Climate Emergency

Cheshire West and Chester Council has received national recognition for its work to unlock a food revolution and tackle the climate emergency.

The Council has been listed as one of 21 top performing councils out of nearly 200 analysed by Sustain, a national alliance for better food and farming.

Sustain’s report ‘Every Mouthful Counts’, looks at how well councils in the UK are performing on issues of food and tackling climate change.

The borough has also joined the Sustainable Food Places Network following a successful application by Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) supported by the Council’s Public Health team.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Tackling the climate emergency has long been a major priority of the Council.

“We’ve been working with partners across the borough to address many of the issues leading to this emergency, with a sustainable and healthy food system high on the list.

“We want everyone to be able to eat healthily every day and we want farming and food production to have a positive impact on the climate and biodiversity. This can in turn help our local economy to thrive.

“It’s great to have our work recognised in the report by Sustain, and even better that our partnership’s application to become a Sustainable Food Place has been successful, opening up even more opportunities to make a real difference.”

CWVA leads the Food Strategy for west Cheshire and the West Cheshire Food Partnership, bringing organisations together to help make sure healthy food is available for everyone.

Stephanie Ellis, CWVA’s Food Strategy Lead, said: “We were really keen to become a Sustainable Food Place in recognition of the work we have done so far and to support us to achieve more.

“We have been working closely with the Council and other partners over many years to put together a coordinated approach to food support, with everyone working together towards the same goal.

“Through the links we have created in our communities, we have been able to map out all the food support available across west Cheshire on our live, interactive map on the Welcome Network website.

“This is even more important with the current cost of living challenges and we’ve been working with the Council and other partners on this to make sure people can access the support they need this winter and beyond.”

Partners from across the borough have been working together to achieve the Sustainable Food Place accreditation, and will continue to do so as the borough works towards its bronze accreditation. As well as CWVA and the Council, partners include: the Mersey Forest, The Welcome Network, Cheshire Waste Recycling, University of Chester, Chester Zoo, Tatton Group, The Sustainability Forum and Sustainable Cheshire.

For more information about Sustainable Food Places visit: www.sustainablefoodplaces.org.

For more information about the Sustain report visit: www.sustainweb.org and search for ‘Every Mouthful Counts’.

You can access the live, interactive map showing the food support available at: welcomenet.co.uk/get-support

For more information about cost of living support, visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/costofliving

Cheshire West and Chester Council is progressing initiatives to improve bus services in the borough through its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

The National Bus Strategy for England published in 2021 formalised an expectation that local councils and bus operators should work in partnership to deliver better bus services in their area. An Enhanced Partnership agreement was set up in the borough to achieve this in April 2022.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, said: “Bus services, as well as active travel options in general, play a critical role in tackling the climate emergency and supporting our poverty declarations in the borough.

“Since our co-produced Bus Service Improvement Plan was submitted to the Department for Transport in October 2021, we have continued to work in collaboration with local bus operators to further develop plans through our Enhanced Partnership agreement.

“Unfortunately, though we were not one of the few authorities to receive funding, we still feel our BSIP was both robust and ambitious. We listened to feedback from the Department of Transport, so we’ve realigned our targets and prioritised initiatives to refresh our plan.”

Initiatives put into place by the Cheshire West Enhanced Partnership so far have included:

• Bus operators supporting Afghan and Ukraine guests by providing two months free travel.
• Allowing concessionary travellers to make bus journeys before 9.30am during school summer holiday this year, so those still nervous of travelling do so at different times to rebuild their confidence.
• Substantial promotion of the P&R service to ease congestion in the city centre, following the opening of Chester’s very popular new market and in the build up to Christmas.

Future schemes will include:

• Supporting the Government’s £2 fare initiative in the new year, encouraging all operators to take part to make bus travel a mode of choice for the many in the borough and not the few; for employment, education and leisure.
• The launch of a demand responsive rural mobility bus service in the early part of 2023. More details to follow soon.
• Taking part in the Transport Focus bus passenger satisfaction survey “Your Bus Journey”. The survey will be launched in January 2023 and will further shape our BSIP to help drive bus service improvements across the borough.

