PEOPLES’ EMERGENCY BRIEFING TRAILER

Last month, the newly released People’s Emergency Briefing film was shown in Bishop’s Castle.
The film explains the climate and nature emergencies in a clear and direct way and looks at what it could mean for things we all depend on, such as food, health, homes, jobs, the economy and everyday life.
The film shows how climate change and damage to nature can affect local communities too.
For Bishop’s Castle and the surrounding area, it is a chance for residents, councillors, businesses, farmers, community groups, schools and young people to ask: What does this mean for us, and what can we do locally?
The message of the People’s Emergency Briefing is serious, but it is far from hopeless. Its main purpose is to help people move from ‘worry’ to ‘action’.  Bishop’s Castle already has many strengths: in particular its highly-networked, supportive, and collaborative community, a core asset for resilience. There are already many active local groups: volunteers, farmers and growers, environmental projects, community networks, and people who care about the place they live in.  The challenge now is to build on, connect and strengthen these efforts, spot what is missing, and build a shared plan for local resilience.
The film highlights how climate and nature breakdown can affect things important to all of us: affordable food, warm homes, clean water, healthy rivers, local services, secure livelihoods and support for people who may be more at risk.
Attendees were invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after the film.  Eighty-eight questionnaires were returned and showed a strong response (see below). Responses give a useful snapshot of local views on climate and nature concerns, perceptions of urgency, responses to the film, and the kinds of action people may now be more likely to take.

For a rural town like Bishop’s Castle, being more prepared could include:-

• installing and using more renewable energy, and more energy-efficient homes
• stronger local food systems and more community growing
• support for local producers, farmers, and businesses
• promoting healthier rivers, soils, trees and habitats
• more spaces and consideration for wildlife

The film also asks important questions about how communities prepare for difficult situations:-

• How would we respond to more heatwaves, storms, flooding or power cuts?
• What would happen if food supply chains were disrupted?
• How do we make sure older, isolated or vulnerable people are supported?
• How can local groups, councils, businesses, schools and volunteers work together before a crisis happens?

In Bishop’s Castle, Light Foot Enterprises has been working with local people and partners to support practical responses to these challenges: including community energy, biodiversity, food resilience, pollution monitoring and climate action planning. To find out more about Light Foot Enterprises and its local projects, or to get involved in practical action on climate, nature and community resilience,
e-mail climateaction@lightfootenterprises.org.

A further showing of the film is planned, this time with local politicians and a post-film participative discussion.  Watch this space.  Some graphical presentations of the responses to the 88 questionnaires handed-in are below.

BISHOP’S CASTLE CLIMATE & NATURE ACTION PLAN 2026 – 27

The Town Council adopted the latest CAP at its February 26 meeting. You can read or download a copy here BC CAP Year 4 2026-27