“It’s always great to get the next generation involved” – What Salford community groups are doing to achieve COP26 aims

RHS and IGNITION invited community groups to help work towards a greener, more environmentally aware Salford.

To mark COP26 in Glasgow, Salford groups joined together in a community hackathon for a chance to learn and reflect.

The event was described on Facebook as an ‘opportunity to drill down into the details of practical actions we can take to transform our communities by learning, collaborating, and sharing ideas.’

The ignition project already has a Living Lab at the University.

Projects also include nature-based solutions to climate emergencies.

Volunteers from Growing Togetherness and Inspiring Communities Together use a thermal camera to show how a living wall is colder which helps to reduce global warming.

A speaker at the event stated: “They are in urban environments and the regions beyond. It’s all about making space for them natural preventions and the innovations that mimic nature, sustainable drainage systems and utilise their functions.”

On the university campus, the project has created a living wall to help reduce global warming, a rain garden to reduce the risk of flooding, green roofs and street trees.

Monton village community association shared ideas of what they are doing to help achieve COP26 aims: “Our motto is keeping Monton clean, green and safe. We have three greens in Monton and we look after the Busy Bees gardening group and do all the maintenance.

“The gardening group does a litter pick all on the three greens and around. In the summer months, we get between 20-30 people every six weeks to do a full village litter pick”.

Danielle Wright, from Inspiring Communities together, works to ensure that change is made.

“We have what we call green and grow which is every Thursday 1 pm – 3 pm at Salford sports village. Anyone can just come along and grow.”

This programme combines older residents with the nursery to share a collection of skills across generations.

With Salford City Council declaring a climate emergency in 2019, they are working as part of the Greater Manchester Five-Year Environment Plan.

Key projects include the use of sustainable energy, anti-flooding schemes and active travel.

The ideas will be exhibited at RHS Bridgewater in 2022.