Chesterfield sustainability

Midlands councils collaborate to bring more EV chargers to the region

Local authorities across the midlands, including Derbyshire County Council have successfully submitted a bid for £39.3m for more EV chargers in our region.

A partnership between thirteen councils applied for funding from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, alongside sub-national transport body, Midlands Connect.

Each local authority has been allocated an individual amount from the funding pot.

Analysis by Midlands Connect found the Midlands needs 17,461 new public EV charging points by the end of 2025 to meet the needs of the growing EV market and it’s hoped this latest good news around the Government funding will spur on more region-wide installation of charging points.

Estimates suggest the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging points will also create an influx of jobs in the region, with over 42,000 related roles set to be created in the Midlands by the end of 2032.

In 2022, Midlands Connect together with five councils secured £1million of funding through the LEVI Fund Pilot and that cash is expected to attract an additional £2.8m of private sector investment to roll out 322 standard and 27 rapid EV charging points across the Midlands. Charge points are expected to be installed for this project in summer 2024.

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said: “We are delighted the Government has allocated funding over £39.3m for 13 councils across the Midlands. This will really help the region to charge ahead of the pack.”

“This is a vital next step in our efforts to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the region ahead of the phase out of sales of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030. This funding will improve the lives of those living in the Midlands, particularly for those who do not have access to off-street parking and may struggle to charge their vehicle otherwise.”

Find out more about Chesterfield Borough Council’s climate strategy, which outlines the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030, and achieving net zero for the borough by 2050.

electric car charging

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New EV charging site opens in North Derbyshire

A new charging site for electronic vehicles has been installed at a new site near Chesterfield.

Two rapid charging stations have been installed by InstaVolt at Starbucks, located on The Hill in Glapwell.

This latest addition brings the total of InstaVolt EV charging sites in the Chesterfield area to six, with others being based at McDonald’s West Bars, Chesterfield Lawn Tennis Club, KFC at Markham Vale, alongside McDonald’s and Costa Coffee in Barlborough.

With plans to install 10,000 rapid chargers by 2030, InstaVolt currently has more than 1,200 chargers across the country.

There are now more than 780,000 EVs on Britain’s roads. InstaVolt says charging infrastructure is increasing to match demand as more people make the switch to electric vehicles, with 550 rapid chargers installed last month alone.

Adrian Keen, the CEO of InstaVolt, said: “We’re delighted to bring more of our award-winning rapid chargers to Chesterfield, with class-leading reliability of more than 99.9% and installations of two or more chargers at many sites.

“EV drivers can be confident that when they arrive, they’ll find an easy to use charger, with on-site driver amenities, without having to queue.”

He added: “With an extensive, fully nationwide network, EV drivers are never far away from an InstaVolt rapid charger. When embarking on a long journey, just a little bit of route planning in advance using search engines or a dedicated App for charging points like ZapMap or InstaVolt’s own App, makes life easier.

“And while you recharge your EV, recharge yourself: stretch your legs and enjoy a coffee or bite to eat from one of our on-site partners.”

InstaVolt’s chargers are powered using 100% renewable energy, are easy to use and take contactless payment.

Drivers can visit the website, or sign up to the optional InstaVolt App, where they can find their nearest charging station, search for real-time availability across its sites, and pay for their charge – all in one place.

Chesterfield Borough Council recently published its climate stategy, which outlines aims to ensure the Borough achieves net zero by 2050. Read more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2023/02/new-climate-strategy-agreed-in-chesterfield/

Planning a journey to Chesterfield? Find out more about the town’s excellent transport links here.

Instavolt Chesterfield 873

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Chesterfield manufacturer announces strategic sustainability partnership

Chesterfield’s MTM Products, one of the leading UK industrial graphics suppliers, has announced a strategic partnership with CarbonQuota, a print and packaging carbon measurement and reduction specialist.

The partnership reflects MTM’s firm commitment to delivering a more energy-efficient and carbon-reduced operation.

Catering to a diverse range of industries, MTM supplies original equipment manufacturers in the UK and EU, with a particular focus on automotive, electrical and electronic, rail, medical, construction, and machinery equipment sectors.

