Welcome and Acknowledgment – Chris
*“Good evening, and thank you all for coming. Your presence here tonight is a testament to the dedication and passion you have for our village. We are deeply grateful for the time and effort you’ve invested in being here, and we recognise the vital roles you play as local leaders and engaged residents. This gathering represents a remarkable convergence of our village’s key figures—something we might never have seen before. I’d also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event possible. From our initial brainstorming sessions in late 2023 to the meticulous planning of tonight’s event, your support has been invaluable. As the saying goes, ‘you know who you are,’ and we genuinely appreciate all your efforts.”*
Introductions of the team – Kim Laws
*“Allow me to introduce ourselves. We are a group of long-standing friends who have always shared a deep commitment to ‘doing the right thing’ in the face of our current circumstances. Our journey began with an exploration into the sustainability efforts already present in our village, which led us to realise that while there are admirable initiatives underway, there is an opportunity for us to build something new and impactful. We embarked on this journey together, driven by a common goal: to create a more sustainable and connected community which ultimately reduces our carbon footprint and increases our biodiversity. Each of us brings a unique perspective and skill set to this initiative, and together we hope to foster positive change in our village.”*
Setting the Scene & Impact of Climate Change – Rob
*“Our village has a rich and storied history, reflected in our charming old buildings, the well-trodden paths we walk daily, and the beautiful landscape that surrounds us—from the rolling hills of the Meon Valley to the tranquil shores of the Solent. These elements make our village a unique and cherished place, often referred to as the jewel between Southampton and Portsmouth. However, we are now at a crucial crossroads. The world around us is changing at a rapid pace, and these changes are starting to impact our community in tangible ways. Climate change is no longer an abstract concept; it’s a real and pressing issue affecting our daily lives. Our beloved infrastructure—our historic homes, public buildings, and pathways—is facing new and unprecedented challenges. Increased frequency and intensity of weather events are causing accelerated wear and tear, making it difficult to preserve the village’s heritage. For instance, surface runoff from heavy rains is increasingly threatening our roads, homes, and farmlands with flooding—a problem that some of you may have experienced firsthand. Additionally, our efforts to insulate and save energy in our aging properties are meeting challenges as we try to balance old and new technologies. The air quality is also deteriorating due to increased pollution from local development, posing health risks to our environment and residents, particularly our children. This is not about being parochial or narrow-minded but about facing the reality of our individual and collective responsibilities in mitigating our climate footprint.”*
Opportunity for Change – Dom Flint
*“Despite the challenges we face, this situation also presents a significant opportunity. We have the chance to address climate change in a way that directly benefits our village. By recognising the interconnectedness of our environmental needs and our village’s future, we can take proactive steps to ensure our homes, roads, and natural resources are safeguarded. The actions we take to mitigate climate change—though they may seem small on a global scale—can have a profound impact on our community. By working together, we can develop practical strategies to protect our heritage, enhance our quality of life, and contribute positively to the planet’s health. Our commitment to sustainability can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and improvement, ensuring our village remains a vibrant and resilient place for generations to come.”*
Data Presentation (Slides) – Chris
*“To further illustrate the impact of our current situation and the importance of our proposed actions, we have prepared some slides with key data. These slides will show you our village’s carbon footprint. We believe that understanding these statistics will provide a clearer picture of the challenges we face and underscore the need for a coordinated approach to sustainability. Let’s take a moment to review the data, as it will help frame our subsequent discussions and actions.”*
Slides were presented based upon research documentation that estimates the carbon footprint of the Titchfield Ward and breaks it down into the key areas of human activity that creates the emissions.
