Herefordshire Council will decide its budget for the upcoming year at a meeting of full council at 10am on 14 February at Shire Hall Hereford. The intended budget has some provision for spending on climate action. Whether this is enough to deliver a net zero county by 2030 – the aspiration in the council’s climate emergency declaration – is of course open to debate. The administration has a wafer thin majority and would welcome a positive presence from us in the meeting to support what they believe is a climate-friendly budget, and to resist possible attempts by the opposition to water it down.
Please come to the Council Meeting on 14 February at Shire Hall to make our feelings known!
Background info: Start with the draft Corporate Plan – one pager here, and the full version here
The proposed budget for 2020/2021 is here and the proposed capital budget here.
Several other more detailed papers to be found on this page if you want to dig deeper.
(The papers are dated 30 Jan for a preliminary Council meeting and amended versions will go to the meeting on 14 Feb – we are planning to attend the Feb meeting).
Questions for the Council: The meeting on 14th February is open to the public and we can submit questions in advance about the corporate plan and the proposed budget. The rules are strict, set out here, and for this meeting questions have to be submitted by 5pm on Monday 10 February. If you want to put in a question and would like help, please contact Rob at robertpalgrave@hotmail.com
Hereford University Centre is holding their first lecture of the year – ‘Farming with Rocks to Combat Climate Change’ by Professor David J Beerling FRS on Thursday 13th February 2020 at 7.30pm, at Herefordshire and Ludlow College.
Everyone is welcome to attend this free lecture. If interested, please email the Student HUB at studenthub@hlcollege.ac.uk to book your space.
Professor Beerling is the founder and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, a premier international centre for carbon dioxide removal. He will tell us how we can use the mining industry’s waste to improve agriculture, boost yields, capture CO2 from the air and reduce harmful NO2 emissions. Event organised by the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
Thanks to all those who came to the Members meeting this
Wednesday. It was great to welcome old friends and new, and to see so many
people there – we will need to book a bigger room for the next one!
We enjoyed hearing a little about what the groups in the
room are doing, to have a brief discussion and “jazz hands” poll about the outcome
from the membership discussions at the AGM and for us to talk a little about
the emerging HGN role on the Herefordshire County Carbon Working Group (led by
Herefordshire Council). We gave some feedback on our work with parish/town
councillors via the HGN Great Collaboration Towards a Zero Carbon Herefordshire,
talked about Spring Greens and also the request for HGN involvement in the River
Carnival.
5th Feb 2020 Left Bank Complex, Hereford 7.15pm for 7.30pm until 9.30pm.
Our relation with trees is changing. We are starting to appreciate
their intelligence. We have always connected woodland and well-being, but
this connection has an extra dimension in the era of climate emergency.
In response, our own behaviour is changing. Ethiopia planted 350
million trees in a single day last year. How was this achieved?
Let’s talk about what we can do locally in the way of tree
planting and combating deforestation to help preserve biodiversity, tackle
climate change and improve public health. We’ll also discuss forest schools and
forest gardens.
We will hear on the night from expert speakers Richard Luff
(Director of Forest Garden Scheme UK) and Jeremy Iles (UK Urban Agriculture
Consortium). Come along and put deeper roots into this vital topic’
This is a first notice of the forthcoming Herefordshire Friends of the Earth AGM to be held on Wednesday 19th February at 6pm at Gwynne House, Left Bank, Hereford.
They have several exciting projects to discuss and get involved with, so will hopefully be waking up from their long dormant stage.
They will be sending out an agenda and notice of the definitive venue in the next ten days or so please keep that date free.
HGN members have the chance to spruce up their practice at three FREE workshops this spring. Each workshop will be run both in the south of the county (in Ross) and at the Jubilee Building at Queenswood Country Park, near Leominster (which will be opening as a part time Sustainability Centre in March).
Our presenters, Rebecca Tully and David Urry, are both highly experienced in their fields, and their workshops are a great opportunity for both professional and personal development. Places are limited, so book in soon!
