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Climate and Nature advocacy in Swindon, affiliated to Friends of the Earth. Image: Westmill Wind and Solar Farm, cooperatively owned just outside Swindon
We work closely with Wiltshire Climate Alliance - check out their website for more local information
We are affiliated to Friends of the Earth UK as a local voluntary group
Event: Swindon Communities Day for Climate and Nature: 31-Oct-2026
Event: Swindon Communities Day for Climate and Nature: 31-Oct-2026
Saturday 31st October 2026 - Christ Church, Swindon
This event provided inspiration and resources to support climate and environmental goals, organised by Swindon Climate Action Network and Wiltshire Climate Alliance and hosted by Christ Church.
Community groups, unitary and local/parish councils, schools and colleges, churches and mosques, businesses and charities and all sorts of other organisations were invited to discuss and explore how to mitigate and adapt to climate change and reverse the decline of nature and ecosystems.
Some people had seen the People's Emergency Briefing film to think about how we can all do things in every area of life to help and how we need our politicians to enable and support a better future.
There were stalls, presentations, panel discussions and workshops on various aspects, and some delicious healthy and nutritious plant-rich food for lunch.
List of Sessions and Speakers
List of Sessions and Speakers
10:0 INTRODUCTION and Welcome; Key speakers on vision, urgency, current relevance to Swindon, PEB progress
William Lambert, Wiltshire Climate Alliance
Jake Chandler, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Cabinet Member for Strategy, Resilience and Green Infrastructure
Neil Hopkins, Mayor of Swindon
Helena Thomas, Swindon Eco-Church Network
Daniel Pitt, Christ Church
Keynotes ‘Climate Emergency and current updates’:
Jacky Macqueen: PEB update and key take homes for Swindon: we are all involved and have a role to play: network;
Communities are “doing it for themselves” MyceliumMike Birkin and findings from Climate Environmental Fairness workshop and the key role of communities in making positive change happen, and how we need to work together and listen to each other
11:0 GREEN AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: what can be and is being done? With overview of key afternoon sessions and stalls
The call to action from the PEB, and other recent developments; Introducing success stories
Home Improvements for Energy Saving - everyone in a comfortable, healthy and affordable home powered by low carbon energy.
Sustainable travel supported - safe walking or cycling for local travel, public transport
Community Energy - William
Food security - Jacky
Nature & Resilience
Circular Resources and Waste Reduction : repair cafe, Library of Things - Allie Brown
12:0 lunch/stalls:
Fresh All-Plant Lunch provided by Jades Green Kitchen
"At JGK we’re all about celebrating the beauty of the very best vegetables and wholefoods, bringing the freshest, locally sourced ingredients straight to your event. Along with a smile, of course!"
13:0 Church: Domestic Retrofit - Engaging communities in home energy improvements
Facilitator: Matthew Short (Home Energy Consultant, Zero Chippenham)
Jess Thimbleby, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy running energy sessions in Swindon
Kate Silvester, Pewsey Green : thermal cameras use in the community
Tony Cowling, Draughtbusters
Bean Beanland : BBH Energy (Mr Heat Pump himself) (Also 3pm talk in meeting room)
Nick Whant, NSBRC helping homeowners with their retrofit projects
Nick Orman, Solar/battery and own retrofit; [helping neighbours with solar?]
13:0 Hall: Food - tackling food insecurity - moving to plant rich diets
Facilitator: Andrew Nicolson / Julian Jones
Andrew Nicolson - set scene
Repi Begum - International perspective eg Bangladesh
Melanie - The Gap (community/youth project in Walcot) - community growing
Holly Barrand - Schools Grow Together
14:0 Church: Nature and Resilience - Engaging communities in planning for a changing climate
Sacha Clements, Wiltshire & Swindon Local Nature Partnership Manager
Neil Pullen, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust : Swindon Forest meadows 5min
Safia Gilder Hodgson, Great Western Forest
Linda Kasmaty - South Swindon in Bloom (video)
Nick Orman, water management
14:0 Hall: Community-led and owned energy systems
Facilitator: William Lambert (WCA)
Alex Lockton, Zero North Wiltshire
John Helsby, Westmill Community Energy
Kate Silvester, Pewsey Green Future Energy Landscape approach in Pewsey
Daniel Pitt, Christ Church / Community Centre journey
Bea Udale-Smith, Centre for Sustainable Energy
15:0 Hall: Transport - walking/cycling friendly communities, public transport etc
Facilitator: Andrew Nicolson / Julian Jones
Adrian Rogers: Bikability in schools, inclusive cycling, cycle routes and maps, cycle friendly city, Dr Bike (Lifecycle), LCWIP and greenways to RWB and Highworth etc
Gerry Hannon: Swindon Cycling Campaign, cycle path community maintenance
Matthew Short: Chippenham Cycling Campaign, Air Quality
Claire Fleming/Rachel Edgington, SBC: buses, school streets, Car Clubs alternative to ownership - CoWheels
Andrew Nicolson, WCA: Twenty's Plenty, Vision Zero, Living Streets, Low Traffic Future, Wessex Greenways CIC
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