Spring 2025
FODCAP News.
We have a new spring in our step with the lengthening days and the reappearance of sun, and we hope you do too! There has been a lot of incredible climate work happening across the Forest of Dean in recent months, and lots more on the horizon.
If you would like us to add anything you are doing to our next newsletter, please drop us a line at info@fodcap.org.
Citizen visioning in Coleford
Forest of Dean District Council and Coleford Town Council are working with Involve, to run a community engagement project in Coleford between May and July 2025. This will use ‘citizen visioning’ to develop a Community Climate Action Plan for the town.
A panel of 20 residents will be paid for their time to represent their communities. They will be chosen through ‘sortition’ a process similar to that which is used to create representative juries.
There will also be wider community engagement events to enable more residents to get involved, including FVAF providing three sessions for young people aged 14-18 to feed in their views. For more please contact climate.action@fdean.gov.uk.
Relaunch of the Forest Business Charter!
The Forest Economic Partnership has relaunched the Forest Business Climate Charter, with more local businesses signing up. The charter aims to help remove barriers to businesses taking action on climate change. Many local businesses in the Forest of Dean have already signed up to demonstrate their commitment to tackling climate change and take collective action. If you have any questions, e-mail climate.action@fdean.gov.uk
Work is underway to develop a Community Climate Action Plan with LGBTQI+ people in the Forest of Dean. There is a survey here for the LGBTQI+ community to share their experiences and help shape a sustainable future.
There will also be four workshops to shape the Climate Action Plan. The first workshop saw participants create a shared vision for our future in 2035 that fosters a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. Check out the zine created here.
If you would like to get involved in upcoming events, please email Aimee at aimeemoonwalker@gmail.com.
Fully funded climate change workshops for local groups
The District Council’s climate and community team are providing fully funded Climate Fresk workshops in the community for groups who want an overview of the fundamental science behind climate change. The three-hour sessions are fun and interactive, using a card game and creativity to make sense of complicated topics.
If you're part of a community group, school, or an individual and would like to understand more about climate change and how to take action, then get in touch with the team at climate.action@fdean.gov.uk.
Support for Community Grant applicants
FODCAP, the Forest of Dean District Council, FVAF, and GRCC have also teamed up to offer advice for local groups applying for the District Council’s Community Grant. Come along to one of the following sessions:
10th April, 11.00 - 13.30 at Newent Memorial Hall
1st May, 11.00 - 13.00 at Ow Bist - Forest Community Space, Cinderford
If you can't make these dates, don't worry. You can book slots via video or phone call. Contact the climate team at climate.action@fdean.gov.uk for more info.
Creative Walks in Nature
Don’t forget to take a look at Canopy’s Creative Walks in Nature, including their walks for pre-schoolers and their new creative walks map.
Forest Economic Partnership Net Zero Stakeholder Meeting
FEP’s first stakeholder meeting of 2025 saw sustainability experts and business leaders meet at the Wilderness Centre in Mitcheldean to discuss how Forest businesses can prepare for a changing climate and what fully funded support is available to help.
Businesses learned about the funded support the Growth Hub provides for local businesses for carbon audits, an overview of the Business Climate Charter, and how The Speech Houses’ experience pioneering green technology.
Join the Forest Food Forum Facebook page
The Forest Food Network brings together local businesses, producers and community organisations to support good, healthy, locally grown and produced food. If you are interested in a better food economy across the Forest, don’t forget to take a look at the new Forest Food Forum facebook page for ongoing news and events.
Climathon on reducing waste within the food system
Food waste is a huge contributor to climate change, with around 2,500 tonnes of food waste collected from households each year in the Forest of Dean. February saw stakeholders from across the food system in the Forest of Dean come together at Hartpury University and College for a Climathon to tackle the issue. The Climathon looked at collaboration to reduce waste and enhance connections within the Forest of Dean’s food system.
Hop on the Daffodil Line for your spring walk!
The Daffodil Line has produced a new book with local walks you can get to using the 232 Daffodil Line bus service. All walks are between 3-10 miles long and accessible by bus.
And don’t forget to check out the extended free Daffodil Shuttles for three weekends over March.
Coming soon… watch this space!
A new Forest of Dean Travel Guide will soon be available. The guide shows all the public transport and active travel routes across the Forest of Dean in one place.
Thermal imaging cameras will soon be available for individuals and groups to borrow for free across the Forest of Dean as part of a new thermal camera loan scheme. The cameras allow you to see where heat is being lost in your house or community building. This can help with prioritising what retrofit is needed to reduce energy bills.
A new Forest of Dean Solar PV Guide will soon be available to help small businesses, community groups, and organisations find all the information they need to help them get Solar PV on their roofs.
The Forest of Dean has recently received successful funding to run Future Energy Landscape workshops across the Forest of Dean. These will enable three local Parishes to explore how they would like to see renewable energy generation develop in their local area in the future.
Tell us your news
Want to share a recent success, upcoming event, or bit of local climate news in this newsletter? Then please just drop Anya or Leah a line on info@fodcap.org.
