Carbon Copy

New Episode Alert: Carbon Copy Podcast - All Nature: Positively Buzzing Discover the Bee Bold Awards and Pollinator Fund celebrated by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA)! 🎉🐝 In this latest episode of our All Nature series, we delve into WECA's goal to make the West of England the UK Pollinator Capital by 2030. Join us as we chat with Sophie Spencer, Senior Environment Manager at WECA, on why nature recovery, especially for pollinators, is a top priority for the region. Hear inspiring stories from organisations like Co-forest, Middle Ground Growers, Black Seeds Network, St Peter's Hospice, Bristol, and Really Wild Lockleaze, all recipients of the Bee Bold Awards! These groups are restoring landscapes and building community resilience and inclusion in the journey toward ecological balance. What you'll learn: The impact of the Bee Bold Awards on pollinator-friendly initiatives across urban and rural areas How various environments—cities, towns, and rural spaces—can foster pollinator populations The importance of collaboration between WECA and community organisations for inclusive nature recovery projects “It’s been really exciting, but at the same time, we know that nature needs a lot more investment,” Sophie Spencer says. “We can’t do it on our own. It’s about us working together.” 👉 Tune in to hear these vital conversations and get inspired to take action for nature recovery. Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eTGib-3y #CarbonCopyPodcast #BeeBoldAwards #PollinatorFund #WestOfEngland #NatureRecovery #AllNatureSeries #PollinatorCapital

Exciting News for Sustainable Urban Living! Imagine walking into a neighbourhood where the homes are beautiful and built to conserve energy, foster community, and minimise their environmental impact. This vision is now coming to life in a major way, thanks to a new £200 million partnership between the Urban Splash Residential Fund (USRF) and sustainable developer Citu. USRF, advised by SURE Capital Partners, has signed a five-year agreement giving it priority access to 600 of Citu’s trailblazing homes across Yorkshire. As a first step, USRF will acquire 52 homes in Leeds' Climate Innovation District and Sheffield's Kelham Central. These homes are built to Citu’s high eco-standards, focusing on energy efficiency and local manufacturing to reduce emissions. Built to Passivhaus standards, Citu's properties are roughly 75% more energy-efficient than standard homes—setting a new benchmark in sustainable living. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eVi4HSi7 #SustainableLiving #UrbanRegeneration #GreenHomes #EnvironmentalImpact #Partnership

🌊 Restoring Our Rivers, Strengthening Our Communities 🌊 We're spotlighting Trent Rivers Trust, a charity dedicated to bringing the rivers of the Trent catchment back to life! Partnering with local communities, landowners, and the broader Rivers Trust movement, Trent Rivers Trust is tackling climate resilience, biodiversity loss, and community engagement through nature-based solutions. Why Rivers Matter: Healthy rivers are essential allies in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. By restoring natural river processes, creating pollution-trapping buffer zones, and managing flood risks, the Trust's efforts deliver direct benefits for people and wildlife. Projects such as "rewiggling" rivers, reducing pollution, and rethinking drainage systems help bring our landscapes closer to their natural state. A Connected Community Initiative: Trent Rivers Trust isn’t just working on environmental restoration; they’re fostering deep connections between people and nature. From a source-to-sea footpath along the River Trent to citizen science programs, they’re encouraging everyone to take action, big or small, for our waterways. Impact Goals by 2030: Open up 100km for fish passage Restore 50km of rivers Deploy 60ha of nature-based solutions Engage 800+ landowners Inspire more public participation Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ec8cQTpU #RiverRestoration #ClimateResilience #CommunityConservation

Does your organisation want to make a real impact on the climate? Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing) is offering grants of up to £10,000 to help local community groups improve energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions, and reduce energy bills. With a total of £100,000 in funding available, it’s an incredible opportunity to join the journey to net zero by 2030! Who Can Apply? Registered charities, community groups, co-operatives, faith groups, social enterprises, and more based in Ealing. Whether it’s installing energy-saving lighting or investing in renewable energy, this grant can help you make a lasting impact on both the environment and your community. For more information and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/eTqYms6A Application deadline 31 January 2025 #ClimateAction #EalingCommunity #NetZero #Sustainability

Middle Ground Growers is a Community Interest Company (CIC) in Bath, launched in 2020 with a mission to produce ecologically grown food for the local community. Starting as a 2-acre garden in Bathampton, they expanded to a 16-acre farm in Weston, now supporting over 200 families and 12 local outlets through a veg box delivery scheme. Their regenerative farming practices emphasize soil health, biodiversity, and carbon capture, earning them the 2023 Bee Bold Award for pollinator support. A key player in the We Are Avon movement, Middle Ground Growers collaborates with other farms and organisations to build resilient local food systems. They also prioritise education, offering traineeships and workshops in sustainable farming techniques to cultivate the next generation of land stewards. Take a read: https://lnkd.in/eqgDtZnq #RegenerativeFarming #LocalFood #Sustainability #MiddleGroundGrowers #CommunityAgriculture #FutureFarming

