Helping the environment is second nature to thriving action group L
ockdown gave many people the opportunity to experience nature in a way that they hadn’t done so before.
Instead of traffic we heard birdsong and daily commutes were replaced with walks and discovering beautiful places on our doorstep. A local community group is hoping to harness that new-found enthusiasm for our planet. Bromsgrove Climate Action’s motto is straightforward and inspiring: “We are custodians of our planet for future generations and as such should be educating others to work towards living sustainably.” Treasurer Judy Tipper told Completely Bromsgrove the group, which follows the principles of Friends of the Earth, was founded a year ago when an encouraging figure of 60 people turned up for the launch meeting. “As is often the case, only about eight people wanted to get involved with the organisational side of it. We set up a committee and now have around 70 members. Most of them are older people who understandably have more time to spare but we do have enthusiastic young people too.” The group has many environment related issues to get its teeth into and since its launch it has forged strong links with Bromsgrove District Council and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust. Members have given a presentation to the council’s cross party climate change working group, raised concerns with local councillors
16 Completely Bromsgrove
and had Zoom meetings with Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid. On the practical side, the group is on a mission to plant as many trees as possible in the district and needs the public’s help in suggesting potential sites. Trees along Perryfields Road have already been planted. All native trees, they will encourage wildlife as well as looking stunning when they mature. Many residents have adopted a tree so they will be looked after until they are established. Judy said: “We hope to do a lot more of this around Bromsgrove, so if anyone knows a place near them that would benefit from a few trees, they can let us know via our Facebook page. “We would like to thank the county council’s highways department and Bromsgrove District Council for their help. Councillor Luke Mallett has suppor ted us from the start of the project and Webbs Garden Centre donated two trees.” Fruit trees have also been planted in Charford by Pippa Snowchick, a group member. Bromsgrove Climate Action is also teaming up with Bromsgrove and Redditch Soroptimists to plant trees for the group’s centenary in 2021. For more information and to get involved search ‘Bromsgrove Climate Action’ on Facebook.
