Ashton Hayes Going Carbon Neutral

Ashton Hayes is a rural village of about 1000 people in Cheshire. In 2006 400 people - three quarters of the adult population - met and agreed to begin a programme of concerted and collaborative action to reduce the village's carbon footprint. With support from local councils, businesses and academic institutions, the village has so far reduced its carbon footprint by almost 25 per cent. In their thinking about how to develop carbon neutral communities toolkit, written to help other communities with similar aspirations, they identify some of the factors they have found helpful:

• Check on local interest before setting out on a programme of action
• The support of the local primary school teachers, children and parents has been essential: if you persuade the children you can get to the parents
• Universities have helped with issues of monitoring and measurement - a local university (Chester) but UEA as well
• Get key local organisations onside (faith groups, youth organisations, WI, the horticultural society)
• Engage support from the local business community
• Secure commitment from the local democratic body (parish, town, district council) - as local as possible
• A website is crucial
• Engage support of local press and media