The company’s industry-specific stock management systems, including lineside stocking, buffer stocks, and call-off orders, ensure seamless and efficient supply chain operations for its esteemed clientele. The company already operates to recognised industry standards, including BS, ISO, and UL/ANSI, and holds ISO9001/14001 certifications.

Mark Niblett, Managing Director of MTM Products commented: “We take pride in our technical and applications engineering expertise, the expertise and proficiency of our teams, competitive pricing, and our signature MTM Express quick turnaround service.

“It is now becoming increasingly important to our clients to also understand our environmental impact. Our partnership with CarbonQuota signifies our commitment to decarbonise as much as possible by 2030.

“This not only benefits the environment but also brings with it many other advantages for MTM Products Ltd, including competitive differentiation.“

MTM Products engaged CarbonQuota to accelerate its carbon reduction efforts, aligning with the 2030 government directive and rising client demands for environmentally conscious practices.

CarbonQuota’s expertise in carbon management and granular three-step approach provided MTM with a clear roadmap to establish baselines, set objectives, and execute their decarbonisation plans.

One of the primary goals of this partnership was to demonstrate MTM’s commitment to delivering measurable carbon footprint reduction results. Independent assessment by CarbonQuota has confirmed the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of MTM’s energy use and carbon footprint data.

As a result of their implemented carbon reduction strategies, MTM has successfully decreased its operational carbon footprint by an impressive 34 tonnes of CO2e over the past year.

Looking forward, MTM Products is determined to continue reducing its carbon emissions, furthering environmental responsibility, and setting new benchmarks for lower carbon manufacturing practices. By partnering with CarbonQuota, MTM is poised to drive positive change within its business and beyond.

Find out more about why Chesterfield is an excellent location to base your business at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

MTM Products supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

MTM Mark Niblett

Mark Niblett, MTM Products

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Climate Change Forum to launch in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Borough Council is getting ready to launch a climate change forum and is looking for Chesterfield based representatives to get involved.

Climate change is a huge issue, and everyone has their own view on how Chesterfield Borough Council can make a difference in our communities. Therefore, if you are part of a community group or organisation and could spare a bit of time, the council wants to hear from you.

The forum is planned to launch in September and will meet in person around once each quarter.

The representatives involved will be asked to act as a sounding board, comment on current projects, suggest new ideas and help Chesterfield Borough Council to raise awareness about climate projects happening either through the council or locally. The plan is to create a wide consultative process, in which the council is working closely with a variety of community representatives.

No experience of climate projects is required, just an interest in helping to shape plans in relation to climate change in the future.

Councillor Martin Stone, cabinet member for climate change, planning and environment, said: “By joining the group you will have the opportunity to network, collaborate, and discuss how climate change will affect your communities of interest and what we can do to support an effective change across the borough.

“We always welcome new ideas and community views, so if you do run or attend a local interest group and would like to make a difference to Chesterfield and its future, consider applying to be a part of the climate forum.

“Taking action on climate change is a collaborative process, and we can work together to find new ways of making changes in our communities.”

The council launched a new seven-year climate change strategy (2023-2030) earlier this year that is based around several themes including: buildings and energy use, travel, green space, land use and offsetting carbon emissions. This is Chesterfield Borough Council’s formal commitment to putting climate change at the centre of everything it does, ensuring this is always considered as part of service output and decision-making processes.

The creation of the climate forum will help to build and shape the authority’s future plans and will allow it to get an insight into how community groups or organisations could play a part in the communication of messaging and get involved in climate projects.

Councillor Stone continued: “I’d like to encourage representatives from our communities to join us in progressing our efforts to becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030 and help to reach the goal of being a carbon neutral borough by 2050”.

If you would like to be part of the forum, please contact the climate change team at Chesterfield Borough Council via email climate@chesterfield.gov.uk.

The first session will contain a training element, so individuals are requested to get in touch with the team at their earliest convenience.

town hall drone shot

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Chesterfield firm offers sustainability support to local businesses

A Chesterfield firm which specialises in helping businesses in change management is now offering support for firms to gain sustainability accreditation.

CCM Change Consultancy is now helping companies in our town and beyond to become ISO 14001 accredited. This is an international standard which signifies that an organisation has gone through a structured process and has strong systems in place.

The benefits of the accreditation include a good ROI, increased client engagement and bottom-line cost savings from introspection and improved efficiencies.

