Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) is a not for profit, Community Benefit Society, serving communities in the west of Wiltshire and Bath and surrounding area. We are working to put people at the heart of the energy transition, placing ownership and control of energy in the hands of consumers, via clean energy projects that actively involve and benefit local communities.

BWCE has so far installed 12.35 MW of community owned renewable energy, enough to match the annual electricity demand from 4,000 homes and has re-distributed to date over £200,000 of surplus back into local communities. In addition to this we are assessing the potential for a community owned electric vehicle charging network, community renewable heating projects and testing community approaches to minimising peak electricity demand.

See www.bwce.coop for more information.

BremZero is an informal community group based around the village of Bremhill outside Calne.  Its aims are to consider and facilitate actions that address the issues of climate change.  It held its first meeting in January 2020 – well attended by over thirty people – and various work streams were beginning to be taken forward.

Then Covid 19 arrived and put us into hibernation.

We are arising again!  For further details see our WEBSITE

We are a wildlife-friendly gardening project, aiming to create a community nature reserve from the mosaic of spaces, the same size as the area of a football pitch, made up of the gardens and private land in the Calne Community Area.

Whether you have a Garden, Allotment, Pond, Hedge, Window box or container, Nesting Box, or Bug Hotel, pledge this space and help create a fantastic area for wildlife.

The Calne Community Nature Reserve covers:

Calne, Bremhill, Cherhill, Yatesbury, Compton Bassett, Derry Hill, Studley, Heddington, Hilmarton, and Goatacre.

If you would like to pledge head over to our webpage: https://bit.ly/36t6YpR

​

To find out more and keep updated, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CalneCommunityNatureReserve

Calne Community Area Fairtrade Group has over the years campaigned for Calne to become a Fairtrade Town. It was awarded FT Town Status in 2019. Fairtrade and the effects of Climate Change are inextricably linked, because many places in the world already feeling the serious effects of Climate change are those also where Fairtrade Farmers struggle to make a living and support their communities through Fairtrade production. They have already found it necessary to take remedial steps to protect their livelihoods against Climate Change.

​

Visit our website on this LINK

Citizens’ Climate Lobby UK is a grassroots advocacy organization, part of a global movement to generate the political will to sustain a liveable climate – working through democracy and relationships.

Started in the US in 2007, CCL trains and supports volunteers to engage elected officials, the media and the public, primarily in order to promote Climate Income (aka Carbon Fee & Dividend) as the most powerful step needed to address climate change.

The local group meets monthly in person in Marlborough, and organises some public meetings - two in 2024 - to engage and inform. More details here . Local contact email jmhindley@hotmail.com

Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon works to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainability and resilience in the Bradford on Avon area.

We run events and activities and publish a monthly newsletter to raise awareness and give ideas for practical action.

Our newsletter and website give details of our evening meetings with a speaker, the talk is followed by discussion and a chance to chat with others. Here is the link to our website:

https://climatefriendlybradfordonavon.co.uk

Our Action Group meetings are arranged by their Coordinators. We have seven main themes: Active Travel, Biodiversity, Energy, Community Involvement, Sustainable Food and Drink, monitoring Swifts and installing swift boxes, and Zero Waste.

Corsham Climate Action (formerly know as Transcoco) aims to develop local solutions to local sustainability issues, helping to address the global challenges of climate change, loss of biodiversity and other environmental challenges. By finding sustainable local solutions, we will help make the Area a more positive and rewarding place to live, work and visit, and contribute to creating a more sustainable future for everyone.

For more information visit our website on on this LINK

Downton Green Group is part of the New Forest Transition Hub. We meet on a monthly basis, and offer a welcome to anyone interested in, or wishing to support our activities

​

Our mission is to promote sustainable living, particularly within the local community. Our activities focus on encouraging more responsible use of the earth’s resources, thus conserving them for future generations. Working together we can reduce, repair, reuse, recycle . . . so helping to take care of the environment and address the challenge of climate change.

What do we do?