Transforming local spaces with nature and community: Mafwa Theatre’s Lincoln Greeners This week we're spotlighting the Mafwa Theatre’s Lincoln Greeners, a community gardening group in Leeds. Led by RHS-qualified gardener Matilya, this project invites local residents to grow, learn, and connect with nature – right in their own backyard. With inclusivity at its core, Lincoln Greeners welcomes everyone, providing support for low-income members and creating a space where people can come together to grow, harvest, and build community. Through the simple act of gardening, they’re tackling social isolation and promoting mental well-being. Imagine what something similar could achieve at your local theatre or community space! By cultivating green spaces, we can not only bring people together but also create a sanctuary that celebrates both nature and community. Take a read: https://lnkd.in/e8NMTx2j #CommunityEngagement #UrbanGardening #GreenSpaces #SocialImpact

What Can England Learn from Scotland’s Community Land Buyouts? Scotland's pioneering community land buyouts are empowering local residents to reclaim, restore, and protect vital natural landscapes. Featured in the FT, Langholm’s transformation into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, led by the town’s own community, shows how local people can actively participate in conservation, replacing harmful land practices with ecological stewardship. With 700 community-owned assets covering over half a million acres in Scotland, these initiatives reflect a significant shift toward sustainability and biodiversity. In England, private landownership remains concentrated among a small elite, often posing challenges to the country's ecological health. Scotland’s approach demonstrates that community-led ownership, which involves collaborative decision-making and sustainable practices, can effectively restore and preserve land. As England looks to address its own land and nature crises, a community-centered model like Scotland's could lead to more resilient, biodiverse ecosystems. What can the England learn from this? Embracing community land buyouts in England could shift the landscape toward a more inclusive, sustainable future. It's time to give local communities a say in stewarding the land we all depend on. Read the article in full: https://lnkd.in/eGisCn6a #CommunityBuyouts #Biodiversity #Conservation #Sustainability

🌿 All Nature: Nourishing Connections 🌿 🎧 New Episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast 🎧 Learn about the power of community and urban gardening through two inspiring projects supported by the Nature Neighbourhoods programme, led by WWF-UK, RSPB, and National Trust. Our podcast host Isabelle Sparrow spoke to Mary and Tom, co-founders of Granton Community Gardeners in Edinburgh, and the passionate participants of Lincoln Greeners in Leeds. From fresh food to flourishing friendships, these projects are proving that nature conservation isn’t the only path to a greener, healthier world. 💬 In this episode, hear from: 🌱 Mary, Tom and participants of Granton Community Gardeners 🌱 Matilya, who leads the Lincoln Greeners project for Mafwa Theatre 🌱 Rory Crawford, Nature Neighbourhoods Programme Manager at National Trust Learn how local efforts can create big change by connecting communities through nature. 👉 Tune in to this inspiring episode now and explore how grassroots initiatives are transforming urban spaces into vibrant, thriving communities. https://lnkd.in/eeYYPgPD This podcast was produced by Bradley Ingham #CarbonCopyPodcast #NatureNeighbourhoods #GrantonCommunityGardeners #LincolnGreeners #GreenSpaces #Wellbeing #NatureInCities

As COP16, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, begins in Cali, Colombia, we are taking a look at the state of nature here in the UK. Check out our latest newsletter to learn: 🌱 What biodiversity stripes are, and what they show. 🌱 What the most recent research shows is happening here in the UK. 🌱 How to search for your local area on Carbon Copy to see plans to improve biodiversity. 🌱 About amazing projects focused on nature already having a huge impact around the country. Read now and be inspired to take more action where you live. #BiodiversityStripes #AllNature #Rewilding #ProtectOurShores #UrbanGardening #COP16

This week we're spotlighting Global Generation's Gardening Club a project connecting people to food growing in urban green spaces. Global Generation, founded in 2004, is an educational charity that transforms urban spaces into thriving community gardens across Camden, Islington, and Southwark. They collaborate with local children, young people, businesses, and families to turn disused areas into beautiful green spaces, fostering a sense of connection with nature and each other. One of their flagship programmes is the Gardening Club, where volunteers can step out of their daily routine and work with a team expert about sustainable, organic gardening in the heart of the city. It brings together local people passionate about food, art, nature. Learn more about Global Generation's gardening project and how you can get involved here: https://lnkd.in/ecAF3ESr #GardeningClub #UrbanGardens #Sustainability #CommunityBuilding #Volunteer #GreenSpaces #GlobalGeneration #London