Councillor Shore added: “We are also looking for a pool of people to become part of our bus users group, representative of our communities across the borough. If you would like to be part of this journey and become a valued member of our planned bus group please contact: Ep@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk to register your interest. We’re looking forward to hearing from as many people as possible. Please get in touch.”

More information on the Council’s plans for bus services can be found on its website.

A key part of the borough’s Land Action Plan is the adoption of low carbon farming practices and introducing land use solutions to help mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Action is already taking place across the borough, with landowners considering how their land can be managed in a way that reduces the amount of carbon emitted, supports nature and benefits the farming business.

Watch the video below to hear from one local farmer about some of the sustainable farming methods introduced on his farm in Frodsham.

Additional information on sustainable farming

There are lots of organisations across the UK that support farmers with information on farming sustainably.

• The Farming Advice Service
• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Future Farming
• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Protecting our water, soil and air: A Code for good agricultural practice
• Catchment Sensitive Farming: advice for farmers and land managers
• National Farmers Union
• The Country Land and Business Association (CLA)
• RSPB – Farming advice
• Innovative Farmers - a not for profit membership network, for all farmers and growers who are running on farm trials, on their own terms.
• Soil Association
• Agroforestry - Woodland Trust
• Agroforestry Research Trust
• Regenerative Food and Farming
• Home - Innovation for Agriculture
• Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
• Permaculture Association
• Nature Friendly Farming Network - Sustainable Farming (nffn.org.uk)
• Catchment Sensitive Farming: advice for farmers and land managers

Community groups from across the region speaking at the summit

Representatives from the North West Youth Forum discussed their hopes for the future and what their peers believed should be the key issues that the area’s leaders should be addressing over the coming years.

Green growth and green and accessible transport was also a major focus, with industry experts sharing the progress made to date in their fields and the next steps for their projects.

A discussion around a green, accessible transport network for the North

Nearby, a climate change careers fair was held at the Cheshire College’s Ellesmere Port campus, providing students with the opportunity to find out more about a role in some of the local organisations and industries leading the way in sustainability.

Watch the video below of Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, speaking at the event about the Cheshire and Warrington Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Commission and the ambition of the sub region to work together to reach its net zero goals.

Read more about the Cheshire and Warrington Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Commission.

Gift giving tips

• Choose a gift that that you know the person wants and that lasts, like a house plant.
• Shop local – supporting small business helps boost your local economy, plus you’re more likely to find unique and well-crafted gifts. Saturday, 3 December, is Small Business Saturday – you can use their website to find your local businesses: Small Business Saturday UK.
• Give a handmade gift – you could bake, sew or paint, get creative to add that personal touch to your gifts this year.
• Choose eco-friendly wrapping paper - on average, Brits use around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper. In fact, Defra estimates that enough wrapping paper is used each year to gift wrap the island of Guernsey. Sticky tape, ribbons and paper covered in glitter can't be recycled, so switch to an eco-friendly roll or, alternatively, use brown paper for a vintage look.
• Try fabric wrapping – fabric can be reused year after year or, if you are gifting a scarf, you could use that to wrap up another gift.
• Send Christmas e-cards – a staggering 1.5 billion Christmas cards are thrown away by UK households each year, according to Imperial College researchers. So, what can we do to stop this figure escalating? Friends of the Earth explains: 'You can cut your resource use when it comes to Christmas cards – you can send e-cards instead. Try using a free design app like Canva if you want to get creative. If a card is needed, try to find ones made from recycled materials and not containing plastics such as glitter.'
• Buy plantable Christmas cards - when the biodegradable paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds will grow and eventually the paper will decompose.

Decorations

Use handcrafted decorations

Small businesses will make beautiful, handcrafted decorations, but you can get creative and make some yourself. There are plenty of ideas online, check out Pinterest for inspiration.

Re-use Christmas tree decorations or go second-hand

Unless your decorations are damaged or broken, do your best to reuse them each year – and it doesn't even have to be on your tree. You could use baubles as table decorations or place names, or you could use string to hang them on door handles. If you need new decorations, try second-hand shops to find some pre-loved styles.