• Run regular ‘green fair’ events, plus other activities to raise awareness, e.g. ‘pop up’ stall on food and climate

• Run a mini recycling centre in the village, aiming to reduce what goes to landfill

• Write articles for village newsletters. Use social media/our website to promote sustainable living, publicise local/national initiatives and provide advice on transition to a greener lifestyle

• Maintain links with local schools to encourage environmental awareness/action

• Make representations to local authority decision makers and constituency MP

• Initiated joining the Plastic Free Communities scheme, working towards making Downton ‘plastic free’

For more information visit our website/Facebook page: downtongreengroup.org.uk

Our world is in crisis. Life itself is under threat. Yet every crisis contains the possibility of transformation. Across the world, heralded by the young, people are waking up and coming together.

We hear history calling to us from the future. We catch glimpses of a new world of love, respect and regeneration, where we have restored the intricate web of all life. It’s a future that’s inside us all – located in the fierce love we carry for our children, in our urge to help a stranger in distress, in our wish to forgive, even when that seems too much to ask.

Extinction Rebellion is an international movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse.

There are several XR groups across Wiltshire. We have listed some below with links to the relevant Facebook Pages:

​

• Salisbury XR Community - Facebook link

• Chippenham XR Group - Facebook Link

• Bradford-on-Avon XR Supporter group - Facebook Link

• Devizes and Marlborough XR - Facebook Link

Hazel Hill is a lovingly managed woodland nature reserve, education and retreat centre, 7 miles from Salisbury. The wood is owned and operated by Hazel Hill Trust, a registered charity formed in 2015. Our charitable aim is to promote wellbeing, resilience and sustainability: for individuals, society and the natural world. This peaceful, ancient woodland is used by groups, organisations and other charities all year round offering the many benefits being outside in nature has to offer. Join us on a volunteer day, wildlife event or an event hosted by one of our trusted partners.

VOLUNTEERING

Regular volunteer days on the first Friday and third Wednesday of each month

Nest Box surveying

Garden Birdwatch surveying

Moth surveying

Butterfly surveying

PUBLIC EVENTS

Annual 24hr BioBlitz nature survey

Nature & Wellbeing Weekends

Conservation Weekends

Wildlife & Bushcraft sessions

Annual Wood Chop Challenge fundraising event

Bat Nights

Moth Mornings

PARTNER EVENTS

We have events at the wood run by partners, some of which are ticketed events open to the public. See website for upcoming events.

click HERE for more information

                          ...in the Wylye Valley

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

Creating a Sustainable Community

Can climate change really affect me? What can I do to help anyway?

Given that Wiltshire Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2030, there is a real and present threat to our local environment.

We’re all recycling, all trying to do our bit, but a community effort lead by good information and a plan is what is needed to actually make a difference.  So how do we do that?

A group of locals recently got together to share their views about this and what, realistically, we can do about it. We came up with a lot of practical ideas, so we decided to form LEAF.

LEAF Goals:

• Develop a sustainable community through a shared vision, information and actions.

• Raise awareness of fossil fuel alternatives and how to switch to sustainable electricity.

• Create a local composting scheme to recycle domestic and garden waste to reduce landfill and greenhouse gases harmful to the environment.

• Support local allotments and gardeners.

• Support local businesses to reduce ‘food miles’ and champion ‘eco-products.’

• Encourage community action e.g.: clear-up litter and plastic waste in the countryside.

We meet as needed but if you aren’t keen on that you’re still welcome to join in, so get in touch with juliestrawson@gmail.com and we’ll share our ideas and plans with you.

We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Malmesbury Climate Action Network was formed at the start of 2020 when 200 people from the Malmesbury community came together to discuss their concerns for the future and what they wanted to do about it. From the event seven working groups were formed, tackling multiple aspects of sustainability –

Transport,

Community Energy,

Trees/Biodiversity,

Resource Sharing,

Community Agriculture,

Education and Lobbying

and Overall Strategy.

Supplemented by the work of a central committee and supported by a formal partnership with the Town Council, the groups are currently in the process of developing their goals and objectives.