ISO establishes discipline, credibility and trust among employees, consumers, clients, business partners and supply chains.

Nick Gorman, Owner of CCM Change Consultancy explained why he is passionate about supporting firms in this field. He said: “I fully understand that my generation will not feel the full force of climate changes but as a fellow trustee of our planet I want to do everything possible to protect it for generations to come, we are deciding the future now.

“Professionally I am a Practitioner with the IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) as part of CCM. This gives me the opportunity to work with organisations in not only managing change but also in adopting value add practices that can earn sustainability and environmental credentials.”

Commenting on why he loves to help other firms with their growth and innovation in Chesterfield, Nick added: “The ultimate testament for a consultant or coach is to see a business, group, or individual grow and develop as a result of considered changes they undertake. The CCM outlook is one of service: our sole objective is the client outcome. In almost every situation progress is made by releasing latent potential

“Chesterfield is a town with a strong, hardworking heritage. Our enterprises have superb support functions in Chesterfield Borough Council and Destination Chesterfield amongst others. Investment, new developments around the town and a healthy and symbiotic business community put Chesterfield in a great position to thrive sustainably.”

Nick has the following advice for businesses who are just starting to look at their sustainability: “Undertake a review of waste (Muda) within your business, it might be galvanising! An environmental exercise does not have to be the whole organisation going vegan or erecting windmills on the roof.

“Understanding and communicating the why? is a good start: this can be best done in conjunction with an environmental audit. There are three main strands to getting started – Processes, Property, Supply Chain/Customers.”

Chesterfield Borough Council recently launched its sustainability strategy, which aims to achieve a carbon neutral borough by 2050. Find out more here.

Thinking of launching a new business in Chesterfield? Find out about the support on offer to help your organisation start and grow.

CCM Change Consultancy supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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World Environment Day 2023 – How are Chesterfield businesses helping to combat climate change?

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day (5th June 2023), we’ve been finding out how Chesterfield Champions are helping to reduce their carbon footprint, to support the town’s net-zero targets.

Chesterfield understands it has a long journey ahead. But our businesses appreciate the level of commitment needed to achieve our long-term goals and agree on the value of our collective change.

Every improvement we make benefits the health of our people and our environment, and strengthens our local economy.

Chesterfield Borough Council recently set out the groundwork for the borough to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, by adopting a new climate change strategy.

The new strategy is based on six central themes, focusing on where the council can have the biggest impact. These themes influence the further reduction of Chesterfield Borough Council’s own emissions*, while supporting others to do the same.

So, how are local organisations playing their part?


Emma Knight-Strong – Green Arch Consulting

Emma Knight-Strong Green Arch Consulting

“I am a Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. Furthermore, I have over a decade’s experience in environmental and sustainability consulting, environmental service design, environmental assessment of projects and sustainability training and coaching.

“Green Arch Consulting supports businesses to embed environmental and social considerations into their business as usual, making them more resilient to a changing climate and changing public and investor opinions. This helps businesses to make sense of the rapid rise in environmental issues in the media and with investors, customers and clients, and the impact that this rise will have on income.

“In addition, we provide a broad range of support including executive and staff training workshops, sustainability reporting and development of policies and processes, all the way through to the design of a full net zero strategy. Our approach focuses on supporting and upskilling our clients to develop a business-led, tailored approach to sustainability.”


Josh Hodgkinson – Matlock Farm Park

Josh Matlock Farm Park World Environment Day

“As a business, we tend to source products locally. Not only is this a great step in the right direction from a sustainability point of view, but we’re supporting local businesses that deliver high-quality products and services.

“We also encourage our employees to be mindful of their electricity usage, reduce waste where possible and ensure we use biodegradable packaging.”


Nigel Mallender – Addooco IT

Nigel Mallender World Environment Day

Addooco is tremendously focused on the environment and sustainability. We’ve had our ISO14001 for Environmental Management Systems in place for several years now. In addition, by the end of 2023, we will be PAS2060 certified for carbon neutral.

“There are many other initiatives that feed into this too, including our EV charging points at our offices. All our company cars are electric, and all the energy we procure is renewable.”


