Published: 30 August 2021

The days are getting shorter and so is the time left until the COP26 summit in Glasgow. That summit is widely regarded as being make-or-break for international efforts to keep the rise in global temperatures below 1.5%. At MCA there is only a limited amount we can do to influence world leaders but we do have targets a little closer to home.

SMDC now has less than two months to deliver a ‘fully costed, measurable and achievable’ plan to get the district to Net Zero. That promise was made over two years ago and previous deadlines have come and gone in a puff of excuses, evasion and doubled-down claims of ‘leadership’. This deadline is so public that this time, surely this time, there can be no more evasion.

There are a few encouraging signs – a professional consultancy has finally been brought in, in the form of Anthesis, and political embarrassment at the lack of action in comparison to sister council High Peak has spurred a few minor potential advances in areas such as electric vehicle charging points.

A mid-ranking officer now explicitly has climate in his portfolio and a dedicated climate change officer is still promised. SMDC’s biodiversity partner, the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, is deftly and admirably riding the political winds to win funding for local projects.

Staffordshire Climate Matters is holding a series of meetings around the county on specific sectors of the climate agenda, the findings of which will be presented to councillors, including those from SMDC, at a conference in October.

But these signs of hope are rarer than a public bus on a Moorlands road. Almost everywhere else, the few plans made public bear the scars of months and years of essential preparatory work undone, or started too late – of policy making as a permanent state of essay crisis.

A widely publicised ‘public consultation’ on SMDC’s plans has now been downgraded to a telephone survey of public attitudes to climate change. These are the sort of things that should be done – are done by other councils – at the start of a process, not weeks before the all-important plan is due to be delivered.

It is impossible to escape the conclusion that caught between the Scylla and Charybdis of two rudderless years and a new deadline as an act of political theatre, SMDC cut and ran on the public consultation. That does not bode well for any hope of a ‘fully costed, measurable and achievable’ plan by the end of October.

There is so much that needs to be done, and so little idea from within SMDC leadership about how to do it. Where are the plans for proper co-operation with the County, where so much of the heavy lifting will need to be done in coming years?

The portfolio holder will now sit on the Joint Waste Management Board, we are told. Great, but what about Energy? What are they going to do, retrofit houses with landfill?

The Centre for Alternative Technology is hosting a series of Innovation Labs for the county’s local authorities. That’s good – as far as it goes. And how far that goes is impossible to find out. There seem to be no citizens involved in the process and if SMDC has any clue what they expect at the end of it they are not letting on.

The Green Infrastructure Project Management Board is another template for future co-operation we are told. Well, MCA is all for those kinds of bodies – we’ve been pushing for similar for years. But where is the presence of anyone with climate in the job title?

Tourism, Farming, Wildlife Management: they are all there, and should be. But where does any action on climate get a look in? Yes, we hear you say, the portfolio holder has climate in his job description. But it’s common knowledge that the grittier, messier, harder bits that go with climate action don’t get much of a look-in these days. And those in-trays tend to be more ‘In’ than ‘Out’.

The last two years have been marked by a relentless focus on the softer, nicer more photogenic aspects of the portfolio – i.e. Nature. At MCA we all love a tree, and we’re quite fond of bees too. But even their most urgent advocates wouldn’t claim that Nature-based solutions can make more than a bit of a difference. The relentless focus on Biodiversity at the expense of Climate has left the plan dangerously unbalanced and threadbare. If God gave humans two legs to walk and they make a choice to use only one, they will end up going round in circles, arriving back almost where they started.

Whatever emerges in a matter of weeks, SMDC won’t be quite back where they started. It will not be that bad. But it looks set to be far, far short of where, with leadership, they could have and should have been.

Published: 30 August 2021

Sunday 5th September 2021 - ALL MEMBERS GATHERING!

We’ve been in our homes for too long so now it’s time to rise and shine and meet with the Moorlands Climate Action coordinators and members face-to-face! 

We want to hear your ideas for projects and we can share with you how to get involved in the pre-existing projects too such as the Peat-Free, Refill, Plastic Free communities, 20 is Plenty, and much more!

Join us between 4-6pm at the Foxlowe Arts Centre! Bring some nibbles and meet other like minded environmentalists wanting the best for the area!

Let us know you are coming; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-mca-members-gathering-tickets-168929254949  

 

Sunday 19th September 2021 - Eco House Visit

Breech House is an example of transforming a semi-derelict, exposed, stone built traditional house into a sustainable family home. You can see a ground source heat pump, pictures of the ground collectors and underfloor heating, specialist radiators that work at low temperatures and examples of effective insulation. We can also show you our small wind turbine and offer background information on our project as well as being able to answer some of your questions.

Spaces limited so book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! 

