Climate Emergency

Following meetings with Lee Waters MS, Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Climate Change and senior managers of Transport for Wales (TfW), Growth Track 360 welcomes commitments to improve services on the Borderlands Line from Transport for Wales and the Minister.

The TfW commitment to improvement follows the cessation of train services service on the Wrexham to Bidston Line and their replacement by rail replacement bus services earlier this year. The withdrawal of train services followed a steady deterioration in service reliability over the winter of 2022.

The removal of trains from the Borderlands Line arose from the redeployment of Class 150 diesel trains to other parts of the Wales and Borders network in response to the withdrawal of Class 175 trains from service for repairs following a number of engine fires.

Transport for Wales restored train services to the Borderlands Line in April 2023 by bringing new Class 230 trains into service. The new trains are refurbished London Underground stock and are yet to perform to their full potential, with services not yet running on time and experiencing a number of “teething” issues.

Growth Track 360 (GT360) Chair and Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Councillor Louise Gittins said: “Growth Track 360’s focus is to improve future rail services by seeking new investment in the rail infrastructure of North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral. Local concerns about services on the Wrexham to Bidston Line required GT360 to make representations to the Welsh Government to improve the operation of existing services on the Borderlands Line. Poor service delivery and delays to the introduction of a long-promised half hourly service saw a steady erosion of passenger confidence in the service.

"The Minister, Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change in the Welsh Government has responded. Along with the senior management of Transport for Wales, the Train Operator, he has apologised for poor services on the line and sponsored the development of an improvement plan.

"Credit is due to the Minister for his intervention and to the senior staff in Transport for Wales for entering into a constructive dialogue with local stakeholders to improve services. GT360 expects that the drivers, engineers and guards working the new Class230 trains are equally engaged in the process of improvement.

"The Borderlands Line has great potential to link three major employment zones and provide good access from Wrexham and Flintshire to Liverpool by public transport. The Minister, Transport for Wales and local stakeholders are all committed to work together to deliver reliable, improved services that will help drive passenger and economic growth.”

Growth Track 360 Vice Chair and Leader of Flintshire Council, Councillor Ian Roberts, said: “I welcome the commitment of Transport for Wales to restore train services which run to time by: -

• Resolving outstanding technical issues with the new Class 230 trains
• Dedicating the Class 230 fleet to the Borderlands Line
• Working with drivers, guards and maintenance staff to operate the new Class 230 stock to their full capability

"When Transport for Wales have restored hourly trains that run on time, they will introduce a new, hourly limited stop service which, with the existing hourly service, will offer half hourly services and accommodate freight services on the Line.

Transport for Wales has also committed to improve: -

• Information services for passengers
• The availability of ticket purchase options
• The management of Rail Replacement Bus Services, which they pledge to keep to a minimum, as they do not suit the line and the local road network

These commitments are a platform for restoring confidence in the ability of Transport for Wales to improve services in the future."

Ashley Rogers, Chief Executive of the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council said: “Performance on the Borderlands Line, measured by punctuality and cancellations, significantly underperforms average performance for both Transport for Wales and UK. The recognition that services have not been good enough enables close collaborative working between the Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and local stakeholders to improve services.

"It is really encouraging to see that the Minister wishes to involve local stakeholders in monitoring progress on the line. Growth Track 360 has proposed performance measures and timescales for improvement and looks forward to working with the Minister to help deliver an improved Borderlands service for all passengers and our communities.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet endorsed the borough’s local Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy at today’s (11 July) meeting.

The Council has developed a draft Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy (EVCI) in response to the Climate Emergency declaration and Air Quality Management Plan.

The EVCI Strategy covers the Council’s approach to supporting the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, including for public use, for Council fleet and at Council workplaces.

The Strategy sets out several ambitious targets for the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including a target to be a regional leader in terms of charge points per 100,000 population by 2025, and a national leader by 2030. The Council is on track to achieving the 2025 target, maintaining this position will require a significant increase in charge point provision.

