Congleton Sustainability Group group met via zoom recently, download the full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights include:

Hydro Scheme DVCE.  A monthly newsletter is available from http://www.congletonhydro.co.uk/news just visit this website and subscribe.

The screw has arrived on-site and is ready for positioning. Some holdup because of a discovery of a stone Victorian wall that runs diagonally through the screw box. This will delay the project between 3 to 4 weeks. Power generation now expected late Jan early Feb.

Eco-Schools.

Four GF holders: Buglawton Primary, Saint Mary’s Catholic Primary, Marlfields Academy & SmallwoodAll other schools defaulted to silver.

Aim of CIB team: to encourage as many in Congleton to renew/apply over the next 12 months.  Schools can apply electronically and will be desktop assessed only.
Several schools contacted about free GF funding for GF applications.
Daven School contacted (via GW) about free fruit trees via Orchards for schools, deadline for applications 18 Dec (https://treecouncil.org.uk/schools-and-education/orchards-for-schools/ )

* WDT grants are available to Primary schools towards learning outside the classroom following co-vid regulations etc. Next round applications: by mid-February, application forms available from Patti.

Patti to send a link – Composting plastic.

Adam to send a webinar link to Mike for circulation – The Lost Words

Publicity:
Since the lockdown, videos of various sites taken & shared via Facebook.
PP continues to admin/edit Facebook pages, adding articles, photos, events etc

[Congleton In Bloom, Congleton Food4free & CSG, Saint Mary’s Garden Club, Buglawton in Bloom, Friends of Congleton Park, Congleton Park, Trees for Congleton pages]

The Old Saw Mill

Peter reported that the café was open again with varying trading being done. Meals on Wheels service now delivering 55 meals, with a planned Xmas Eve delivery of Xmas Lunches. The Old Saw Mill is involved with the Xmas Cares project, with 800 gift packs being delivered across the town.  The recent Rode hall market was the best ever for sales.

New share scheme is being introduced, current members are being contacted this month.

Trees for Congleton – Matt axford.

The grant from Northern Forest Innovation Fund plus match funding should be sufficient to see 30,000+ trees planted in the area. The challenge is to find enough suitable land on which to plant. Hopefully this work, led by Cheshire Wildlife Trust will get underway early in the New Year.

The group now has a facebook page: facebook.com/Trees-for-Congleton

We have also received publicity in the Chronicle and on Hub News

A number of trees have recently been planted in Congleton Park

A number of residents have let us know of trees they have planted in their gardens which have been added to our database

Matt has taken on the administration of the group email account treesforcongleton@gmail.com and is now overseeing the database

We have had a volunteer come forward in the group who will be looking at measuring the carbon capture potential of the initiative.

Consultation is about to go live for planting schemes at Windsor Place and Lower Heath Play Area. We continue to have the support of Cheshire East Council and the Town Council in our endeavours and are advancing plans at a further 18 sites within the town.

New links have been made with tree planting initiatives in Alsager, Knutsford and Wilmslow.