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eco-house-visit-breech-house-tickets-168933240871   

 

Saturday 25th September 2021 - Moorlands’ Great Big Green Weekend

10am-12pm - Featuring a Dr Bike workshop with Air Aware Staffordshire! 

Air Aware Staffordshire will be attending the Foxlowe Arts Centre (rear car park) on Saturday 25th September.

They will be providing information and advice about Air Pollution in the Staffordshire Moorlands and will have an interactive game to take part in.

Also they will be providing a free Dr Bike session so you can bring along your bicycle to get it checked over.

They will be there between 10am and 12:30pm so drop by and see what we are doing to help improve the air quality in The Moorlands”.

 

10:30am - Tree & Wildflower Identification with the Dane Wolves at Brough Park

A 2 hour walk around Brough Park area and woodland.  Come and learn how to identify some of our most common trees and plants. 

No minimum age but under 16 must be accompanied by an adult relative. Sensible footwear and clothing suitable for weather. Any medical issues to be disclosed to the walk leaders prior to the commencement of the walk. 

Sign up - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-wildflower-identification-walk-with-dane-wolves-tickets-168933626023  

*Dane Wolves is a local group of people who do conservation work, outdoor skills and community support.

 

1:30pm onwards - Story Workshop, Stalls and Music!

The Centre of Alternative Technology (CAT) students will be leading a structured story- telling workshop from 1.30 - 3.30 in the main function room.  Stories will be based on lived experience and some international stories may also be shared.  Participants are invited to share their prepared stories on Sunday 26th from approx’ 5.30 on.

Moorlands Climate Action will have an information stall where you can find out about campaigns in the local area and how you can get involved. Visitors are invited to bring any clean pre-loved clothes and swap them for something different, and for advice on mending the garments!

 

Sunday 26th September 2021 - Walkers Welcome!

At around 5 to 5:30pm we will be welcoming the Camino to COP26 walkers featuring drummers, and an evening of climate-storytelling and poetry!

Poetry featuring the fantastic work of Mel Wardle Woodend (Staffordshire Poet Laureate), Ali Hill, Maggie Pollard, and Mark Johnson!

Local people are invited to attend the story-telling workshop on Saturday 25th September and then share their stories of lived experiences on Sunday 26th.

People gathered to support the Camino to COP26 walkers will be invited to light a candle as a sign of hope for the future and success in activating real change.  Our gathering will be a sign of intent that our species can adapt our behaviour in order to protect our world for future generations. 

Published: 30 August 2021

Camino To COP is a multi-faith group walking from London to Glasgow to raise awareness of climate crisis. On 5 September 2021, 40 walkers will set off from London and from Bristol a few days later on a 500 mile journey to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow and will reach Leek on Sunday, 26th September. On that day there will be a celebration of drumming, story-telling and poetry to welcome them, as the culmination of the Moorlands Great Big Green Weekend.

The walk has been called “Camino To COP” in reference to pilgrimages made since medieval times. It is inspired by the faith tradition of pilgrimage and great justice marches of the past – such as the Jarrow March in the UK, the Salt March in India and the March on Washington in the US. The aim is to share personal, human stories and inspire others to add their voices to the growing global chorus demanding that governments treat the climate crisis as the emergency that it is. The pilgrimage is also fundraising to empower activist groups in areas most impacted by climate change to join the conversation themselves. People can donate at https://caminotocop.com/

“Here in the UK we are already seeing increased flooding and extreme weather, and in the Global South people are already suffering in much greater ways,” says Steph, from Birmingham, who is walking the entire Camino from London to Glasgow. “We need our government, as well as those of other powerful countries, to step up and make the changes needed to help us minimise the deadly effects of climate change and adapt to the challenges it brings".

“How wonderful and fitting that the walkers have chosen Leek as their halfway-stopping off point to Glasgow. We hope to learn from their experiences, share a few of ours and in the meantime offer them rest and hospitality on their journey. Fighting for change and for climate justice can be hard-going at times, and it is possible to become dispirited. But ultimately their message of hope is one we must all share; like them we believe that whatever obstacles we find put in our way can be overcome.” said Mark Johnson, one of the organisers of the Great Big Green Weekend. "Their arrival in town will be the ideal finale for our Green Week activities.”

 

Published: 09 August 2021

We will use the excitement of the Camino to COP26 walkers arriving in Leek as a highlight for the Moorlands Climate Action Great Big Green Week.

Students from the Centre for Alternative Technology will be hosting a structured storytelling workshop to coincide with the arrival of the walkers.

Leek will be the half way point on their journey to Glasgow.

All of these activities are supported by Moorlands Climate Action and we have been given a grant by the Climate Coalition for the Great Big Green Week to help pay for room hire, food, promotion, and other costs for the event. Volunteers from MCA are participating in the activities, in collaboration and helping to support the locally volunteer-run Foxlowe Art Centre.

