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WHAT WE DORepair CaféSewing workshopsCommunity HubShare shedThermal imaging inspectionsLoft insulation discountsShare info to save energy &moneyHovingham Recycling CentreChristmas tree mulchingElectric Vehicle charging forallHOVINGHAM PROJECTPURPLE NEWSS P R I N G 2 0 2 4OUR PROJECT PURPLEOBJECTIVES 2024 &2030""While it may seem that our Hovingham community actions on climate change are only a dropin the ocean, together we do create waves”. Since the inauguration of Project Purple back in 2017, our aspiration is still to becarbon neutral in the 2030’s. Our steps sometimes may seem small, but we continueto move ahead and make a difference. We believe we can implement ideas generatedby residents and local businesses to further reduce our collective impact on theenvironment. We have been unable to further progress some of the bigger ticketitems like a solar farm due to local grid capacity. As and when governmentinfrastructure policy changes, we’ll come back to these projects.We are, with your support, doing whatever we can. You helped find the funding, installation and maintenance for the 32 amp EV fastcharger in the Village Car Park. For the past 4 years as more and more peopletransition to EVs, it has been used by up to 20 residents and visitors per month. We organise a very successful Repair Café. Our volunteer fixers provide a range ofsupport, repairing clothing, wooden furniture, electrical and digital appliances,bikes, jewellery to soft metal welding and small engine fixing. The Share Shed is open to all residents to borrow those items that are used veryinfrequently by owners who are more than happy to lend them out. The Community Hub is an opportunity for residents to seek and share experiencesto reduce their carbon footprint. From cutting energy bills through thermalimaging surveys, to taking advantage of discounts with local suppliers forinsulation materials. We bring in experts on Air Source Heat Pumps and SolarPanels without the selling pressure. With more than 70% of Hovingham’shouseholds using oil to heat their homes, a transition to a more sustainableheating source will naturally follow. Through the Community Hub, we seek toprovide residents with a forum for this discussion. We initiated the funding and refurbishment of the mini recycling area. Followingrequests, we added a carton recycling bin. Unfortunately, coordinating theemptying of the carton bin has not been as smooth as we were promised andalthough this is outside our control (and an issue across Ryedale), we continue toengage the local authority to get it fixed. We installed a 4-station bike rack at the entrance to the Village Hall. We hope thiswill encourage more people to use their bikes by providing a secure location toleave it.During 2023 we have also supported three other communities to set up RepairCafés and helped several Parishes evaluate EV charging stations. Hovinghamcontinues to play its part to reduce its impact on Climate Change.Along with several other ongoing initiatives in 2024, we look for ideas to help improveour environment. See further articles in the newsletter including our wilding projectand sewing workshops. If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved withProject Purple please email: projectpurple@hovingham.org.ukTogether, we’re reducingHovingham’s carbon footprint

With all the weather related events experienced aroundthe world in 2023, Project Purple would like to share thelatest official assessment to meet England’s climatechange targets and why it is so important for allcommunities to be actively aware and engaged. Is the Climate changing? The Science says it is.Copernicus is a European Earth observation programmefor monitoring our planet and its environment. TheirAnalysis shows that 2023 was 1.48 degrees Celsius(2.66 F) warmer than the 1850-1900 pre-industrialreference level with close to half of the days in 2023surpassing the 1.5°C warming limit. The UKGovernment’s ambition is to leave the environment inEngland in a better state. So where is England against our Climate Changetargets? Table 1 is an extract of the report published on18th January 2024 by the UK’s Office of EnvironmentalProtection. Their summary assessment (Table 1) is that: “whilst some progress has being made, very substantialchallenges remain, and that government is largely offtrack to meet its Environmental Improvement Plan(EIP)2023 ambitions, Environmental Act targets andother commitments.”You will see in Table 1, all areas of progress or prospectof meeting ambition are either only partially on trackor largely off track.“1.5C will always be better than1.6C, which will always bepreferable to 1.7C. Every tenth of adegree matters.”WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THECLIMATE?Clearly, governments are not doing enough to leave ourenvironment in a better state. Whilst we could blamegovernments for not doing enough, we have it in our ownhands to make a difference. Climate Change needsGovernment, Business and Communities to make thenecessary changes. The changes communities can do, aremaking a difference. We agree with the UN’s Wolfgang Cramer of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who said inMarch 2023. “1.5C will always be better than 1.6C, which willalways be preferable to 1.7C. Every tenth of a degreematters.” Communities around the UK are making a difference. Andlocally, our community groups are all making a difference.North Yorkshire Climate Coalition, Ryedale Environment Group,Pickering Environment Group, Kirkbymoorside EnvironmentGroup, Kirby Misperton Environment Group, Greener Gilling,Helmsley Green Team, Malton and Norton Environment Group,Nawton Beadlam - The Village Green, Thornton le Dale - VillageHub, are all groups with complementary aims and objectives.We appreciate all your support. If you would like to get furtherinvolved or would like to know more please email:projectpurple@hovingham.org.ukhttps://www.groundwork.org.uk/find-groundwork-near-me/The full reports can be found on the following links:https://www.theoep.org.uk/report/government-remains-largely-track-meet-its-environmental-ambitions-finds-oep-annual-progresshttps://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2023-hottest-year-record#:~:text=2023%20is%20confirmed%20as%20the,highest%20annual%20value%20in%202016

