Our Projects
Take a look at Bude Climate Partnership's research and engagement work.
Our research projects are the engine room of Bude Climate Partnership. They will provide vital information to help us develop ways to future-proof Bude and adapt to the impacts of the climate and ecological crisis, especially sea-level rise. By the end of 2021, we will have developed a clear picture of all aspects of our community’s carbon footprint that we can use to steer us towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030, in line with Cornwall Council and Bude-Stratton Town Council's targets. Protecting our town, coastline, countryside and way of life is at the heart of these projects.
Community Carbon Audit
This project has two parts. First we'll gather hard data about all forms of energy use across the Bude Community Network Area. This will look at household and non-domestic energy consumption across all 11 parishes. The second part will analyse this data to develop positive projects to reduce our carbon footprint and make Bude more resilient to climate-change challenges. Some of the ideas include support for improving home insulation, switching to more efficient and renewable heating systems, and reducing food miles with local growing schemes.
More Updates Coming Soon
Transport Study
Bude's limited public transport provision means that for many people the only to get around is by car. This project investigates the extent of our dependency on cars and explores alternative means of transport within the wider Bude area and beyond it for longer journeys. Some of the ideas that we're examining include an improved cycle network, community-led public transport and electric car-share schemes, reintroducing the railway and walking buses for the school run. All these ideas need your input, so we're running surveys to hear what you'd like in the Bude area.
Sustainable Tourism Project
Visitors are essential to our economy but they have a huge impact on our carbon footprint – unsurprising, considering more than a million visitor nights are spent in the area every year and most arrive by car. We're looking at ways to promote and develop Bude as a leading sustainability destination, capitalising on our wide-open beaches and untouched countryside. We also aim to make it easier for tourists to choose greener options. Since collaboration is central to our vision, we'll be asking visitors and tourism businesses for their feedback and suggestions.
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To find out more about our strategy and the reasons behind it, please download our Sustainable Tourism report.
Climate Impact Study
We are working with the Environment Agency and Exeter University to assess and evaluate the impact of climate change on our coastline, our wider landscape, our town and surrounding villages. Part of the work will look at how the community can have its say on responses to climate change impacts, particularly sea-level rise. We're investigating different approaches we can use as a community to help us adapt to the future. Watch this space to find out how you can get involved and have your say.
More Updates Coming Soon
Led by Westcountry Rivers Trust, this project investigates nature-based responses to climate change in our local rivers and landscape. The first stage is complete: a set of multi-layered maps that show the current condition of the landscape, identify where the vulnerabilities are located, and highlight where mitigation measures could be placed for maximum benefit. This will help us develop changes to land management, farming practices and re-wilding to improve carbon capture and increase our resilience to floods and droughts.
Go With the Flow
This fascinating short film shows how our local rivers and landscape can reduce climate change extremes across our remote corner of North Cornwall. It explains how nature-based solutions can protect us from intense but more sporadic rainfall creating floods and drought - and how we can trap more carbon in our soils and vegetation.
Calling all Farmers, Landowners and Volunteers!
If you are a landowner or farmer and would like to get involved with the Westcountry Rivers Trust project, please contact us using the button above. We’d also love to hear from any farmers who are already working with nature to increase their resilience to extreme weather. There are also opportunities to volunteer monitoring the health of our local rivers and streams.
Reaching Older Generations Study
Bude is a beautiful place for retirement, which is one reason why it has more people over the age of 65 than the national average. While retirees have the largest carbon footprint, they also have valuable skills and experiences to share with younger generations. We're working with researchers and filmmakers to capture these make-do-and-mend skills and cultural memories that are specific to our area. These will help us find ways for all generations to develop greener ways of enjoying life together that will secure Bude’s future in the face of the challenges of climate change.
More Updates Coming Soon
The Library of Things
The Library of Things is one of our more practical projects. Instead of individual households filling their cupboards and sheds with rarely used items like sewing machines, carpet cleaners and pressure washers, we're looking at creating a loan system to borrow them when you need them. A Library of Things for the community will reduce our carbon footprint and help people who otherwise might not have access to such items. We're also looking at how to make our Library of Things mobile, delivering items where they're needed; a greener and more convenient system.
More Updates Coming Soon
The Physical Hub Project
Creating a multi-purpose space in Bude to serve as a one-stop shop for Bude Climate Partnership is essential if we want to be accessible and helpful to all the community. Ideally, the Physical Hub will combine retail space for local growers and climate-friendly producers and retailers, offices and an information hub that offers support to the community about money-saving ways of reducing energy consumption. A cafe would help with running costs and encourage visitors and residents to learn more about Bude Climate Partnership's goals.
More Updates Coming Soon
Community Climate Change Festival
Summer 2022 marks the end of the 18-month 'development phase' of Bude Climate Partnership's work, so come and help us celebrate on the Castle grounds. This is an opportunity for the whole community to come together to enjoy a weekend of music, entertainment and eco-focused workshops and activities. As well as having fun, you can learn more about what we've been doing and find out how you can get involved as we (hopefully) move into the five-year 'delivery phase'. BCP is nothing without you; this festival is our way of saying thank you.
More Updates Coming Soon
Connecting with the Community
If we want to succeed in our mission of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, we've got to make sure that everyone knows what we're doing and what our strategies are. This means spreading the word with videos and podcasts, gatherings and events. It also means creating more structured learning resources in the form of 'toolkits' – packs that can be used by schools and community groups to provide easy-to-digest information on the impacts of climate change and what we can do about it. If we know what we're facing, we can turn worries into action.
More Updates Coming Soon