Dacorum Climate Action Network events and initiatives

The Dacorum Climate Action Network (CAN) organises events and initiatives throughout the year for residents, schools and organisations to get involved in. This page is regularly updated with the latest news.

Annual conference and networking event

Dacorum CAN hosted its third annual conference and networking event on Monday 20 November 2023 at The Forum. Residents networked with like-minded individuals and organisations, who were able to help them "think global and act local".

The free event was streamed online. View it now on our YouTube channel.

The focus in 2023 was on community climate action. The event heard from four speakers:

  • Dacorum Environmental Forum - Stephen Wilson
  • Community Action Dacorum - Simon Aulton
  • Grand Union Community Energy - Sarah Burgess
  • Sustainable Tring - Chris Hopkins and Polly Eaton

There were several stallholders, too, representing different parts of the Council and local community groups. They showcased the actions taking place locally to tackle the Climate and Ecological Emergency and the potential to get involved. Stallholders included:

  • Dacorum Infrastructure
  • Dacorum Strategic Planning
  • Dacorum Environmental Waste
  • Hertfordshire Waste Aware Partnership
  • Hemel Garden Communities
  • The Box Moor Trust
  • Sunnyside Rural Trust
  • DENS Bike Project
  • Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
  • Frogmore Paper Mill
  • The Friends of Halsey Field
  • Better Housing Better Health 

Water Butt Giveaway

Water butt attached to gutter. Plant pots stand either side of the water butt.

In March 2023, Dacorum CAN gave away 20 water butts to encourage residents to reduce the amount of water used from the mains water supply and lower their carbon footprint.

Benefits of using a water butt

  • Water butts collect rain water, providing a source of water during periods of drought 
  • Once set up, water butts reduce the financial cost of using fresh water from your mains supply
  • Emissions arise from the processes involved in treating and transporting water to make it suitable for human consumption. So, by reducing the overall usage of water from your mains supply, water butts can lower your carbon footprint. 

Winners were chosen at random and have been contacted with details about how to redeem their prize.

Act Local - Environmental Volunteering Map

As one of the key aims of the Dacorum Climate Action Network is to encourage people to 'think global and act local', we have created an Environmental Volunteering Map to help connect people to local organisations and groups that have volunteering opportunities.

There are a range of different activities to suit different skillsets and interests. All volunteering opportunities are related to activities that either reduce emissions or help to improve biodiversity.

Click the icon on the black bar in the top left hand corner to view the symbol key.

By clicking on each icon on the map you will find more information about each of the group's activities and opportunities, including:

  • Type of volunteer work
  • Requirements
  • When work typically takes place
  • Contact details
  • Website

If you are a group or organisation and have an environmental volunteering opportunity you want to be listed, please email climate.action@dacorum.gov.uk.

Wildflower seed giveaway

To celebrate Biodiversity Day (Sunday 22 May), Dacorum Climate Action Network gave away thousands of packets of wildflower seeds in 2021 and 2022 to residents and schools. We also ran a primary school competition to win a large insect hotel - complete with planters, compost, flowers and wildflower seeds.

Learn more about biodiversity and what we are doing to improve it locally.

Page Last Updated: Monday, 04 December 2023 at 10:28 AM