Zero Carbon Communities fund to encourage residents to reduce emissions

A Zero Carbon Communities fund has been awarded to local councils in Cambridgeshire to encourage local groups to undertake activities to reduce emissions.

The grant scheme was established in May 2019 by Cambridgeshire District Council in order to help towns in the district to become net-zero by 2050.

Cambourne Town Council has been awarded £2,538 from the fund, this money will be used to support local groups to undertake activities such as tree planting and to promote low-carbon lifestyles by encouraging behavioural changes.

On Friday (February 14) 30 school children and local council members came together in Cambourne to begin planting trees.

Over the course of the next few months, more than 1,200 trees and shrubs will be planted, it is estimated that the trees planted will remove around 420kg of CO2 per year.

Cllr Aiden Van de Weyer, deputy leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council said: ‘I’m really pleased to have got out into the fresh air and lend a hand with the planting in this lovely area.

‘We’ve given out more than £120,000 in grants to 19 different community projects that are all aiming to help reduce carbon emissions and it’s excellent to see that Cambourne has put the funding into use so quickly.

‘We’re determined to be green to our core and our Zero Carbon Communities scheme is one way we can help local residents who want to tackle the climate emergency we face.’

John Vickery, town clerk for Cambourne Town Council said: ‘The grant offers a great opportunity for Town and Parish Councils to work with the District Council to reduce the carbon footprint.

‘We would like to thank South Cambridgeshire District Council for the grant and we look forward to seeing residents come out to help our grounds team plant the remaining trees and hedges.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay