Climate Café® Kinross-shire was formed in May 2021 following an Eco Survey at Kinross Farmer’s Market in March, which showed a great local interest in forming a group that would focus on climate change, its effects on the environment and society, and how we could best adapt or minimise the negative effects.
Our Climate Café® meets every first Tuesday of each month from 7-9 pm. Due to pandemic restrictions first two meetings took place on ZOOM in May and June 2021, but since September 2021 we have been meeting in Loch Leven Campus Library.
The meetings are informal, focusing on different aspects of climate change that are of interest to our group. As part of meetings, although not by definition we will try to invite guest speakers or watch films related to climate change that will give a theme for a discussion.
Climate Fringe local in person event
Damon Gameau’s film “2040” on 6th November at 4pm in Milnathort Town Hall
The film is an internationally acclaimed futuristic documentary that gained its recognition through an optimistic outlook on the future affected by climate change. The film is suitable for all ages and families are particularly welcome for this afternoon event. The screening is our climate cafe event organised by Milnathort Filmhouse and sponsored by KLEO. Tickets are available at https://www.milnathortfilmhouse.com/film-programme.
Our Climate Fringe online event in time for COP26
A multi-media production of “Voices from Loch Leven” by Oakford Media Company in collaboration with Kinross-shire Climate Café®.
It is a series of short film reflections on climate change as experienced by people from Loch Leven, expressing concerns and hopes for the future and wanting their voices to be heard and count in time of big decisions at COP26.
The series was screened during Climate Fringe Week and is now available to watch on our YouTube channel.
Our Climate Café® program for 2021/22
7th September
Recycling and reducing waste
Guest speaker: Ana de Miguel, Waste Minimisation Officer from Perth and Kinross Council.
Ana de Miguel, presented a very interesting and informative talk about different types of waste, how and where it’s recycled, and PKC Waste strategy.
Most importantly we learnt what to put and not to put in our kerb-side recycling bins
4th October
Watching “Voices from Loch Leven” and a discussion about social effects of climate change.
Upcoming meetings
1st November – Focus on COP26 – presentation and virtual link with climate café event in Glasgow, discussion about future focus of the group
6th December – Sharing festive ideas minimising climate change that also promote zero-waste, home-made gifts, charity shops
Idea: group fundraiser and stalls to purchase/share gifts
Guest speakers – local Representatives from Fairtrade and Broke not Broken t.b.c.
3rd January – Mindfulness and positive psychology session to help with anxiety caused by the climate change emergency.
Led by Orla Beaton, local Mindfulness and Yoga Teacher. “Cultivating Happiness: how our mind can help build resilience in challenging times”.
7th February – Increasing textile knowledge – what to buy best to reduce waste.
Guest speaker: Trudy Duffy, owner of The Turtle and the Peacock shop in Perth.
7th March – Green transport in Kinross-shire– how we can reduce car usage.
Guest speaker – Malcolm McFarlane from Kinross-shire Move Greener Organisation (KMGO) – our local car share club.
4th April – Grow your own session – learn more about growing food and the best environmental practices.
Guest speaker – Amanda James from Potager Garden
2nd May – Organising Bike Festival, discussion related to what we can do to reduce car usage. Linked with the session in March.
6th June (final session before summer) – Improving natural habitats for wildlife to adapt to climate change and for people to enjoy. Session with an invited guest t.b.c..
Fundraising events
During Climate Fringe week we organised a drop-in Climate Café® stall at the Kinross Farmer’s Market on 25th September.
As part of the event there were up-cycled small objects for sale, raffle of homemade and zero-waste produce, and locally collected seeds for sale plus “Make an upcycled lampion” kids’ activity.
We raised over £200 towards climate café funds for future community events.
Links with local environmental groups
As part of our ethos, we support and promote environmental community actions in Kinross-shire. This involves promotion and active support of the events organised locally like litter picks, tree planting events or restoration of the local wetland (Portmoak Moss). Our Climate Café has established links with other community, environmental and ecology groups.
Established links
Kinross-shire Local Events Organisation: http://www.kleo.org.uk/
Kinross-shire Move Greener Organisation: https://www.movegreener.org
Portmoak Community Woodland Group: http://www.portmoakcw.org.uk/index.html
Kinross Church Eco Group: http://www.portmoakcw.org.uk/index.html
Guided walk to Portmoak Moss
On Sunday, 12th September some of our group visited Portmoak Moss to attend a guided walk organised by Portmoak Woodland Community Group (PWCG). Jeff Gunnell led the walk round the restored wetland and the surrounding woodland. Along the way we learnt the story of peatland which goes back 6000 years, with a rich specialised habitat of Sphagnum moss and heather that attracts bees. In summer months this area attracts different species of dragonflies and damselflies that take advantage of ditches and pools. We also learnt about the huge PWCG conservation efforts to preserve the habitat from invasive birch.
Jeff Gunnell told us about a major conservation project organised by PWCG that took place a few years ago to block the draining ditches and improve the moss microclimate. Those efforts restored the carbon storage capacity of this habitat, which was estimated to equate to a carbon footprint of 40000 people.