Have yourself a very Merry Eco-Christmas

It’s nearly that time of year again! Christmas is a time for family, friends and fun festivities, which for many feels all the more needed after the uncertainty over this last year coping with the Covid 19 pandemic.

Following this year’s COP26 Conference, we are all more aware than ever of just how important it is to be as sustainable as we can and make this Christmas our most eco-friendly yet.

So how can we still mark the festive season but not at the detriment to the planet?

The Climate Change team have developed these handy tips to help with various aspects – from hosting the big day to gift buying.

Every little bit we can do helps and these simple changes to your festive period really could make a big difference to tackling climate change and ensuring we protect our planet for generations to come.

From the Climate Change team, we wish you a very Merry Eco-Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Christmas Tree

1. If you haven’t got an artificial tree already, avoid plastic. Real Christmas trees are much more sustainable than artificial alternatives. One study concluded you’d need to use a fake tree for 20 years for it to be greener.
2. That said, don’t forget to recycle your real tree after the Christmas period. Around seven million real trees are likely to be dumped in January! If you have a green waste collection the council will collect your tree and recycle it for you, but don’t worry if you don’t. You can book to take your tree to the green waste at your local Waste depot, or alternatively chop it up and stack the wood in your garden for the birds and insects to enjoy.

Christmas Cards

1. An unbelievable 1.5 billion Christmas cards are thought to be thrown away by UK households each year (according to Imperial College researchers). Why not send friends and family an e-card this year instead or, alternatively, look out for plantable Christmas cards that the recipient can sow in Spring and enjoy the added bonus of vegetables or wildflowers in their garden next year.

Gift buying

1. Buying presents you know people will enjoy and get long lasting use out of might seem obvious, but cutting out the novelty presents that don’t last beyond Christmas week really could save on waste!
2. Look for eco-friendly gifts and stockists. Perhaps buy a reusable bottle, adopt an animal, purchase a membership for the RSPB or Wildlife Trust or source sustainably produced, ‘green’ certified gifts such as ethical clothing, footwear, toiletries and many others.
3. Shop locally! Support the independent shops in your local area and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.
4. Have a crafty Christmas. Homemade gifts are always gratefully received and treasured. A natural Christmas wreath, edible treat or homemade Advent calendar to enjoy for Christmas to come are all some low carbon ideas.
5. Try wrapping gifts with recycled paper or in colourful fabric that can be reused - this could be a gift in itself, as well as looking beautiful!

The Christmas Dinner

1. Try and buy only what you know you will eat and choose items which are light on packaging. If you do end up with leftovers, these can be transformed into meals for another day to save money and cut waste. Take a look at these BBC Good Food leftovers recipes for some great ideas.
2. According to the Soil Association, “food is the single most important, everyday way for people to reduce their own environmental impact”. Why not take a look at these festive treats on the Vegan Society website.
3. If you are buying meat, try choosing organic and free-range, and support small-scale, local farms where possible - it is better for the environment than intensively-farmed meat.

Plans developing for Denbighshire County Council’s Electric Vehicle Public Charging Pilot

The Council has secured a total of £57,400 grant funding from the UK Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles supported by the Energy Saving Trust, to support the delivery of an Electric Vehicle Public Charging Pilot.

The pilot will provide fast charging points in eight public car parks across Denbighshire for use by the public. 

The locations include:

Factory Ward Car Park	Denbigh	2 x 22 kilowatt (KW) Alternating Current (AC) charge points (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Bowling Green Car Park	St Asaph	1 x 22kW AC (ability to charge 2 vehicles)
Market St Car Park	Llangollen	2 x 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Pavilion Car Park	Llangollen	2 x 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Cae Ddol Car Park	Ruthin	2 x 7Kw AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Craft Centre Car Park	Ruthin	2 x 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Fern Ave Car Park	Prestatyn	2 x7Kw AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Morley Road Car Park	Rhyl	2 x 22kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)

Locations have been selected using a range of criteria including location and accessibility and include a mixture of key routes and car parks close to residential properties without access to off-road parking.

