There's been a tremendous upsurge in community groups working on climate change in the past two years, with over 100 new independent groups established in the South West. This was the conclusion of a survey carried out by Friends of the Earth, supported by the South West Regional Assembly.

What's more, experts agree that communities have a vital role to play in developing new social norms, and reaching out to their neighbours to promote action. And Climate Friendly Fortnight owed much of its success to their energy, expertise and local contacts.  

The survey found that the groups were keen to work more closely together, to share their expertise and achieve greater impact. So we're delighted that The Co-op has agreed to  support the South West Wildlife Trusts in helping develop community climate change networks in each county. We'll be doing some more in-depth research, followed by workshops in each county early next year to share the results and plan further action. If you'd like to find out more, please contact your local Wildlife Trust.  

From designer shopping bags to super-insulated catflaps, it seems like there's no lifestyle nook or cranny untouched by the need to make a climate change choice. If you're anything like me, there's the temptation to simply give up, book that flight to the sun and try to forget all about it. And as a climate change activist, what on earth should we focus on?

That's why last year the Green Alliance brought together some of the leading environmental organisations, including The Wildlife Trusts, to hammer out the priorities. Defra then adapted the initial list, which  was debated at a workshop earlier this summer. These are the top twelve actions proposed for individuals.  Do you agree with them? And is your group involved in promoting them?  

• Insulate your house.
• Buy energy efficient products, like low energy lightbulbs or A rated appliances.
• Manage your home energy use better. eg turn your thermostat down.
• Install reneweable energy, such as solar water heating.
• Increase recycling.
• Waste less food.
• Use less water.
• Buy a low carbon car.
• Use your car less.
• Cut down on flights, especially short-haul.
• Eat more seasonal, local food.
• Change to a low impact diet eg with less meat.
  

 The Climate Change Bill will be published in early November, with the second reading scheduled for early December. It's been a major achievement to get it this far, and it could make an amazing difference. However, there are still some important changes needed if it's to be effective. We need to show the widest possible range of public support during October. The I Count campaign is asking community groups to meet their MPs during this time to lobby for the changes below. There will be more information and materials on their website from mid-September.

So please make the most of Climate Friendly Fortnight to encourage all your local groups to see their MP, whether individually or together. It can be a good idea for a few groups or individuals to join together to support each other, especially if some haven't met their MP before.

The changes we'd like to see:
- 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions rather than 60% by 2050 - based on the latest scientific information.
- Inclusion of aviation and shipping in the emissions total - currently left out.
- Annual reporting on progress rather than every 5 years, which is longer than a 5 year parliamentary term.
- Development of a similar framework, targets and reporting for adaptation to climate change, including measures to help wildlife adapt.

 The government has just published the results of its most recent climate change survey carried out in March this year. The same questions are repeated every six months and it's fascinating to track how public opinion changes. Although 94% of people think that the climate is changing, the number of people who think that this is due to natural causes had increased  to 22%. This was the highest percentage since the surveys started, and an increase of 5% since the previous survey. How much of this was due to Channel Four's Great Climate Change Swindle programme? (Check out the New Scientist's Guide for the Perplexed to find the real answers to the climate myths it put across). There was also a decline in the number of people worried that they might be affected by flooding due to climate change - I imagine that may have changed by the the next survey!

Doing your own local climate change survey is a really good way of raising awareness and  talking to people about climate change. It's so simple, you could do it as an action for Climate Friendly Fortnight with very little preparation. You just need two or three people in your local shopping centre on a Saturday morning. Start  by asking people to complete a simple questionnaire, then if they are interested, you can go on to encourage them to join you in taking further action. You will need to ask the questions and tick the boxes yourself rather than letting people do it themselves. That way you only need one sheet rather than a separate form for everyone.

Your results won't have any statistical validity, but it is still interesting to compare them to national ones if you base your survey on the government one. And the local media may well be interested in your findings, especially if your community is very different from average.

 It’s official - bumblebees prefer gardens!  That was the conclusion of the National Bumblebee Nest Survey, published in the latest edition of the Journal of Applied Ecology. It found that gardens had among the highest densities of bumblebee nests, with an average of 36 per hectare, compared to only 30 in hedgerows and 11 in woodlands.

There are about 25 native species of bumblebee in Britain, although 3 have been declared extinct. A further 15 species have seen serious declines in their numbers, with 9 being seriously at risk and designated in the national Biodiversity Action Plan. They are important pollinators of crops and wild plants. Click here for Bumblebee survey details.

Gardens only account for 2% of the land in Britain, but they can provide a rich variety of habitats, with places to nest and plenty of flowers to provide nectar. In open farmland they may need to travel much further to find the food and shelter they need.

And it’s not just bumblebees that like gardens. Research carried out by the University of Sheffield has found that quite ordinary gardens can support an amazing number of different insects and other creatures. It helps if you can provide a logpile or two, a few spots with long grass or a pond, but wildlife will make the most of any patch of green.

As wildlife starts to feel the impact of climate change, our gardens can make all the difference.

 We hope this blog  will provide a chance to share your ideas and plans for Climate Friendly Fortnight with others throughout the region. We'll be bringing you regular updates on what's happening, with events great and small. Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own event, technical tips on organising or the latest snippets from the national or international scene, we're here to help. We certainly don't know all the answers, but odds on, we know somebody who does. And remember to let us know your news too at  climate@swwt.org.uk , so we can pass it on to others.