Rural Action: Can it Make the World of Difference?

Climate change is high on everyone’s agenda and will inevitably change our landscapes and the way we live and work. At the same time, the Government says it wants to strengthen local decision-making and build the voice of local communities.

Are rural communities inherently “unsustainable” or does the climate change agenda offer new opportunities - and resources – for communities to address some key rural issues?

This half-day conference aimed to explore how local and global needs link up and tease out how they can be translated into practice for Bedfordshire’s rural communities.  Over 100 people attended to hear presentations from John Mills, Defra's Director of Rural Policy,  James Goodman, Head of Futures at Forum for the Future, and an inspirational talk from Garry Charnock, Parish councillor, Ashton Hayes, Cheshire – the village with the ambition to be the first carbon neutral village in the UK.  Workshops looked in more detail at some of the actions that rural communities can take. 

The conference was also one element in a formal visit to Bedfordshire at BRAF’s invitation by the Government’s Rural Advocate and Chair of the Commission for Rural Communities, Dr Stuart Burgess.  View the report:  Rural Advocate's visit to Bedfordshire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                        
Download the conference report.  It has been split into sections:
Background
Delegates
Programme
Presentations
Workshop summary
Market Place
Close
 About the Speakers
Overview of key actions from all the workshops
Workshop A: Greening the Grass Roots - How can rural communities reduce their carbon footprint, and what support do they need to turn ideas into action?
Workshop B: Local Foods - How can buying locally produced foods help the environment as well as the local economy, farmers and the countryside?
Workshop C: Empowering communities - How can community environmental needs be identified and influence planning and Community Plans?
Workshop D: Transport - Rethinking bus services in rural areas – what are the options?
Workshop E: Enterprising communities - Is there a role for ecotourism in helping to sustain communities?
Workshop F: Under One Roof - Is there scope to develop multi-use buildings in Bedfordshire?
Workshop G: Business opportunities from Climate Change – Will Climate Change equal profit or loss?
Green Sheet Issues

You can also download the conference report in full (NB: LARGE FILE -   3MB ).  This may be slow to download and presentations are more difficult to view in this format.

Useful external links on climate change

The information on this site can help you understand, and tell the climate change story.	Farming Futures   This website aims to provide information on the challenges and opportunities of climate change, as well as suggested adaptations and mitigation measures which farmers could start considering.	Web resources to help local groups, clubs and societies take simple actions which will add up to make a big difference on energy, travel, food, water and waste.
This site will provide you with all the information you need about car sharing in your village.	Government campaign that aims to make people aware of the link between their own everyday behaviour and climate change.	Tips on smarter driving and selecting a new car from the Department of Transport
Energy saving advice.  You can commit to saving 20% of the energy you use.	Advice for business and the public sector on cutting carbon emissions, and the development of low carbon technologies.	Bedfordshire Green Business Network local environmental charity working with businesses, and related organisations, to improve their environmental performance .Renewables East The agency for renewable energy in the East of England.
Tips on recycling and composting.  Find your nearest recycling site.	Bedfordshire Waste Exchange One company's waste is another's raw material. By automatically matching these  via the internet, unwanted materials can be kept in use instead of going to landfill, with real financial savings for businesses.	This Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates how much productive land and water you need to support what you use and what you discard.