Local Agenda 21
Meetings and Events
Woking LA21 organise regular public meetings and events, which usually involve presentations and discussions about topical environmental issues. It provides an opportunity to find out about the facts, and to hear from local and national experts. The events are usually held in locations close to Woking Town Centre and are free to attend.
Next Event
Woking residents can look into their low carbon future at Woking Local Agenda 21´s AGM on Wednesday 4th June, 7:30pm at the HG Wells Conference and Events Centre. This is a great opportunity to hear from those in the know about the national and local solutions to Climate Change:
- Tony Juniper, Director of Friends of the Earth (a leading campaigning body for environmental solutions) will talk about a range of high profile campaigns that have influenced environmental thinking. He will highlight some of the most innovative and successful ideas from communities to tackle environmental problems.
- Ray Morgan, Woking Borough Council´s Chief Executive, will introduce the Council's Climate Change Strategy, and present the Borough´s response to the global issue of Climate Change.
- You can hear the latest news from Woking Local Agenda 21 group and one lucky prize winner will receive a top of the range Energy Meter!
The event is free, so simply turn up on the night if you would like to come, or for more information, see www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/la21, email la21@woking.gov.uk, or telephone 01483 743413.
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Last year's LA21 Public Events
Get Water Wise ! - LA21 AGM
Woking residents got water-wise by attending Woking Local Agenda 21´s AGM on Wednesday 18th July 2007, 7:30pm at the HG Wells Conference and Events Centre
The south east of England receives 50% less rainfall on average than the rest of the UK and also has one of the highest consumption rates in the country. Householders can help to safeguard water supplies for the region through taking simple actions and installing a range of helpful devices.
This was a great opportunity to hear expert advice about how to cut water wastage in the home and garden:
Waterwise, the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK, showcased the wide range of quick fixes you can use at home to save water
Local supplier Three Valleys Water explained how you can maintain a beautiful garden without wasting water.
Free water-saving devices such as water hippos and shower bags were available. One lucky prize draw winner received a great water-saving kit.
If you didn´t make it, why not measure your own water usage and see how you compare with the regional average by completing the . . .
or look at our collection of water-saving, information documents, in the box on the right-hand side of this page
The "Woking Uncovered" event
featured displays from a range of Council services and other local organisations. Entertainment was provided throughout the day.
There was a Display stand for LA21 & ECSC (Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities).
The purpose of the stand was to promote LA21's Greener Homes Guide and raise awareness of the new Woking Solar Frontier project, which is a partnership between ECSC, Woking BC and Woking LA21. John Wyles from ECSC (Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities) attended the stand for the day bringing a range of promotional material related to the project. LA21 materials were also available.
A number of 'Open Days' for people interested in solar hot water installations were arranged at the event.
Gardening For Life Event - 1st March 2007 Gardening in the Global Greenhouse
Many people attended the public meeting to hear about gardening in the future. Firstly a short summary was presented of the Gardening For Life project since it was launched nine years ago to promote environmentally friendly gardening. Apart from raising awareness by public meetings and displays, a major part of the project has been involving residents in wildlife surveys.
Steve Berry from Natural England (formerly English Nature) gave an illustrated talk about the importance of gardens for wildlife. Gardens account for around 25% of the land surface in urban areas. Research in Sheffield and Leicester have shown insects and other invertebrates can occur in huge numbers per square metre and these are vital to the whole food chain. However, there is still very little known about wildlife in urban gardens and what factors affect species types and numbers. Steve acknowledged GFL´s contribution by their past surveys and their new Garden Wildlife Watch to be held each April from 2007.
Richard Bisgrove from Reading University spoke of the impacts of accelerating climate change on gardens. In the south east of England hotter drier summers are occuring and winters are becoming wetter but milder so that evaporation is greater. Increased carbon dioxide and higher temeratures causes faster growth so that lawns need more mowing and plant more pruning. However availability of water is key. Prolonged droughts and hose pipe bans will be the norm so we shall have to get used to brown lawns. Herbaceous border species and trees like beech will find conditions unsuitable. Imported pests will spread rapidly with climate change as has happened with the horse chestnut leaf miner.