Launching EcoTitchfield – Kim & Dom
*“Tonight marks a significant milestone as we officially launch EcoTitchfield. Our goal is to enhance and support the wonderful sustainability efforts already present in our village by working in synergy with existing organisations. EcoTitchfield will act as a bridge, connecting us to a broader network of local, regional, and national organisations. This will allow us to share best practices, explore new sustainability opportunities, and develop a tailored approach that aligns with our community’s unique needs and aspirations. While our role will evolve based on community input, our immediate aim is to foster collaboration and create a solid foundation for lasting impact.”*
Introducing our guest & The Greening Campaign- Rob
*“As we move forward, we are fortunate to have the expertise of Terena Plowright, who has been instrumental in helping us develop a comprehensive approach to community engagement. Her team has provided us with valuable insights and a structured framework to guide our efforts. Terena’s experience and knowledge will be crucial as we begin this journey together. So, with that, I am pleased to hand over the floor to Terena, who will share more about her work and how it will support the launch and development of EcoTitchfield.”*
Introduction to the Greening campaign & Greening Titchfield – Terena Plowright
Terena introduced the Greening Campaign, of which she is the Founder and leader.
In 2008, Terena realised that only ‘green’ people visited ‘green’ centres or read ‘green’ magazines and she felt that this meant most of the time people with climate change expertise were preaching to the converted. She also realised that the whole Climate issue was overwhelming people, and more than this, no-one could tell whether anyone else was taking action, resulting in the attitude ‘why should I change my lifestyle when everyone else is carrying on the same’.
Terena wanted to engage everyone and so started the Greening Campaign in her own community. To her surprise, she found that if people are given clear advice and ideas on how to save money and CO2, in a fun and visible way, they take action! People all over the community started to change their behaviour, and the Greening Campaign was born.
Making the campaign visible was key to its success and soon afterwards more communities asked if they could copy the format – now over 200 communities have run Phase 1 and the number is growing.
We then realised that as people learned to make small changes, they wanted to do more with their community and so, with the help of Experts, Phase 2 was created and is now active for communities to explore.
It is a predefined program, funded by the national lottery that is already deployed in a number of communities across Hampshire. Ecotitchfield has signed up to the program and will be following this process as it’s first workplan with the intentional tactic of testing our communities interest to get involved, whilst making proven change.
The ‘Greening Titchfield’ campaign will focus on five key pillars :
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Space for Nature: This pillar encourages communities to create or improve natural spaces to support local biodiversity.
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Energy Efficient Warmer Homes: This involves reducing energy consumption and making homes more energy-efficient, which also helps lower CO2 emissions and energy bills.
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Health Impacts of Climate Change: This pillar focuses on raising awareness about the health challenges posed by climate change, including the impact of rising temperatures and mental health concerns.
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Waste Prevention: Instead of focusing on recycling or reusing waste, this pillar emphasises reducing waste at its source.
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Cycle of the Seed: This initiative promotes food security by encouraging communities to grow their own food and learn about soil health, fostering discussions around food sustainability.
These pillars are designed to be accessible and engaging, making it easier for our residents to take collective action.
So over the next year EcoTitchfield will be deploying ‘Greening Titchfield’ as the key activity and then assessing the impact of this endeavour and assessing next steps with other potential projects.
Closing the Event – Chris
*“As we conclude tonight’s event, I want to emphasise that this initiative is about all of us—working together to turn EcoTitchfield from a concept into a vibrant reality. The phrase ‘It takes a village’ is particularly relevant here. We hope that each of you will find ways to support and engage with this vision in your respective roles. Our clear objectives include educating our residents about sustainability, encouraging active participation, influencing long-term behaviour change, and empowering residents to advocate for sustainability within their own spheres. We encourage you to take this message back to your organisations and rally support. Our next steps include participating in our ‘Ask the Experts’ call on Monday, September 16th, where we will gain further insights into the five pillars of our initiative. Connection details will be shared via WhatsApp, Facebook, and our website. Please consider joining us and contributing to this vital conversation. Thank you once again for your commitment and involvement. Together, through collective action, we can create a sustainable and thriving future for our village—for ourselves, our children, and future generations.
Good night.”*