Hovingham Repair Café opened its doors four years agoon 14th March 2020! It’s a tale of community spirit,sustainability and the power of coming together to make adifference. Over the four years our repairs have savedthe equivalent emissions of 15,000 driving miles or2,500 showers.It all began with a shared concern for our environment. Agroup of passionate individuals in our communityrecognised the growing problem of waste and thethrowaway culture that has become all too common. We throw away vast amounts of stuff even things withalmost nothing wrong with them. Many could get a newlease of life after a simple repair. We believe in the ideathat instead of discarding broken items, we could repairand reuse them, reducing waste and saving valuableresources.Our fixer team has grown to eight experts includingsewing, knitting, carpenter, electrician, computers/tech,bikes, jewellery, welding and small motor fixer. During2023, 71 items were brought in for repair. Our fantasticfixers repaired 60 of the items ranging from: Clothing alterations, shirts and overall repairsbeloved jumpers darnedmuch loved teddy stitchedlamps repairedbroken electrical leads connectedvintage osram fairy lights working againprecious clocks finding their tick tockherb dryer fixedpicture frames restoredchurch table repairedprecious Grandmother’s rocking chair fixedbicycles on the road againjewellery restorednavigation software updatedradio working again …….the list goes on and on! Our next Repair Café is on Saturday 9th March 10.00 til12.00 in the Village Hall. Set aside your beloved items forrepair and come along. There is always a big welcome witha cup of tea and homemade cakes.Dates for your diaryRepair Café & Community HubSaturday 9th MarchSaturday 8th JuneSaturday 14th SeptemberSaturday 9th November1000-1200 noon Hovingham Village Hall Sewing successHovingham Project Purple recently organised twoSeptember sewing workshops, led by Ann Wilsonand Jocelyn Hudson, our Hovingham Repair CaféSewing Fixers. They kindly gave their time to sharetheir skills with eight participants over the twodays. We had sewing machines hauled out of their cases,some for the first time in 10 years! Garments wererepaired, first steps in quilting acquired, a dog bedand a bag started, a dress adjusted, anotherunpicked to resize, machine problems resolved, aquilted cushion completed, alterations to a sarimade, cricket trousers shortened and a tear in aquilted jacket repaired. Both mornings were a hive of activity, newacquaintances made, great conversations, skillsand knowledge shared! We hope to offer further workshops later this year.Look out for the dates in our Project Purplenewsletter http://eepurl.com/dwCl9P, the VillageNoticeboard or the Repair Café Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/repaircafehovingham/.

Website: www.project-purple.org.uk Email: projectpurple@hovingham.org.ukFacebook: Repair Café Hovingham Instagram: repaircafehovinghamHOW CAN WE, ASCOMMUNITIES,CONTRIBUTE TO LESSENINGTHE IMPACT OF CLIMATECHANGE?The Repair Café fixed it for me! Jim Clark’s Lotus takes a pit stopMy late husband, Gordon, was a passionate Formula 1 fan. He reveredJim Clark, who won several Grand Prix in the 1960’s for the Lotus teambefore being tragically killed in 1968. Gordon was a flag Marshall atWarwick Farm in Australia when both Jim Clark and Graham Hill racedthere. He admired Clark both for his extraordinary skill and hisunassuming character. Friends gave Gordon a scale model of Jim Clark’s Lotus car for his70th birthday and needless to say, it became one of his prizedpossessions. Because of its huge sentimental value I was upset whenone of the wheels of the car became loose and resolved to try to haveit professionally repaired. When Frank and Kim suggested showing itto the jeweller, Louise, who was part of the Repair Café team, I readilyagreed. Louise was quickly able to restore the car to its former glory. I amthrilled to have it back in pride of place on the windowsill. Gordonwould have been delighted! A very big thank you to the Repair Café.Maggie J, Hovingham resident

