Sustainable Duddon

Underwood Cottage
LA20 6DR
Purpose:
Our aim through shared vision, shared values and collective action, is to work together to achieve a more sustainable present and future in and around the Duddon Valley and estuary.
In particular, we aim to:
• work to enhance the environment of our beautiful area,
• promote a greater understanding and respect for the natural environment and also our slice of the unique Lake District environment that it a legacy of centuries of human interaction with the natural world
• find simple and effective ways of working together that improve efficiency, make the most of resources and ensure value for money
• work to ensure change within our area enhances social, economic and environmental well–being,
• ensure resources are used wisely, prevent pollution and waste, conserve and enhance the environment for future generations, and progress towards carbon neutrality
Specifically as regards the climate emergency, we will do as much as we can locally and nationally to slow global warming and mitigate the effects of climate breakdown. We will seek to co-create a kind, inclusive, cohesive and resilient community embracing as many people as possible in the area, to provide mutual support in the face of the worsening effects of climate breakdown.

Activities and Services: Renewable Energy
• We secured a £25k grant to survey potential hydroelectricity sites and develop an initial case with which to secure funding for a local scheme. Of the two sites identified as worthy of further investigation, one will now be taken forward by the National Trust as the major landowner, and the other has been curtailed in scope owing to a landowner withdrawing permission at a late stage. However, the exercise proved enormously useful in transferring expertise to Sustainable Duddon members regarding the establishment of local renewable energy schemes.
• Working with Millom Without Parish Council, we recently suggested to a local business that we work together to develop land within their leasehold as a solar farm, using the electricity generated to power the quarry machinery and /or to deliver to the local community through an ‘energy local’ scheme. Contact with the quarry is ongoing, though they may develop without partnering with the local community.

Community Orchard
• We established a community orchard, after agreeing community access with the landowner, local charity Kepplewray.
• We secured funding through grants, fenced off and hedged the land, and bought and planted local apple varieties. We have implemented an ongoing management regime.

Community Garden
• We worked with a local resident to bring back into use the long neglected valley school house garden.
• A number of local volunteers have worked together to renovate the garden
• We have grown many vegetables and fruit which we have donated to a community meals service and sold from an honesty stall.
• The garden has also recently proved useful as a place to heel in trees awaiting planting elsewhere in the valley by Sustainable Duddon and other community groups.

Community Outreach
• In 2022 we applied for and secured a place for Sustainable Duddon on the South Copeland Geological Disposal Facility Community Partnership. This is an important body locally with the task of understanding issues around managing nuclear waste, and engaging with the local community concerning ongoing investigations into a possible geological disposal facility. We continue to participate fully in meetings and engage in community outreach.
• We attended community shows, to present information on diverse sustainability topics, including the local environment, heat pumps and grants for insulation.
• In cooperation with the South Lakes Orchard Group we ran an apple grafting course, and prepared to run another in 2024.
• We continually explore other ways of working with the community, such as exploring the feasibility of a log bank.
• We ran a ceilidh to help raise awareness of Sustainable Duddon and our work.
• We are working on an ongoing basis with two local schools, Broughton in Furness and Thwaites, on a number of projects. The former has been involved with setting up the community orchard, which is next to the school’s grounds. We have worked with the latter to plant hedges and native bulbs, and secured grant funding for a wildlife camera.

Environmental Action
• Working with local parish groups, we ran a number of litter picking exercises clearing large amounts of rubbish from roadsides and fellsides.

Active Transport
• We supported Millom Without Parish Council in providing a community cycle event.
• We developed and conducted a survey on active travel provisions and potential improvements. BEAT project
• We worked with representatives from the South Cumberland Partnership identify and communicate options for a strategic route between the Esk and the Duddon river.
The Duddon Catchment Partnership
• Together with other local organisations including the South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Duddon River Association, the South Lakes Red Squirrels Group, Sustainable Duddon are developing proposals for the re-naturalisation of the lower Duddon. Aims will include improving community resilience to climate events, in particular flooding, and improving biodiversity in the valley.
• Initial work will be to take detailed environmental and community surveys establish a baseline which can be used to develop SMART objectives for subsequent interventions.

Community Garden
• We will continue to develop the community garden, exploring new ways to integrate both the gardening and the produce within the community.
• Some beds are currently being used to ‘heel in’ c. 700 saplings procured for planting to regenerate broadleaf woodland in the valle

Community Outreach
• We will continue to engage fully in the Geological Disposal Facility Community Partnership.
• We the assistance of experts from the South Lakes Orchard Group, we have again delivered our apple grafting course. Fully subscribed for the second year running.
• We will continue to be present at community shows

Other Environmental Action
• We are continuing with our litter picking work.
• We are also working with Millom Without Parish Council to explore whether it would be possible to establish a community woodland or similar wildlife area.

Specialism: Environment

https://www.duddonvalley.co.uk/sustainable.htm