Council-wide Plans
Climate Plan
Detailing the council's plans to tackle the climate emergency, including decarbonisation of human activity and protecting flora and fauna for future generations.
Public authorities who operate in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This is the strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ that the Environment Act 2021 introduced (gov.uk).
Whitwell Parish Council adopted a motion in 2020, produced a Climate Change Strategy and invited parishioners to join a Parish Climate Change Group in September 2023. Suggestions were made for management of land to improve biodiversity in the parish, to comply with the Council’s bio-diversity duty.
A new area created in Autumn 2023 is the Community Orchard at Claylands, where people of all ages took part in planting hedgerows and trees.
Other suggestions that have been implemented is planting of a native hedge at the rear of the Cemetery Car Park, planting trees at the rear of Whitwell Common Recreation Ground and on Quarry Hill. A management plan for the Village Green was adopted at the Council’s July 2024 meeting.
Oak Tree on Village Green
The plan is now being implemented with paths being mowed on the Village Green leaving the remaining grass to grow until the second week in September (the paths will receive cuts as per the management plan).
Patches of long grass encourage different plant species to grow, help insects to thrive and create feeding opportunities for birds and small mammals, so simply lets nature move in! As well as benefiting the wildlife there will also be benefits to your wellbeing.
Spring 2026 has sprung on the Village Green The daffodils are in bloom and follow a swathe of snowdrops which doubles in size each year. The plans for increasing biodiversity on the Green are coming to fruition now that the new grass pathways are becoming more established, and we will soon be seeing new wildflowers emerge. If you would like to be part of shaping these plans you are welcome to join us at our Climate Action Working Group meetings which are held every few months at the community centre. Please contact the Parish Clerk.
Daffodils on the Village Green, Spring 2026