The strategy also supports the Council’s application to the Office of Zero Emission Vehicle’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. The LEVI fund aims to deliver a step-change in the deployment of local on-street charging infrastructure. The Council has been assigned a provisional allocation of £2,049,000 from this fund, and an expression of interest was submitted in May 2023. If successful, a full business case will be submitted by November 2023. The funding would be awarded 2023/24. The funding will allow the council to leverage significant private sector investment to facilitate rapid expansion of the borough’s public charging infrastructure network.

A six-week public consultation on the draft version took place between 1 February and 15 March 2023. Responses showed a high degree of support for the policies set out in the strategy, both from those who already drive electric vehicles and those who do not.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Transport said: “There were over 200 responses to the consultation earlier this year. 70 per cent of respondents said they agreed with the aims of this strategy. Most respondents (53.9 per cent) considered that the Electric

Vehicle Charging Infrastructure will have a positive impact upon them.

“Our consultation showed that the ability to charge at home or away from home were the two most important factors to those considering whether to buy an electric vehicle and at present most respondents did not consider our existing charging infrastructure to be sufficient to meet existing demand.

“The Strategy has 14 main policies including only supporting installations which do not cause an obstruction or disruption to other users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists.”

Transport is the second highest contributing sector to carbon emissions within the borough, making decarbonisation of transport critical to addressing the climate emergency.

The Council’s Climate Change Response Plan (CERP) sets out several requirements to address this, including reducing the need to travel, increasing use of sustainable modes, and transitioning to zero emission vehicles. Decarbonising transport also brings co-benefits for local air quality, public health and economic growth.

This month is Plastic Free July, an annual campaign organised by the charity Plastic Free Foundation Ltd to encourage people to be part of the plastic pollution solution and help reduce plastic waste. Whether it’s making small steps to reduce plastic use or going entirely plastic free, we can all make a difference.

If you haven’t already started Plastic Free July, that’s okay. We have a some tips to help you get underway and move towards being plastic-free.:

Use reusable bottles and cups – take your own reusable water bottle or coffee cup when you’re out and about. You could also join the new Cheshire Cup scheme, a local reusable coffee cup project set up by Eco Communities with the support of the Council.

Reusable shopping bags – remember to take along your reusable bag when you are out shopping to avoid having to purchase an additional plastic bag.

Avoid buying plastic packaging – instead of buying food with excessive plastic packaging, you could go to the greengrocers or a butcher with your own containers, or select loose fruit and vegetables at the supermarket.

Buy reusable decorations – if you’re hosting a party, choose decorations that can be reused, such as bunting, pom poms, lanterns, and banners.

Reusable plastic tubs – use covered dishes and reusable plastic tubs for leftovers rather than using clingfilm.

Switch from bin bags to newspaper – lining your food caddy with newspaper can be a great plastic-free alternative to bin bags and plastic bags. Top tip: add coffee grounds to help with the smell and flies. Friends of the Earth have some useful tips on keeping your food caddy clean and smelling its best in this online article.

Use plastic-free cleaning alternatives – assess your current cleaning products and see if you can find plastic-free alternatives. You could also make your own using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. This article provides some advice on how best to use these household items for cleaning.

Swap liquid soap for bars of soap – liquid soap typically has much more plastic packaging than bars of soap. Cut down on excessive plastic by purchasing solid soap with minimal packaging.

Find out more about how you can get involved with Plastic Free July.

If you have any of your own tips or a story you’d like to share about cutting down your use of plastics please upload it to the ‘Your Stories’ section of the Climate Emergency Inspire hub.

Sustainable transport, sometimes known as green transport, is any form of transport that has no or a low climate impact. Most sustainable transport relies on renewable or regenerated energy, or on personal effort such as walking, wheeling or cycling.

The transport sector has a critical role to play in achieving the goal set out in the Paris Climate Agreement, to keep global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Transport accounts for a higher share of overall UK greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the economy.

To help you play your part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we’ve put together some top travel tips for traveling more sustainably.

Cycle, wheel or walk short distances: Walking, wheeling and cycling are great, low-impact cardio exercises. Getting out on foot or on a cycle is positive for your physical and mental health, avoids frustrating traffic jams, and is great for the environment. There are some suggested cycle routes on the following links.

