The Environment

Hazy Oxford Streets - but is it sunshine or pollution? Visit Airwatch to find out.

Being concerned about the environment can seem like a rather remote thing, something you learn about in geography or see on the news, something that happens in other countries.

In fact, there are a lot of environmental issues which are directly relevant to people living in Oxfordshire, and plenty of ways to find out more about them.

This page looks at some of them.

Chipping Norton Environment Day

Environment days or events are a great place to find out more about the world around you and what you can do to make it better. This one held in Chipping Norton in February looked at Sustainability and what young people think about their environment, and included video activities, role play and more. After the workshop, using ideas from young people and other sources, worker Katharine Nathan produced an environment pack containing ideas, information and a ready-to-run activity.

Pollution

Air pollution damages health and the environment. It's especially bad for people who have asthma or lung diseases, and gets worse in the summer. Vehicle exhaust fumes are a big cause of air pollution, so there are lots of schemes to help encourage people to use their cars less. You can find out more about some of them on the transport page.

Floods

In winter, heavy rain fills the rivers, and they burst their banks and flows across the flood meadows, Oxfordshire's traditional defence against winter floods. But in recent years the flood meadows, canal lock system and all our other flood defences have not been able to stop disruption to roads and railways and homes being flooded. You can find out more about floods and how to cope with them from the Oxfordshire County Council website.

Farmers' Markets

Farmers' Markets, held monthly in many of Oxfordshire's market towns, are places where you can buy great locally-produced food from small producers and farmers in the area. You can talk to the producers and buy fresh, quality produce at competitive prices. Get lists of local Farmers' Markets and much more from the Thames Valley Farmers' Market Association.

Recycling, composting, household waste and more

The local authorities (City, District and County Councils) are committed to improving recycling services in their areas, and also to helping household to become energy-efficient and produce less waste. You can get tips on how to save energy around the home, advice about recycling and composting, information about grants and schemes and more by visiting your council website and selecting "environment".

	Oxfordshire County	www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
	Cherwell	www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk
	West Oxfordshire	www.westoxon.gov.uk
	Oxford City	www.oxford.gov.uk
	Vale of the White Horse	www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk
	South Oxfordshire	www.southoxon.gov.uk

Back to Localzone