Climate action in Calderdale has been showcased on the national stage, with two prestigious award events highlighting the achievements of the borough’s sphagnum moss project.
Gill Wrigley, the Council’s lead officer for the Calderdale Sphagnum Project, has been recognised on the Environment 100 list(external link), which celebrates the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations dedicated to creating a greener and more sustainable future.
Gill received her award this month, at the Environmental Services and Solutions (ESS) Expo in Birmingham– an event which attracts over 12,000 international visitors.
Gill leads the Council’s innovative work with sphagnum moss, helping to restore Calderdale’s moorland areas. Sphagnum moss plays a vital role in regenerating peatlands, which are the UK’s largest carbon stores. The moss can store up to 20 times its own weight in water, helping to mitigate flooding and offering essential protection to downstream communities.
Working with volunteers, Gill has developed a successful method of growing the moss in a nursery environment, as part of The National Lottery-funded Growing Resilience Project.
Around 2500 plug plants have already been planted on moorlands, with further grant funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority supporting this and other landscaping work needed for the sphagnum to become established. Further planting is due to take place throughout this winter.
The achievements of the Sphagnum Moss Project have also been recognised this month at the Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) Service Awards, with the Council being named as a finalist in the Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation Initiative category. Gill and volunteer Jan West represented the Council at the event in Bristol on Thursday 12 September.
Both the ESS Expo event and the APSE Awards offered opportunities to showcase Gill’s contributions and the project’s findings to the wider environmental and local government sector, enabling others to learn from the work to support climate action.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“Our ‘peatland pioneer’ Gill Wrigley, is a passionate advocate for climate action. I’m delighted that her efforts have been highlighted on the national stage, receiving her Environment 100 award at the ESS Expo event in Birmingham and representing the Council at the APSE awards in Bristol.
“Gill’s work as part of the Sphagnum Moss Project is supporting peatland restoration – a crucial part of the Calderdale Climate Action Plan. Protecting these precious habitats can bring big benefits including storing massive amounts of carbon and reducing the risk of flooding and moorland fires.
“I’ve seen first-hand how Gill’s knowledge and enthusiasm has been a vital part of the success of this project. Showcasing the project’s findings at a national level supports work to promote the project and share learning with other national organisations, helping to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies.”
Gill Wrigley, said:
“I’m delighted that the success of The Calderdale Sphagnum Project is receiving national recognition. Growing your own sphagnum moss makes complete sense both in terms of cost and community engagement with climate action, flood mitigation and biodiversity. I hope that many more councils and organisations will prioritise the restoration of peat landscapes in their own boroughs and will have the confidence to ‘Grow Moss for Peat’s Sake’.”
The Calderdale Climate Action Plan has been developed in partnership with people and organisations across Calderdale and focuses on the steps needed between 2023 and 2026 to achieve Calderdale’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038.To find out more, visit https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/environment/sustainability/climate-action-plan To keep up to date with climate action across Calderdale, sign up for email updates at: Climate Emergency newsletter(external link)