• itravelsmart website – for maps for Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Winsford, Neston, and Helsby & Frodsham
• Cycling in Northwich - Visit Northwich
• Cycling in Cheshire | Cheshire Cycle Routes (visitcheshire.com)

If you want to gain confidence cycling around the area the Chester Cycling Campaign have set up a Chester Cycle Buddy scheme where an experience cyclist will join you on a ride and give you some tips and advice.

Choose public transport: The borough’s £2 bus fare is a great way to save money while saving the environment. Taking a train or bus means fewer cars on the road, no parking costs, and time to catch up on some reading. Plus, trains can often be quicker for longer journeys, and bus lanes mean you are less likely to be sat in a queue. Visit Traveline for timetable information for any bus, rail or coach service serving Cheshire and Warrington.

Hop on an electric scooter to get around Chester: If you are over 18 and visiting Chester this summer you could hire an e-scooter to get across the city. There are over 170 e-scooters available for hire from 49 dockless parking locations in Chester. The pay-as-you-go e-scooters are hired via the Ginger Shared Transport App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It costs £2.20 per 20 mins to ride and 50p per 10 mins to pause. Find out more information on the Ginger website.

If you have to drive, drive smarter: Having the correct air pressure in your tyres gives better mileage, cheaper maintenance and a smaller environmental impact. Braking less harshly can also be a great way of reducing pollution. Alternatively, car sharing can massively reduce your climate impact. The Energy Saving Trust has a good guide on driving more efficiently.

Make travel part of your Holiday: Could you get to your destination by train, boat or car instead of taking a flight which usually has higher emissions? A journey from London to Madrid for example would emit 43kg of CO2 per passenger by train, but 118kg by plane, according to EcoPassenger.

It is also worth considering if your journey is necessary. Perhaps you could look at alternative places to visit or ways to shop in your local area.

Also, consider the carbon footprint of having items shipped to your home. Could you collect a takeaway for example rather than getting it delivered?

Sources:

How Bad are Bannanas? Mike Berners-Lee

www.ecopassenger.org Ecopassenger

https://www.repairsmith.com/blog/hard-braking/ Repair Smith

theccc.org.uk The Committee on Climate Change

wwf.org.uk The World Wildlife Fund for Nature

unfccc.int United Nations Climate Change

www.visitengland.com Visit England

Every effort has been made to that ensure the information used in all climate emergency articles is accurate. All information used to inform the articles has been taken from reputable sources and those sources are given at the end of each article.

We are aware, however, that data will change over time and that some information across the internet and printed matters can be contradictory. If you have any questions or comments about any articles please submit them below the article.

The Mersey Forest is encouraging farmers and landowners to get in touch if they have suitable land for tree planting ahead of the next planting season.

This year, The Mersey Forest has supported a number of local farmers to introduce trees to their land, funded through the national Trees for Climate programme.

A dairy stock farm in Macclesfield is one local farm that has been supported by The Mersey Forest team and farm advisors, ELM Associates, to planted over 8,000 trees and shrubs on less productive land.

Owner, David Heath, explains how the new planting links to existing woodland in the area: "We've tried to fill in the gaps. One woodland is very old, another I planted in the 1980s and now I've planted these three young woodlands surrounding them. With multiple aged trees, it'll be interesting to see if there'll be a real variety of animals and plants coming through."

A dynamic hedgerow, which contains a higher variety of species tailored to maximise period of flowering and fruiting for wildlife, has also been planted.

Made up of over thousands of trees and shrubs and measuring 450 metres long, it will provide quality habitats for local wildlife. David added: "Hopefully it will attract birds and insects, providing a good corridor for wildlife and should provide a real feature, not only for me, but also for the wider community passing by."

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, explains: “Tree planting can be beneficial to both land and business, offering shelter and shade for livestock, helping to manage water flow and soil erosion, improving soil quality, and attracting pollinators and other wildlife to your land.

