Previous Projects and Events

Sustainable Development (formerly Local Agenda 21) has been involved in many projects, below are summaries of some of the projects to date.

Wroughton Carnival - July 2004

During July 2004 Swindon Borough Council environmental staff came together to organise a walking float for Wroughton Village Carnival in Swindon. Wanda the Walking World, a large red dragon handing out thermometers to the crowds and recycled clothes made out of old carrier bags and crisp packets were amongst the parade spreading the word about the environment. The Swindon Borough Council stand was highly commended and was enjoyed by all.

Car Free Day – 22nd September 2005

Swindon Borough Council – Local Agenda 21 Team in partnership with the Swindon Wiltshire Wildlife Trust ran a wacky race between a car user, motorbike, cyclist, bus user and runner to promote sustainable modes of transport. Daryl Jones dressed as a polar bear and Gill Chandler as Rainbow Robin travelled on the number 19 bus from the Link Centre, West Swindon in rush hour traffic all in the name of promoting sustainable transport. BBC Radio Swindon followed the mayor and interviewed the team live on air for updates. The event was a great success and put out a clear message about sustainable transport.

Swindon Local Task Food Group  

Swindon Local Task Force Food Group was set up to promote locally produced food, which is competitive, good quality and available with a guaranteed supply, that contributes to health and the environment. The group has been successful establishing a successful farmers market in Canal Wharf, Swindon Town Centre. Other projects that the group are currently looking at include school kitchens and organic produce.

Buckhurst Fields Project  

Three years ago, a group of dedicated residents at Parks & Walcot formed the Buckhurst Fields Committee Group to plan and provide play facilities, a ball-park and skate park for the local community. They have worked hard throughout this project and have achieved great things. They were successful in obtaining funding from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), Living Spaces and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWERDA) to take forward the project. The area has been transformed with a new ball park and play area in place and more recently a new Skate park.

Switch on Swindon!

Switch On Swindon was year-long project run by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in 2004. It was supported by Swindon Borough Council and NPower. The aim was to reduce household carbon emissions by raising awareness of the links between energy use in the home, climate change and its impact on wildlife.

It is thought that as many as a third of the world’s plants and animals may be threatened with extinction from climate change by 2050. Yet there are many things that we can all do as individuals and communities to save energy and help reduce the pollution causing climate change, from fitting low energy lightbulbs and turning appliances off standby, to installing insulation or solar panels.

The project took the form of a year long inter-community competition, where council wards competed against each other to save energy and win points for a £4000 prize. Householders earned points for their council ward by filling in Home Energy Surveys to receive energy efficiency advice, installing energy efficiency measures and by promoting the project through talks and events.

A network of volunteers was used to promote the project in their communities. As an additional incentive there were prizes of £1000 to the community group which did the most to promote the project and a £1000 cash prize draw for individuals who took action to save energy at home.

12 of the 21 council wards in Swindon Borough took part in the competition to a greater or lesser extent. A total of over 1300 people receiving personalised energy efficiency advice, over 1000 children taking party in workshops on climate change and energy, 767 households installing energy saving measures and over 270 tonnes of carbon dioxide being saved annually.

The community prize of £4000 was won by Old Town and Lawn and the money was allocated to a local social enterprise L.E.A.V.E.S ., to help set a community composting project, a gardening service for local residents and a community conservation group.

Croft and Larra Community Council and STICKY Church youth groups were both awarded £500 for their hard work and enthusiasm in promoting the project and encouraging people to save energy.

The project was funded by the Energy Saving Trust, New Opportunities Fund and the SEED programme and sponsored by NPower.

If you would like to receive free energy efficiency advice please call the Wiltshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512 012.

Our Environment Matters Newsletter

The Swindon Local Agenda 21 newsletter is available as downloadable pdf files:

Our Environment Matters - Edition 4 - Summer 2005

Our Environment Matters - Edition 3 - Winter 2004

Our Environment Matters - Edition 1 - Autumn 2003