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Media Release Back to News
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Elham is going green: Spring Fair
The ‘Elham is going green’ Spring Fair, on Saturday 1 March, is aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues in the Elham Valley area.
The ‘eco fair’, organised by the Elham Environment Group, is part of plans to cut carbon emissions from the Elham area by 20%.
Elham is one of four villages in Kent, chosen and supported by Kent County Council with assistance from the Kent Energy Centre, to pioneer local efforts to cut carbon emissions. The Elham Environment Group (www.elhamenvironment.co.uk) has been set up to steer the ‘Elham is going green’ programme and report on its development over the coming months.
The Spring Fair will include information, activities and opportunities to help residents cut their fuel bills. It will also mark the launch of the Elham ‘Plant a Tree’ campaign in which trees will be planted around the Parish to help offset carbon emissions.
Various installers and companies will display renewable technologies, insulation materials and other environmentally-friendly products. There will also be ‘green’ stalls selling everything from locally grown produce to crafts.
Other activities include:
- Showings of clips from the Al Gore film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ about climate change
- Art displays from Elham Primary School
- Refreshments, including soup and cakes
- Games, including Hook a Duck
The Spring Fair is taking place on Saturday 1 March at Elham Village Hall, from 10am to 4pm.
“The Fair will be a fantastic opportunity for people to get personal
advice and information on how they cut their fuel bills and at the
same time help the environment,” says The Reverend Canon David Ratcliff, chairman of the Elham Environment Group (EEG). “We can't leave it all to the
politicians. Every single person can play their part. Think globally; act locally."
Keith Ferrin, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste at Kent County Council, who initiated the Low Carbon Community programme, says: "The Low Carbon Community initiative is a good example of how KCC is taking practical and innovative steps to encourage local action on climate change. I am pleased Elham is making such good progress. It is clear the Elham Environment Group is already making a real difference within the local community, and we hope the publication of our toolkit later this Spring will encourage other communities in Kent to build on Elham’s experience”.
‘Elham is going green’ programme
The initial stages of the ‘Elham is going green’ programme involves collecting baseline data from households in the Elham area about their carbon emissions. The Kent Energy Centre, which is providing ongoing specialist support, has developed a methodology for calculating the current carbon emissions of the village.
The target is to cut carbon emissions in the Elham area by 20% in the first year.
A low carbon community ‘toolkit’ will enable the project to be run and managed by the community itself.
ENDS
Enquiries:
Mary Martin, Elham Environment Group: 07768 004748
Phil Scrivener, Kent County Council: 01622 694013
Mike Bundy, Kent Energy Centre: 01233 646806
Editor’s Notes
a. Kent Energy Centre (KEC) is part of CEN, a not for profit organisation set up in 1997 and delivering a range of services to engage householders, businesses and communities in environmental and social improvement. KEC was set up in 2000 and is supported by all Kent local authorities and provide a range of free and impartial services to householders on behalf of the Energy Saving Trust.
d. Elham Environment Group (EEG) is a community group which was set up in October 2007 to co-ordinate the low carbon initiative. For information please contact David Ratcliff, 9 The Orchards, Elham, Canterbury, CT4 6TR tel. 01303 840 624, e-mail archdeacon.david@zen.co.uk
Website: www.elhamenvironment.co.uk
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