Christmas trees

If you already own an artificial tree, continue to use it for as long as possible to reduce its environmental impact. In order, here are the most sustainable ways to enjoy a tree (according to Friends of the Earth).

1. No tree at all – this is probably not an option for most people, but if you are short on space or decorate your home with other things instead, this might not be such a bad idea. You could even decorate a house plant with fairy lights for a modern take on the traditional tree.
2. Rent a real Christmas tree.
3. Purchase a pot grown living Christmas tree, you can reuse this year after year if you take good care of it.
4. Cut Christmas tree - choose sustainably grown trees that carry the FSC label and remember to recycle your tree afterwards. The Council website has details of where your tree can be dropped off across the borough to be reused as mulch by our StreetCare service.
5. Artificial tree – artificial trees have the most environmental impact, so you will need to use it for over 10 years for the impact to be comparable with a real tree option.

Christmas dinner

Switch to eco-friendly crackers

Try creating your own crackers for a personalised touch to your Christmas décor this year. Use recycled Kraft brown paper or DIY Kraft crackers and fill with plastic-free surprises for a stylish, eco alternative.

Introduce more plant-based foods

If meat-free isn’t an option for you, perhaps you could make just small changes to your Christmas dinner menu. 'Go for a festive spread with mainly plant based ingredients and try to make sure any meat or dairy products you’re keen to have don’t come from intensive farms. When it comes to the vegetables, look out for products that have been grown nearby so you can cut down on transport emissions,' advises Friends of the Earth.

Cut food waste

Try and choose things that are light on packaging or buy loose items. Transform your leftovers to create new meals, save money and cut waste. If you have packaged food left over, that you no longer need, donate it to your local food bank.

Re-wear your Christmas jumper

Environmental charity Hubbub warns against buying new Christmas jumpers after finding that up to 95 per cent of them are made using plastic. The most common plastic fibre used is acrylic, which was found in three quarters of the jumpers tested. 'We'd urge people to swap, buy second-hand or re-wear, and remember a jumper is for life, not just for Christmas,' says Hubbub. You can always clip a Christmas decoration to a favourite jumper for a homemade approach.

Sources

• Friends of the Earth
• Love Food Hate Waste
• GOV.UK – shop local
• Hubbub
• Wrag Wrap – wrapping paper facts

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.

Listen to the latest Energy Saving Podcast by the Council’s Energy Saving specialist which focuses on items around the home that may be using up energy when on standby, also known as vampire devices.

Community energy coach, Mark Thompson, discusses how to check if you have these sort of devices around your home and which can be the worst offenders.

• Listen to the Energy Saving Podcast on YouTube

Mark has developed a website providing useful, practical advice and tips to help people to reduce the amount of energy they are using in the home. The site aims to help people understand energy better and give them the confidence and knowledge to take the right actions for their individual circumstances. Visit: getenergysavvy.info.

If you have your own energy saving tips add them to the 'your stories' section of the Climate Emergency Inspire hub.

Pupils at St Saviour's Catholic Primary School in Ellesmere Port and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Winsford, have both launched a new Parent Parking Charter to help alleviate parking problems outside their school gates and to encourage more active methods of travel for the school run.

Pupils have worked with the Council's Road Safety Team, local Police Community Support Officers (PSCOs) and teachers to develop the new charters, which will challenge the way people travel to school and ease problems caused by inappropriate parking.

This project is in addition to both the cycle and pedestrian training that has taken place at the schools, to encourage parents and pupils to walk/cycle/scoot to school to improve their health at the same time as reducing the number of cars outside the school at pick up and drop off times.

This road safety initiative sees parents, drivers and school visitors make a pledge to reduce congestion and conflict outside school as well as raising awareness of parking safely on surrounding local roads.

St Joseph's School is asking parents and carers to park away from the school and walk part of their journey - it would take around 15 minutes to walk to school from the Grange playground, or the playground on Rosewood Drive.

The school ran a competition to find a slogan for the parking charter banner that is now displayed at school. The winning slogan was 'Look out kids about'.

