News & Events

Here are the latest upcoming events, news items, recent newsletters and blog posts from ChalCAN

LATEST NEWS

OUR EVENTS

Latest News

New e-bike rental scheme starting soon
 
With funds from the District Council in a scheme promoted by Transition Stroud, two electric bikes will soon be available at Brimscombe for hire for people to hire for up to a week or two at a time. One will be standard, one cargo capable of carrying two children. The idea is to give residents a chance to see how an e-bike might work for them and their family, before possible purchase.
The bikes will be held and maintained by Bike Drop at the Long Table. A small team of volunteers is needed to handle the handover of each hire – giving basic advice on how to use, charge and lock-up the bikes (training will be provided for volunteers).
 
This pilot scheme will be open to Chalford residents too, with a possibility we might have bikes stored here in due course, so do let us know if you are able to help: info@chalcan.org.uk or Martin Whiteside whiteside@gn.apc.org or 07989335838.
 
Hedge and tree planting
In recent weeks the Biodiversity team have helped
  • plant a 150m hedge at Bussage School working with parents, Friends of Frith Wood and of course the children themselves
  • plant trees at Dorrington Court
  • coppice the hazel at St Marys Church in Brownshill
  • replace a few tress that had died in the Spinney woodland on Middle Hill
 
Latest Terracycle Scheme Details
 
A new poster shows the packaging that will be accepted in the Terracycle Scheme. Local collection points are
  • The garden at Chalford Hill School
  • The Parish Centre 

Terracycle_2024

A New Family Friendly Cycle Route in Chalford
 
Following feedback from the pilot last year, this flat, family friendly cycle route has been prepared by ChalCAN volunteers, funded by a grant from the GCC Build Back Better Fund. Suitable for those reurning to cycling after a break and for children and young people (supervised by adults when appropriate). Do ensure you wear a bike helmet.  Please click on the following PDF’s for the route map and route directions. Please contact info@chalcan.org.uk if you require any further information
 
 
Installation of New Bike Racks
 
Really exciting to report that new bike racks have been installed at Bussage School, France Lynch Church Rooms (round the back), Eastcombe Scouts, Chalford Sports and Social Club, the Parish Centre and the Frith Youth Centre. This comes as a result of a grant from GCC Build Back Better fund, and with great support from the Parish Council Footpaths Group, who installed many of these, thus saving funds to allow more bike racks to be purchased for other sites. So – get on your bike to go to events in the village if you can!
 
 
A Community Compost Scheme for Chalford
 
A group of residents are considering the options for establishing a community compost scheme in Chalford, similar to the one operating in Bisley. Such a scheme would take people’s garden waste and use it to produce healthy peat free compost. The benefits would be less CO2 produced by trips to the dump, no need for bonfires, less money spent on bought compost (and therefore fewer plastic bags) plus a positive, pro-active contribution towards the parish’s Net Zero objectives and a new community asset.
 

The community survey undertaken last year indicated considerable interest in such a scheme. Applications are now being made for funding.  If you fancy getting involved, email Karen Phiminster at kjpmail66@gmail.com.

 

Recycle Your Food to Help Cut Waste and Carbon

Gloucestershire Recycles have launched their latest campaign ‘Food Waste – It All Adds Up’.

Both the environmental and financial costs of food waste are huge. About 55,000 tonnes of domestic food waste were created in the county last year and 137,500 tonnes of CO2 are created producing and transporting this food. The average 4 person household could save £60 a month by reducing food waste.

 
 

The Thomas Keble GCSE Citizenship pupils’ campaign to prevent food poverty(PDF)

 

Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP)

We’ve produced a summary about  ASHPs (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.

Biodiversity Trail 

A circular wildlife trail 12 km long through Chalford Parish. Maps and info here….or pick up a leaflet from the Parish Centre or Chalford village shop.

 

Follow us on Instagram! @chalford.can

tree planting middle hill

Upcoming Events

Access Bike Project Monthly Bike Ride

This ride to Stroud market takes place every first Saturday of the month from The Long Table at Brimscombe Mill. Meet at 10am for a chat and a drink (thanks to The Bike Drop), before leaving at 10.30am to ride along the A419 arriving into Stroud at about 11am. This is a group ride, protecting young and less confident riders. The idea is to have fun and to push for better cycle infrastructure along this route and around the district!

Transition Stroud Repair Cafes

These take place regularly at either the Trinity Rooms (Stroud) or the Sub Rooms in Nailsworth. All sorts of repairs are offered: textiles, electrical, along with hat restoring and the repair and maintenance of bikes and garden equipment and tools. Don’t chuck things out – get them repaired! Book in at https://bookwhen.com/Nrc#focus=ev-sdxx-20240330110000

Newsletter Archive

Keep up to date with ChalCAN’s recent newsletters and minutes

Latest Blog posts

Events and Workshops

Chalcan Biodiversity offers a range of events and workshops which provide practical help in how to support and better understand local biodiversity.  Over the last year, these have included: a

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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

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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

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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

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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 found

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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

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Roadside Verges

Yet, the way we currently manage our verges unintentionally reduces this richness of life year by year. Research shows that most verges are cut too often and at the wrong

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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