Dear <<First Name>>

Welcome to June!  As I write this the rain is pouring down, the skies are dark grey and the PV panels aren't doing a lot.  CFB, however, is doing a lot and there's much to find out about and celebrate.  Our monthly meeting is going 'on the road' again, this time to Holt Village Hall, the Active Travel Map is being launched in the middle of June and we're asking you to sign up to a couple of website petitions to try to influence governments at the Rio+20 conference at the end of the month.

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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1.     June monthly meeting, 18th June, Holt Village Hall

2.     July monthly meeting, "the plight of bees", Quaker Meeting House

3.     August monthly meeting, AGM at the West Barn

4.     Active Travel Map, available soon

5.     Rio+20 Earth Summit

6.     Bristol's "Big Green Week"

7.     Help needed

8.     Invest in solar: Invest in the future

9.     Louise also needs some help

10.   "Warm & Well" event

11.   Denmark committed to renewables

12.   Kingston Mill hydro scheme going ahead

13.   Solar farm visit

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June monthly meeting, in Holt

Monday 18th June, 7.30 p.m. at Holt Village Hall.

We're delighted to be hosted by Holt this month, in their village hall which has recently benefitted from insulation under the Green Streets project.  We'll find out more about the environmental initiatives going on in the village and how CFB are helping, particularly at the primary school which is doing great things. 



If you'd like a lift from BoA please contact climatechampions@gmail.com.



July monthly meeting,  "The plight of bees"

Monday  16th July 7.30 p.m. Quaker Meeting House, Whiteheads Lane.

We will be finding out more about the plight of bees and what can be done to save them, which is so important when we rely on them to pollinate our crops.  Speakers are Fee Robinson, a bee keeper on 'How can we help the honeybee?' and Loiusa Kilgallen, Wiltshire Council ecologist on 'An environmental perspective'. There will also be a chance to get involved in the North Meadow Project (Kate Nicholls).



August monthly meeting - AGM

Monday 16th August 7.30 p.m. at the West Barn (next to the Tithe Barn).

Just to give you advance notice of the AGM which will include a celebration of our achievements during the past 12 months.    Amongst other things there will be an update from Kevin Sharpe of the "Zero Carbon World" charity on the installation of the charity's free electric vehicle charging points. Please bring a contribution towards a shared meal.

 

Active Travel Map

The Active Travel Map is due back from the printers this week and we are arranging for its distribution at various points around the town, including the library, Tourist Information Centre, and the 3 town schools.  It's free and will be widely available very soon. All we ask is that for local trips you use it to to help you to use your cars less and walk, cycle or go on public transport more.  We welcome your feedback on how useful you find it - please e-mail us at climatechampions@gmail.com 







The Rio+20 Earth Summit is nearly here  20th - 22nd June

It's 20 years since the first Rio Earth Summit and if you're signed up to some of the campaigning e-newsletters, then you'll have received lots of Rio+20 e-mails recently.  One of the key concerns is the continuing reliance on fossil fuels and the environmental and social destruction caused by extraction of oil and gas.  You can make your voice heard in several ways and the 350.org  and  Stop Climate Chaos websites are a really effective way of doing this. Please sign their petitions showing world leaders your concern.



Bristol's "Big Green Week"

It's on now until June 17th and there are all sorts of interesting lectures, films and workshops.  Go to their website to find out more.









Help Needed

Many thanks to all who have already offered to help at the CFB stall Westbury Gardens street market on Saturday July 7th. We now have a bare minimum of coverage but it would be really good to have few more. If you can offer an hour or so between 9am (first hour to set up stall) and 4pm it would be very much appreciated. Please email climatechampions@gmail.com and we will get back to you.



Invest in Solar: Invest in the Future

The government has finally announced its future thinking on solar PV. On the whole it is very positive and already solar panels can again be seen going up around town.



The present rate of 21p for the feed in tariff is to be kept until August 1st and after that it will reduce to 16p which can still give a very good rate of return with the price of panels still coming down. CFB are still working with Southern Solar to give a £500 discount to anyone installing through the CFB scheme, so why not email Phil on phil.nelms@southernsolar.co.uk or ring 0845 456 1706 for more information and a consultation on whether your roof is suitable. If you would like any other information about the scheme or to be put in touch with someone who has panels already installed email climatechampions@gmail.com.



 In these days of low interest rates, rising energy prices and concern about climate change, what better investment is there than to put solar panels on your roof?



Louise also needs some help!

On Saturday 23 June, from 11am – 3pm Louise is selling plants on the Gardening Club stall at the Fitzmaurice School Strawberry Fair and is promoting CFB at the same time. Can anyone help her out for an hour or so, as she's doing it all by herself at the moment ?  If you can she'd be really grateful;  please contact Louise Weissel, tel: 01225 863 885 or e-mail: louise@weissel.name



"Warm and Well" scheme event

Saturday June 16th,  9.00 – 1.30  Civic Centre, Trowbridge  Free  – lunch included.

The Wiltshire Council "Warm and Well" insulation scheme is open to all Wiltshire residents who own their own home or who rent privately and offers top-up grants of up to £200 (depending on circumstances). To find out more go to their website.

If you'd like to know more about the Warm and Well scheme, the risks to your community from extreme weather and discuss the opportunity to take part in a community draft busting project then this event is for you!  Booking essential - you can do so here.



Denmark committed to renewable energy

With an ambitious energy agreement Denmark (the "happiest country in the World") takes a decisive step towards a society free of coal, oil and natural gas. The agreement is for 50% of their energy coming from wind power by 2020 and to be free of oil, coal and gas powered energy by 2050.  To find out more click here.  If Denmark can do it, can the UK?



Kingston Mill hydro scheme

At one point we thought this privately financed project had stalled but the great news is that we've now learnt it is going ahead and the groundworks on the leat have already started.  The photo shows a digger digging out the leat and preparing for the piling which will support the base of the main structure.  At the moment there are no further details about the type of turbine being installed; we'll keep you informed when there's more news.





Solar Farm  visit

Shaun Moulton has kindly offered us the opportunity to have a closer look at the solar PV farm on the Moulton Estate and we're hoping to arrange a date later this month or in early July.  It will involve a longish walk over rough ground so may not be suitable for everyone.  We'll send out an invitation in a separate e-mail when details are finalised.

 

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