WORKING TOGETHER

We work within Coaley and Uley on various projects aimed at reducing our environmental impact and improving our local environment.

CURRENT PROJECTS

COMMUNICATION

One of the primary aims of CUCAN is to share useful information with the residents of Coaley and Uley to empower them to choose how they would like to respond to the climate crisis. To do this we have created and launched this website, written articles in the Coaley and Uley newsletters and started a Facebook page. We hope to make better use of the latter in the future to provide up-to-date, local information.

Here is a link to Articles that we have contributed to the Village Newsletters

Here is a link to our Facebook page

THROW IT AWAY? NO WAY!

REPAIR CAFES

Since our first in 2022, we have held repair cafes every 3 months: alternating between Coaley and Uley Village Halls.

Anyone is welcome to bring their broken household items; textiles for mending or tools for sharpening and a team of volunteers will do their best to safely repair them. You can also learn how to repair or sharpen your items yourself if you would like to.

Tea or coffee and cakes are always available while items are repaired and anyone is welcome to enjoy our refreshments even if you don't have anything to repair!

At our repair cafes you will often find other things going on, such as seed-sharing, books to read and information boards.

Click below to find the date and location of our next repair cafe:

NEXT REPAIR CAFE DATE

SUPPORTING NATURE

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TREE PLANTING

So far CUCAN volunteers have carried out 3 tree planting projects in Uley: Rowden Copse and Mill Farm and Blacknest.

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VIOLETS FOR BUTTERFLIES

CUCAN volunteers helped on a project organised by 'Wild Dursley' to plant 300 violet plug plants on Cam Longdown to help bring back the Pearl Bordered Fritillery butterfly.

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BIODIVERSITY ISLANDS, CORRIDORS & HEDGEROWS

CUCAN volunteers have been involved in schemes to create or strengthen wildflower islands and wildlife habitats in various locations around Uley.

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COALEY RECREATION GROUND

The Coaley Recreation Ground Regeneration project is creating new spaces for wildlife and CUCAN volunteers are helping with the planting, building and creating.

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PAST PROJECTS

CALCULATING VILLAGE CARBON FOOTPRINTS

When we launched CUCAN with a public meeting in Coaley in 2020, one of the most requested projects was that we should establish a baseline carbon footprint for our villages. While we were planning how to do this, we discovered that the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Exeter University had begun creating a community carbon calculator tool. We were invited to get involved in the early stages of planning and testing of the new tool, which we happily accepted!

The tool is now finished and running and is called 'Impact'. It can estimate a community's carbon footprint at the parish, ward or district level. It also enables you to compare footprints with the GB average or other parishes.

You can run the calculator by visiting https://impact-tool.org.uk. When interpreting results it's important to remember that the proximity of the M5, our high proportion of older properties and our rural location (and it's effect on transport) all affect our results relative to the GB average.

WORKING WITH LOCAL CHILDREN

BUG HOTEL

A large bug hotel was built on the edge of Coaley Primary School sports field. School children helped CUCAN volunteers with all aspects of the build.

CUCAN LOGO

The children of Coaley and Uley Primary Schools were invited to design our logo. They responded enthusiastically, and it stimulated discussion in their classrooms.

Of the 50 pictures submitted we chose one from each school and a parent and local artist, Abby Conway, combined them to make the final logo.

FUTURE PROJECTS AND PIPE DREAMS

We have loads of ideas for amazing projects that would make a huge difference to our villages. We don't currently have enough members to start any of them so if you would like to get involved, please do get in touch! Here are a few ideas that we have had that we would really love to launch one day:

Community Energy Scheme

Community-led renewable energy, energy demand reduction and energy supply projects
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Community Compost Scheme

A scheme where local people can take garden waste to be made into compost that can then be sold back to scheme members at a reduced rate
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Biodiversity Mapping

Work with local ecologists to measure biodiversity in Coaley and Uley so that Improvement schemes can be appropriately devised and measured
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Information Events

Evening or weekend events sharing information from experts of subjects such as: green energy; wildlife friendly gardening, EVs etc
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Library of Things

A virtual library for sharing less-used items such as tools, carpet cleaners, roof boxes etc
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Bulk Food Sharing

A scheme to reduce waste, packaging and travel to shops by placing bulk food orders to be shared
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Greener Commuting

Scheme ideas: Car pooling, EBike rental, improved public trasport, shared school runs etc
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