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 Foreword from Councillor Blake Pain
  Lead Member for the Environment and the Green Agenda
 
 
Leicestershire County Council is committed to being a green council. That's why I'm delighted to tell you we're consulting on our net zero strategy and action plan and joining forces with residents and others to help shape a cleaner, greener and healthier county for future generations. Everyone has a part to play in our net zero ambitions and you can have your say before 26 July.

Recently, we launched a new Park & Stride scheme on Clean Air Day (16 June) – the UK's largest air pollution campaign – to encourage more children to walk to school and reduce harmful emissions from car journeys. Choosing how we move around the county, and opting for more sustainable transport, will be one of the most important and impactful changes we can all think about doing, to help Leicestershire become a net zero county by 2045.

In addition to this, I believe there are many actions we can take this summer to protect the environment – whether that is by preventing holiday food waste, watering a tree, having a waste free BBQ, logging our county's biodiversity on NatureSpot, attending Leicestershire's wildlife verge open days, or by making another small change that could make a big difference.

We would also encourage community groups to come forward and apply for funding for their waste and environment related projects through the SHIRE Environment Grant.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Environment Matters and join us in living more sustainably.
 
 
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  Have your say on our plans to become a net zero county by 2045 
 
 
 
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Leicestershire County Council has recently launched a major net zero consultation on proposals to make the county cleaner and greener.  

We want to hear what you think about our wide-ranging action plan which includes everyday steps that can help us all reduce our carbon emissions and help protect the environment. 

The Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan sets out the approach to delivering the Council's ambitions to achieve net zero carbon emissions in Leicestershire by 2045 or before. 

You can share your thoughts on the key goals, which include reducing carbon emissions generated by transport, supporting communities to tackle climate change and supporting businesses to go green. 

You can also join in and share your pledge on social media with #NetZeroLeicestershire. 

 
 
 
 
 
   Prevent holiday food waste with a simple travellers check 
 
 

People in the UK waste an estimated £500 million worth of edible food when heading off on holiday each year, and £12 million worth of food ends up in the bin in the first week of the summer holidays alone.

If you are planning to spend time away from home this summer, it's worth sparing a thought for the contents of your fridge before packing your suitcase.

Thankfully, environmental charity Hubbub have some simple advice to make sure nothing goes to waste unnecessarily...

 
 
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   How to have a waste free BBQ this summer
 
 
 
 
 
 
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For many people, it wouldn't be summer without a slightly carbonised sausage. But for all the good things about al fresco cooking, holding a barbeque can be quite wasteful. 

It is estimated that one in every two barbeques hosts over cater with food in an attempt to impress friends and family.

However, putting on an overly large spread leads to millions of pounds worth of food going to waste every year. This can come at a heavy environmental cost too. 

 


There is also the issue of safely and responsibly disposing of the barbeque coals afterwards. Every summer fire crews across the UK see increased call outs to fires linked to barbeques, as well as bin fires owing to the unsafe disposal of hot coals.

 
 
 
 
 
   Come along to our wildlife verge open days
 
 
 
 
 
 

Are you interested in learning about wildflowers and grasses?
Come along to our wildflower verge open days this summer!

These have been organised in partnership with local biodiversity charity NatureSpot. You'll be able to learn more about species of flora and fauna, increase your confidence in monitoring species and have the chance to give it a go!

The dates include:

Hallifields Lane, Rothley - 4 July, 7pm

Forest Road, Woodhouse - 11 July, 7pm

Church Lane, Hoby - 18 July, 7pm

London Road, Great Glen - 24 July, 2.30pm

Church Causeway, East Langton - 30 July, 10am

Wistow Road, Kibworth - 31 July, 2.30pm

If you would like to attend, please contact EnvironmentTeam@leics.gov.uk. People can turn up on the day, but we do like to know numbers in case we have more people and need more experts on hand to chat and help identify plants.  

A parish resource toolkit will also be available soon. This will be a signposting tool to various organisations, resources and will share best practice for wildlife projects and species recording.  

In the meantime, we have 23 FREE ID guides available to read and the guides are a great resource to find out what species exist in Leicestershire. 
 
 
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   We want to support your waste and environment projects!
 
 
 
 
 
 
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We are keen to support projects that can maintain or build on positive environmental benefits, such as reduced carbon emissions, increased biodiversity, improved air quality and greater appreciation of nature and green spaces.

If you're a community based organisation looking to reduce household waste or support the local environment you could also be eligible for a grant of up to £3,000. A simplified application process is also available for small grants up to £300.

One group who has benefitted from the grants already is Burbage Parish Council who used the money to plant hedges in popular spaces to create new habitats for native animal species.

The group said: "Together, these carefully managed habitats will offer food and shelter to a wide range of creatures, from insects and amphibians to birds and small mammals, and will allow for the natural introduction of a greater variety of wild plants, increasing the richness of flora and fauna for all to enjoy." 

The next round for applications closes on Friday 28 October 2022. 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   We want to talk to you about waste!
 
 
 
 

The council's waste initiatives team works to reduce waste and increase recycling in Leicestershire.

We offer free talks to schools, community groups and other organisations, run workshops and classes and attend events throughout the county.

