Climate Change & Biodiversity

Climate Change and Biodiversity

The City Council is committed to playing its part in the fight against climate change and the desire to increase biodiversity.  The City Council has established a Committee to assist with these goals, and suggestions and contributions from residents are welcomed. Some of the measures undertaken to date include:

     New exterior doors and surrounding panels at Curborough Community Centre and Boley Park Community Hall, the replacement fixtures boasting significantly improved thermal efficiency than their predecessors.

  • Replacement of SOX/SON bulbs in approximately 150 LCC owned pathway lights with LED alternatives (completed in 2019).
  • Rebuild of Cruck House annexe significantly improved the thermal values of the building against its 1960’s predecessor, in addition to improved design, accessibility etc.
  • Replacement LED lighting in the Guildhall ground floor corridor, Guild Room, main hall and both kitchens. 
  • Replacement LED lighting at Boley Park Community Hall (the Hall being run by LCC officers since the resignation of the previous management committee in 2016).
  • Upgraded lighting to the council offices at Donegal House.
  • Replacement display and room lighting at the Johnson Birthplace Museum
  • Ongoing work at Darwin Hall includes addition of extra roof insulation to further improve the u-value of the building.
  • Installation of solar panels at Darwin Hall (progressed by Darwin Hall Community Association).
  • Ongoing installation of solar panels at Curborough Community Centre (progressed by Curborough Community Association)
  • General and significant repairs and maintenance work to windows, roofs and other building fabric that is aged, deteriorated or was in general poor repair across the LCC portfolio. 

 

LCC Open Space

The Council owns approximately 65 acres of open space, and over the past few years various areas have been given over to projects to support biodiversity, such as:

  • The bund at Nether Stowe, with associated wild flower planting.
  • Festival Gardens - 'No Mow' and wildflower areas across the site. ‘Three Tree Triangle’ on the edge of the site is managed by local group Transition Lichfield.
  • The City Council played an active role in Lichfield District Council’s ‘Mowing Panel’. The City Council put forward pilot areas and designs for no-mow for 2023. Also agreed via the Mowing Panel was the decision to not routinely cut grass around the base of trees, and reduced verge cutting in certain areas.
  • Wildflower area opposite St Chad’s Church that has drawn significant positive comment from residents and visitors alike. 

There is the potential for additional wildflower and ‘no mow’ areas across LCC’s open spaces, and these are being investigated.

 

Further Information

Lichfield District Council's Climate Change Resources Hub provides further information and resources for individuals and local groups.

Staffordshire County Council's Sustainability Board was created in 2022 to gather Members from Councils in Staffordshire to discuss environmental issues and collaborative projects.