Green Infrastructure - A Vehicle for Working With Communities to Tackle Climate Change

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1 Green Infrastructure - A Vehicle for Working With Communities to Tackle Climate Change

2 The Origins of Red Rose Forest One of 12 Community Forests across England Launched in 1992 as a Partnership of 6 Local Authorities and National bodies Red Rose Forest Plan produced in 1994

3 Achievements to Date Over 1200ha of new woodland created Over 1500ha of woodland brought into active management Over 600km of access routes created or upgraded Urban Timber Initiative created 52 jobs, supported 41 companies

4 Climate Change? Bring it on What is climate change? Will it really effect me? Show me the evidence? What s wrong with hotter weather?

5 Why Should I Do Anything About it? Unemployment Crime / antisocial behaviour Poor health Sub-standard housing

6 So How Can We Engage Residents on CC? You can use force! We prefer practical involvement

7 How is RRF Working With Communities to Tackle CC? Green Streets i-trees Woodland Creation / Management Fruits of Red Rose Forest

8 Green Streets A nationally respected, ground breaking, urban greening initiative, which uses street greening projects to enhance the quality of life for urban communities by; Improving the places where people live Encouraging greater social interaction Bringing new skills and confidence

9 Street Trees

10 Green Walls

11 Planters

12 Green Alleyways

13 Green Car Park Green Art

14 Community Engagement Working closely with the community provides the opportunity to raise residents awareness of the climate change adaptation benefits of GI. There are 5 key stages of engagement employed in the Green Streets process; Initial consultation Resource procurement Project design / species choice Project delivery Project aftercare

15 i-trees Oxford Road Corridor A project that will help quantify the impact of different land surface types on; Temperature Water run off Air quality

16 ASCCUE i-trees has been developed by the University of Manchester and RRF to build on the ASCCUE modelling work carried out by the University. 9 Experimental Monitoring Plots are being installed comprising 3 surface types; Grass Street tree Tarmac

17 Work in Progress

18 Community Engagement The wider community will be engaged in in the i-trees project through; Working in schools On site signage Digital displays Exhibitions Literature

19 Woodland Creation / Management Most communities understand the importance of woodlands as green lungs for our cities that will; Store carbon dioxide Produce oxygen These benefits are just the tip of the melting polar ice cap. Engagement in planting and management projects provides so many more opportunities to learn and contribute.

20 School Engagement Provides young people with the opportunity to; Have a greater understanding of the dynamics of climate change Learn how trees / woodlands provide so many more benefits than just sequestration of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen production Make a direct contribution to the CC agenda Take ownership of their local environment

21 Community Planting Events These events provide the opportunity for whole families and Friends of Groups to get involved in something that will; Do their bit for climate change Improve their local environment Create a green legacy for future generations and something to be proud of

22 Woodland Management Creating new woodlands is essential for our future but managing existing woodlands is critical because of the adaptation benefits they provide us with now. Without these benefits the quality of life in our urban areas will diminish

23 Under Valued Woodlands Unfortunately many woodlands suffer from abuse such as; Fly tipping Vandalism Arson

24 Practical Engagement By involving residents and schools in the management of our woodlands we can help to; Encourage ownership and reduce vandalism Raise awareness of their importance from a climate change perspective Ensure sustained growth and longevity

25 Fruits of Red Rose Forest Delivered by the Greater Manchester Community Network this project provides members with training so that they can engage residents in; Planting orchards Planting fruit woods Planting fruit trees in gardens Maintenance

26 Disguising Fruit RRF loans out a variety of equipment to network members for community events to help promote fruit consumption; Apple / pear press Fruit peeler Apple corer These devices really help to encourage more fruit consumption especially with children

27 A local Apple A Day Keeps the Food Miles at Bay Fruits of RRF is not only reviving the age old tradition of local fruit production using trees of local provenance it is encouraging communities to; Eat locally produced fruit Understand the seasonal availability of fruit Grow their own fruit It is hoped that this will eventually contribute to a reduction in the purchase of imported fruit and hence a reduction in damaging food miles.

28 Getting Back in Touch With Nature GI alone is not the solution to addressing our changing climate. We also need to change our behaviour too, to reduce our carbon footprint. However, for many this will be difficult and not a priority. Many urbanites have become isolated from their natural heritage. Reintroducing residents to GI can help rekindle an interest in the natural environment. In the long term this may help to increase and sustain levels of greenery which will make a valuable contribution to climate change adaptation