Environmental and Green Opportunities

 

Throughout West Lancashire, there are many opportunities for residents, community groups and businesses to take action and get involved. Below is a snapshot of what is available and follow the links for more information. 

How Residents Can Get Involved: 

Hints and Tips for Saving Utilities

Whether you are a homeowner, tenant, student, business or visitor, we have created a short guide of simple actions that you can take to reduce utility use, greenhouse gas emissions, and save money at home and beyond: Hints and Tips to Using Household Items Efficiently.pdf

Advice and guidance can be found here:

Cosy Homes in Lancashire - Local Council Scheme

Cosy Homes is a partnership of 15 Lancashire Local Authorities, helping households access funding for energy-related improvements to their homes. If your property is suitable, you may be entitled to free energy efficiency improvements, including air source heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage, and insulation measures.

Use Cosy Homes service finder to see which grants and services are available in your area Cosy Homes - Grants and Funding (External Link). You can also call the Cosy Homes Advice Team for free advice and help finding the right options for your home.

Cosy Homes Advice Team

If you want to save energy, reduce your bills and have a greener, warmer home the Cosy Homes Advice Team are here to help.

They offer free, council-backed support to help you save energy and money at home. The service includes:.

    • Finding the best energy tariffs to lower your bills
    • Dealing with common issues like damp and mould
    • Simple changes to boost energy efficiency and reduce bills
    • Understanding which grants and funding could be available to you and supporting your application
    • Referrals to local services for personalised, face-to-face assistance
    • Understanding your current heating system
    • Understanding new low-carbon technologies, such as solar panels and heat pumps, including how they work and how they could fit into your lifestyle and home
    • Free home visits to install small measures, including the Little Van of Warm

Visit Cosy Homes (External Link) or call 03306 061 488 to find out how they can support you.

Greener Homes in Lancashire - Delivered by Green Rose

Greener Homes in Lancashire is a new service, supported by Blackpool Council and working with Cosy Home in Lancashire, that can help you explore upgrade options, access grants or finance, and connect with trusted local installers - so you can make informed decisions about how best to invest in a greener, warmer home. Visit Greener Homes in Lancashire

Visit Greener Homes in Lancashire (External Link) or to book an advise call visit Greener Homes in Lancashire - Advice Call (External Link) to find out how they can support you.

 

Energy Projects Plus

Energy Projects Plus may be able to offer you a free home energy visit, offering personalised advice on ways you can keep warm and reduce your energy bills. They can help you switch your energy tariff, apply for Warm Home Discount, install energy saving measures, apply for funding for heating and insulation and support with fuel debt. For more information, visit Energy Projects Plus (External Link), email advice@epplus.org, or call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151 or 0151 637 367 to find out how they can support you.

 

West Lancashire's Parks and Countryside

We have a wide range of fun and fascinating events running throughout the year. To see a copy of this years events programme please click on the link above. West Lancashire's Parks and Countryside (Link)

Volunteering with the Ranger Service

There are many different ways for people to become involved in volunteering for the Ranger Service. We offer a range of formal and informal opportunities tailored to meet the individual needs and availability of each volunteer. Volunteering with the Ranger Service (Link)

 

Eco Event Wildflowers

As part of our Eco Event, we gave away little packets of Cornfield annual wildflower seeds for residents to plant. Each individual packet contains:

  • Chamomile, Corn (Anthemis arvensis) flowers in June - July,
  • Corn Cockle (Agrostemma githago) flowers in May - August,
  • Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) flowers in June - October,
  • Marigold, Corn (Chrysanthemum segetum) flowers in June - October,
  • Poppy, Common (Papaver rhoeas) flowers in May – July

For information on how to plant the seeds, the Royal Horticultural Society provide guidance: RHS – How to sow seeds outdoors (External Link) and RHS – How to sow seeds indoors (External Link)

How Businesses Can Get Involved:

Greener Working

We have a range of support available for businesses within West Lancashire, ranging from Green Tourism positioning the region as a leader in sustainable tourism, and help support your business to gain Green Tourism accreditation and achieve sustainable growth to Chamber Low Carbon to help businesses improve energy and environmental efficiencies, introduce on site renewable energy generation and save money. For information about these projects and more, visit: Greener Working - West Lancashire Borough Council (westlancs.gov.uk)

How Community Groups Can Get Involved: 

Lancashire Climate Action Network

LancsCAN’s main aim – to help mobilise Lancashire’s community voice and action on climate change, working collaboratively with others to advance the county’s climate agenda. Lancashire Climate Action Network (External Link)

The Tree Council - Branching Out Fund

The Tree Council grant has regular grants for community groups, schools, small registered charities, and Tree Warden Networks seeking to establish trees, hedgerows, and orchards. Grants of between £250 and £2,500 are available per application and the projects must be England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Check Tree Council - Branching Out Fund (External Link) for current opportunities.