Theresa Goldsmith – The Goldsmith Clinic

Theresa Goldsmith

“At The Goldsmith Clinic, we are not just dedicated to enhancing your wellbeing, but also to preserving our planet. As a team that genuinely cares about sustainability, we constantly educate ourselves and embrace eco-friendly practices. We pride ourselves on using eco-conscious products throughout our clinic and embracing a zero-waste mindset.

“We also opt for reusable items and energy-saving practices. Even the little things, like switching off lights and washing dishes by hand, make a big difference to us.”


Will Moroney – Lightmain

Will Moroney World Environment Day

“All our steel products are produced from recycled steel, and sourced from within the UK. Offering a 25-year guarantee on a lot of our products, we like to live by the saying “Fit & Forget.”

“We accept that steel might not sound like the most sustainable material. However, with plenty of examples of installations that have lasted many years, and still look as good as new, installing once in a generation is better than needing to go back to replace time and again. That is all down to the quality of our products.”


Jane Taylor – Dronfield Wine World

Jane Taylor Dronfield Wine World

“We banished plastic bags about 5 years ago, choosing to recycle cardboard wine boxes instead. We focus on organic wines which have less impact on the environment, as well as preferring winemakers who have Fairtrade credentials.

“Two years ago, we invested in an electric cargo bike and trailer for local deliveries. In some cases when the weather is awful, we use an electric plugin car. Additionally, all our hamper and gift packaging is reusable and biodegradable.”


Ben Couch – Banner Jones Solicitors

“As a law firm that used to rely heavily on paper, Banner Jones has made huge improvements over the last 2 years. Most of our departments are now classed as ‘paper light’.

“Consequently, most client communications are now done via email and via a secure online portal. In addition, it benefits the speeding up of transactions for the client, as they are no longer waiting for letters to arrive in the post.

“We have also had recycling bins in our offices for several years, helping to reduce general waste.”


Will Sissons – iTrack GPS Trackers

Champions Picture Will I track

“Like many businesses, we are striving to become net zero. We have made changes to our packaging to use 100% recyclable materials. Another step we have taken to help the environment includes the introduction of fully electric company vehicles.

“We also try to work with local companies where possible, not only minimising transport but in turn helping other local businesses thrive.”


Chris Dwan – Woodall Homes

Chris Dwan Woodall Homes

“We are always looking at ways of improving our housing product from a sustainability perspective. Our latest development (The Shrubberies on Newbold Road, Chesterfield) uses the Wondrwall technology system within each dwelling.

“Wondrwall is a home energy management system. It comprises home automation, gas-free heating, renewable energy assets and a machine learning platform to reduce energy bills and wastage.”


Amy McCroray – Rosewood Wealth Management

Amy McRoray Rosewood Wealth world environment day

“At Rosewood, we are proud to be an ISO 14001 accredited company. Protecting our planet for future generations, the certification prompts us to minimise our impact on the environment by actively adopting our working style to become more sustainable.

“In an attempt to reduce our carbon emissions, clients visiting the office are welcome to use our Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) point. Believing that we have a responsibility to care for the planet, our directors have also invested in electronic equipment to reduce paper usage when signing documents. By making these changes, Rosewood hopes to contribute towards a brighter, greener future.”


Paul Gosney – City Taxis

City Taxis at the Redbrik Foundation Chesterfield 10k

“Our Electric project journey began in 2019 and has now extended to hydrogen. We have set an ambitious target to become a Net Zero business by 2025, with a fully electric and now hydrogen fleet.

“As part of this, we are also working on a charging infrastructure project to host a range of electric charging hubs across various sites. This is to support the local community and our drivers, as people make the transition to Electric.

“We have also trialed three hydrogen cars in partnership with Peak Resort and Toyota. The partnership is working hard to increase the number of cars on the road with a vision of taking emissions out of the environment.”


Joe Grangier – Netcoms IT

Joe Grangier - Netcoms World Environment Day

“All our company vehicles in the next few months will be hybrid. This will reduce our annual expenditure on fossil fuels, and migrate towards an eco-friendlier business. We research technological advancements and try to integrate these for many of the companies we work with; keeping them at the forefront of technology.

“We have the ability to upcycle, and supply refurbished computers and technology to reduce our overall carbon footprint. We monitor device uptime for the companies we support, letting them know the carbon footprint they leave.”


