embedding a greater culture of home working to reduce commuting (which is already in full force due to COVID-19) and to investigate the potential to expand electric car charge points in the district.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, who is the committee responsible for the Council’s action plan said:

“We are pleased that there is tangible and regular progress being made towards our ambitious actions.

“By pushing forward with these commitments, we are ensuring that East Cambridgeshire remains a great place to live, work and visit for years to come.

“I’m looking forward to seeing our continued progress over the next few months.”

Councillor David Brown, Chairman of the Finance and Assets Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, who is responsible for the council’s buildings and car parks, said:

“We must make changes in all the different ways we can, including our assets.

“These changes to 100 per cent renewable energy for our electricity and LED lighting is just two of the many actions we, as a council, are taking to ensure East Cambridgeshire reaches net zero carbon by 2050 or earlier.

“We hope other councils follow suit to help tackle climate change and boost the natural environment.”

The council is now looking at its gas usage to see if the carbon emissions arising can be offset through tree planting or other measures, as well as replacing the council-owned street lighting to LED bulbs.

To find out more about East Cambridgeshire District Council’s strategy and action plan to help mitigate climate change and boost the natural environment, visit: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/climate-change-0

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council Focuses Energy On Going Green appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

East Cambridgeshire District Council is forging ahead with its commitments to the environment by taking the next steps in progressing its climate change and natural environment supplementary planning documents (SPDs).

At last night’s Finance and Assets Committee, all members voted in favour to adopt the council’s new Natural Environment SPD and also approved the Climate Change SPD to go to public consultation.

The Natural Environment SPD aims to increase biodiversity via new development, aid in the management, protection, enhancement and creation of priority habitats, and promote the creation of an effective, functioning ecological network throughout the district.

Now that the Natural Environment SPD has been approved for adoption, it will be used by the Council’s Planning Committee and become a material consideration when making decisions.

The document provides advice on policy requirements relating to issues such as: ‘net gain’ in biodiversity through development proposals, protection of existing nature sites as well as the protection and provision of trees.

It also offers helpful guidance on the information that should be submitted with a planning application where there is likely to be impact on the natural environment.

The council’s Climate Change SPD, which will be going to consultation following last night’s meeting, aims to help the planning system achieve development which has a lower impact on the climate and seeks to ensure developers play their part and help address the climate emergency when planning their development schemes.

The document looks to ensure that all future planning decisions have the environment as a priority consideration. It also provides necessary guidance to those building in the District as to their responsibility to the environment.

The Climate Change SPD proposes four new policies which cover the following key issues:

• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions
• Safeguarding renewable and low carbon energy sources
• Reducing energy demand in existing buildings
• Resilient and adaptable design to climate change

Cllr David Brown, Chairman of the Finance and Assets Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:

“The primary purpose of the new Natural Environment SPD is to make sure new development in our District both protects the natural environment and creates new areas for wildlife to thrive.

“We are fortunate to have many wildlife areas in East Cambridgeshire, of both national and international importance. We want to do all that we can to protect them, as well as create new habitats for wildlife to flourish.

“The Climate Change SPD compliments this, seeking to ensure that developers play their part and help address the climate emergency in the planning of their development schemes. Now it has been approved for public consultation, we can obtain resident feedback on this important issue.

“We are fully aware that as well as taking actions to mitigate climate change, we need to ensure we protect our natural environment and it is our vision that these two important documents will work together do this.”

Both SPDs form part of the Council’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and progress on both areas is one of the 20 commitments for 2020/2021.

The Council’s Climate Change SPD will now go to public consultation over a six-week period, running from mid-October to the end of November 2020.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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A prominent building and tourist attraction in East Cambridgeshire will shine green in a joint effort of support for the nation’s Recycle Week. 

For the first time, East Cambs Street Scene (ECSS), the trading company owned by the district council and responsible for providing recycling and waste services across the district, and Ely Cathedral have joined forces to celebrate WRAP’s Recycle Week campaign by lighting up the lantern of Ely Cathedral green for residents and visitors to see during the evenings of 21st and 27th September.

Ely Cathedral will join other well-known landmarks such as the London Eye and Blackpool Tower to mark the occasion.

Councillor David Ambrose Smith, chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said:

 “By partnering together, East Cambs Street Scene and Ely Cathedral have joined other landmarks across the nation to literally shine a light on such an important subject.

“It is the first instance this has happened and its timing couldn’t have been more perfect. This is a something light-hearted for all to enjoy.

“We hope that residents will look out for it and share it with friends and family alongside the message that we can all do our part to recycle.”

