News & Events
Here are the latest upcoming events, news items, recent newsletters and blog posts from ChalCAN
LATEST NEWS
OUR EVENTS
Latest News
Five year ChalCAN review ChalCAN is currently reviewing its activities over the past five years, and considering what our plans should be for the future. We hope we have helped raise awareness of climate change, its implications and the need for us all to change our lifestyles; however clearly local and individual actions alone are insufficient. So what should ChalCAN’s priorities be in the coming years? Join the debate and let us know your views: info@chalcan.org.uk
A Car Club for Chalford?
It costs £3,357 a year to run a car (including fuel, insurance, servicing, tax etc). Would you like to economise by selling a car you currently own? Stroud Valleys Car Club already have three vehicles in their established scheme. If there is enough interest in Chalford we might be able to get one for our community. The club provides members with flexible access to cars as and when they need them, without the costs and hassle of car ownership. There’s an initial deposit (returnable if you leave the club) then a monthly payment and a hire charge. The charges cover fuel, VAT and comprehensive insurance. For more information go to SVCCC. If you would be interested let us know at info@ChalCAN.org
A Local Nature Recovery Plan for Chalford
Our Parish Council has recently adopted a nature recovery plan aimed at making the way it manages community land like playing fields and verges more environmentally friendly.ChalCAN is working alongside the council to promote this greener approach and to make sure it is fully understood and supported by the local community.
New Cycle Route in Chalford Following feedback from the pilot last year, this 5 km 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 returning to cycling after a break and for children and young people (supervised by adults when appropriate). Do ensure you wear a bike helmet and take care at junctions. Please click on the map here for the route. Follow the green signs. Please contact info@chalcan.org.uk if you require any further information New e-bike rental scheme launched! In a scheme facilitated by Transition Stroud, with funds from a number of sources including the District Council, electric bikes are available to hire locally. The closest hubs is at Brimscombe (at the Bike Drop at Brimscombe Mills GL5 2QN), with another in Minchinhampton (Community Hub GL6 9JJ).
The Bikes
Available for booking are 2 Benno eJoys, flexible step through e-bikes, capable of carrying 2x more weight than the typical bike. Comes with all accessories, including safety and carrying equipment for one rider plus child. More information on the Benno website.
At Brimscombe, we also have the larger Benno Boost to loan out, for extra carrying capacity. The bike comes with all accessories, including safety and carrying equipment for one rider plus 2 children (either with child seats or using seat pads for older children).
How to book
You can reserve any of our e-bikes for a week-long booking on the booking site, subject to a reservation fee / donation of £50. You will need to register for an account with us to book, but it’s very quick and easy. See all our currently available e-bikes here, and our full terms and conditions of booking.
If you want the bike for less or more than 1 week, please contact the relevant hub directly to see what is possible – you can find the contact details for each hub location here. Please be aware that our E-bike Loan Hubs are volunteer run, so you may not get an answer straight away.
The bikes are held and maintained by Bike Drop at the Long Table. A small team of volunteers from BaTCAN, ChalCAN and BisCAN will handle the handover of each hire at Brimscombe Mill – giving basic advice on how to use, charge and lock-up the bikes. This pilot scheme is open to Chalford residents, with a possibility we might have bikes stored here in due course. Do let us know if you are interested or able to help: info@chalcan.org.uk. Booking and further info at www.transitionstroud.org/transition-stroud-action-groups/e-bike-hire Hedge and tree planting Recently the Biodiversity team have helped to
- 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 trees that had died in the Spinney woodland on Middle Hill
- plant 3 trees by the bus stop on the Green in Chalford 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
- Bisley Greenshop
- Stroud Valleys Project, John Street
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. Stop press: Another rack has been installed at the Old Neighbourhood Pub! 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 have 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. Sadly a plan to use a site on Middle Hill was deemed to be unsuitable by the Parish Council. The hunt is on for another sire, so if you have any suggestions or ideas please get in touch. 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.
- Sign up to Gloucestershire County Council’s Waste newsletters to find out more
- Recycling and composting any food waste that you can’t avoid.
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
Upcoming Events
Discussion Evening Supporting our children in a time of climate change20th May: 7pm to 9pm Bussage School
ChalCAN warmly invites you to this talk and discussion.
It is for all adults who care for and about children and young adults who would like to understand how to raise resilient children equipped to deal with the challenges they face.
The discussion will be hosted by Jo McAndrews, who is a mother, a parenting coach and educator with a background in psychotherapy with children and young people. She is a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance and of Parents for Future.
From 7pm to 8p, Jo will share information and practical tools for robust support of our children and young people. Then after a tea break, you are invited to stay for more discussion and sharing of ideas arising from the talk.
‘We cannot protect children from the impact of climate change, but we can protect them from being alone with it’
The event is free (donations welcome), but places limited so please book in HERE
A Late Spring Bird Walk, Saturday 24th May 9:30 am
A short walk suitable for anyone interested in finding out more about our local bird life. It will be led by Megan from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust who is an expert bird watcher. She will point out all our local birds busy nesting and holding territories.
Children over 10 are welcome accompanied by an adult. No dogs please.
Distance: 1.5 miles. 1.5-2 hours
Start and Finishing point: Bus shelter opposite Victoria Works and Lavender Bakehouse, Chalford, on the A419. 9.25am meet-up
Accessibility: mainly easy walking along a path above Chalford, through Dimmelsdale reserve and back along the canal towpath. Note – there is one short steep section up the path from Chalford High Street.
To find out more and to reserve a place on this FREE event click HERE
Butterfly and Bee Walk on Blackness Bank GWT Reserve, Saturday 21st June 10.30am
A chance to wander around the reserve, a rich example of limestone grassland, and see the local butterflies and bees. Led by members of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust volunteer survey team. The event is free but booking is essential as places are limited. Children over 10 are welcome accompanied by an adult. No dogs please.
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Start and Finishing point: Meet at entrance to Vine Farm, Brownshill at 10.25am
Unfortunately, the walk is not suitable for those with mobility difficulty due to steep slopes and stiles. For more information and to reserve your place, click HERE
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 here
Newsletter Archive
Keep up to date with ChalCAN’s recent newsletters