James Taylor – Roaring Mouse Public Relations

James Taylor Roaring Mouse

Roaring Mouse exists to build businesses that make the world smarter, fairer and greener. We work with several cleantech companies, and sustainability is a massive part of who we are.

“We’ve moved to an energy-efficient building and are making use of public transport and the cycle network when commuting.”


Simon Whitaker – Master Debonair

simon master debonair COTW

Master Debonair is working with a charity called Suitability. It provides suits to people who are looking for employment, but don’t have appropriate clothing suitable for an interview.

“This is supporting people in helping them to gain employment. At the same time, people are re-using products instead of letting them go to waste.”


Shiva Sheikholeslami – Belvedere House Care Home

Home Manager Landscape Crown Care Group environment

“At Belvedere House we take being as sustainable as possible incredibly seriously. We have energy-saving champions at all our homes, who work hard to promote and maintain ways of working to reduce the amount of energy used.

“We’re keen to reduce our energy use and take weekly meter readings so we can monitor our changes. We try and recruit people within the local area so they are able to walk or cycle to work. In addition, we are looking into investing in an electric car charging point.

“We use recycled paper throughout the home. Our talented chefs work hard to ensure all food waste is kept to a minimum, and work closely with our food supplier regarding eco-friendly packaging as well as returning all used cooking oil to be recycled.”


Luke Hemstock – SDE Group

Luke SDE Group

“Over the last year, SDE Group have expanded on a new sector of the business. We are now responsible for installing and maintaining EV car chargers up and down the electric highway.

“Chargers are now installed at our head office to encourage our staff to switch to hybrid and electric vehicles. We have also recently invested in Solar Panels on our office roof to become more energy efficient.”


Gareth Ward – Superior Wellness

Gaz Ward world environment day

“As a business, we are focused on sustainability and with innovation being one of our brand values. Every time we innovate we think about the environment and what we can do to be more sustainable.

“In our warehouse, we have installed solar panels, have electric forklifts and have reviewed our waste strategy. We also have a couple of charging points for vehicles and over the next few years this number will increase.

“Our latest sustainability initiative was to replace all bulbs with LEDs. This has saved 67% in energy costs which have increased significantly recently.”


More than 200 Chesterfield Champions work closely with Destination Chesterfield to support the local economy- and showcase Chesterfield and North Derbyshire as a destination to live, work, visit and invest. Find out more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/destination-chesterfield/champions/

Do you run a business in Chesterfield and want to raise awareness of your environmental efforts? If your organisation has a sustainable success to shout about, please email josh.marsh@chesterfield.co.uk for consideration.

*Chesterfield Borough Council has reduced its own emissions by 32% from when it declared the climate emergency in 2019 to the end of the financial year 2021/22.

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Derbyshire residents urged to ‘dig in’ to reach one million trees target

County Councillors in Derbyshire are asking residents to help them in a drive to plant one million new trees across the county by 2030.

It is hoped that the planting of new trees will help to boost the environment and tackle the effects of climate change.

Residents, landowners and volunteers are being asked to get involved by Derbyshire County Council. If you’ve planted a tree anywhere in Derbyshire since June 2021, it can be counted towards the million trees target.

Add your tree to the online map here.

If you own land and are interested in planting more trees, the council is offering support and advice. Get in touch if you are a landowner or email milliontrees@derbyshire.gov.uk.

If you would like to volunteer to help plant trees in your area to help reduce the impacts of climate change, and create new habitats for wildlife then the county council wants to hear from you too. Get in touch if you are a volunteer or email milliontrees@derbyshire.gov.uk.

Local businesses and organisations can also get involved by sponsoring or contributing trees, planting on their property, staff volunteering and events. Find out more or get in touch

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader at Derbyshire County Council said: “Trees act like sponges which suck carbon emissions out of the air so the more we plant, the more climate-changing greenhouse gases will be removed from the atmosphere.

“We’re off to a good start – we’ve recorded more than 61,000 trees planted across the county since June 2021 on our website www.milliontrees.co.uk. But we know there will be many more that haven’t yet been recorded and so we’re urging anyone who has planted a tree or trees in Derbyshire in the last couple of years to add it to the website. It’s quick and easy to do!

