Projects towards sustainable communities
After relocating from the Netherlands to Scotland in May 2007, Astrid initiated, facilitated and supported several local environmental projects. On this page, a brief summary in chronological order.
Carbon Conversations
Initiating and promoting Carbon Conversations for Scottish communities and organisations from November 2009.
Carbon Conversations is a short course that helps people to address climate change in a different way, focusing on underlying values and belief systems, lifestyle and identity as well as the basic facts of emissions. The meetings are participative and aim to engage group members both emotionally and practically. By using the group dynamic, sessions help people overcome the barriers often associated with making significant lifestyle changes. The group uses a mixture of factual input, group discussion, and activities.
We are delighted to be the first to offer this empowering course to businesses in Scotland, provide future training for (company) facilitators and offer a continuous support network.
Astrid is aiming to further introduce this remarkable course to communities and organisations in Scotland, providing future training for (new) facilitators and setting up a Scottish support network.
Co-coordinating the Callander & Climate Change sustainable community project (2009-2012)
Callander and Climate Change is an environmental interest group, founded by Margaret and David Warnock in the beautiful village of Callander situated at the edge of the Trossachs National Park in Stirlingshire.
During the first half year of 2009, Astrid supported the group in submitting an application to the Scottish Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) to fund a community project raising awareness locally concerning the effects of climate change, promoting energy efficiency and actively encouraging and empowering people to become involved in the building of a sustainable low carbon Callander.
In November 2009 Astrid was contracted to co-coordinate the project for a period of seventeen months, during which she will encourage and support local members of the community to become involved, facilitate local projects, calculate the town’s carbon footprint and help draft a fifteen year plan to build a sustainable community together.
For more info, please visit our website.
Initiated and facilitated the Oban Plastic Bag Free campaign in partnership with the GRAB Trust (July08-...). Remains advisor to the campaign after moving away from the area in Nov08.
In partnership with the GRAB Trust, Astrid kicked off the Oban Plastic Bag Free! campaign on 29th August 2008. The aim of this campaign is to raise local awareness on the environmental impact of (disposable) plastic; to persuade retailers and the public to drastically reduce the use of plastic bags; to inform retailers of safe alternatives and support them in taking measures which will help ban the plastic carrierbag as well as plastic packaging from Oban.
Oban Plastic Bag Free! is petitioning the Scottish Government to ban disposable plastic carrier bags and take serious action against plastic packaging. If you wish to join this petition, you can download the form here. Please send Astrid an email for the return address.
The current campaign team: Astrid Horward, Julie Fairbrass, Margret Powell-Joss.
Acknowledgement: We are grateful to Rebecca Hosking from Modbury in Devon for all her hard work and the invaluable information she has gathered over the years, providing us with everything we need to Go Plastic Bag Free!
People who are interested in this campaign and would like to know how to start a similar initiative in their town can always get in touch with us for support.
Founded a community sustainability forum in the Oban area (Dec07-...). Remains advisor to the committee after moving away from the area in Nov08.
Oban is a town of about 8000 inhabitants on the stunningly beautiful West Coast of Scotland. In December 2007, Astrid initiated the establishment of Sustainable Oban, a forum gathering all environmental & sustainable organisations and individuals in and around Oban who want to join forces; share knowledge and experience, help raise awareness and encourage participation in debate and action in pursuit of sustainable development in Oban and the neighbouring area.
To that purpose Sustainable Oban organises and hosts public meetings and events for forum members and the community; encourages and instigates collaboration among people, organisations and businesses; promotes local sustainable initiatives through its network.
Members: The GRAB Trust, Local Origins Rural Network (LORN), the Hebridean partnership, The Fair Trade Group, Argyll & Bute Regional Environmental (ABREEF), Central Energy Service (CES), ALIenergy,...
Events and activities Sustainable Oban has been involved in:
Film showings; Promotion of Local Food and Local Produce; the Oban Plastic Bag Free campaign; Growing your own Food / Oban allotments; Master Composting scheme; Introduction to the Transition Town initiative;
Free downloads:
Powerpoint Presentation, Introductory Meeting
Filmshowings (Oct07-...).
Raising awareness on environmental issues through the showing of films followed by Q&A and discussions on emotional responses, personal and community responsibility and empowerment.
Films shown: 'An Inconvenient Truth' (Climate Change), 'Message in the Waves' & 'Synthetic Seas' (Plastic in the environment), 'The 11th Hour' (Environmental degradation in general), 'The Next Industrial Revolution' (Cradle-to-Cradle and the restorative economy) and others.
Argyll's Green Map
Writing a green guide for Argyll (Oct07-Nov08).
Argyll's Green Map aims to inform both local people and tourists of environmentally friendly and ethical shops and recycling facilities in the Argyll region. Starting off with Oban and Lorn, the booklet intends to include the entire region of Argyll.
Seil Natural History Group
Facilitated the initiation of the group, became interim committee member and communications officer to the group and later advisor on the group's environmental performance (Sept 07-Nov08).
The Seil Natural History Group is located on the Isle of Seil on the West coast of Scotland. The group was initiated by Richard Wesley and now has ± 60 members on the island and in the neighbouring area.
The aim of the group is to enjoy, study, conserve and promote awareness of natural history on the Isle of Seil and in the surrounding area. The group organises field trips on and around Seil, invites local and national speakers on subjects of natural history and co-operates with conservation organisations to preserve and maintain Seil's national history.
The Blane Valley Carbon Neutral Group
Member of the group, initiated collaboration with other carbon neutral groups and with environmental organisations such as Friends of the Earth (May-Sept07).
Initiated by George Thom, the Blane Valley Carbon-Neutral Group aims to make the villages of Strathblane and Blanefield (Stirling) carbon neutral and hence stop contributing to global warming.
To achieve this long term goal, the Blane Valley Carbon-Neutral Group collaborates with several other villages (Going Carbon Neutral Ashton Haze, Carbon Neutral Biggar and Going Carbon Neutral Stirling) and with organisations like Friends of the Earth and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.
If you would like more detailed information on Astrid's services and fees, please contact her at: info @ eco-promotion.org. 
