What are HDC doing?

With our Climate Strategy and Action Plan being adopted in February 2023, we will be drawing all our activity together to measure and monitor our impact on CO2 and nature to ensure we continue to deliver and influence positive change towards a Net Carbon Zero Huntingdonshire by 2040.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ONLINE CLIMATE HUB?

Huntingdonshire's Online Climate Hub is a platform that provides resources, tools, and information to help individuals and organizations take action against climate change. The purpose of this hub is to

1. Collaboratively work together
2. Empower people to take action
3. Share and celebrate Climate actions and progress

What is Huntingdonshire District Council's role?

What progress have we made?

The Climate Strategy and Action Plan was adopted in February 2023.

Before the acceleration of Climate Strategy and Action Plan, Huntingdonshire District Council have focused on enabling Huntingdonshire to be a good place to live and work, with a good start in life and a place to enjoy good health. HDC has already begun to decarbonise some of our sites such as One Leisure Ramsey (planned decarbonisation project).

Please see below the progress made for projects in 2023/2024:

Other projects in the past have involved:

Waste Services:

Our waste services are in the top quartile in the country, with recycling contamination below 7% - which is achieved through education, communication and direct intervention with residents when required.

We have funded projects to help prevent litter and increase recycling, including working alongside our Town Councils by implementing high street recycling litter bins.

Pilot EV charging:

Following the installation of Electric Vehicle charging points in our car parks using grant funding, we have so far supported approaching 100,000 miles of more environmentally friendly travel.

Floral Meadows:

The council has planted more floral meadows, the equivalent footprint of 5 and a half Wembley stadiums, to help double nature and increase biodiversity in our open spaces. The floral meadowsare not only a huge benefit for the wildlife.

Park Creation & Green Flag Sites:

Berman Park has been a successful addition to St Ives, a brand new natural park for residents to enjoy and for wildlife and biodiversity to thrive.

We are working towards project delivery of £2.5million investment in our open spaces and country parks over the next 3 years, including Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

Three of our parks and open spaces have been awarded a Green Flag and Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Priory Park host a further award for protecting bee habitats.

Tree Strategy:

HDC is the guardian of 1,534 hectares of green space, 43 hectares of woodlands and a managed tree canopy of 400 hectares.

Our Tree Strategy [PDF, 28MB], adopted in 2020, will increase the tree canopy in Huntingdon planting over 3000 more trees and protecting those that we have.

HDC Local Plan & Green Infrastructure:

Adopted May 2019, Huntingdonshire’s Local Plan identifies several Green Infrastructure Priority Areas, the policy also sets out HDC’s approach to protecting and enhancing Huntingdonshire’s green infrastructure for the benefit of biodiversity and residents for recreation and leisure.

Green infrastructure serves to balance built development - it facilitates opportunities for people to access open space and provides habitats for wildlife. Improving the ecological, visual, heritage and recreational value of the countryside while bringing environmental, social and health benefits.

Enquire to learn more or get involved at climateconversation@huntingdonshire.gov.uk