Rev’d Dr Jenny Gage, Minister for Social Justice at Ely Cathedral, said:

“Ely Cathedral is committed to safeguard the integrity of creation and renew the life on earth.  

“We believe that working in collaboration will help us achieve this as well as raise awareness.  

“The local council, the Cathedral and other influential organisations and businesses must come together to help sustain the earth.

“By using the world’s resources as if they are infinite, we are dishonouring God and his creation.

“We held an Environment Vigil to mark the start of Recycling Week and, through our commitment to recycle, reuse and reduce, we also demonstrate how our prayers and concerns are transformed into worthwhile actions.”

This year’s Recycle Week theme, ‘Thanking the nation: Together – We Recycle’, also looks to thank recycling and waste key workers who have carried on during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as acknowledge residents for their support and continued recycling efforts.

Councillor Julia Huffer, Waste Champion for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:

“I am very proud of the resilience of our street scene team. Although they rightfully so made changes to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, the waste service to residents was not affected.

“I am also very thankful to our residents, who have not only shown their appreciation to ECSS operatives, but also continued to recycle throughout the pandemic.

“As a council we have a strong ambition to become a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire and it’s the efforts of all over the past few months which fills me with hope that together we can achieve this.”

For more information about Recycle Week visit: https://www.wrap.org.uk/content/recycle-week-2020

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

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Work towards East Cambridgeshire District Council’s vision of its operations reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier is already providing green shoots.

Following the welcome approval of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in June, the Council’s Operational Services committee were presented with an update on the progress so far against the Council’s top 20 actions for 2020/2021.

Three months into the plan, there are many actions that are already in full-force. Most notably, making the switch to a 100 percent renewable energy green tariff electricity contract from 1st October 2020. What is more, energy assessments on Council buildings, such as The Grange and E-Space North, are planned for the autumn to identify additional measures to reduce energy consumption and potentially utilise renewable energy sources.
The council has also changed most of its street and car park lights to LED, with the remaining few to be replaced by the end of 2020.

Progress has been made towards cutting carbon emissions through the reduction of staff business travel. Although this action was accelerated as a result of COVID-19, the council will continue to keep the levels of staff business mileage low to cut carbon emissions. Part of this includes fostering a culture of homeworking.

Plans are also underway to transform some of the council’s own land assets into more biodiversity rich areas. Assessments are currently taking place to pinpoint areas where tree and meadow planting can commence during the 2020/21 planting season.

A new Natural Environment Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which includes advice on policy requirements relating to issues such as: ‘net gain’ in biodiversity through development proposals, protection of existing nature sites, protection and provision of trees will be recommended for adoption at the Council’s Finance and Assets Committee on the 24th September.

At the same meeting, the Council will be asked to approve for consultation, a further SPD relating to Climate Change, which seeks to ensure developers play their part and help address the climate emergency when planning their development schemes.

Cllr David Ambrose Smith, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:
“The Council has made significant progress in just three months towards achieving its top 20 goals on its action plan, but we are very aware that we have more to do.
“We are committed to working with residents, local organisations, parishes, the County Council, the Combined Authority and central Government so that together, we can be successful in tackling climate change and boosting the natural environment.
“We will review our progress and targets every year, and update the Environment Plan every June.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council is working with a variety of partners to utilise available funding to improve existing cycling and walking infrastructure. It is also assessing the findings of the bus, cycle, walk review undertaken earlier this year, to help lobby for further funding to increase and enhance bus, cycling and walking infrastructure in the district.

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Council’s Climate Change Plan already showing green shoots. appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Following a motion passed at a Full Council meeting on 16th July, East Cambridgeshire District Council has banned the release of helium filled balloons and sky lanterns from Council-owned land.

The motion, which was passed unanimously, aims to protect the environment and wildlife from litter and other potential problems caused by helium balloons and sky lanterns.

An estimated 200,000 sky lanterns are released every year in the UK with an increasing number of incidents relating to this including fires and animal deaths.

Cllr Alan Sharp, who proposed the motion, said: “After hearing about the damage that the release of helium balloons and sky lanterns could do, I felt compelled to bring this motion to Council”

“East Cambridgeshire is a rural area with many farm animals as well as a wide and diverse mix of wildlife which we want to protect.

“By passing this motion, the Council has committed to another way of safeguarding our beautiful district from the dangers that helium balloons and sky lanterns present.”

The motion also resolved to encourage other organisations to take part and pledge their support to the cause.

Cllr David Ambrose-Smith, Chairman of the Operational Services Committee, said: “I am delighted that East Cambridgeshire District Council has taken this action and I would urge organisations to get on board and show their support too.

“Signing up for the charter is quick, simple and can be done via the East Cambridgeshire District Council website. All you need to do is fill in the short form and show your commitment to the cause.

You can sign up for the charter by making your pledge on the Council website: https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/content/sky-lanterns

Press release from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Ban on the Release of Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

The Finance and Assets Committee has last night unanimously approved an annual budget of £100,000 to deliver the 20 commitments set out in the councils’ Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Following the declaration of a climate emergency in October 2019, the Council adopted its first Environment and Climate Change Strategy Action Plan as part of its commitment to embedding a ‘think climate, think environment’ approach in East Cambridgeshire.

Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:

“The unanimous approval of this budget demonstrates how important the Environment and Climate Change Strategy is to every single Member of this Council.

“We promised a cleaner, greener East Cambridgeshire and this funding will enable us to deliver it.

“We have already achieved some of our objectives as set out in the plan, and now we have given a clear commitment to our residents that we are serious about achieving the commitments as detailed in the EnvPlan action plan..”

Finance to support the strategy will come from an annual in-year draw from the Surplus Savings Reserve.

 Press releases from East Cambridgeshire District Council

The post Funding for Environment and Climate Change Strategy Approved appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Ely Cathedral has been awarded an Eco Church Silver Award, in recognition of the steps the Cathedral is taking in implementing a more environmentally friendly approach in its day to day operations and ministry.

The Silver award is part of the Eco Church scheme created by A Rocha UK, a charity committed to mobilising Christians to care for nature. The award, which is renewable every 3 years, provides a unique online survey enabling churches to gauge their contribution to the environment and society and grades their responses accordingly. In 2019, Ely Cathedral was aiming for a Bronze award but ongoing improvements and awareness meant we were able to go straight for the Silver award. 

Awards are based on performance in the areas of worship and teaching, buildings, land, community and global engagement, and lifestyle. For example, the Cathedral was recently able to officially acknowledge that all the energy used to keep the building working and functional, comes from renewable resources. 

The Revd Dr Jenny Gage, Minister for Social Justice at Ely Cathedral, is particularly delighted with the news –   “We are all very happy that Ely Cathedral has been awarded the A Rocha silver eco church award, which recognises our commitment, as part of our mission​, to safeguard the integrity of creation, and to sustain and renew the life of the earth.  This reflects dedication from all areas of the Cathedral community – congregations, volunteers and staff. However this work is ongoing.  Next step – Gold! “

The Very Revd Mark Bonney, Dean of Ely said  “We should all be immensely proud of the work that has been done, and continues to be so, by the Ely Cathedral Environment Group, Renew. The projects they are involved in are varied from organised monthly litter picks around the city to planning for sustainable wildflower meadows and orchards and other exciting plans to help us become carbon neutral within 10 years. “

For further information on the Cathedral Environment Group, Renew, please visit the website www.elycathedral.org/social-justice/social-justice-and-the-environment/renew

Press release from Ely Cathedral

The post Ely Cathedral Wins National Eco Church Award appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Join us in the fight against climate change!

Since 2018, we’ve planted over 2000 hedge and tree plans on and around our campsite, and we’d love your help in planting more!

Join us on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd Feb between 11am – 1pm to plant your very own tree on our campsite.

We’ll also be making a name sign for each tree planted, so you can dedicate yours to someone special.

Press release from Mad Hatters Campsite

The post Plant a Tree for Free! appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

On Saturday 1st February, Babylon Gallery opened their new environmental exhibition, ‘Submerged’ and invited visitors to create their own creatures to add to the underwater scene.

The gallery had over 130 visitors in the first weekend and, with submissions from local schools, including the art club at Ely St. Mary’s Junior School, the shoal of river creatures swimming through the gallery has already started to grow.

The environmental exhibition invites visitors to imagine that the gallery has been submerged, including an underwater installation made using recycled materials such as plastic drinks bottles (that will be recycled afterwards), information from the ‘Fen Project’ provided by the Environment Agency and poetry from one of the Fenland Poet Laureate Award winners, Kim Allen. 

Claire Somerville, chief executive commented: “There is growing awareness of the water management systems and structures that are in place to drain the Fens and manage the waterways. This exhibition is a creative exploration of what it could mean if the water levels rose.”

Claire added “This is very much a community exhibition, we’re so pleased to have already had lots of visitors getting involved. We would like to invite everyone to visit the exhibition and to add your own creature to the underwater scene”.

The exhibition is supported by City of Ely Council, D S Smith and Ellgia Recycling. 

The Submerged exhibition is on until Sunday 23rd February.

The Babylon Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm. 