“We’re also urging landowners who would be willing to offer some land up for tree-planting to get in touch and we’re on the look out for volunteers too to join our planting team – no experience necessary, just time to spare and the will to roll up your sleeves and dig in.

“It’s not all about large-scale projects – every single tree will count towards our target, even if it’s an individual tree in your garden at home.”

Chesterfield from Eastmoor

 

 

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Green Arch Consulting supports FTSE 250 listed organisation with ESG reporting

Green Arch Consulting has been retained to develop and write JLEN’s ESG report for 2023.

The company supports businesses in Chesterfield, as well as nationally and internationally, to embed environmental and social considerations into their ‘business as usual.’

This helps to make organisations more resilient to a changing climate and changing public and investor opinions, and helps firms make sense of the rapid rise in environmental issues in the media and with investors, customers and clients.

2023 is the 5th year running that Green Arch has had input to JLEN’s ESG reporting, which Green Arch Consulting was originally responsible for designing and developing.

JLEN is an environmental infrastructure investment fund listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is part of the FTSE 250 and has been awarded the Green Economy Mark from LSE.

The report has won a series of awards including ‘Best ESG Communication’ award at The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) Shareholder Communication Awards 2022. JLEN’s ESG report has also been shortlisted for a number of awards including, most recently the edie Awards 2023, in the Sustainability & Reporting Communications category.

Emma Knight-Strong, sustainability coach and owner at Green Arch Consulting commented: “It is increasingly evident that businesses with a clear sustainability path are more resilient and more attractive to investors, customers and clients.

“There are big risks to business associated with climate change, but there are also big opportunities for businesses that take it seriously and develop a truly sustainable model of operating in a rapidly changing world.”

Speaking about Chesterfield’s sustainability credentials, Emma added: “There is significant expertise in Chesterfield related to the low carbon transition – by collaborating together we can deliver a really interesting offering to clients across the UK and beyond.”

Find out more about Green Arch Consulting’s recent work alongside the Central Bank of Nigeria – which is helping the organisation in its transition to a low carbon future: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2023/02/green-arch-consulting-advises-international-bank-on-sustainability/

Green Arch Consulting supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Emma Knight-Strong Green Arch Consulting

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£275,000 project completed to reduce flood risk and boost wildlife habitats in Chesterfield

An innovative new flood management project designed to reduce flood risk in Chesterfield through natural defences, while boosting local wildlife and habitats, has been completed at Grassmoor Country Park.

The £275,000 scheme, designed to slow the flow of rainwater heading from land to the Calow Brook – and onwards into the Rover Rother includes the creation of temporary and semi-permanent ponds, marshy grasslands and wet woodland – all acting as a natural flood defence while improving and diversifying the habitats for wildlife within the park.

Funded by the Environment Agency and the Heritage Fund, the project was developed in partnership with Derbyshire County Council which owns and maintains the park, the Environment Agency, the Friends of Grassmoor and Don Catchment Rivers Trust.

Natural Flood Management schemes such as this are a sustainable way of using nature to manage flood risk. The work done at Grassmoor will also work to increase the availability of water within the landscape during times of drought, providing vital lifelines for wildlife and plant life, the need for which has been made abundantly clear last summer.

Its successful completion was marked with an event at Grassmoor Park on Wednesday 15 March. Members of the public were also welcomed with a site tour showcasing the new green spaces, habitat improvements, and natural flood management techniques.

Anthony Downing, Catchment Coordinator in the Environment Programme team at the Environment Agency, said: “This scheme is a shining example of the huge benefits of using nature to manage flood risk – and at the same time creating new habitats for wildlife to thrive and spaces that people can enjoy.

“We are facing a climate emergency and are determined to ensure we work with nature to be resilient and adapt. This project has been a great collaboration effort and certainly something we want to see more of in this area.”

Peter Myers, Project Coordinator at Friends of Grassmoor Country Park, said: “We are very proud to have played our part in supporting and working closely with Don Catchment Rivers Trust and Derbyshire County Council to deliver this scheme from the very early stages through to its successful outcome.

“The natural flood management measures are of course the key elements, but we are also very grateful for the inclusion of the significant wildlife habitat features, improvements and the environmental benefits that the scheme brings to our park. We look forward to the continued co-operation to see these elements develop and flourish in the coming years.

