News & Events
Here are the latest upcoming events, news items, recent newsletters and blog posts from ChalCAN
Latest News
St Mary of the Angels, Brownshill
Work began on improving the churchyard last year with some fifteen volunteers from the Brownshill community clearing the site. Lizards, slow-worms and toads were found. To improve the biodiversity of this lovely site further funding was obtained from the Countryside Charity (formerly known as the Campaign to Protect Rural England) for 32 native shrubs and trees, and these have now been planted with the help of local volunteers.
New year, new resolutions for 2022
The start of a new year is a good time to make resolutions about what we can do to live more sustainably. Check out the suggestions here
Chalford Walks
We are organising a series of Community Walks to explore the beauty of our area in all seasons. These are family friendly, not overly strenuous (around two-three miles/one and a half to two hours); dogs are welcome on leads. The route will be decided just prior to each walk according to the weather. Walks start from Chalford Sports and Social Club at 10am, and at the end walkers can buy a hot drink and cake at the CSSC. Do put the dates in your diary: February 12th, March 19th. Contact Penny or check our website for more information.
Also check out the amazing set of walks around Chalford at https://chalcan.org.uk/walking-2
Give your feedback to GCC on buses
The Thomas Keble GCSE Citizenship pupils’ campaign to prevent food poverty(PDF)
20 is Plenty – 20 mph Speed Campaign
ChalCAN is joining forces with the national ’20 is Plenty’ campaign in Gloucestershire. If you’d like to see speed limited on our roads please lend your support.
You could email Parish Councillors and your GCC representative Chloe Turner to ask them to support 20mph limits.
In the new year ChalCAN will be mounting a 20 is plenty campaign in Chalford
Solar PV Scheme
ChalCAN is currently negotiating a ‘bulk installation’ deal with FIRST4SOLAR, with a reduced installation rate for local households. If anyone wants to be included please get in touch (richarddean@myself.com).
Climate Change and Trees
Here is a video by ChalCAN’s Dr Grace O’Donovan discussing trees and climate change and an initiative to plant more trees in the area.
Hedgehog Street (PDF)
Air Source Heat Pumps
Following our information evening on Air Source Heat Pumps we’ve produced a summary about ASHP’s Heat-Pump-Article (PDF) and another outlining local housholds that have installations ChalCAN Case Studies (PDF). Contact us if you’d like more information or to visit a working example.
67 Bus Service
67 bus timetables available from the Parish Centre or here (PDF)
Biodiversity Trail
A circular wildlife trail 10 km long through Chalford Parish. Maps and info here….or pick up a leaflet from the Parish Centre or village shop.
Take a Climate Walk (PDF)
ChalCAN is on Instagram! follow us at @chalford.can
Upcoming Events
Community Walks
Building on a successful walk in the autumn, ChalCAN are organising a series of walks to explore the beauty of our area in all seasons. These will be family friendly, not overly strenuous (around two-three miles/one and a half to two hours); dogs are welcome on leads. The route will be decided just prior to each walk according to the weather. Walks start from Chalford Sports and Social Club at 10am, and at the end walkers can enjoy a hot drink and cake at the CSSC. It will generally be on the second Saturday of each month, so do put the dates in your diary: February 12th, March 19th.
Postponed – new date t.b.c Chalford ‘Connect”- How we can do our bit. Has COP26 left you with concerns for the future of our planet and community? Are you wondering what we can do to reduce carbon emissions individually and collectively? If so, come and join us at ‘ChalCAN Connect’. This is a gathering for anyone in the area who would like to think more about this issue and what we can do. An opportunity to come together to share ideas about how we can work together in the community to address climate and environmental issues. A short presentation on carbon emissions in the Parish will be followed by discussions about what we can all do, and what the priorities for ChalCAN should be for the coming year of action. We’d like to hear from as many people as possible, so please do come along, whether you’d like to participate with your own ideas, or just listen to find out more about the issues
Newsletter Archive
ChalCAN’s recent newsletters
Latest Blog posts
Take a Climate Walk
Do you already have some awareness of climate change but nothing much more? The ‘Climate Walk’ can show you how the choices you make can have a real impact
Encouraging Biodiversity in Your Garden
Frequently Asked Questions about Encouraging Biodiversity in Your Garden In a ChalCAN survey, respondents were asked what questions they had about encouraging biodiversity in the garden. Here are the collated
Did your t-shirt cost the earth?
Did you know that…… The UK sends an average of 300,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill each year. One wash load of polyester clothes can release 700,000 microplastic fibres into
Our Community and Biodiversity
As individuals it’s easy to feel helpless about the effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity. We can each of us make changes and take steps to help –
Wildlife friendly allotments
Your allotment is mainly for growing fruit and vegetables, and maybe keeping some chickens; but allotments are also really important for biodiversity. There are lots of things you can do
Roadside Verges
What is the issue? Any plans to increase and restore biodiversity within our community must include a focus on the way we manage our road verges. Our verges form just
Green Spaces
There are lots of community owned green spaces scattered over the Parish, all managed by the Parish Council. Some are tucked away, quietly acting as mini wildlife reserves without the
Trees and Hedgerows
First the good news…About a third of our Parish is currently covered in trees and hedgerows. Many of these trees are on the steep slopes of the Frome Valley and
Plastic and General Waste
We need to change our habits and consume less, buying wisely. This applies across all areas of shopping from food, to clothes, to electrical appliances. ChalCAN is looking at how
Upcycling and Repairs
Reuse, recycle, swap…and the impact of fast fashion Buy less junk and less new ‘stuff’. Buy things which are designed to be repairable and when you have finished with
Food
Do you want to learn something shocking? Meat, egg and dairy production use up 83% of the world’s farmland, are responsible for 58% of the world’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions,
Biodiversity Survey
Chalford Parish Council has acknowledged that there is a climate emergency and that we should become carbon neutral by 2030. To do this efficiently and effectively, ways need to be
Gardens
About a third of our parish is covered over with houses and gardens. If we are going to increase biodiversity, all those hundreds of gardens need to be put to
Home Energy Saving
Actions to reduce carbon emissions in the home can range from tiny changes in your own behaviour, to installing energy efficient heating systems with smart controls. Here are some
Domestic Solar PV
Sunlight can provide a great source of clean, renewable energy, converted into electricity using solar photovoltaic panels on your roof. How much electricity is generated depends on whether there is