Wednesdays 12 & 26 Feb, 5-7pm:
SMALL FUNDS FOR SMALL GROUPS – Workshop and Q+A with Rebecca Tully
What do you want to do in your area – who will it benefit and is a lack of money stopping you?
As well as answering any questions you have, we will cover:
Describing our aims – why it’s so important
Grants available
Matching our aims to grants
Describing how, and for whom, our activities will have impact
Rebecca Tully has set up and run two community interest companies with a combination of grants and enterprise. She has also supported other organisations to develop, deliver and evaluate funded projects, and delivered successful crowdfunders. She is an experienced facilitator, and a begrudging fundraiser! This evening will be an opportunity to pick up some tips for success in finding funding for your idea and learn how to take the first steps to get what you need.
Wednesday 12 Feb at St Mary’s Church Hall, Ross-on-Wye
Wednesday 26 Feb in the Jubilee Building, Queenswood Country Park, near Leominster HR6 0PY
Wednesdays 4 & 11 March, 5-7pm:
ENGAGING THE PUBLIC ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES – Workshop with David Urry
An introduction to the principles of effectively engaging the public with environmental issues. We will cover some of the basics of good communication and public engagement, and look at some specific examples, from written resources to face-to-face encounters. From the traditional to the more innovative and creative, find out how best to capture people’s attention and imagination, and engage them with key issues.
David Urry is an experienced science communicator who has worked for the Natural History Museum, Kew Gardens, The Royal Society, Wildlife Trusts and many other science and environmental organisations. He creates bespoke written resources, activities, shows, music and theatre with the purpose of engaging people with the natural world, changing perceptions and inspiring positive action. He has honed and developed his engagement skills over the last decade and has experience of developing content for online, print and broadcast media, as well as live events and performance. He is also a practised facilitator, host and presenter, both in front of a camera and a live audience.
Participants will be able to email David in advance with any specific questions they would like him to address.
Wednesday 4 March at St Mary’s Church Hall, Ross-on-Wye
Wednesday 11 March in the Jubilee Building, Queenswood Country Park, near Leominster HR6 0PY
Wednesdays 18 & 25 March, 5-7pm
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WORKING ONLINE – Workshop and Q+A with Rebecca Tully
Getting the message out about your project and communicating with everyone doing it!
Working remotely is a theme in many of local projects and goes hand -in-hand with online publicity. Please bring your queries and we can find a solution together. We will cover as much of the following as we can depending on the needs of attendees:
A check-in of who you want to reach – and why this is important to know
An overview of social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Scheduling posts
Using a website and blog
Keeping in touch with e newsletters
As well as her funding expertise, Rebecca runs training live and online, and has managed the social media accounts for a range of organisations including Kids Kitchen, Stories and Supper and Herefordshire Green Network.
Wednesday 18 March at St Mary’s Church Hall, Ross-on-Wye
Wednesday 25 March in the Jubilee Building, Queenswood Country Park, near Leominster HR6 0PY
TO RESERVE A PLACE, PLEASE EMAIL admin@hgnetwork.org
David Urry facilitating a discussion at the HGN Great Collaboration meeting last autumn
Calling all HGN members, supporters, associates, and other interested parties…. come along and join us for the first Herefordshire Green Network meeting of the new year – and the new decade.
Here we are at a time of great change … embracing the opportunities of a zero carbon future – boiling frogs? or hot frogs leaping fearlessly and gracefully into renewed collaborations, hope and inspiration…
Come and hear what other community groups and individuals are getting up to around the county. Come and help us think about what the next stage of action should be for us all as a collective, and to hear about projects that HGN are currently engaged in – that would benefit from your contribution.
VENUE: Castle Green Pavilion, Castle Green, 1, Quay Street, Hereford, HR1 2NH Email XRshulgi@protonmail.com to book!
THE SESSIONS
For Everyone Heading for Extinction Talk – 1.5 hours (Fri 24 Jan) A talk to introduce the climate and ecological crisis and civil disobedience as a response. How XR is responding to the climate crisis and what you can do to get involved.