“On behalf of present and future generations who will benefit from this investment, thank you to all who have made this possible.”

Rachel Walker, Operations Director at Don Catchment Rivers Trust, said: “The main works were finished last October and the features have been working well over winter, holding water and slowly releasing it back into the Calow Brook. We’re really looking forward to seeing the meadows grow and the features blend into the park over spring and summer. Our thanks to all the volunteers who have joined in to help sow seeds, plant trees, and monitor the site – we will be continuing with the citizen science programme to chart the changes in the park over the coming years”.

Volunteers have been an invaluable asset to the scheme which has included lots of local community involvement such as sowing meadow seeds and helping to plant trees. Opportunities to volunteer for the project are still available with dates in April for sowing and planting.

Attenuation Pond at Grassmoor Country Park

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Superior Wellness products achieve impressive sustainability standard

Chesterfield hot tub manufacturer, Superior Wellness has revealed its new range of products has received an impressive sustainability certification.

The firm’s Platinum Spas Deluxe hot tubs, which were launched in Janaury, have been CEC tested, showing the company’s commitment to being more energy efficient.

The CEC – or California Energy Commission is the only third-party accreditation organisation recognised by the spa and hot tub industry.

With five models in the range all now boasting premium features and upgrades – introducing the Tahiti, Refresh, Happy, Palma and the brand new all seater Seville.

Gareth Ward, Sales Director said: “We are delighted that the new range is CEC certified. The Deluxe range now includes the award-winning energy efficient insulation Platinum Premium Shield. This is designed by the Superior Heatlock Insulation Process which provides a considerable difference in the heat retained in the hot tub as well as a reduction in energy costs.

“With a focus on innovation, the latest technology and an abundance of features, the new range includes a number of improvements.”

The hot tub cover is now fabric instead of vinyl. The overall thickness of the cover has been increased providing greater insulation and creating energy savings. The circulation pump has also been upgraded to a much quieter and more energy efficient version, which again shows the company’s commitment to improving the overall efficiency for customers.

Gareth Ward added: “We are very excited about the launch of the new Deluxe range. We always listen to feedback from our customers and partner network to help inform our decisions on innovation.”

Chesterfield Borough Council recently approved it’s new Climate Strategy for the town, which reaffirms its ambitions to become a net-zero borough by 2050. The new strategy will direct how the council works with industry in the future, ensuring sustainability and climate change a central theme of everything it does.

Read more about the strategy here. 

Superior Wellness supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Superior Wellness

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Robinson receives FSC certification to boost sustainability credentials

Robinson, a sustainable packaging manufacturer based in Chesterfield has announced it has received a prestigious sustainability certification for its Paperbox division.

Forest Stewardship council ® (FSC)’s pioneering certification system, which now covers more than 195 million hectares of forest, enables businesses and consumers to choose wood, paper and other forest products made with materials that support responsible forestry.

Dr Helene Roberts, CEO at Robinson, says this is a major step forward for the company, its customers, and the environment. She added: ‘We are delighted to have been awarded FSC certification for our rigid box packaging business. This is another step in making our business more sustainable, together with ensuring our packaging is made from up to 100% recycled board which is in turn recyclable.’

FSC certification ensures that all products produced at Paperbox are sustainable. FSC-managed forests help provide clean air and water by restricting hazardous chemicals and following strict harvesting and forestry practices. Their work also helps ensure a diversity of animals, trees and plants as well as providing safe working conditions for everyone involved.

This further demonstrates the investment that the company is making in its Paperbox business, following a significant investment in its new SATE box-making machine in Chesterfield, with improved quality and a reduced carbon footprint that allows customers to avoid long, complex supply chains from Asia.

Robinson partners with some of the world’s most luxurious brands, from concept to commercialisation, creating widely recyclable packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled material.

The news follows Chesterfield Borough Council’s publication of its new climate strategy for the town, which is laying the groundwork for Chesterfield to become a carbon neutral borough by 2050. The new strategy will direct how the council works with industry in the future, ensuring sustainability and climate change a central theme of everything it does. Read more about the strategy here.

Robinson supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Helene Roberts - Robinson PLC

 

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