We will have Children's Activty packs available and used beyond the event to encourage young people to learn about climate change and see it as something that is not scary but something that they can do their bit for.

More information to follow!

 

Published: 05 July 2021

The aim of the festival was for MCA to raise funds to help insulate the Foxlowe Arts Centre by collaborating on a joint venture - HUG – a Green Arts Festival aimed to raise awareness on the need for carbon reduction and care for our environment. The Foxlowe provided the venue, staff help and support. Moorlands Climate Action Event Co-ordinator and team provided the ideas and organisation.

The Foxlowe would like to aim for carbon neutrality by 2030 which means reducing amounts of energy used and lowering the building’s carbon footprint through literally hugging the building, hence the play on the word title HUG.

Thanks to Cllr Lyn Swindlehurst, Leek Town Mayor, who officially opened the event and Peter Kent-Baguley who supervised the unveiling of a new dragonfly play structure in the garden. Thanks also to Cllr Pam Wood, who was unable to attend due to self-isolating but sent a copy of her speech.

The people involved in making it happen are numerous. From the Foxlowe, Chris Thompson, the Chair, Vicki Heath the manager and Julie Lyons the cook all played their parts. Chris with his initial discussions about the idea with Teresa Pattison (Events Co-ordinator for MCA) when working together at Leek college, Vicki for her enthusiasm and determination to support and facilitate, David Barnes and Vicki, for work on the comprehensive risk assessments we had to consider during this time of Covid and Julie for her research into foods with the lowest carbon footprint that would provide tasty and more easily affordable lunch time choices for visiting families. Foxlowe Craft artists Caron Colbert and Deb Knowles ran children’s craft workshops during the day. Alison McCrea and Nigel Williams who look after the Foxlowe gardens were key cross over links between the Foxlowe and MCA and spent much time and energy on helping to plan the site, getting the site ready, helping to put up tents and signage, arranging the opening ceremony plus showing short environmental films and running a Q and A!

MCA member Moira McCourt with husband Paul was willing and able to provide tents and a beautiful stall inviting people of all ages to paint and learn about the Curlew bird; It could have been one of the most beautiful stalls in the festival. MCA member Sally Perry provided buckets labelled with the Festival’s intentions at every stall, collected money and arranged the raffle for many thoughtful and surprising hampers that had been organised previously by MCA member Dawn Wain with many generous donations coming from local shops particularly Moorlands Kitchen Shop. MCA members Maggie Pollard and Mark Johnson added their poetry to the ‘poet’s corner’ event along with local poet Ali Hill, Stoke poet Gabriella Gay, Staffordshire Poet Laureate Mel Wardle Woodend and Borderland Voices writer Sheena Barnes. Mark Johnson also worked on publicity articles for the Leek Post and Times. Deb Jones ran a ‘pre-loved’ treasures stall for the benefit of both MCA and The Foxlowe.

MCA member Mike Jones supported the venture from the start, organised new membership opportunities at the MCA stall and helped set up the stalls. MCA member Hannah Grimsey designed the wonderful art work for the publicity posters and timetable which gave the Festival real style in advance of the day. MCA members James and Chris Firkins gave generously of their time in the running of the car park, the MCA stall and helping set up and bring down tents and helping with furniture arrangements and the one-way system around the building. MCA member Lindsay Trevarthen was a volunteer steward as well as offering a Qigong class in the morning. Other Foxlowe garden volunteers Penny Oakley and Jane Tattersall gave their time stewarding at various locations. Alana Wheat – the MCA Admin, Communications & Community Organiser organised a timetable of meetings, publicised the event on social media, recorded the event on film and supported all the members. Other workshop leaders who gave their time included Yoga teacher Paula Charnley and Dance Flash Mob teacher Teresa Pattison with Parents and visiting children from St Peter’s and St Wilfrid’s Newman Schools in Cobridge and Tunstall.

Former MCA Admin, comms and community organiser Jenny Hancock, organised PhD Students from Nottingham and Sheffield Universities to take part in a Climate Question Time and introduced key questions for debate. Jill Povey ran a socially distanced singing workshop outside, Steve Dawson from U3A and other drummers including Stoke drum teachers Adrian Walters and Mr Will gave the Drumming Circle shape and structure and John Crimes provided the drum roll at the unveiling of the sculpture during the opening ceremony. Other volunteers who gave their time to collect messages written and displayed were Kyra Sheppard and her children who also helped with the sale of raffle tickets, Linda Ball, who kindly collected and accompanied Ros, a Leek lady with impaired sight who drums and Anne Hancock who helped with the stalls.

