Climate Cafe

In August 2020 we released a survey asking the people of Rugby what they would like to see Rugby Borough Council's Climate Emergency Panel achieve. This then lead into our Climate Café event on September 19th, where we were joined by several guest speakers. Many people from across Rugby and surrounding areas joined us to debate and decide how we can influence it.

Overall this was a really successful event, as it brought people together and there was lots of excellent discussion and ideas. A summary of the discussion is presented below:

Introduction (Amber)

Video: History of Transition Town

TTR up to now: seed swap, support for sustainable markets and community events, citizen climate survey, Pleasance Herb Garden, Viaduct Mound community tree planting, community supported agriculture - Broadwell Turn Farm project, Repair Cafe

Speakers

1. Rugby Repair Cafe

   • Martin talked about Repair Cafe, starting July 2019. Runs third Saturday every month in St Andrews Church, plus Coventry ready to go. 

   • Hoping to be back in October. 

   • Lots of encouraging remarks from participants and an offer of alternative venue from Debs de Vries.

   • Amber added that St Andrews is also planning a tool share and bike repair stand

2. Community Supported Agriculture in Rugby

   • Becca runs Five Acre Farm and talked about community growing. 

   • Five Acre Farm came out of Transition Town Coventry. 

   • Advantages are: less food miles, more resilient supply than supermarkets (eg in response to Covid pandemic), connecting local people to food. 

   • Broadwell Turn was going to be a farm for Rugby but the deal for land fell through.

   • Luke is a researcher at Coventry University CAWR, studying sustainability and resilience in agriculture. Encouraged us to think more holistically, as highlighted by the WEF Nexus Approach, look for interconnections and be aware of knock-on effects.

   • Graham from Stanford Hall CSA spoke about their work. Main focus is working with schools. They have more available land but few community growers, Graham suggested working together to supply Rugby

Climate Survey

Amber presented results of the Climate Survey. Results to be updated as more responses come in

Breakout Sessions

• Energy

  • Suggestion of using waste heat from Cemex to heat houses in local area. Mark H had heard of some similar schemes being done, Martin suggested looking at things done in Amsterdam

  • Neil discussed anaerobic digesters and projects to create biogas. 

  • Community funded energy eg solar panels; look at feasibility study for local area, St andrews, PJs churches. Look at buildings with large roof eg schools, hospitals etc

  • Jerry shared a link to a solar power local company hex-e-gen.live

• Food

  • Can someone fill in what was discussed?

Open discussion

• Call for a method of bringing more people together in Rugby to form a critical mass. Graham mentioned the eco village in market harborough. Is there a place in Rugby? Helen suggested approaching Rugby School. 

• Graham has been looking for a ‘heat source’ for tomato growing and Cemex could be a good synergy.