About Us

treeplantingClimate Friendly Bradford on Avon is an active community group whose main aim is to reduce carbon emissions in the Bradford on Avon Community AreaThe Community Area consists of Bradford on Avon and the villages of Westwood, Winsley, Limpley Stoke, Monkton Farleigh, Holt, Staverton, Wingfield, South Wraxall. The group was founded in 2006 and now has around 500 members on its e-mail list. Its activities are very wide ranging, both fun and serious and we take every opportunity to raise awareness and take practical action. During 2009, we were runners up in the South West Carbon Positive Community Awards.

We are totally inclusive and there is plenty of opportunity for people of all ages, abilities and interests to get involved. We aim to influence policy and we regularly engage with local and national politicians to do so.

We belong to the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and Low Carbon Communities Network and are signed up to the “10:10” campaign. 

Within Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon (CFB) we have a  number of groups focusing on specific areas related to carbon emission reduction. To foster creativity and commitment, each individual activity group draws up its own action plans to meet specific goals. These plans are reviewed by the CFB Co-ordinating Group which meets monthly. The Co-ordinating Group is made up of the Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer of CFB - all elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting - and representatives from the activity groups. The meetings are, however, open to everyone, reflecting CFB's inclusive approach.

The individual activity groups are key to our success and the CFB structure allows them to show initiative both in terms of generating ideas and implementing them.

In 2009, the Energy Group  spearheaded the work which resulted  in CFB becoming the South West Regional winners of the British Gas Green Streets Award. This project brought in  around £150,000 worth of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to the Bradford on Avon Community Area.

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The Transport Group has been working with the Bradford on Avon based Priority for People Activity Group which is supported by Wiltshire Council. Areas of commonality include:

  • A Historic Core Zone - to address road traffic issues
  • A Connected Community - seeking to promote alternative means of transport to the car 

 

To coincide with the Copenhagen summit in December 2009, we launched the 2050 Carbon Neutral Declaration: a commitment to make the Bradford on Avon Community Area carbon neutral by the year 2050. Obtaining sign-ups for the Declaration is the part of the work of the Community Involvement Group - around 400 individuals and organisations have already signed the Declaration. Through its work

             with Families and Schools
            on events and meetings organized by CFB, and
            on events organized by other local community groups
 
the group is getting its message across but is also offering practical support to those who are aiming for carbon neutrality. 

The Waste Group, which meets once a month, is working towards finding ways to reduce the amount of waste created in the local community and is encouraging better ways of reusing and recycling unwanted material. It is currently pressing for improved recycling facilities and is joining in the effort to keep all parts of the Community Area free from rubbish. A major part of this will be for the area to become plastic-bag free.

 
Another very active group is the Tree Planting Group which has been responsible for a number of tree-planting events in Bradford-on-Avon including work at Barton Country Park and the Bearfield Play Area. One of its aims is to create wildlife corridors to allow for the movement of wildlife, which, in adverse conditions, may improve the wildlife’s chances of survival.
 
As well as the groups which have been established for some years, CFB is looking for members to create groups to promote:
 
sustainable practices in the building of new developments – Built Environment .
growing “your own” using sustainable methods in gardens and allotments – Food and Gardens - and
buying foods grown / produced locally.
 
 
Given the need for involvement of the entire Bradford on Avon Community Area, around 16,000 people, CFB recognizes a number of large projectsare likely to be necessary to achieve our carbon neutral by 2050 aspiration. Climate Friendly BoA Community Interest Company (company no. 7093166) has been set up to give us the legal status to implement such projects as and when the opportunity arises.  Its aim is to develop, fund and deliver the large-scale programme of action needed to build a low-carbon future. 
 

A low carbon future can be better for us all! Let’s work together to tackle the threat of climate change by changing our own lifestyles and helping others to change theirs – friends, family and national and local government.

 

 

 

Email us at: climatechampions@gmail.com to find out more about CFB and how you can become involved. 

 

 

 

 

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