St Saviours School is asking parents and carers to use the car park on Thelwall Road by the shops or Hope Farm and walk the remaining five to 10 minutes to school, particularly at peak times.

The school also ran a competition to find a slogan for a parking charter banner. Their winning slogan was 'Show you care, park elsewhere'.

Pupils and staff working with both Council and PCSOs looked at the issues outside schools and came up with rules and regulations to help improve the parking problems. The slogans from the competition really get the message across, so congratulations to all the winners and everyone who has worked on this parking charter.

Parents or carers and visitors will be asked to sign a pledge to stick to all the rules set out in the new Parent Parking Charters. The aim is to see a safer environment outside the school gates for children and neighbours, and to encourage more active methods of travel to get to school.

What is COP27?

COP stands for Conference of the Parties. It is a UN climate summit that is held every year, for governments to agree steps to limit global temperature rises.

The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP27, will be the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference.

Hosted by Egypt between 6 to 18 November 2022, the summit will be attended by nations across the world to discuss climate change and how countries plan to tackle it.

Heads of State, ministers and negotiators, along with climate activists, mayors, civil society representatives and CEOs will meet for the largest annual gathering on climate action.

Why is COP27 happening?

The world is warming because of fossil fuel emissions caused by humans.

Extreme weather events linked to climate change - including heatwaves, floods and forest fires - are intensifying. The past decade was the warmest on record, and governments agree urgent collective action is needed.

Why is COP27 so important?

Research shows that with our current emission trajectory, the global temperature will increase by 3-4°C in the next 80 years.

Global warming on this scale would cause irreversible global environmental damage, including floods and famine for billions of people annually.

COP27 will build on the outcomes of COP26 to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency - from urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, to delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.

COP27 seeks renewed solidarity between countries, to deliver on the Paris Agreement, for people and the planet.

The Paris Agreement is an international agreement to tackle climate change, which was agreed by leaders back in 2015 when 195 countries attended COP21 in Paris.

The Paris agreement states that nations must:

• Reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gasses produced and increase renewable types of energy like wind, solar and wave power
• Keep global temperature increase "well below" 2C (3.6F) and to try to limit it to 1.5C
• Review progress made on the agreement every five years
• Provide financing to developing countries to mitigate climate change, strengthen resilience and enhance abilities to adapt to climate impacts.

What will be discussed at COP27?

COP27 will focus on three main areas:

• Reducing emissions
• Helping countries to prepare for and deal with climate change
• Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the above

Some areas not fully resolved or covered at COP26 will be picked up:

• Loss and damage finance - money to help countries recover from the effects of climate change, rather than just prepare for it
• Establishment of a global carbon market - to price the effects of emissions into products and services globally
• Strengthen the commitments to reduce coal use.

There will also be themed days on issues including gender, agriculture and biodiversity.

How can I follow events at COP27?

Media interest will be heavy throughout the event’s two-week schedule and daily updates will follow in the press and from news broadcasters.

For more information about the COP27 conference visit: COP27: Delivering for people and the planet | United Nations

World Vegan Month is celebrated during November and is a good opportunity to consider the impact your diet has on the planet.

Animal-based products don’t have to be completely off the menu to make a difference. Introducing more plant-based meals into your weekly diet can help to lower your carbon footprint and your impact on the planet. And choosing to buy the meat you do purchase from a local farmer can significantly reduce any linked emissions.

• BBC Foods Autumn vegan recipes
• Money Magpie – five affordable vegan recipes
• Veganuary website – recipes from around the world
• Jamie Oliver – easy vegan recipes

There are lots of changes we can make to help make our diets more sustainable and, in turn, help to play our part to address the climate crisis. Here are some ideas to try this month.

