ADAPT visit Ashton Hayes

Visit to visionary Ashton Hayes

Members of ADAPT recently visited Ashton Hayes near Chester to learn from their experience of going carbon neutral. Concerned about climate change, Ashton Hayes Parish Council adopted the visionary goal of becoming England's first carbon neutral village. Through regular surveys of households' carbon footprints, they know that carbon emissions have reduced significantly, largely due to behaviour changes stimulated by raised awareness.

The initiative has spawned other community projects, including time banking, running the village shop, and setting up a community owned renewable energy company (their Neighbourhood Plan earmarks four hectares of land for renewable energy production). Their current focus is on fundraising to buy and reopen the village pub which closed five years ago – to date, 40% of households have bought pub shares.

It was an inspiring visit and ADAPT members will now reflect on it to see how we might interest and involve more groups and individuals in raising Audlem's ambition with regard to going carbon neutral. Or, as we say in ADAPT: finding ways to enjoy living well today while safeguarding the future.

The photo shows Roy Alexander (right) and Kate Harrison (left) of Ashton Hayes briefing ADAPT visitors. In the background is the sports pavilion, designed and built as their first major project. Solar panels and an air source heat pump provide free electricity and hot water for the pavilion's cafe, changing rooms and showers, as well as generating income for the community's energy company.

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