We cover a range of campaigns including: 

  • Home composting 
  • Love Food Hate Waste 
  • Recycling
  • Love Your Clothes
  • Real nappies 

We also run and manage volunteer programmes. Contact us to find out how you can start volunteering with us. 

 
 
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   Ash dieback - what is it and how can you help?
 
 
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First confirmed in Britain in 2012, ash dieback is a disease of ash trees caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. A high proportion of ash trees in Northern Europe have been infected and the disease is now widespread in England. 

Ash dieback is evident in ash trees in parts of Leicestershire and the National Forest. The fungus is spread by the wind or by the movement of diseased ash trees. Due to this, we launched our ash dieback action plan in July 2018. The plan outlines what steps we're taking to manage the disease. 

How can you help? Discover the symptoms of ash dieback and play your part by being aware of the symptoms and reporting them for investigation using the Tree Alert

 

 
 
 
 
 
   We want you to water your trees!
 
 
 
 

You may have noticed newly planted trees throughout Leicestershire with a tag attached to it saying, "PLEASE WATER ME".

We're encouraging residents to water trees local to them to help them thrive. This is particularly important over the summer months for newly planted trees so they can become established.  

So, if you have a tree outside your house, or one that you pass on your daily walk, then you can help. 

Please water these trees regularly during periods of dry weather. Bath, washing up or rainwater is ideal. Watering in the early morning or evening is best. 

 
 
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  We've achieved the Bronze Sustainable Food Places award! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Leicestershire has received the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award for ongoing action with healthy and sustainable food.

Gavin Fletcher, Co-ordinator of Good Food Leicestershire, part of the council's Public Health team, submitted the bronze application.  

He said: "In April, we held the first Leicestershire Food Summit near Lutterworth and had more than 100 attendees, each working in diverse areas of the food system across the county: sustainable farming, school food, food poverty, food waste, food-related ill health, and other areas"

"This award recognises theirs and others' dedication in creating a food system that is good for people and the environment." 

 
 
 
   Take part in active and sustainable travel
 
 
 
 
The Choose How You Move team have been very busy delivering e-bike courses to people across Leicestershire.  

The team have loved seeing all the smiles and hearing about the stories of participants who have gone on to buy their own e-bikes since attending the course.

They have also been helping lots of schools and businesses across the county to help them increase their sustainable travel. This has included running Dr Bike sessions, leading walks and working with schools to deliver assemblies and park and stride walks. 

To catch up with their work and events, follow Choose How You Move on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The team are encouraging people to use Leicestershire's public footpaths as being active can improve health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
 
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   Energy efficiency measures for low income households 
 
 
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The Warm Homes team secured funding in 2021 to deliver energy efficiency measures to hundreds of low income and energy inefficient households across the county.

Measures delivered included double glazing, external wall insulation, traditional loft and cavity insulation, as well as low carbon air source heat pump heating systems and solar panels generating clean renewable energy.

To date 85% of properties receiving measures have now reached an energy performance certificate rating of D (national average) or higher. 57% have reached an EPC rating of C or higher supporting households to reduce their energy bills. 

The Warm Homes team is currently exploring future funding opportunities, including the Green Living Leicestershire grant.

 
 
 
 
 
   Swift Awareness Week
 
 
 
 

Swift Awareness Week runs 2-10 July.

You can find out about local activities, including Swift spotting, on the Leicestershire and Rutland Swifts Facebook page

There is also information about Swift conservation for housebuilders in the NHBC Foundation and RSPB publication on Biodiversity in new housing developments: creating wildlife-friendly communities. 

 
 
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   Let's compost for hedgehogs
 
 
 
 
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A new scientific report has found that hedgehogs prefer gardens with compost heaps as part of the sites they visit throughout the night. They linger longer in gardens with heaps than those without. This demonstrates the importance of making sure we leave areas of rotting vegetation in our gardens.

Compost heaps that are accessible, (i.e. not inside a plastic box) provide a wealth of food such as invertebrates like slugs and worms as well as providing a warm shelter.

Factors which may attract hedgehogs are the lack of foxes in rear gardens and the presence of artificial hedgehog food.

 
 
 
   Using grass clippings as mulch
 
 
 
 

Summer is on the way and there is the potential for extended periods of hot dry weather. Using grass clippings as mulch around plants is an effective and cheap way to make your garden more drought resistant. 

Mulch helps to shade the soil from direct sunlight and slows evaporation. This reduces the need to water your garden  and reduces stress on plants. 

Mulch can also help to restrict the growth of weeds, and over time helps to add nutrients and organic matter back into the soil making it both more productive and improving soil structure.

 
 
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   Key dates for your diary
 
 
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2 - 10 July - Swift awareness week

4 - 31 July - Wildlife verge open days 

5 - 17 July - National BBQ week

20 July - SHIRE Environment Grant: Drop in session

22 July - SHIRE Environment Grant: Waste workshop 

26 July - Net zero consultation closes for responses

20 - 25 September - Recycle week 

28 October - Deadline for SHIRE Environment Grant applications 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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This message was sent to emily.fox@leics.gov.uk.
 
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