Sharow school plants tree in honour of Queen

Sharow Church of England Primary School is playing its part in marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee by planting a tree.

The Queen, who is already the UK’s longest-serving monarch, will celebrate 70 years on the throne in June.

The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative is inviting everyone across the UK, from individuals and organisations to schools and businesses, to get involved

With October seeing the start of the tree planting season, the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, invited children at St John’s Sharow, to plant a hazel sapling in the school’s grounds.

Photo of Sharow CE Primary School

Sharow CE Primary School

Executive head teacher Jacqui Palmer and the Revd. Ruth Newton, parish priest at St John’s Sharow, joined Dr Hartley at the planting ceremony, which was also attended by pupils who are members of the school council.

Before the planting, the children impressed the bishop with their knowledge of the importance of trees to the environment and prayers were said after the sapling had been put in place.

Dr Hartley told the Stray Ferret:

“The school grounds provide such a fitting setting for this special tree and I hope that the children, their parents and staff enjoy seeing it grow and flourish.

“It will be a reminder to them and future generations, of the service that the Queen has given to this country.”

The Woodland Trust, one of the organisations involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, said:

“The Queen’s Green Canopy will create a network of individual trees, avenues, copses and whole woodlands in honour of the Queen’s service and the legacy she has built.

“This will create a green legacy of its own, with every tree planted bringing benefits for people, wildlife and climate, now and for the future.”

The photo shows members of the Sharow CE School Council at the planting with, from left: The Revd Ruth Newton, headteacher Jacqui Palmer and Bishop Dr Helen-Ann Hartley

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Harrogate businesses come together to target net-zero emissions

Harrogate’s business community met today to discuss how to meet the challenges of climate change and net-zero emissions.

The Business Net Zero Conference is being held all day at the Harrogate Convention Centre and has been organised by Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.

It’s part of the Climate Action Festival that is taking place all month in the district in the run up to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

Today’s speakers included representatives from Techbuyer, Transdev, Yorkshire Water and Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate.

‘A sign of hope’

The Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, opened the day by challenging business people in the room whether their goal was profit “at all costs” or developing a social and environmental mission.

She said:

“Today’s conference is a sign of hope but we shouldn’t underestimate the challenges.”

Harrogate-resident Professor Piers Forster, from the University of Leeds, offered a scientific grounding to the debate during his speech.

Prof Forster sits on the UK government’s climate change committee and will be heading to the COP26 summit to help negotiate ambitious climate targets with other governments.

He showed a video of frightening wildfires in Canada caused by greenhouse gas emissions. However, he emphasised that he is optimistic that change can happen if businesses get on board.

“It’s within our power to change where we end up together.”

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Decentralisation of energy

Jennifer Woodhall, marketing director of Harrogate firm Chameleon Technology also spoke. The company is a Harrogate success story as its smart meters are in seven million homes across the UK.

Ms Woodhall said decentralisation of energy was essential to avoid the volatility that is currently engulfing the market.

“We can’t rely on a few, large sources of power.”

Paul Haslam, a Conservative councillor on Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, as well as a Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition member, told the Stray Ferret he hoped the conference would become an annual event.

“It’s great we’ve got to this point. I’m delighted and we’ve got some fantastic speakers. It will be bigger and better next year.”

Pictured are: (from left) Jemima Parker, Cllr Paul Haslam, Prof Neil Coles, the Bishop of Ripon, Jennifer Woodhall, Cllr Phil Ireland, Jade Boggost, Kirsty Hallett, Prof Piers Forster

Climate activists to march through Harrogate

Climate change activists marching from Spain to the COP26 summit in Glasgow will pass through Harrogate on Saturday.

The group, which calls itself Marcha a Glasgow and has support from Extinction Rebellion Harrogate, set off from Bilbao last month and is stopping all the way up the UK during its 1,000-kilometre march.

It is due to arrive in Harrogate at about 6pm on Saturday.

The group wants to raise awareness of the effects of climate change and put pressure on governments to sign up to ambitious environmental commitments at COP26.

Nine Spanish activists are walking some 30 km a day but people can join them for sections by emailing here.

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The majority of the march will take place alongside roads because the group wants to make sure it is seen by as many people as possible.

A spokesperson for Marcha a Glasgow said:

“We are surprised and very thankful for the warm welcomes we have received along our way in England so far. We need to take note of what the science is clearly saying and take responsibility.
“This means changing our economic model, which is dependant on ever-growing CO2 emissions. We need to learn to find prosperity without abusing the natural world. There is much to be done!”
Taylors of Harrogate wins UN climate change award

Tea and coffee merchant Taylors of Harrogate has been recognised for its efforts to tackle climate change by the United Nations.

The company has been named as one of 11 winners of the UN Global Climate Action Awards and its work will go on display at next month’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The awards advisory panel praised Taylors for its role in the international small group tree planting programme in Kenya. This scheme works with farmers in rural communities to share knowledge on conservation farming and reforestation.

About 7,500 tea farmers are included in the project across four factories.