Other stall holders who offered a wide range of advice and ethically sourced goods included:
MCA member Wendy Bohme – Art stall.
Rob Whitehouse – Waste Savvy Staffs.
Su Goodwin – Cottage Garden Plants.
Helena Shave – Beach Plastic Art.
Elizabeth Salmon – The Circus Academy, Leek.
Anthony Hammond – Willow Artist.
Andrew Abraham - Bee Keeper.
Gill Morley - The Woodland Trust.
Neil Dawson – Friends of the Earth.
Val Riley – Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
Lisa and Vince Sinaguglia – LiVin Entertainments (vinyl).
Rob Atkinson – RSPB.
Andy Collins - Borderland Voices – Art Workshop.
Deb Buxton Bailey – Art and Crafts - Macrame.
Mike Barr – Sustrans was a late cancellation due to having to isolate.
The Co-Operative Bank.
Cathy Bower – Foxlowe Creative Hub – Photography
Rachel and Lisa - Foxlowe Creative Hub – On the Horizon Counselling Services CIC.
The feedback has been fantastic. See examples. Vicki reported on the best ever attendance and sales all managed under covid restrictions. We had visitors from far and near with many attendees visiting the Foxlowe for the first time. Over £500 was raised towards insulation, the sun shone and a great day was had by all.
Teresa Pattison. MCA Events Co-ordinator.

Feedback:
CT: Amazing day, fab atmosphere, well done.
CT: Absolutely lovely day, informative and practical action with money raised going towards insulation which will help reduce carbon emissions.
MP: It was a fantastic day.
MJ: So proud of our group today for putting together our first big event led by TP and her band of willing volunteers. Over £500 raised for the Foxlowe and £100 for MCA.
VH: I would love to say to you all how much I personally enjoyed it. It was fantastic to see the Foxlowe really busy again.. the HUG event was incredibly well organised and it was a pleasure to work with the team from Moorlands Climate Action. Customers told how much they found the day enjoyable and informative.
DS: Fab day, well done to the organisers, good mix. Great weather.
MQ: Congratulations to the team on how it all went on Saturday. It all seemed busy and friendly (of course) when I spent some time there. Great numbers, too, and surely a good vibe for future events. Overall it felt like a great event – warmest congratulations to all.
MB: it was a great day Teresa, thanks for pulling it all together.
LS: Thanks to everyone involved yesterday Alison, it was fabulous. …..
RS: Really enjoyed the festival – wonderful atmosphere, very well organised and a great range of performances and activities. I particularly enjoyed the accessible and informative talk on carbon neutral energy and also had a lovely time watching poetry, watching drumming and browsing the stalls.
V JJ: It was a lovely event. Specially enjoyed the poetry. Well done to all involved.
BC: It was very well organised.
CA: It was a lovely event. So pleased that your great photos have recorded the day’s activities.
GG: At least 18 people stopped me today to compliment my dress. An elderly lady even came up, slowly put on her mask and said ‘oh, you are just so beautiful. You’ve come and brought all this bright colour to sleepy old Leek. I feel good today.
MWW: And we are off POETING. REAL LIVE POETING. In a venue in a town in a country OUT IN THE WORLD WITH ACTUAL PEOPLE.
MWW: It was wonderful this morning to take part in environmental awareness poetry performances for the HUG Green Arts Festival – Moorlands Climate Action and Foxlowe Arts Centre. I have missed performing to a room of people and watching the reactions on their faces and body language and responses – and I think as performers, we naturally respond in return…
MWW: So lovely to see, hear perform and spend time with our friend Gabriella Gay today at the HUG Green Arts Festival.
TP Ali Hill your ‘elephant in the room’ opening poem was brilliant. Loved how you set the tone with such heart and passion.
LW: it was indeed TP, A fab day, well done for your organisational prowess. Lovely to see so many folks and so great to hear Ali’s poems.
AH: you did great Teresa and thanks for including me – really enjoyed it.
SB: I was one of the many people who attended the HUG festival at the Foxlowe Arts centre in Leek on Saturday on what was a blessedly wonderful sunny June day. Through the skill and hard work of the organisers and the diverse range of activities and events on offer, Moorlands Climate Action not only managed to entertain a large number of people of all ages with dancing, drumming, art and circus skills, they also helped to educate us in ways to combat climate change through film, poetry, debate and information. It was heartening to see the Foxlowe alive once again with a diverse range of visitors. Locals mingled with tourists and those from further afield, from Stoke, Buxton and even London. I feel sure the event will have helped to underline the urgent message that we all need to act together, in whatever way we can to slow down the acceleration of global warming.
JC: Fabulous day.
DV: Great day at the HUG Festival. Love this pic, look carefully and you will see the bee, that’s what it’s all about. Well done.
JH: it was fantastic.
JC: Fabulous day, well done Teresa and all involved.
PR: Well done everyone.
AL-F: It was really great to see so many people and for a great cause. Well done TP.