Community Building – 2.5-3 hours (Sat 25 Jan) An exploration of community within Extinction Rebellion, especially in our local groups. We will explore the role it plays in our movement and spend some time building stronger connections with our fellow rebels.
People’s Assembly (Sat 25 Jan) Contribute your views to the development of XR’s Theory of Change – How do you think XR will best achieve its three demands?
Regenerative Culture – 2.5-3 hours (Sun 26 Jan) What is regenerative culture, why do we need it and why does it so often get sidelined? In this workshop we will explore these questions and explore ways in which we can bring regeneration into our lives and movement, preventing burnout and finding ways to rebel sustainably.
Level 1 – Intro to XR NVDA Training – 3-4 hours (Sat 25 Jan) An essential training for rebels new and old: introducing non-violent direct action and civil disobedience as tactics, the legal consequences of our actions, the roles within actions, our role as activists in the global north, practice exercises and a space to ask lots of questions. NVDA trainings are regularly updated and it’s worth attending more than one.
Level 2 – Rebel Skills Become an NVDA Trainer – 3-4 hours (Sat 25 Jan) For those wanting to deliver NVDA workshops this training is essential. You will explore the ideas behind the NVDA training and how best to deliver it. Come to this workshop if you’re willing and able to commit to delivering NVDA trainings in the future.
De-escalation Training (Sat 25 Jan) 121/Small group De-escalation – This workshop explores a variety of ways to deescalate small group / 121 situations and includes some of the principles of Nonviolent Communication. You’ll get practice in engaging with people who are very angry.
Large Crowd De-escalation and Nonviolence – Explore what nonviolence is to you and learn techniques for creating and maintaining nonviolent atmosphere during large actions and occupations.
Spokesperson Training – 2-3 hours (Sun 26 Jan) This training is designed to give you the basic information and skills to prepare for and make the most of media interviews. We’ll look at messaging, tips and tricks for preparing for broadcast interviews and have some time to practise. Please consider coming even if you’re not certain you want to be a spokesperson – some of the best spokespeople started off feeling that they were not right for this.
How to deliver Inductions – 1-2 hour (Sun 26 Jan) Learn how to deliver the session designed to welcome people into XR. Inductions covers the basics of XR and enable rebels to begin their journey into joining the movement.
Level 3 – Specific Roles Facilitation Training – 3.5 hours (Sat 25 and Sun 26 Jan) Supporting rebels to become confident in facilitating XR meetings (including opening, encouraging and managing contributions, facilitating decision making and action planning, and closing) in alignment with XR values and principles.
Self Organising Systems (SOS) Workshop – 2-3 Hours (Sat 25 Jan) A talk and workshop exploring the basic principles of self-organising systems, how this is realised in Extinction Rebellions structure and how it is has already lead to XR’s rapid growth.
We are delighted that HGN has been invited to represent our members in the newly formed Herefordshire County Carbon Working Group which is being led by Herefordshire Council.
Trish March, Herefordshire Council Cabinet member lead for Climate Emergency, described the backdrop to setting up the group:
“As you know, the Council declared a Climate Emergency in March this year, followed up with a number of actions in a subsequent report in September. Key within these was a commitment to develop a revised countywide carbon reduction strategy aspiring for carbon neutrality by 2030. In order to help co-ordinate and begin shaping the development of this plan, I’m convening an initial working group… to get this underway.”
HGN
representatives have attended two meetings, along with representatives from New
Leaf, Brightspace, the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and Extinction Rebellion.
It is early days and there is a lot to do, but it is great that we are able to
work with committed council members and senior officers to start to frame the challenges
and early responses to developing and implementing plans for a Zero Carbon
Herefordshire by 2030.
We can explain
a bit more about what is being proposed at the Members Meeting next week (5.30pm
Wednesday 22nd at De Koffee Pot) and will post regular progress
updates via the HGN Newsletter as things develop.
