Felixstowe's Citizen Science Group (FCSG) contribute data to support a local climate justice strategy

On 2 July 2022, Felixstowe's Community Nature Reserve (FCNR) organised the first climate justice march in the local area. They aimed to promote six climate justice solutions:

1. Where possible, walk and/or cycle on short local journeys instead of driving everywhere.
2. Use more public transport where possible.
3. Re-cycle old and unused digital equipment through envirofone.com or similar organisations.
4. Install PV panels on the roofs of local homes, businesses, schools and public buildings to reduce CO2 emissions.
5. Eat less meat to reduce the demand for land needed to grow cattle feed and reduce deforestation.
6. Encourage our family, friends and neighbours to do the same.

Since the march, further Climate Justice solutions have been added to this list. They include the encouragement to support Fairtrade products (and the Felixstowe Fairtrade Forum) and advocating for car sharing and using Electric or Hybrid cars for domestic use. 

A short film summarising the first six climate justice solutions. 

Solar Panels  

One of the initial solutions was to recommend installing PV panels. To support this, FCSG supplied data from a network of nine sets of PV panels that were installed in the Felixstowe area in July 2011. As a result, FCSG was able to supply convincing real-time data collected through Bluetooth Sunny Beam wireless recorders.      

The data showed that each panel had saved almost 68,000 lb (30.8 tonnes) of CO2 since being installed (as of 14 October 2022). It also showed that the average total revenue for each PV panel since 2011 was almost £19,000, demonstrating that they hold considerable environmental and financial incentives. 

In November 2022, Felixstowe's citizen scientists published a forecast of how financial income from local PV panels might grow over the next five years. The forecast reinforced the role PV panels can play in a climate justice strategy.  

Electric/Hybrid cars

The second stage of FCNR's climate justice work includes advocating for electric and hybrid cars for domestic use. For this case study, FCSG chose a vehicle to analyse in detail: the Hyundai Tuscon 1.6 TGDi Hybrid 230. They found that it can achieve 59 mpg (i.e. 20.88 km/l) and reach 65 mph (106.6 km/h) while running purely on the electric part of the hybrid engine. Felixstowe's citizen scientists continue to collect data to support the hybrid technology's role in local climate justice strategy. 

Smart meters

Another case study will set out to provide data to support the use of smart meters. FCSG have chosen the EOn smart meter for its clarity of data and ease of reading. However, data collection is still in the early stages and continues at the time of writing.  

These are just some ideas of how locally based citizen scientists can play a meaningful role in developing climate justice strategies and solutions, with opportunities for data collection, analysis and visualisation. These examples should inspire other citizen scientist groups to get involved with developing climate justice strategies in their local communities. 

Information on the work of Felixstowe's Citizen Science Group may be found on their Facebook page. 
Information on the work of Felixstowe's Community Nature Reserve may be found on their Facebook page. 
Other helpful links on the work of Felixstowe's Community Nature Reserve include the following: 
www.wildeast.co.uk/urban-greening-felixstowe-community-nature-reserve 
www.wildeast.co.uk/urban-greening-joined-up-gardening 

Red cage fungus Clathrus ruber

The 6th Suffolk record of this extraordinary species. Found in a garden by Aimee Dines-Davey

Plantlife launches appeal for more wildflower meadows

The UK is one of the most nature depleted places on earth. Since the 1930s, we have lost 97% of our meadows and they now cover less than 1% of the UK. 

10 years ago Plantlife called for action to turn the tide on the fate of our wildflower meadows. Alongside our conservation partners, we identified the best meadow in counties across the UK, harvested its seed and used it to create new meadows nearby. The Coronation Meadows project helped Plantlife develop a really effective way to create new meadows.

As we celebrate Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, the legacy of Coronation Meadows lives on. The knowledge gained is now helping Plantlife to create and restore more meadows, with almost 5,000 hectares created and restored since 2013. Plantlife wants to restore another 10,000 hectares by 2030 to give today’s children a chance to experience what has been lost in just two generations. Can you help multiply meadows again?

Yes, I want to help multiply meadows

Field Studies Council (FSC) BioLinks courses

FSC BioLinks is an exciting project bringing together existing volunteers with skills in biological recording and identification, and new volunteers.

It provides subsidised training courses, learning opportunities and digital tools focused on invertebrate identification for anyone involved or interested in biological recording, to build and strengthen the community.

FSC BioLinks provides:

• Courses and resources to support volunteers
• Support for existing volunteers and encourages new volunteers

See all BioLinks courses

Soil Health & Regenerative Agriculture

Reepham, Norfolk | 8 June 

• Learn the whys and wherefores of regenerative agriculture and soil health on cropping and mixed farming operations
• Learn how to monitor soil/pasture.
• Be introduced to new ways of thinking about the "farming problem".

Suitable for

• Farmers, landowners and estate managers
• Ecologists & advisors
• Vets and veterinary trainees/students

Objectives

• Improving soil health / pasture health
• Improving drainage and water holding on your land
• Growing more and better forage/crops
• Reducing reliance on external inputs or contractor services
• Identifying opportunities for out-wintering & season extension
• Getting feedback on-farm: monitoring & data, on-farm trials
• Skills training on using Soilmentor and carrying-out basic tests

Topics

Regenerative Agriculture – The Broader Context, Empirical case for good soil management, Defining soil health, Soil Health Principles, Evidencing soil health, Aggregation and crumb structure, Nutrient Cycling, One Key Insight – Microbes Matter

Full details and booking