I put this at the footer of every email, but this month it’s going first: can you think of three people you could forward this email to? The more people we can reach, the more good we can do for Luton. Thanks!
Now, read on for these stories and more below:
Green ambitions at Putteridge High School
Gateway sustainable development at Junction 10
Extinction Rebellion’s carnival for life comes to Luton
Green ambitions at Putteridge High
Students at Putteridge High School share the sustainability actions they have been taking at school and in the community:
Why are you acting?
We want to create positive change in our community. It started taking shape when we worked on a project for Peace Child about poverty. We presented to a panel of MPs and the head of the Chiltern Learning Trust. It felt like we had done something really impressive, and that adults were listening to us. The MPs committed to taking action.
What we learned from Peace Child is how many things are interrelated – like poverty and climate change, and sustainability. We were learning all this while we were in the midst of having a brand new school built, and we felt privileged and like we should be doing more.
Since then it’s been a perfect storm of teachers supporting us in acting beyond just what we do in school and lessons. We’re really fortunate. The more we do, the easier it is to see how it really is all connected. Once you start looking at the Sustainable Development Goals, it just makes sense.
What goals did you set?
Our first goal was to go to Stopsley common and plant trees to lead change in our school and the local community. We’ve also made plans to support the Stopsley Community Garden by going to St Anne’s on Crawley Green this week to prepare some land there for another community garden (pictured above). We also pledged to be plastic-free by 2023 and encouraged a switch to a new more sustainable waste company.
Along with that the school secured contracts that ensure all our canteen packaging is plant-based and compostable. We also proposed an outdoor classroom, greenhouse and allotment and those ideas were approved. Now we’re finding the right location and hoping we can get some support with building it.
We wanted to do more to address hunger and poverty, so we supported the local Luton foodbank with a school to school run, and then we fundraised to support children in Pakistan as part of a Feed the Children Ramadan Project. We are on a mission to take on the sustainable development goals to improve the world we live in, for everyone.
What do you want to do next?
Our first priority for next year is to get our outdoor classroom and greenhouse built and in place, along with our allotment. We would like to be recognised as a school of sustainability. Then we want to branch out to other schools, colleges, and community groups to campaign and educate for a better future. We also want to have a better sense of green careers and then set more goals based on where we are weaker on the Sustainable Development Goals.
We interviewed Assistant Headteacher Miss Bartoletti about her vision for the future, as she has been instrumental in supporting our clubs and driving us all to work together. She has a BIG vision.“I don’t see any other current factor of citizenship that trumps sustainability within our society,” she says. “The students in our school and within the Chiltern Learning Trust are a powerful force determined to pave the way for a better, more sustainable future.”
If any other schools or businesses would like to reach out and share ideas, we’re eager to make connections! Please email: croom@putteridgehigh.org & cheartfield@putteridgehigh.org
Teachers, there’s still time to bring some young people along to the Youth Climate Conference - see below!
Join the Youth Climate Conference
Spaces are still available for Youth Network’s Climate Conference on the 11th and 12th of July at Stockwood Park. “YCC2022 represents an opportunity for learning, positive action and leadership with young people to create a better future,” says Raheed Salam, Director of Youth Network. “If you are aged 11-25 from Luton, please don’t miss this opportunity to share your ideas. The next innovation on climate change could come from our conference!”
Gateway green development at J10
When Luton Town FC were looking for a location to build a new stadium, the options were Junction 10 or Power Court. Having chosen the latter, we’ve been waiting to hear what would be built on the Newlands Park site at J10. That has now been announced and it is, drumroll please… a logistics park.
Of course it is.
As predictable as this may be, we were nevertheless pleased to see that Wrenbridge aims to deliver “one of the most sustainable logistics developments in the UK”. They are aiming for net zero construction, and buildings rated ‘excellent’ for sustainability. All four of the large buildings will be covered in solar panels, and they will also feature air-source heat pumps and green roofs on the offices.
Extensive tree planting will take place around the site, screening it from view and creating more green space.
The site will create an estimated 2,500 new jobs in Luton, and those traveling to work at Newlands Park will benefit from a cycle path onto the site, and bike storage at several locations. Those driving can choose from a planned 115 electric car charging points, which is twice as many as the whole of Luton currently has put together.
XR’s Carnival for Life to visit Luton
Extinction Rebellion are touring a ‘Carnival for Life’ around the East of England, and will be bringing their “big, bold, colourful and beautiful” celebration to Luton on Friday the 22nd of July.
The carnival will start at Manor Road Park at 3pm and proceed towards George Street and the town hall, where there will be a samba band, animal costumes, ‘die-ins’, dancing and more until around 7pm. All are welcome.
“We want to celebrate all that we hold dear in life - the art, the music, the fun,” says XR East of England. “We also need to hear the message from those suffering already around the world, giving a platform for their voices.”
The carnival in Luton is one of six planned in July, with others taking place in Norwich, Bury St Edmunds, Hertford, Colchester and Ipswich, in advance of wider Extinction Rebellion actions due to take place in September.
In other news…
How efficient are Luton’s homes? We did a quick factcheck after a couple of conflicting stories on the topic.
The deadline to join the Solar Together community buying scheme has come and gone, with over 5,000 households registering across Bedfordshire. Solar Together report that they have held a successful auction and we will keep you up to date as the project progresses.
Luton author Jeremy Williams has been longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for environmental writing, for his book Climate Change is Racist: Race, Privilege and the Struggle for Climate Justice. Jeremy Williams also writes this newsletter (Hi, yes, true) and this is technically self-promotion.
In March we reported on the council’s decision to bring in new powers to stop engine idling in the town. They are currently running a consultation that will inform the awareness raising campaign on idling – it takes two minutes and is well worth doing if you value clean air.
And finally
Reading this for the first time because someone forwarded to you? Excellent. Can I persuade you to subscribe? It’s free, modestly monthly and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Share your story
Got a story to share? What’s happening where you are to help shift Luton towards a low carbon future?
Send your stories and questions to Jeremy Williams: jeremy@earthboundventures.org
The next newsletter will be out at the end of July, with further stories and updates in between at zerocarbonluton.org