NCE own16 solar installations on local farms, businesses and schools, totalling 600Kwp. The sites gain cheaper electricity and any surplus goes to our Community Benefit Fund. We have spent nearly £40,000 on community projects such as solar panels on Tisbury Swimming pool, LED lighting in the Victoria Hall and use of an electric car to power community events. We also run a monthly Green Drinks gathering on the last Tuesday of the month at the Boot Inn Tisbury, manage an electric car club, run a winter "Warmer At Home" project for free energy surveys with a thermal imaging camera and disseminate advice on renewables, energy efficiency and more at local events.

Visit our website on this link.

Privately funded website and email list to share information about Climate and biodiversity events and initiatives in the Vale of Pewsey

We are a friendly, inclusive group of people of different ages and interests in the environment.

​

Most of us live in Royal Wootton Bassett, and the surrounding areas. Members include long-time environmental campaigners as well as those who are just starting to want to find out more and everyone in between. Whether you are enthusiastic about sustainable food or into recycling and zero waste, looking after our local wildlife and land, or reducing carbon emissions, you’ll find someone here to share your interests.

​

We meet each month (currently online) to share information and ideas about living more sustainably – both as individuals and as a town. We usually have a guest speaker. Recent topics have included talks on our local nature reserves, gardening for wildlife, and how we can use a green recovery from the pandemic to transition to a sustainable future. We also have two project working groups on developing a cycling network, and rewilding our town.

​

Everyone is welcome!  Please visit our website on the following link to find out more or join our Facebook group here

Salisbury Community Energy is based in Salisbury, and has installed solar panels on 5 sites including Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire College, Bishop Wordsworth School, St Martin's Primary School, and Kong Ltd, in partnership with Schools Energy Co-op, raising all the finance from a community share offer.

We aim to bring more local renewable energy to Salisbury and help educate towards a carbon-free future. We are a Community Benefit Society.

Click HERE to visit our website

​

Salisbury Democracy Alliance is a group of people dedicated to bringing new thinking about democracy to our city. We want to provide citizens with the time, space and capacity to engage in a free and equal dialogue.

We began in 2017 with the successful Salisbury Democracy Café which meets on every second Saturday in the month in the Playhouse. We want to create the city’s first Citizens’ Jury/Assembly which would involve randomly selecting a representative group of ordinary people to deliberate on an important local issue, such as the climate emergency, and make recommendations to our councils.

We seek to influence our councils to fund such a body. Alongside this push, we are organising a Talkshop activity on how to tackle the climate emergency in Salisbury which anyone can attend, once Covid permits. Our website can be found at on the LINK

The Salisbury EcoHub Alliance exists to provide a space and network as a means for like-minded individuals, organisations and businesses to work together in the Salisbury area to promote awareness, facilitate action and provide information and education on a wide range of environmental issues, in particular the climate emergency.

It is currently an unincorporated association, but is investigating the most appropriate longer-term form and status (such as that of a Charity and/or Community Interest Company) to enable it to fulfil its aims. Its principal aim is to locate and obtain premises in central Salisbury to act as a hub for individuals and voluntary groups in Salisbury and the surrounding area concerned with environmental and ecological topics and issues (including but not limited to the climate emergency) in order to provide:

• a space where all local people can go to meet others with similar concerns or to discover more about the climate and ecological emergencies;

• a climate cafe for socialising and a meeting space to discuss or debate relevant issues (perhaps introducing people’s assemblies);

• a display space for information publicising its various member groups and their activities to the public;

• information exchange and advice;

• support for those suffering from climate anxiety;

• and to educate and support people in the climate emergency;

• whilst also raising funds and incorporating a sufficient commercial aspect to cover costs.

These premises might be described as a Department Store of Greenness.

This physical presence would also be supported by a Virtual Hub: a web page providing a virtual public display space and links to its various member groups and their activities.

