Climate action and the humble garden fork

Aoife Munn, sustainability consultant.

Participants at a recent Climate Action workshop in Kilcock came away with more than just tips on how to make the most of funding opportunities in the sector, they learned how to properly use a garden fork, writes Brian Byrne.

The recent March open meeting of KCA heard from Noel Clare who had attended the event, facilitated by sustainability consultant Aoife Munn. "After 60 years, I learned how to use a fork properly," he said. "I tried it when I got home ... and it works, it really saves your back." 

The workshop focus was on how to apply for money from the Community Climate Action Fund, and how to make the most of any funding won. Noel told the meeting that the funding available is limited, and a key takeaway from the workshop was that an application from a community that encompasses a range of projects is a better strategy than individual organisations looking for money for their own particular project. "It's likely that only one grant would be made to a single community, so it makes sense that everyone gets together with their ideas and the application includes them all."

Aoife Munn, who has been consulting in this area for some 17 years, outlined the applicable areas within the CCAF as Home/Energy, Travel, Food & Waste, Shopping, and Local Climate Land Actions. She said 'there will be stiff competition' for the funding, and careful filling out of the application form will ensure better scores. "The more strands you include, the stronger your application, so think about all five strands," she said.

She concentrated for the event on the three segments which are her own areas of expertise. Under Food & Waste she spoke about allotments and community garden options and discussed the necessary features for such projects, including accessibility and facilities for people with mobility and other marginalising issues. Waste reduction strategies such as food banks, supporting local growers, and community composting facilities were among other ideas discussed.

Under Shopping, the development of a more circular economy is a key element in creating sustainable communities. Ideas considered included Swap Shops, Repair Cafes which can return broken items to use, and ways of working with local businesses to reduce their packaging.

One of Aoife Munn's particular interests as a horticulturist is Local Climate Land Actions, which include options to mitigate flooding as climate change brings heavier rainfall. The workshop discussed flaws in current urban drainage systems, which let water through too quickly to waterways. The concept of 'rain gardens' to catch runoff water and purify it was also explored, as were swale ditches designed to take water from roads and slow its spread to adjoining land.

The event also delved into carbon storage using trees and hedgerows planting, and Aoife Munn pointed the participants towards a range of practical guides relating to these.

"It was a really fantastic event," Noel Clare told the KCA meeting.

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