Press release from Babylon ARTS

Related Article: Make your own Fish

The post Babylon Gallery has been Submerged! appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

We’re imagining that the river levels have risen and that the Babylon Gallery has become submerged, in this new exhibition developed by Babylon ARTS.

There is growing awareness of the water management systems and structures that are in place to drain the Fens and manage the waterways. This exhibition is a creative exploration of what it could mean if the water levels rose.

The exhibition will include an underwater installation, information from the ‘Fen Project’ provided by the Environment Agency and poetry from one of the Fenland Poet Laureate Award winners – Kim Allen.

As part of the exhibition we’re asking people to make a fish (or several fish!) to join our ever growing shoal of river creatures swimming through the Gallery. The fish should be made from a plastic drinks bottle, that would otherwise have been recycled. We will be recycling the bottles after the exhibition. We’ve created a guide for how to make your fish – take a look!

This exhibition is funded by City of Ely Council. 

With thanks to DS Smith and Ellgia Recycling for providing materials for the underwater installation and to the Environment Agency for the information and display materials.

Press release from Babylon ARTS

The post Submerged – An Environmental Exhibition appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

Thirteen Sixth Formers were part of a green-fingered team from King’s Ely who removed a huge area of weeds and prepared the soil ready for Isle of Ely Primary School pupils and staff to start planting their new garden.

The Sixth Form students were accompanied by Chris Youngs and Will Temple, who are members of the King’s Ely Garden and Grounds Team; Jane Halls, Sixth Form Supervisor at King’s Ely; and Celia Etchegoyen, King’s Ely’s Director of Outreach.

Annie Hunter, Outdoor Education and Science Lead at Isle of Ely Primary School, said: “We have put a big push into revamping our environmental garden here at Isle of Ely Primary School recently. It had run a bit wild so taming it has been a big challenge for our little hands! When we were told about volunteers from King’s Ely offering to help, we were delighted that other members of our community could also join in making our school more eco-friendly. They cleared a huge area of well-established weeds, which will make way for tyre beds filled with berry bushes for autumnal harvests. Thank you so much to the volunteering team at King’s Ely, we would love you to come back and try our berry jams next year!”

The volunteering was organised under the umbrella of the Cambridgeshire Educational Partnership, of which both King’s Ely and Isle of Ely Primary School are members. The partnership was launched in May this year to bring together school headteachers, education professionals and young people from across Cambridgeshire.

Its aim is to work together for the mutual benefit of all pupils, in both independent and state schools, and to provide opportunities for students from schools within the partnership to gain access to a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), MFL (Modern Foreign Languages), Arts, Sport and Enrichment activities.

The partnership also aims to create opportunities for collaboration and dissemination of good practice within the teaching community, to develop, support and retain the best teachers in our schools, and to raise the aspirations and accelerate the progress of our young people.

To find out more about the Cambridgeshire Educational Partnership, please contact Celia Etchegoyen by emailing: CeliaEtchegoyen@kingsely.org

Press release from King’s Ely

The post King’s Ely Sixth Formers get their hands dirty in support of local primary school appeared first on Spotted in Ely.

East Cambridgeshire District Council has joined over 200 Councils around the UK in declaring a Climate Emergency.

The council took the decision at last week’s Full Council meeting (Thursday 17 October), following the submission of a petition signed by local residents.

Cllr Anna Bailey, leader of the Council said: “We welcomed the petition and thank residents for calling for action. Having listened carefully to the details of the petition, we acknowledge that the Council has a significant role to play in protecting and improving the environment for future generations and so we made the decision to amend our own climate change motion to formally declare a climate emergency.”

“We are proud of the work we already do as a Council to reduce our impact on the environment and we welcome the opportunity to join over 200 other Councils across the UK who are also working to fight climate change. On behalf of our residents, we as a Council will be taking the appropriate actions.”

The most ambitious piece of work already underway by the Council is the development of a joint bid with Cambridgeshire County Council to Innovate UK to design an energy system to deliver net zero carbon emissions from energy use in East Cambridgeshire by 2050; the project focuses on shifting transport, gas and oil use to electricity and to grow the electricity network to cater for the change. 

Officers will now work on a strategy and action plan which will build on the plethora of initiatives already in place across the District. The strategy and action plan will include specific and measurable targets to combat climate change and will be considered by the Operational Services Committee in six months.

Initiatives to which the Council committed at the meeting include launching and publicising an online ‘Ideas Forum’ for residents to submit their ideas for consideration on how the Council can tackle climate change.

The agenda for the Full Council meeting, which includes the motion on climate change and initiatives to which the Council will commit can be found here:

https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/agendas/171019%20Agenda.pdf

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