Its short-term aims are those which can be easily achieved, and which provide the basis for realising the principal aim:

• a regular stall in Salisbury Market, publicising the Eco Hub project and the local groups which are backing it. (The stall space is being provided free of charge courtesy of Salisbury City Council);

• obtaining the support of groups and individuals in the Salisbury area who are prepared to back the project;

• setting up a Virtual Hub, in the form of a website listing, and with links to the websites of, the groups backing the project;

• researching successful examples of local Environment Centres, green markets and eco-hubs elsewhere and transferable experience to Salisbury;

• researching the availability of premises in the Salisbury area which might house the Eco Hub on either a short-term or longer-term basis.

Salisbury Transition City was set up in 2015, it sees itself as a catalyst and partner to inspire, encourage, enable and work alongside those who want to develop and action a plan for a sustainable Salisbury.  We cannot achieve much alone but when we work alongside each other, learning from each other and playing to our individual strengths, we can achieve real change.

We are not politically affiliated to any party or movement; the issues are too large and important for that, because we are a grassroots movement, the drive for change will come from the community.

For more information visit our website HERE

Sustainable Calne has its roots in Calne Town Council's declaration of a climate emergency in 2019. We are a group of local people working to reduce carbon emissions in the town, with activities based on our "Four Pillars". These are:

Champion greener energy usage
Influence sustainable transport
Enhance Local Ecology
Support sustainable choices.

We do this with public meetings, usually with an invited speaker; regular newsletters to members and supporters; and liaison with local government and with other organisations working towards sustainability, for example the group producing Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan.

You're very welcome to join us - membership is £10 per year sustainablecalne.org.uk/register/
 and/or to sign up for our newsletters sustainablecalne.org.uk/about/newsletter/ 

We are an unincorporated charitable association, run by a steering group made up of four officers elected by the membership, along with project leads.

Sustainable Devizes is a local volunteer group working on climate solutions at a community level, raising awareness of environmental issues and supporting local people to live lower carbon lifestyles (whilst trying to keep our events as lighthearted and fun as possible!). We are involved in many areas of sustainability across our community, we operate a community fridge; and run a family cooking group called the Green Grub Club. We host Swap Shops throughout the year, swapping books, toys, clothes, school uniform, plants, seeds, homewares, etc. We support campaigns for better cycling and walking infrastructure. We give energy advice, and offer free knife and tool sharpening. We host film screenings, talks, workshops and visioning exercises... and plenty more besides! We are members of the Transition Network. Our planning meetings are usually on the second Monday of each month. All are welcome.

For more details of our aims and activities see the About page.

Sustainable Warminster is a non-political, unincorporated, not-for-profit community organisation in Warminster, Wiltshire, run by volunteers. Its aims are to:

• work together legally and in co-operation with other local organisations and with local government to prevent damage to the local environment

• develop a greener, cleaner and more sustainable town for the future

• improve the environment through positive practical action, demonstration, discussion and debate

• raise awareness of environmental issues by campaigning within the limits allowed by law, and encourage behaviour which reduces waste and pollution, reduces energy consumption, increases recycling and reuse, enhances biodiversity and mitigates the impact of climate change.

click HERE to visit our website

Swindon Climate Action Network is an independent group of people from across Swindon who are concerned about climate change and want to do something about it. We are open to all, non-party political and entirely voluntary.

We believe that many of the lifestyle choices that help individuals tackle climate change are also the choices that improve their quality of life. We communicate messages and run a programme of events around climate change and environmental sustainabilit

The Birds and the Bees is a weekly show on Swindon 105.5 about environmental issues. It is hosted by Glynis Hales (Transition Swindon, Bee Roadzz Swindon and Cake and Conservation) and Cllr Keith Williams (Swindon Borough Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change). The show promotes local groups and individuals and the latest scientific research from across the country. We also highlight how to create, repair and reuse.

​

Our broadcasts are on Friday at 2pm, repeated Tuesday at 11am and shared to WCA Facebook page. You can also catch up on the Swindon 105.5 app from the app store.

​

So if you want to promote an event, project or idea do contact us.