At the September 2023 Community Hub, a local supplier of domestic solar panels was invited to speak with residents. Asa Fixer for the Repair Cafe, I took the opportunity to talk with the supplier to investigate the possibility of installing solarpanels on my own property. They were extremely helpful and informative. I subsequently asked six companies to providea quotation. The main reasons I wanted to install solar panels was to:1. Reduce my energy bills2. Provide my own energy securityTechnical Specifications of my installation:a. 16 solar panels, 8 each on west and east facing roofs b. 10 kWh battery installationc. Cost £16KI am pleased to confirm that from Monday 12th February 2024, we are now generating our own electricity.A few tips from my experience:1. Get lots of quotations2. Install the biggest battery you can afford3. Watch out for the extras, incl. certificates etc and make sure they are included in the quote.A special thanks to Project Purple’s Community Hub for inviting the solar experts which spurred me on to make theinstallation. Chris Cooper, Repair Café fixerSome key questions to ask before installing solar panels1. Roof Orientation and Space: Is your roof suitable for solar panels in terms of orientation, tilt, and available space forinstallation?2. Sunlight Exposure: Does your roof receive enough sunlight throughout the day to make solar panels a viable option?3. Local Regulations: Are there any permits or regulations in your area regarding the installation of solar panels?4. Energy Needs: How much energy do you consume on a daily basis, and will solar panels be able to meet your energyneeds? 5. Financial Considerations: What is the upfront cost of installation, and what are the potential savings on your energybills in the long run?6. Maintenance and Warranty: What is the maintenance required for solar panels, and what kind of warranty do they comewith?7. Grid Connection: Are you planning to connect your solar panels to the grid, and if so, what are the requirements andbenefits?8. Environmental Impact: What is the environmental impact of installing solar panels, and how does it align with yourvalues and goals?By considering these questions, you can make an informed decision about whether installing solar panels is the rightchoice for your home. SOLAR PANELS - GENERATING MY OWN ELECTRICITY

Some tips from the Energy Saving Trust toreduce your energy billsDid you know it could be this much?Now the grants are available for up to:£7,500 towards an air source heat pump£7,500 towards a ground source heat pump(including water source heat pumps and thoseon shared ground loops)£5,000 towards a biomass boilerFind out more using the link below or come to theCommunity Hub on the 9th March.https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme/what-you-can-getVAT has come down! The UK government hasexempted retrofitted battery energy storagesystems (BESS) from its 20% VAT, starting 1February (which no longer have to be fitted as partof a solar scheme to attract zero VAT).The Community Hub’s aim is to help to reduceanyone’s carbon footprint. There are many things that we can do to reduceour carbon footprint. For exampleSourcing local food ie local organic milk in glassbottles from our local milk supplier (ChristinaDunn)or by installing renewables - such as a heatpump to heat your house, or solar panels toreduce the amount of electricity used from thegrid by producing your own.The Community Hub is here to help withinformation and advice. Check out local casestudies where people have taken action - forexample Chris’s account of installing Solar PV onhis roof (in this newsletter) or other case studieson our website. https://www.project-purple.org.uk/storiesIf you’re struggling for ideas, drop into the hub fora chat. We’re happy to recycle as many ideas aspossible.Thermal imaging camera - we have one!Do you know where the cold spots are in yourhome? Most people have found that a few small,inexpensive alterations can make our homes morecomfortable and save us money.If you would like us to visit your home with thethermal imaging camera, please contact us.How much could you save in 2024?As of 23 October 2023, the grants for heat pumpswent up. It could be a good time to make thechange.

RECYCLING CHRISTMAS TREES·Thank you to all those households that again brought their Christmas Trees to the Village Hall car park. There were over 45 trees processed into mulch within 45 minutes.Hovingham Village Market and Hovingham Project Purple who sponsored this project, are more than delighted with thenumber of trees processed and very grateful to stalwarts Mark Wilson and James Gordon-Finlayson (of Circle GardenServices) who wielded chainsaws, mulcher and brooms. This initiative began in January 2019 and we have now mulched some 220 trees – fantastic.The village are aiming to encourage wildflowers back into our verge areas and improve biodiversity. The charityPlantlife provides help and information. We have identified Mossburn Bank as an opportunity, as area has already been surveyed informally and foundto be species rich with low soil fertility, and with some simple management changes it could become morespecies rich and provide valuable habitat to insects and other wildlife. The outer flat edges will continue to bemowed for driver visibility, while the inside area will be allowed to go ‘wild’ with some possible interplanting towiden the species.We will also be looking for other areas to rewild when we have Mossburn underway. Hovingham Estate and theParish Council have given permission to go ahead. We are just waiting on NYCC for final confirmation. If you can lend a hand for an hour or so to help prepare the ground (racking etc), please get in touch via email:projectpurple@hovingham.org.uk.WILDFLOWERS FOR MOSSBURN BANK

“NeighbourhoodPlans are anexcitingopportunity forcommunities tohave their say”HOVINGHAMNEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN·Did you know that Hovingham is about to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan? It’s a fantasticopportunity to have your say about the future.What are they? Neighbourhood Plans are formally adopted plans that dovetail into local plans(currently the Ryedale Plan which will be replaced by the North Yorkshire Council Plan in April2028)Neighbourhood Plans are an “exciting opportunity” for the community to make explicit whatmatters to us. They are an opportunity for communities to be properly involved in, for example:planning and green space allocationaffordable housingbiodiversity, wildlifehousing sitesprovision for cyclists, pedestriansclimate changerenewablescommunity recycling facilitiessolar panels on agricultural buildings and more...North Yorkshire Council will adopt the plan after various consultation processes are complete. Neighbourhood Plans are pro development – the community identifies where development goesand by how much in the plan.Look out for an open community meeting facilitated by the Parish Council soon. To expressinterest in receiving information, email: nplan@hovingham.org.uk