AUTUMN 2025
Welcome to FODCAP’s Autumn Newsletter 🍂
October 2025
As the leaves turn crimson, gold and amber, we hope you're enjoying the beauty of the season and finding time to connect with nature. It’s an exciting time for Forest of Dean Climate Action Partnership (FODCAP), with two new staff joining us, it is a time of positive change. So, as well as bringing you an update on this and other work, this edition, is also full of news and upcoming events from across the Forest of Dean.
👋 Hello from your new FODCAP Coordinators 👋
We’re Piers and Becky, and we’re thrilled to be stepping into the role of FODCAP coordinators. We started in September and are funded for two years by Thirty Percy Foundation. It’s an honour to build on the fantastic work led by Anya and Leah over the last couple of years.
Our focus will continue to be on our priority areas of energy, travel and transport, food and farming and community and youth. But at the recent steering group meeting we’ve also made a decision to start exploring how we work on nature and climate alongside one another, as well as considering climate adaptation more within our work. And of course, key to FODCAP’s work will be continuing to link up and connect local residents, businesses, and organisations to support meaningful action on climate and nature.
Our first couple of months, have been out and about, meeting many of you and learning about your inspiring work. Looking ahead, we have some crucial work coming up around FODCAP’s mission and purpose and how we want to set ourselves up for the future.
Finally, if you’re taking nature and climate action, we’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch at info@fodcap.org.
Future Energy Landscapes kicks off in Blaisdon and Westbury-on-Severn
FODCAP are partners with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Forest of Dean District Council on a project that is testing Future Energy Landscapes in the Forest of Dean. This is a pioneering approach to community engagement on local renewable energy that gives communities information, time and space to develop their own local vision for energy.
We’re funded to run three workshops across the Forest of Dean. The first of these took place in September at Westbury-on-Severn Village Hall. We had a good turn out, with 20 people exploring where in the parish they would consider renewable energy projects. The next steps will be to take the findings out to the wider community to test their support. We will be running two further workshops next year around Dymock and Bromsberrow in the north and in Tidenham in the south.
Getting around the Forest of Dean using active travel and public transport
Our Forest of Dean Travel Guide is primarily an online resource - a one stop shop for anyone planning a journey in the Forest on public transport or by walking, wheeling or cycling. We’ve been linking it up with other local websites over the last month to raise its profile.
By popular demand a hard copy version has also been created. A good number have already been printed and circulated, but we are planning to print a few more. So, if you have an idea of a good location or want to request one, then get in touch at: info@fodcap.org.
FODCAP sponsors first Community Climate Action Award at Forest Volunteer Awards
The Forest of Dean's most dedicated volunteers took centre stage at FVAF’s annual Forest Volunteer Awards, in early September at the AccXel Construction School in Cinderford.
FODCAP was proud to sponsor this new award for 2025, which recognised the Save the Wye campaign for their creative activism in bringing national attention to the environmental crisis facing the River Wye. Yorkley Community Garden received a special commendation for their fantastic work with the local community.
New report: Challenges in Rural Electrification
FODCAP contributed to the Countryside and Community Research Institute research paper on The Challenges for Rural Electrification, which looked at the challenges to a clean energy transition and their implications for rural communities.
Secure your spot on a leading Carbon Literacy training course for communities
This November, Emma Burlow from Lighthouse Sustainability Ltd is offering an exciting three-part training course called Carbon Literacy for Communities at The George in Newnham. The course is aimed at supporting individuals to explore carbon reduction opportunities and other environmental improvements both individually and as part of wider community-based groups.
Emma has delivered this training to 1,000 people from a wide range of businesses and she is offering this course at a highly subsidised rate of £40. You can book a space directly with the George.
New EV car club launches in Coleford
A new electric vehicle (EV) car club pilot has launched in Coleford, offering Forest of Dean residents a flexible, low-carbon alternative to car ownership. Users can book a Nissan Leaf via the Hiyacar app from £2.50 per hour for short trips or occasional use. This initiative is part of the District Council’s ambition to create a district-wide mobility hub, including e-bike hire and EV access across local towns. The initiative follows the Council’s installation of 31 new EV charging points across the district. More details and how to book the car can be found here.
Making your home more energy efficient
Forest Community Energy are running an Info Day on Saturday 25th October, 2pm-4pm at the Main Place in Coleford. Drop in to meet the team to learn about using thermal imaging cameras and how to reduce your energy bills along with your carbon footprint.
Other exciting news for Forest Community Energy is they are now successfully set up as a Community Benefit Society and they have a great new website, which has just launched. Check it out for more news from them: www.forestcommunityenergy.org.uk
📣 Calling all sports clubs and activity providers 📣
Forest of Dean District Council and Active Gloucestershire are running a funding and development information event for sports clubs and activity providers across the district on 19th November at Lydney Rugby Club, 18.30 - 20.00. One key aspect covered will be Sport England’s sustainability funding priorities through their Movement Fund and how clubs and groups can save money and improve their facilities, while also benefiting the environment. For more info and to book, contact Michelle.Marfell@fdean.gov.uk.
Introducing Severn Wye’s new Place Coordinator covering Coleford
Lindsey has just started a new role as a Place Coordinator for Severn Wye Energy Agency. She will be working in the Coleford area on a community-based project. Her role is about working with the community to identify, develop and establish an initiative or project that they can take ownership over in the future. Her role is funded until 2029 and she is planning to hold an engagement event in the spring. In the meantime, if any Coleford residents have any ideas or thoughts they want to share, then reach out directly to Lindsey at lindseyl@severnwye.org.uk.
Free workshop on Tackling Climate Disinformation
Greenpeace is hosting a free online workshop on 25th November at 6pm, called Tackling Disinformation. The two-hour session will include learning and group discussion and attendees will leave with practical insights into tackling disinformation around climate change. Sign up here.
GCC Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund
The Grassroots Neighbourhood Fund aims to support community initiatives that will have a positive impact on health and wellbeing and our local communities. The fund’s goals cover promoting access to nature and/or the environment.
Each County Councillor will have 18 months to spend their allocation of £20,000, with a minimum of £250 and a maximum of £5,000 available to any one project. More details here.
Active Travel Innovation Fund
The Active Travel Innovation Fund is a £1m revenue fund offering individual grants of up to £100,000. It is aiming to develop and deliver bold and innovative active travel interventions, aimed at increasing current levels of walking, wheeling, and cycling in England. Active Travel England (ATE) is inviting applications from eligible individuals and organisations who have an innovative behaviour change idea, or from those who wish to scale up a proven solution, or service. More details can be found here.