The aim is to open up possibilities for people to transition to an electric vehicle where they didn’t previously have access to a charging facility.

The project is part of the Council’s action to tackle climate change following the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and adoption of the Climate and Ecological Change Strategy in 2021.

Other Electric vehicle initiatives are involved in the council’s goal to meet the target of a net carbon zero council by 2030. 

Projects currently under development include expanding the Council’s Electric Vehicle Charging infrastructure and increasing the number of electric vehicles in its Fleet to deliver Council services.

The Council is also delivering a pilot project to encourage taxi companies to transition to the use of electric vehicles after securing funding from Welsh Government.

Procurement for the charging points will take place in the autumn with the intention for them to be installed and operational by Spring 2022.

Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “it is fantastic for the Council to be part of such an important project which plays a vital part within our aim to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.

“Electric vehicles are a big part of our future so this is an important step for the county.

“They will create healthier surroundings and provide convenience for those community members and visitors who choose to use an electric vehicle.

“These charging points will provide a real advantage to the whole of Denbighshire but we also hope that some of these locations will be of particular benefit to nearby households with no off road charging facilities. They will also provide useful data to inform potential future expansion analysis of the EV Charging network here in Denbighshire.”

The electric vehicle charging points will be located on two of Denbighshire Leisure site’s including Llangollen Pavilion and Ruthin Craft Centre.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “As a company we are committed to improving the environment for our residents, which contributes to better Health and Wellbeing. We are delighted to be supporting the Council and the Welsh Government in tackling the climate and ecological emergency declared in 2019, and beyond this project we will continue to work with the Council on a number of projects towards their climate change agenda.”

For more information about the council’s wider climate and ecological change strategy visit - www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/climate-and-ecological-change/climate-and-ecological-change.aspx

 

Pupils plant boost for local wildflower site

School pupils have helped give a boost to a local Wildflower site to help it bloom with health for next season.

Following the Council’s declaration of a climate and ecological emergency in 2019, this project is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity across the county, with nearly 60 sites, including highway verges, footpath edges, cycleways and amenity grasslands, now being managed to create wildflower meadows.

These sites, along with the 11 roadside nature reserves, equate to about 30 football pitches worth of Denbighshire grassland managed as native wildflower meadows.

As well as protecting wildflowers, the meadows are also supporting the welfare of native insects to the county area.

In order to give these areas a winter boost and provide more instant food for wildlife next year, the team has been working with the Bodfari Woodland Skills Centre to grow wildflower plants from locally collected seed.

To help plant these wildflowers in a verge at Llanrhaeadr, Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch pupils joined the council team to add over 500 plants to the site. The wildflowers the children planted included Foxglove, Red Campion and Black Knapweed, all popular plants for bees and butterflies.

Cllr Tony Thomas, the Council’s lead member for Housing and Communities said: “Our wildflower meadows play a very important part in the Council’s commitment to biodiversity and supporting the preservation of our native flowers and insect population across the county. It is important to note that these projects do take time as the flowers establish themselves on the sites. However, as seen across the county with the project the results are really supporting local biodiversity.

“We are really grateful to the help Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch pupils gave us in giving a boost to this local site and we are looking forward to seeing these new additions bloom next year. These flowers will spread and attract a range of insects to the verge. “

All of the Council’s wildflower sites are managed in line with Plantlife’s Managing Grassland Road Verges guidelines which sees the grass cutting at these sites prohibited between March and August each year, giving wildflowers enough time to grow, flower, and set seed.

Each site is then cut after August and cuttings collected to reduce soil fertility and provide the wildflowers with the best conditions possible.

This project has also been funded by Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

To find out more about the wildflower meadows across Denbighshire visit the following link >>> https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/climate-and-ecological-change/wildflower-meadow-project.aspx