Welcome to the second Lincoln Climate Commission newsletter. We will be releasing our newsletters quarterly. If you'd like to be included on the mailing list, please email us at lincolnclimatecommission@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can follow us on social media.
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Countdown to COP26
In November, the UK will host the Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow. It’s described as the most significant climate event since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Leaders from around the world will be reporting on the progress they have made and making new commitments about how they will further cut carbon emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change.
In the run up to COP26, there are a number of Climate-related events taking place in Lincolnshire. The following events are all open to members of the public and are free to attend.
Build for the Future Event 16th September, 10am – 3pm at Lincolnshire Showground
Following the success of the first Build for the Future event in February 2020, Heritage Lincolnshire are returning on Thursday 16 September 2021. For 2021, Heritage Lincolnshire have partnered with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce to make it bigger and better, increasing the reach of the event and attracting new prospective delegates to attend!
Zero Carbon Tour event on the 27th , 11am-2pm at the University of Lincoln Isaac Newton Building
The #ZeroCarbonTour is headed to Lincoln as we make our way through the UK to COP26 in Glasgow in November, sharing the net zero message with the business community. We’re accelerating the UN-backed Race to Zero as part of the UK's #TogetherForOurPlanet campaign.
The Lincolnshire Climate Summit and the Green Masterplan Launch. 13th October 2021, 9am-4:30pm – The Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground
On October 13, Lincolnshire County Council will hold the first ever Lincolnshire Climate Summit at the Lincolnshire Showground.
This will take place during the run up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.
University of Lincoln Climate Action Week during the first week of COP26 (1st-5th November)
Activities taking place across all three campuses, with an exhibition, environment fayre and much more planned. Details will be shared online via the lincoln.ac.uk website.
We want to make it easy for people to find climate action related events in Lincolnshire, so if you have a free event you'd like us to share on our website, please contact us with the date, time and a short summary of the event.
The Climate & Ecological Emergency... And how we’re tackling it in Lincoln
The Climate and Ecological Emergency provides an immediate and urgent opportunity for positive social, economic and environmental change both nationally and locally. Transitioning to a net zero carbon economy and creating a cleaner and greener natural environment will provide many benefits for communities and individuals across Lincolnshire. The issues of climate change and the loss of wildlife and biodiversity are interlinked.
Biodiversity & rewilding in Lincoln
Do you know how much urban wildlife our city is home to? From hedgehogs and foxes, to deer and even otters, we're lucky enough to live amongst some truly wonderful wildlife.
Rewilding areas is essential in ensuring that we are protecting our wildlife. Whether at home or at work, in community gardens or on the edge of a balcony, providing plants or leaf piles can truly have a positive impact on local pollinators, birds and mammals.
We've rounded up some rewilding projects currently going on in Lincolnshire.
#RewildingLincolnshire
City of Lincoln Council
The City of Lincoln Council has launched a number of ‘rewilding’ initiatives to support biodiversity and enable the natural environments in the city to thrive in a way that best supports native wildlife.
University of Lincoln
The University of Lincoln has been rewilding parts of its Brayford Campus since last Summer. The Kitchen Garden and around the Delph Pond are two of the areas chosen to rewild. A Hedgehog Friendly Campus, the university has also made a commitment to making the environment safe for hedgehogs - benefitting other wildlife too.
Wilder Doddington
Doddington Hall & Gardens are embarking on a 100 year project to bring more nature back to the Doddington Estate. The scheme includes a commitment to ending arable farming, letting Lincoln Red Cattle and wild deer manage the landscape. Later, they will also be adding wild ponies and pigs to the mix.
If you're running a rewilding scheme, whether its at a business, community park or just at home, please do share it with us. You can also tag us on Twitter @ClimateLincoln
How can I rewild?
Do you want to rewild part of your garden but are unsure where to start? Below are some tips on what you can do to help your local wildlife:
- Build a log pile - log piles support insects, as well as small mammals and amphibians.
- Create a "wild" section - choosing an area of your garden and leaving it to rewild with native grasses and flowers is a great way to support biodiversity. If you're worried about it looking "untidy", why not mow the edges to ensure it looks intentional? You can also purchase/make a small sign that says why you're leaving it wild.
- Install a pond - if you're lucky enough to have a fairly big green space, you could install a pond, to provide water for all your garden visitors! Please ensure you install a ramp for animals such as hedgehogs.
Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Information
The next version of the CLLP was produced for a public consultation which started on 30th June through to 24th August. Once adopted, the CLLP will replace the current Local Plan which was adopted in April 2017.
There are a total of 83 Policies contained within the Draft Plan with key policies including those related to climate change, housing, biodiversity, retail and employment. Following this round of consultation the Draft Plan will be subject to one further round of statutory consultation prior to being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for public examination which is estimated to take place in early 2022 with the plan hopefully adopted later in 2022.
You can view the consultation hub below and evidence documents and policies maps are being held on the Central Lincs website with links on the homepage www.central-lincs.org.uk.
Refresh Lincoln - a project brightening up the city centre
A city-wide installation sharing the words of Lincoln’s children and young people 10th July – 4th September 2021
Frustrated by being locked down, isolated and unheard, the words of children and young people have been unleashed across the city.
Earlier this year, Zest Theatre led 34 workshops with over 800 young people aged 9 – 21 across Lincoln. Zest created a space for young people to reflect on the last year, cultivating over 600 quotes about any and everything – from daily life to the big questions of the universe. Now their words have been turned into 80 vibrant artworks, ready to be found on posters, windows, banners and billboards in every corner of the city centre.
Refresh Lincoln places the voices of young people at the heart of the city’s recovery, bringing colour and conversation to this place they call home!
Also taking place in the city...
ECOllective Exhibition at the Collection Museum, 26 Jun 2021 - 12 Sep 2021
The Creative Collective are hosting the ECOllective exhibition as a part of The Collection Museum’s Environment and Sustainability season. The exhibition will be held in the Courtyard Gallery in The Collection Museum and will be running from the 26th of June until 12th September. Entrance to the exhibition is free of charge and included in your free ticket to the museum.
First Lincolnshire school pledges to Let's Go Zero Campaign
Staff and students at Burton Hathow share a vision of sustainability.
Having recently joined the Let’s Go Zero campaign, Burton Hathow is the first school in the county to pledge for carbon zero schooling by 2030 and hopes that other schools will soon follow in its footsteps, responding to young people’s calls for climate action and safeguarding the planet for future generations. Sustainability is deeply embedded in the school’s holistic approach to learning, so making the Let’s Go Zero pledge was a natural part of the school’s environmental journey.
The school’s woodland setting is home to a range of wildlife, with goldfinches and house martins flying around the site, and eagle-eyed students spotting kingfishers and herons frequenting the lake. Recent rewilding efforts have been made to encourage bee populations to flourish, and ash trees removed from the site due to the confirmed presence of Ash tree disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), have been replaced with 10 new varieties of sapling that are better suited for the boggy conditions of the forest site.
Pupils at the school have a strong sense of environmental responsibility instilled in them, and in an attempt to tread gently on the planet, a pupil-led litter picking group has recently been established by the school council.
School Councillor Thomas had this to say about why he enjoys litter picking around the school grounds: “It’s about keeping the community clean, there are animals out there that might get harmed from it, so if you think about it, it’s actually cruel to leave litter around that could blow around and cause harm. It’s cruel to litter, and that’s why we like to clean it up!”
Does your school want to get involved in the Let's Go Zero campaign? Feel free to contact the commission to get some advice.
Who are we?
The Lincoln Climate Commission is an independent collective of businesses, organisations and members of the public
In each newsletter, we'll introduce some members of the Commission and its working groups, so that you can get to know us better. Subgroups include:
- Research
- Communications
- Community Engagement
- Delivery
- Planning
Introducing...
Councillor Ric Metcalfe is current chair of the Lincoln Climate Commission, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council and is championing climate action in Lincolnshire.
Geoff Stratford is a retired biology and science teacher, and is now a ‘campaigner’ for climate action. One of the founders of Lincoln Climate Commission, he helped draft the City Council’s Climate and Environment Emergency Declaration. Part of Faith & the Environment Lincolnshire.
What's next?
The next meeting of the Lincoln Climate Commission will take place on 5th November. Look out for our next newsletter in Autumn this year.
Want to be on our mailing list? Please email lincolnclimatecommission@gmail.com. Alternatively, we will be publishing these newsletters on our social media channels.
In the meantime, want to get involved in sustainability but don't know where to start? Check out our Sustainability Toolkit below:
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Credits:
Contributors: Alex Foxley-Johnson, Georgia Preece, Zest Theatre