“Our experienced team provide landowners with design, planning and planting advice and the grant covers up to 100% of planting costs, plus ongoing funding to support the maintenance of the trees.”

If you have land suitable for tree planting, now’s the time to contact us for the next planting season (October to March). Call us on 01925 816217 or email mail@merseyforest.org.uk.

Find out more about The Mersey Forest’s work by visiting our website: www.merseyforest.org.uk/planttrees

West Cheshire Museums’ ‘Festival for the Future – the Big Sustainability Festival’, is a month of eco-storytelling, circus performances, sustainability talks, a clothes swap, craft fair, and an art exhibition exploring the future of climate change.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “The Big Sustainability Festival returns for a second year and once again has an exciting programme of events and activities spread out through July in Chester, Northwich and Farndon.

“The festival starts in Chester on 8 July with something for everyone, from fossils to fashion. The activities move to the Stretton Watermill on 15 July exploring how hydropower was used to mill flour and ‘Sketch and Explore’ nature journalling workshops, where visitors can relax with a sketch pad and have a go at drawing and documenting the wildlife around them. The Lion Salt Works in Northwich closes the festival on 22 July welcoming back Barnton Circus and their acrobatic skills, plus facepainting an eco-storyteller and forest school.”

Chester’s Grosvenor Museum
8 July, 10.30am to 5pm

• Clothes swap, trade your pre-loved clothing for new and exciting pieces
• Learn about real fossils from the museum’s collection (and perhaps even hold the dinosaur egg)
• ‘Ask a Dinosaur Expert’, an open Q&A with palaeontologists, where visitors can ask all their burning questions (1pm to 1.30pm)
• Drop-in art workshops for all ages, exploring climate change and sustainability in Chester
• A fossil dig, forage for real fossils to identify and take home
• A ROARsome dinosaur trail around the museum
• Free talks on environmental issues, including ‘Sustainable Cities’ (James McKay, University of Leeds). James is a science illustrator who uses art to explore what a sustainable future might look like in the year 2500 (2pm to 2.30pm). Plus, learn about Slow (sustainable) Fashion and have a go at patching with Friends of the Earth.
• An exhibition in the museum’s upstairs gallery, exploring how climates have changed since the beginning of time and imagining where it might lead in the future

Stretton Water Mill, near Farndon
15 July, 10.30am to 5pm

• Workshops, explore hydropower plus ‘Sketch and Explore’ nature journalling workshops. Tours of the Mill (small additional charge).

Lion Salt Works Museum, Ollershaw Lane, Northwich
22 July, 10.30am to 5pm

• Barnton Circus
• Workshops
• Eco-storyteller
• Face painting
• Forest school activities
  
  

All activities are free and not dependent on entry costs to the museums (where applicable). For further information, go to www.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

Cheshire West and Chester Council is launching another funding round on the Cheshire West Crowd, providing plenty of opportunities for community projects to bring their ideas to life.

The Cheshire West Crowd, run by the Council in partnership with Spacehive, allows everyone to put forward community-led projects and attract funding to make the borough more vibrant, resilient and connected.

Since the Cheshire West Crowd first launched, 94 community projects have collectively raised nearly £1.6 million from almost 5,000 backers, including the Council.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council and Champion for the Cheshire West Crowd, said: “This initiative is such a fantastic way for community projects to raise much-needed funds.

“Not only can projects pitch to the Council to access the funds we set aside, but they can call on the support of their local community so it’s a real collective effort from everyone involved.

“The Cheshire West Crowd is one of the most successful initiatives Spacehive has run and we’re delighted that this will be our fourth funding round.

“If you have an idea, please consider using the Cheshire West Crowd as there’s plenty of support available from the Council and Spacehive, making it easier than running your own crowdfunding campaign.

“We’re looking forward to helping many more community projects on their journeys in this latest funding round.”

Tarporley Community Centre ran a crowdfunding campaign during the last round on the Cheshire West Crowd, attracting funds to make improvements to the inside and outside of the building.

Anita Langford, Business Secretary of Tarporley Community Centre, added: “The pledge from the Council towards our project was vital as it was 75 per cent of our target.