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The awards advisory panel praised the company’s “unique programme with its long-term suppliers” that tackled “the interlinked challenges of climate change, smallholder livelihoods and ensuring a continuous supply of quality tea and coffee”.

The company also installed solar panels on its tea and coffee factory, generating almost 200,000 kwh of electricity a year.

UN Climate Change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa said:

“The winners of the 2021 UN Global Climate Action Awards provide tangible proof that solutions to tackle the climate crisis exist and that they can be replicated and quickly scaled up. This is what inspiring leadership looks like.”

Free event kicks off three-week Harrogate district climate festival

A free six-hour event on Hornbeam Park tomorrow will kick-off the first ever Harrogate district Climate Action Festival.

The three-week festival, which encourages local people to reduce climate damage, is being held in the run-up to the COP26 global climate change conference in Glasgow .

Thirty-two exhibitors will be at Harrogate College from 10am to 4pm for a day of demonstrations, discussions and activities. There will be live music on two stages, as well as vegetarian and vegan food.

Visitors can drop in whenever they like and see a model, energy efficient passive house that has been built on site and learn about how their homes and businesses can become more environmentally friendly.

Holly Hansen-Maughan, partnerships and development lead at the college, said the event would be a family-friendly way of engaging people in climate action.

She added there were plans for the festival to become an annual event.

The festival will be launched by the Mayor of Harrogate and there will also be speeches by Andy Shepherd, professor of earth observation at the University of Leeds and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

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Harrogate climate change festival to ‘excite and inspire’

A series of events will take place in Harrogate next month as part of the town’s first-ever Climate Action Festival.

Organisers hope the festival from October 2-24 will encourage positive actions that make a difference to our local and global environment.

Events include a nature reserve walk, talks from world-renowned climate scientists, and a net-zero business conference.

An eco-friendly house is set to be built in just two days at Harrogate College and an all-electric coach will also make a pit stop in the town on its way to major climate conference COP26 in Glasgow.

The festival is being co-ordinated by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition (HDCCC), a group set up by Harrogate Borough Council to bring together business, local government and the voluntary sector. In February, its members voted to become an independent organisation from the council.

Chris Arnott, comms lead for HDCCC, said she was “excited and inspired” by the range of events on offer.

 She said:

“I’m so excited and feel inspired by all that is going on, such as our Net Zero Business Conference on October 15 at the Harrogate Convention Centre. I’m looking forward to exhibitions by our generous principle sponsors, Chameleon Technology, amongst many others and learning from businesses who are far along their sustainability journeys.

“I am intensely proud that PlanetMark has chosen our Net Zero Business Conference as the only stop in Yorkshire for their first fully electric ‘Carbon Battle Bus’ on its tour from the Eden Project in Cornwall on its way up to COP 26 in Glasgow.”

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What’s on

October 2: At Harrogate College from 10am-4pm the festival will be launched with demonstrations and discussions on skills and technologies that help to take climate action. Organised by HDCCC who say the event is “free fun and everyone is invited”.

October 4: At Nidderdale High School from 7pm-9pm a panel of geographers, economists and policy specialists as well as farmers and estate managers will discuss the reasons why changes in land use are necessary in Nidderdale and the wider uplands of Britain. Organised by the Royal Geographical Society.

October 8: Walk to School Day. Organised by Zero-Carbon Harrogate.

October 15: At Harrogate Convention Centre from 9am-6pm there will be a “Net-zero business” conference to discuss the concept of net zero carbon and why it is critical for businesses to make this transition. Organised by HDCCC.

October 17: At the Royal Hall from 7pm TV wildlife presenters Martin Hughes-Games and Lolo Williams will give a talk on their lives and love of nature. Organised by Harrogate Theatre.

October 23: At the Crown Hotel from 4pm a panel of experts including journalist Alister Doyle, climate professor Peter Stott and law specialist Claire Bradbury will discuss what can we do to save the planet and how will this change the way we all live. Organised by Harrogate International Festivals.

October 23/24: From 10am-3pm an opportunity to tour Horticap and see their on-site green credentials. Organised by Horticap.

To find out more about the festival and the events visit its website.

Eco-house to be built in two days at Harrogate climate festival

An eco-friendly house is set to be built in just two days at this year’s Harrogate District Climate Action Festival.

The home will be one of the main features at the festival, which will be held at Harrogate College next month.

Pure Haus, a Leeds-based company that builds eco-friendly homes, said the home will demonstrate passive house principles, which means it requires very little energy and results in near zero carbon homes.

The design and construction principles include high insulation, airtightness and high performance windows.

Kevin Pratt, director of the company, said designing and building such houses helps to reduce carbon emissions and reach climate targets.

He added he hoped the ‘show pod’, which will be brought in on a crane lorry and put together in two or three days, would give an insight into how homes can be built on eco-friendly principles.

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The festival, which takes place from October 1 until October 21, is being coordinated by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.

It will include a range of guest speakers, including Professor Andy Shepherd, who is professor of earth observation at the University of Leeds, and Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones.

No booking is required and attendance is free.

Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College, said:

“We are proud to be hosting the launch day for this festival as its aims align perfectly with the college’s commitment to sustainability and a greener future.”

Yorkshire Water’s grim outlook for Fewston Reservoir in 50 years

Yorkshire Water has released a mock up of what Fewston Reservoir could look like in 50 years after the effects of climate change.

Rather than a reservoir filled to the brim with water popular with walkers, the image shows how the Washburn Valley could dry up and resemble a desert.

It comes as Yorkshire Water predicts that it will have 100 million fewer litres in its daily supply by 2045.

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To try and tackle the issue, the water company is currently trialling new technology to find leaks more quickly and reduce the water lost by 50% by 2050.

Yorkshire Water continues to ask customers to do their bit by turning off the tap when brushing teeth, opting for a shower instead of a bath and using a watering can instead of a hose.

Fewston Reservoir pictured from the same place in May 2020.

Martin Christmas, yorkshire environment manager for the Environment Agency, said:

“What we do with water and how much we use directly impacts people and the environment, including many of the places we care most about – our rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

“We need to be careful with our water supply. With the weather we experience in the UK it’s easy to think there’s enough to go round.

“But when you factor in the effects of climate change and population growth, there is a very real risk of water shortages by 2050.

“Every individual can make a difference; changing some of our daily habits can play a critical role in protecting our water resources.”

Suzanne Dunn, water resources strategy manager at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We can already see and feel the impacts of climate change all around us.

“Seeing what our reservoirs and environment could look like in 50 years’ time might be surprising and scary to some people, but the important thing to note is that it’s not too late for us to change that future.

“We’re making headway on our leakage reduction plans, and together with our water-savvy customers, it could really make a difference to the future of water resources.”

Thirty-one Harrogate schools take part in ‘walk to school day’

Pupils from 31 schools across the Harrogate district ditched their usual method of transport to take part in the ‘walk to school day’ event last Friday.

More than 7,000 pupils in total took part in the Zero Carbon Harrogate (ZCH) initiative, which was aimed at reducing carbon emissions across the district.

Parents and children who travel long distances to school were encouraged to ‘park and stride’ by walking the last mile of their journey or taking public transport instead.

North Stainley Church of England School won the ‘Zero Hero Primary‘ award, with 94% of its pupils taking part.

The event also had the endorsement of Harrogate Borough Council and local MP Andrew Jones, who went to two schools to show his support.

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Fiona Jones, ZCH’s event manager, said;

“This is such an important event for our community. Often children do not feel they have a voice when it comes to climate change, but a Walk to School Day is something that empowers children to cut their family’s carbon emissions through their own actions.”

Coppice Valley pupils after their walk to school.

Pupils themselves also spoke to ZCH about their transport habits. Rosie, aged 10, said:

“I normally walk because I think it’s really important not to take unnecessary car journeys, because pollution comes from the exhaust pipes – it pollutes the planet, but it’s also bad for people’s lungs, especially young children’s lungs.”

And Ben, a Year 10 pupil, said:

“I try to cycle or walk to places as much as possible to try and cut down my carbon emissions. It helps you get fitter as well.”

The event was such a success that it will be continued half-termly, with the next due to take place on October 8.

Harrogate council leader: Sustainable transport ‘will always cause controversy’

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper says schemes to improve walking and cycling infrastructure in the town “will always cause controversy” but they are essential to reduce emissions.

Cllr Cooper was speaking yesterday evening at a Q+A session for members of the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Coalition, of which he is vice-chair.

Proposals such as the Station Gateway scheme have divided opinion in Harrogate with some welcoming it as a bold step to encourage people out of cars but others believing it will hurt local businesses and shops.

The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Cooper why these schemes have been so divisive and what local politicians can do to ensure they bring all residents along with them.

In response, he said local politicians have “to be honest with people” about the climate challenges ahead and accept that they will not please everyone.

He said:

“You can’t say we support sustainable transport but on the other hand carry on using cars. The two things are not able to be done at the same time.

“Sustainable transport means taking away tarmac from cars to buses, bikes and walking. That will always cause controversy.

He added:

“People want to carry on as they are. If we carry on we’ll never get to net-zero. Travel is one of the biggest emitters. It’s about being honest with people and the putting facts in front of people.”

“Whenever you change things it’s going to be divisive. You’ll never get everyone agreeing with you.

“If people are committed to net-zero they have to realise that we can’t have no change and expect things to get better.”

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Cllr Cooper also responded to a question about the impact of new housing developments on the environment in Yorkshire.

He said that in Harrogate he gets housing developers together with residents to discuss environmental issues.

“I try and get developers together with local residents to talk about how we can get cycle routes or how we can put green barriers in. 

“Every developer wants residents to support their development. They will usually be amiable to discussion with residents.”

The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Coalition was set up earlier this year to bring public, private and third sectors together to support climate actions across the region.

Other members include Liz Barber, the CEO of Yorkshire Water, Dan Jarvis MP, the Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, and Professor Andy Gouldson from the University of Leeds.