Early spring flowering and greater autumn colours may occur and new species may be able to be grown. However, shorter and cooler days than the Mediterranean and wetter winter conditions will mean difficulties of growth of some species. Heavy downpours will increase flooding and stronger winds cause damage. Maintaining vegetation cover will reduce run off and adding organic matter will help to retain moisture. Conservation of water will be necessary - if everyone in a small town had a water butt then an equivalent of a reservoir would be saved. The practice of autumn planting will return so that plants can establish before the summer drought starts.
Climate change will present new challenges but what we do in our own patch can help our own communities and the wider landscape. Gill Stribley ended the meeting by encouraging the audience to take part in the Woking Garden Wildlife Watch survey in April and to enjoy watching wildlife throughout the year.
20th July 2006 - Woking Uncovered (Greener Homes & Solar Display)
The "Woking Uncovered" event featured displays from a range of Council services and other local organisations. Entertainment was provided throughout the day.
There was a Display stand for LA21 & ECSC (Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities).
The purpose of the stand was to promote LA21's Greener Homes Guide and raise awareness of the new Woking Solar Frontier project, which is a partnership between ECSC, Woking BC and Woking LA21. John Wyles from ECSC (Energy Centre for Sustainable Communities) attended the stand for the day bringing a range of promotional material related to the project. LA21 materials were also available.
LA21 AGM 2006 Climate Change Update - 28th June 2006
Click here for a full review as a pdf download.
Around 90 local people attended this special event, at the H.G. Wells Conference Centre, to hear about the latest research into climate change.
The public meeting, organised by Woking Local Agenda 21 and Woking Borough Council, featured a presentation from climate change expert, Dr. Jeff Ridley, from the Met Office´s Hadley Centre. The meeting gave local people the opportunity to find out more about the future of climate change. Topics covered included:
- Predictions into the future effects of global warming. The audience learned about the various predictions that have been made which depend on how much carbon dioxide is released over the next few years. Results show that there will be irrevesible damage if the temperature rises over 2 degrees C.
- The effect that dramatic warming has had over the last ten years and how it is directly linked to the release of human greenhouse gas emissions (CO2)
At the Annual General Meeting of the LA21, which was held before the talk, Woking´s national and international reputation for its achievements in reducing carbon emissions was recognised. Woking LA21 has played an important role in raising awareness of climate change and highlighting the need for action by individuals, as well as government at local, national and international levels.
Gill Stribley from Woking Local Agenda 21 said: "The event was extremely informative and brought home the issues surrounding climate change. The evidence and predictions for climate change are worrying, but there is plenty of opportunity for us all to take positive action to help prevent further damage to the environment."
More information about climate change and how to prevent it can be found in the Greener Homes guides which are available free of charge from Woking Borough Council´s Civic Offices, telephone 01483 755855
Woking region - temperature prediction 
Environmentally Friendly Gardening Event - 17th June 2006
Woking Local Agenda 21 had an excellent variety of leaflets on environmentally friendly gardening and sustainable living on the stall by the Woking Wildlife Flowerbed on June 17th. The main theme was on using water wisely in the garden in view of the hose pipe ban and the hotter, drier summers we are experiencing as the climate changes.
Tips for reducing water use include:
- mulch with compost or bark chips
- collect rain water in a butt and recycle kitchen water
- add water retaining crystals to pots and cluster pots together
- avoid watering lawns and remove weeds
Also choose drought-tolerant plants such as species with hairy, grey or spiky leaves. Examples such as sage and lavender were kindly suppled by the Normandy Community therapy garden for display . There were many leaflets about encouraging wildlife with the Wildlife Flowerbed exhibiting thriving examples such as honeysuckle, ivy and teasels.
Solar Water Heating Promotion Day - 25 March 2006
Shoppers in the Wolsey Place Shopping Centre in Woking had the chance to find out how they could make their homes more environmentally friendly, and look at demonstration models of solar water heating technologies.
The Government is increasingly looking to renewable energy technologies that use the sun, water, wind and underground heat to generate power to meet the UK's future energy needs. The event showcased some of these technologies. In particular there were display models of a Solar Water Heating system. There was a chance to speak to some Woking residents that have already implemented these systems for their homes, email la21@woking.gov.uk