“How can we build a more sustainable and zero-carbon future?” CAT asked festival goers at last year’s El Sueno music festival for their ideas… Look… smiley faces and sunshine! This will get you warmed up for the summer! CAT was pleased to be part of local music and politics festival El Sueno Existe which took place in Machynlleth, Powys last August. We asked festival goers for their ideas on how we can build a more sustainable future together,... Read More ››
The log supply in my woodshed has been dwindling steadily and on a dark, wet morning I found myself having to rummage in the far recesses to find some wood to top up the log basket. As I fumbled in the corner where the last remaining rather sorry looking logs were stacked, my hand closed on something that felt very un-log like – it was cold, with a rather rubbery feel and it twitched a bit. When I... Read More ››
CAT’s information department is embarking on a new project to understand the barriers people face to adopting sustainable behaviours. Concentrating on home energy efficiency, the project will see CAT staff and volunteers hold discussions with local people about their domestic energy use. Making a difference to the amount of energy used in the home makes a significant impact on our emissions. Domestic energy consumption accounts for 27% of all UK emissions, 56% of which is used in heating.... Read More ››
At CAT, we have five webbed-foot friends. They’re not friends with each other, however; rivalries between ganders Bernard and White Face have resulted in the two being kept separate. White Face, shown here, has a bit of a reputation for being unpleasant. Keeping geese is part of our sustainable woodland project. The geese graze on a field which is to be planted with... Read More ››
Morning Everyone, welcome to the first Naycher Korner of 2012 on a bright, crisp January morning. I’m the eternal optimist and even though it’s a bit on the parky side there are lots of signs of the approaching spring all around us at present. The quarrelsome and noisy rooks down by the station in town are already busy repairing and patching up their nests in the rookery in the trees near the bridge. In mild winters they are... Read More ››
Paul Allen, CAT’s director of external relations, writes about a recent Happy Museum Project symposium, where he presented the findings of Zero Carbon Britain. This week I took train across the UK to Saxmundham on the East Coast to present the finding of Zero Carbon Britain to the ‘Happy Museum’ Symposium. This is a radical and innovative project aimed at exploring how the UK museum sector can respond to the challenges presented by the need for creating a... Read More ››
While the winter in Wales hasn’t so far shown its teeth, the gardens are notably more monochromatic. Here we point out a couple of interesting plants… CAT runs a number of gardening and ecology courses. The courses cover a range of topics including organic growing and sustainable agriculture. Find out more. The string plant, as it is usefully known, provides a handy alternative to garden twine. Its leaves split into long, durable strands, so you’re never without string... Read More ››
CAT’s Biology department makes charcoal or ‘biochar’ from waste woodland products to experiment with its value as a soil additive. Made using a retort system, emits fewer greeenhouse gases than a traditional kiln, the resultant product is soaked in urine and added to the soil. Charcoal, or biochar, made from waste materials from our woodland. Woodland and craft courses at CAT. Our woodland and craft courses cover a huge range of topics including sustainable woodland management, traditional horse... Read More ››