FB page facebook.com/thebirdsandthebees1055/

The Friends of the Marden Valley was set up in autumn 2019, initially to run a Love Your River Festival in May 2020. We all know what happened to that! The Marden Valley is in North Wiltshire, and the River Marden springs out of the high chalk lands of the North Wessex Area of Outstanding Beauty, before flowing down through Calne to its confluence with the River Avon, to the east of Chippenham.

When possible we have led river side walks, and actively created Zoom talks on river issues in collaboration with Avon Needs Trees who have a site half way down the Marden Valley to plant trees, and wildflower spaces.

Visit our website on this LINK

Click HERE to view our map

Transition Marlborough aims to protect our town and the surrounding area from the rising costs of food, energy and transport which are being driven by the global challenges of depleting fossil fuel resources, climate change, and the resultant economic and environmental impacts.

We believe that by promoting community driven projects in renewable energy, food sovereignty, sustainable transport and recycling in all its forms, and as part of the overall Transition Movement we are contributing to the two critical issues of peak oil and climate change. Our approach to addressing these issues is underpinned by the permaculture philosophy and ethics. We believe that the transition to a more resilient and happy life cannot happen without reducing inequality in our society.

Visit our website HERE

Our aims:

• To raise awareness of environmental issues in and around Trowbridge

• Encourage local communities to participate through positive practical action, demonstration and discussion

• Work with other local groups, charities and local councils to make Trowbridge a more resilient place for future generations

• Inspire and motivate others and change lifestyle to the better of our community

Interesting in joining us? Here is link to our website

Wild Colerne is a not-for-profit charity based in the Parish of Colerne (with representation on Colerne Parish Council Climate and Biodiversity Working Party). We aim to celebrate the nature that surrounds us whilst raising awareness of what has, and sadly is still being lost. Our focus is on conserving and creating space for nature in our Parish, and helping people connect with the "wild”. 

We host a regular Programme of nature connection walks, talks and films and a monthly informal Pub Social. Events are listed in the website and publicised via a monthly Newsletter and our Social Media  We enjoy good links with Colerne CE Primary School, supporting their Nature Activities, and the Eco Church work of St John the Baptist Church.  

Our website has links to our Projects which include promoting awareness of and protection of our local swifts, wildflowers, and gardening for wildlife.  We host an annual Nature Day with Market Place and Churchyard stalls - the theme in 2025 will link to the Wild Waters Festival  

Sign up to the Wild Colerne Facebook page; follow us on Instagram; phone 07858 581665 or email us at members@wildcolerne.org for more information and to be added to our mailing list.

It's time to get Wild in the Country!

Young TNHS is for under-21s and membership is free.  To join,  email youngtnhs@gmail.com.  We are a group aiming to bring young nature enthusiasts together by organising workshops, events, walks and more!

Young TNHS is an historic development for the Society: Inés Lopez-Doriga, who last year gave a talk on The Archaeology of Plants, has now joined the Committee to lead the new group.  And it is a huge bonus to us that she has been joined by Izzy Fry, whose blog is a riot of colourful photos of local wildlife.

Over the next few months they have some exciting events to engage young nature enthusiasts including a bird ringing demonstration, harvest mice survey and photography workshop! For more information pay a visit to the Website, Instagram or Facebook page.

Zero Chippenham is a not-for-profit, voluntary group dedicated to zero carbon, zero waste and zero pollution. In the face of a climate and ecological emergency, our top priority is tackling the causes of climate change by helping our community reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2030, in accordance with the science.

Our current action areas are:

• Community Energy: including PV for schools and our Community Solar Panel Discount Scheme;

• Sustainable Transport: including events such as our Electric Vehicle Day at Castle Combe, scheduled for Spring 2021;

• Tree Planting: including working with the Town Council and partnering with local farmers to plant trees through our Tree Planting Scheme Carbon Offset Scheme

• Air Pollution: including using mobile Air Quality Monitoring equipment to raise awareness and identify low pollution walking, running and cycling routes for school children and others;

• Community Engagement: building on events such as our Sustainability Day and Sustainable Business Conference, schools and community events, and the recent Climate Emergency Workshop at Chippenham Area Board.

​

For more information about our activities and how to get involved please visit our website.