• Choose sustainable foods – the best way to know if your ingredients are sustainable is to get to know the people who produce them. Try shopping with local suppliers or look for certifications and stamps of approval, such as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Fairtrade products, LEAF Marque, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Soil Association, Organic Farmers and Growers UK
• Eat healthily and minimise processed foods – the more processed a food is, the greater its environmental impact – because of emissions created through the process and because it often loses nutritional quality, meaning more food has to be produced overall, just to deliver minimum nutritional requirements.
• Ensure balance and variety – our bodies need a variety of nutrients and a good, balanced diet can include many things, such as wholegrains, fruit and vegetables, and less sugar, oils and fat. Try to eat different grains, vegetables and animals to achieve as much balance as possible. The planet will also benefit from a variety of food being cultivated.
• Eat seasonal produce – by eating produce that is in season you’ll be eating fresher, tastier and better value food. Visit the Eat Seasonably website to find out more. Where possible grow your own produce.
• Shop locally – use local suppliers of produce to help cut down the miles your food has travelled from field to plate. Try shopping in one of our local markets for a wide selection of local produce.
• Cut down on your food waste – make sure you store your food correctly and use it before it goes off. The Love Food Hate Waste website has lots of tips and recipes to help you use up your leftovers.
  
  

The Council’s Land Action Plan has a focus on producing sustainable food and encouraging dietary change, in line with national recommendations to free up land for habitat creation and other uses by reducing intake of carbon intensive foods such as beef, lamb and dairy. Encourage locally sourced (or British), seasonal agricultural produce, including meat and dairy, including through public procurement.

Following on from last year's success, North West in Bloom judges have awarded even more top accolades for locations and projects in Cheshire West and Chester.

The Council's whole borough entry including Chester in the Large City category scooped a Silver Gilt, as well as the 2022 Award for Commercial Effort.

The Local Authority Large Parks Gold Medal was awarded to Marbury Park and in the Small Park category Alexandra Park in Chester, also received a Gold. A first-time entry for Rivacre County Park also secured a Silver Gilt in the Small Park category.

This is the result of the hard work of many 'Friends of' groups and volunteers across the borough being recognised by the North West in Bloom judges who visited the area during the summer.

Other award winners included towns, villages, schools, farms, a food hub, a station and a cemetery. Hadlow Station received both a Level 5 Outstanding Award and a 2022 Heritage Award.

The Council's Director of Environment and Communities, Maria Byrne said:

"I'm delighted the Council was able to support so many wonderful entries for this year's North West in Bloom competition and I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks and warmest congratulations to all the volunteers and groups involved in improving their community and bringing people together to make a positive change to the place they live, work or spend their leisure time.

We were very proud of what we were able to show the judges and the results reflect the hard work of everyone involved in this year’s entries. This is a wonderful way to recognise the achievements of organisations and community groups across west Cheshire. Together, we can ensure our borough continues to thrive, long into the future and the results can be built upon to further improve our natural environment."

The results

• Large City - Silver Gilt and 2022 Award for Commercial Effort (Chester city centre)
• North West in Bloom with the RHS Chester City Centre / Cheshire West and Chester Council
• Local Authority Parks large - Gold Medal Award
• North West in Bloom with the RHS - Marbury Park
• Local Authority Parks small - Gold Medal Award
• North West in Bloom with the RHS - Alexandra Park, Hoole
• Local Authority Park Small - Silver Gilt Medal Award
• North West in Bloom with the RHS - Alexandra Park, Chester
• Local Authority Park Small - Silver Medal Awards
• North West in Bloom with the RHS - Grosvenor Park, Chester
• The following entries were also supported by the Council:
• Capenhurst and Ledsham Villages in Bloom (Gold Award) Village Category Cambridge Road Primary School (2022 Award Schools Category)
• Cambridge Road Primary School (Community champions and Young Champions Award 2022)
• Friends of Hadlow Road Station (In Your Neighbourhood, Level 5 Outstanding)
• Friends of Hadlow Road Station (2022 Heritage Award)
• Ellesmere Port in Bloom, Silver Award (Large Town Category)
• Friends of Mount Farm Way Pond (In Your Neighbourhood, Level 4 Thriving)
• Overleigh Cemetery, Chester (In Your Neighbourhood, Level 4 Thriving)
• Acton Bridge Community Association (In Your Neighbourhood, Level 4 Thriving)
• Cheshire Food Hub Garden, Northwich (In Your Neighbourhood, Level 5 Outstanding)