“Installing new double glazing and cavity wall insulation will help us save energy, which is important for the climate and reducing our energy costs.”

Saughall Colts JFC has also successfully raised more than £32,000 to install a new drainage and heating system, benefitting players, parents, coaches, volunteers and the wider local community.

Norman Peers, Fundraising and Sponsorship Officer of Saughall Colts FC, commented: “We’d like to thank all who helped Saughall Colts achieve our goal, particularly the Council and Spacehive.

“The funding we’ve received and the project once it’s completed will mean a lot to our community.”

An online workshop is planned for 3pm to 4pm on Thursday 29 June so you can find out more about the Cheshire West Crowd.

• Register for this workshop

Regular information sessions will also be held by the Council’s Communities team, providing an opportunity for you to have an informal chat about any ideas you have and get advice to take your crowdfunding campaign forward.

• Find out more about these sessions

The deadline to submit projects on the Cheshire West Crowd and pitch to Council funds during this latest round is Wednesday 27 September 2023, with projects needing to hit their crowdfunding targets sometime during December 2023.

• Create your own project

For more information about the Cheshire West Crowd and how you could get involved, visit: spacehive.com/movement/cwc.

Chester’s first Active Travel Festival will take place on Sunday 18 June at the Castle Square car park (CH1 2DN) from 11am to 4pm.

The official 11:30am opening ceremony will be attended by local dignitaries: Council leader, Louise Gittins, Chester MP Samantha Dixon, and Lord Mayor Sheila Little, as well as Simon O’Brien, active travel commissioner for the Liverpool City Region and former Brookside actor.

Entry to ‘ATfest’ is free, family friendly and well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Active travel means walking, cycling or wheeling (scooters, wheelchairs and adapted bikes) so there is something for everyone.

The event aims to encourage all local residents to think about using active travel options to get into and through Chester.

The main festival site will be the lower car park in front of Chester Castle where there will be a range of informative, entertaining and fun attractions.

In the main festival village, visitors can try Ginger eScooters, watch stunt bike displays, get their bike checked by Dr Bike, try eBikes and adapted mobility bikes, and visit exhibitors as diverse as Cheshire Police and Stagecoach. Refreshments will be available from food and drink stalls, with a picnic area and entertainment from local radio station Dee 106.3.

As part of ATfest fringe activities there will be an exclusive preview of the film ‘The Last Rider’ (not on general release until 23 June) with a 6pm screening at Storyhouse. There will also be a schools poster competition at the University of Chester Riverside Innovation Centre, a self-guided interactive Time Travelling treasure hunt along Chester’s historic Rows and walking tours starting at the Town Hall Visitor Information Centre.

The event will highlight and demonstrate the use of active travel routes that may not be familiar to many people. If you want to find out how to get from A to B in the city, by walking, cycling or wheeling, but don’t know if there is a suitable route, then this is the event for you.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Highways, Councillor Karen Shore said: “With our Active Travel England grant the Council is delighted to offer funding to support this wonderful event.

“Monitoring and evaluation from the grant award will be used to determine the impact of such events on long term changes to travel behaviour. Active travel is good for your health, your wallet and the environment.

“Any increase in active travel will help the Council achieve our declared objective to become a carbon neutral borough by 2045.

“To tackle any obstacles and make active travel better, we need to understand the barriers so that we can help to plan towards an active travel network that works better for Chester. Feedback via pre and post festival surveys will be very much appreciated by the event organisers.”

One of the organisers, Stephen Perry of the Chester Cycling Campaign said: “Active Travel Festival will offer local families the opportunity to realise that Chester is far more accessible than many realise for those that wish to walk, cycle or ‘wheel’ into the city.

“We want people to learn how to best access the city on routes that are available, to know how much support and information exists for those that wish to enjoy active travel and most of all to have fun on the day.”

For more information, including how to get there, see the event’s website at: https://atfest.uk/ and to complete a pre and post event survey to enter a free prize draw with a first prize of a £1000 cycle voucher.

Wildflowers are valuable to your garden ecosystem as they provide food and shelter for a huge range of species, including important pollinators.

In the UK, we have lost 97 per cent of our meadows in the last 80 years, so planting garden meadows – a combination of wildflowers and wild grasses – can help to make up for these lost habitats.

Both our Land Action Plan and Wildflower and Grassland Strategy highlight the importance of wildflowers and wildlife friendly gardening practices. Together these actions can help both nature’s recovery and contribute to the borough’s carbon net zero ambitions, set out in our Climate Emergency Response Plan.

Cheshire Wildflower mix

We have consulted with the National Wildflower Centre at the Eden Project to identify the best mix to suit the Cheshire landscape. Boston Seeds has been chosen as the main supplier of seed due to its extensive variety of native pollinators and mixes. More details about the mix and how to order it directly can be found on the Council’s website.

Instructions for planting wildflowers

There are lots of ways you can sow your wildflower seeds. You can create a mini meadow in your lawn, sow wildflowers in gaps in your borders or even grow wildflowers in a pot.

Seeds can be sown any time from mid-March until late October. The ideal time is autumn, but avoid periods of extreme heat during the summer months.

• You need to create a fine top layer of soil to sow the seeds. So clear the ground of any existing vegetation you don’t want to keep, to create areas of bare soil where you can sow.
  
  
• 3g of seed is needed per square metre. Scatter the seeds as you walk across the ground, trying to get an even coverage. Then rake the soil and walk back over the area so that the seeds make contact with the soil.
  
  
• If planting over a large area it is advisable to mix the wildflower seed with a carrier such as dry sand or compost. This will help to distribute it more evenly.
  
  
• Keep the area well-watered until it is established.
  
  
• Beware the birds. Birds will love to eat the wildflower seeds, so some gardeners like to put up netting while the seeds are germinating.

WWF UK has a short video that shows you how to plant wildflowers in your garden.

Share your results

We’d love to see pictures of your wildflowers in bloom across the borough. Share your wildflower story on the ‘Your Stories’ section of the Climate Emergency Inspire Hub.

This summer, there is a brilliant selection of sustainable events taking place across the borough providing you with lots of information and inspiration to help you to live a more sustainable lifestyle.Below you’ll find details of all the events we’re aware of in the borough.

If you are organising a sustainable event and would like it listed here, please email: climatechange@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Great Big Green Week
Various locations
10 – 18 June

Great Big Green Week is the UK's biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. Find out about events taking place near you and get involved by visiting the Great Big Green Week website.:

There will be a range of activities and information sessions available at local libraries throughout the borough. From recyclable children’s crafts to energy advice drop-in sessions, there will be something for everyone.

Find out more and what activities are taking place at your local library.

Storyhouse in Chester also have several events taking place on Saturday, 10 June to celebrate Great Big Green Week. Join them for a range of free events (including a paper recycling workshop, a treasure hunt, and colouring-in sheets) from 1pm.

🌳 The Great Big Green Week Activities
🌳 Paper Recycling Workshop

Chester Green Expo
Castle Drive, Chester
15 - 17 June

Join the second Green Expo in Chester to see what has been achieved in the region on progress to net zero and climate change, and how it will impact how we live, work and play. Learn how energy use and sustainable options for the home, office, communities, towns and cities are changing. Find out how alternative sources and renewable solutions for energy, transport, waste and water can help and meet the organisations driving this forward, including charities and artisan producers.

This year’s Green Expo will be comprised of two parts:

🌳 A Youth Conference, free for school and college students on Friday, 16 June, led by the young leaders of ChesterYouthCAN (Chester Youth Climate Action Network) with the support of the University of Chester.

🌳 The Green Expo Exposition organised in conjunction with Chester-based Eco Communities UK. It’s free for anyone to attend and will run alongside the River Dee in Chester, on Castle Drive, from Thursday, 15 June to Saturday, 17 June.

People, Planet, Pastry
At the Green Huts talk area, Castle Drive
15 June, 1pm

As part of Green Expo 2023, this People, Planet, Pastry event will enable you to meet others interested in sustainability in your community, share local stories and ideas, and accelerate local climate action. It’s free, but make sure to reserve yourself a spot on Eventbrite.

People, Planet, Pint
At the Green Huts talk area, Castle Drive
16 June, 6pm

An alternative to the People, Planet, Pastry event, this People, Planet, Pint event will take place at the Green Huts Talks area of the Green Expo, Castle Drive, from 6pm until 8pm. There’s no agenda, workshops or webinars; just chat over a drink. Come and meet others working and interested in the net zero, Bcorp and environmental space. This event is free but please reserve a spot on Eventbrite

Active Travel Festival Chester
Castle Square, Lower Car Park, Chester, CH1 2DN (opposite Abode Hotel).
18 June, from 11am

ATfest is an active travel festival taking place in the historic city of Chester and will be a fun-filled day, jam-packed with activities for all the family to enjoy.

The aim is to inspire local residents of all ages and abilities to make cleaner, greener, healthier and sustainable transport choices in their everyday lives.

Visit the ATfest website to see a schedule of all the activities taking place throughout the day.

Sustainability Festival - Chester Grosvenor Museum
8 July, 10.30am – 5pm

Festival for the Future is back for a second year running. Fun for all the family, and a great way to learn tips and tricks for living a greener lifestyle. All activities are free and drop-in.

Kicking things off on Saturday, 8 July, Grosvenor Museum will be exploring how the world has changed through time and what a sustainable future might look like.

There is an opportunity to see real fossils from the museum’s amazing Natural History collection up close, meet dinosaur experts who’ll answer all your burning questions, and try your hand at foraging for fossils to take home in our onsite dig.

There will also be a clothes swap on the day and specialists talks in the lecture theatre.

Find out more on the West Cheshire Museums website

Climate Crafts - Chester Grosvenor Museum
8, 9 and 10 August

During this week of August, the focus will be all things climate. Join the group at Grosvenor Museum for some climate crafts inspired by their collections and latest exhibitions. More details can be found on the museum's website.


Sustainability Festival – Stretton Water Mill
15 July, 10.30am - 5.00pm

Festival for the Future travels to beautiful Stretton Watermill on Saturday, 15 July. Between 10.30am and 5pm, join us for a peaceful day in the Great Outdoors, mucking about with water and exploring how hydropower was used to mill flour. There will be a cash charge for mill tours, but all other activities are free and drop-in.

Bring a picnic and enjoy a day of woodland activities, seed planting, and wet play. We’ll also be running ‘Sketch and Explore’ nature journalling workshops, where visitors can relax with a sketch pad and have a go at drawing and documenting the wildlife around them. This workshop is perfect for all ages and skill levels, and no previous experience in art or nature journalling is required. So, grab your pencils and join us for a day of creativity, education, and connection to nature. Full details can be found on the museum's website.


Sustainability Festival – Lion Salt Works
22 July, 10.30am – 5pm

For our final Festival of the Future weekend, we’ll be at the Lion Salt Works in Northwich from 10.30am – 5pm on Saturday, 22 July. Barnton Circus are back with more incredible, gravity-defying performances throughout the day, and there’ll be drop-in workshops for visitors to have a go at perfecting their circus skills. Join eco-storyteller, Creeping Toad, in hunting for stories around the site, and create your own puppet characters to bring to life. Visitors of all ages can enjoy forest school activities, face painting, and spending time with nature in our onsite butterfly garden and play area.

Eco Communities will be onsite with another spectacular craft fair, so you can shop for sustainable products and learn about local sustainability projects, and Transition Northwich will be joining us with workshops and activities.

For those interested in exploring sustainable living and its role in shaping a better future, get creative with our all-ages art workshops led by illustrator India Hackett.

Find out more on the West Cheshire Museum website

Sustainable Cheshire Festival
23 September, 10.30am – 7pm

The annual Sustainable Cheshire Festival, organised by Eco Communities, will be taking place later this year on 23 September. Join us in Grosvenor Park for an exciting community event hoping to build a greener and more sustainable future.

🌳 Get your free tickets for the event on their eventbrite link.