ROSE HILL AND IFFLEY LOW CARBON

We are an Oxford Community Action Group and have been working together since 2012. We plan our work loosely around Bioregional’s One Planet Living principles:


Culture and Community

We can only beat climate change if we ALL work together, so at our 2021 orchard planting, we included representatives from fifteen local community groups including five different faith groups, the school, football team, youth club, running group and community centre. We work closely with other local groups such as the Rose Hill Community Network. Over the past twelve years, we have conducted school assemblies on tree planting, climate change, cycling and sustainable living.


Zero-carbon Energy

We have successfully lobbied for 190 solar PV panels, four batteries and an EV charger in our Community Centre, 109 solar panels, a zero-carbon classroom and large battery in our primary school and solar PV on 76 social homes. We worked with the Low Carbon Hub on Project LEO which trialled new ways of using energy sustainably on Rose Hill's two new blocks of flats. We are also working on a heat pump trial with Oxford City Council, Samsung and the two local universities. As of June 2024 this had installed 15 heat pumps in Rose Hill and Iffley with over 100 registrations.

We have thermally imaged over 200 local homes over the past twelve years and have organised seven expert-led insulation advice sessions. We promote the Low Carbon Hub’s retrofit scheme, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire and with their help run regular energy advice stalls.



Zero Waste and Sustainable Materials

We run a Repair Café every two months. Our volunteers mend electrical items, clothes and bikes alongside a café and children’s activities. Recently we have also included a toys and toiletries share and bird feeder making, with the help of Earth Watch. Once or twice a year, we also organise community litter picks in cooperation with other local groups. In July and October 2022, we organised a give-away of furniture from Court Place Gardens, where the university accommodation is being re-built. Local people were able to take away free used furniture and we saved from the tip more than 30 chairs, 16 fridge freezers, 5 cookers, 10 beds and mattresses, 8 chests of drawers 4 bookcases and other furniture.


Travel and Transport

In 2018, we collected 1,982 signatures for continuous, segregated cycle lanes to the town centre. In 2020, members of the group did a survey of the Iffley Road, which was instrumental in ensuring the new cycle lanes and the removal of parking on the Iffley Road. As a result, cycling from our area into town is now much safer and more local residents will feel able to use their bikes. In 2018 and 2021, we organised cycling festivals, which included cycle repair workshops from Broken Spoke - who have conducted six for our group. We also collaborate with Dr Bike on regular free cycle repair workshops. In 2024, Broken Spoke started free cycle repair workshops on the first Saturday of each month from 2-5 pm at Rose Hill Community Centre.

Local Sustainable Food

We hold talks on the importance of eating less meat and buying local produce. We also hold regular seedlings shares in the spring. In 2015 we planted ten apple trees in the Community Woodland and these are now producing tens of kilos of apples every autumn. These are free for anyone in the local community to pick. In 2021, we planted 30 fruit and nut trees in the grounds of Rose Hill School. Some are already producing fruit which are for use in the school kitchens and to be used by the school to teach about food production.

Land and Nature

In 2015 and 2019 we planted 800 trees on our local recreation ground and in 2021 a community orchard of native fruit and nut trees. We have involved hundreds of local people in the tree planting and maintenance. Every year, we weed and mulch the trees, taking support from Oxford City Council. We water them in dry spells. See below. In November 2022, we were awarded a tree from the Queen's Green Canopy which will be planted on 3 December by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and members of the community. At the Spring Repair Café, we hold a seedlings share and at a winter Repair Café we distribute free native garden tree whips.

Sustainable Water

During dry spells in 2020, 2021 and 2022, we watered all our hundreds of saplings. In 2022 and 2023, we watered our fruit and nut trees several times during dry spells. In 2021, we donated a rainwater tank to Rose Hill Junior Youth Club for their allotment. Members of RHILC are active in the campaign against sewage pollution in the Thames.

Health and Happiness

Climate change is frightening, but working and socialising together makes us feel better! We hope to show by our actions that health, happiness and a sustainable life style go hand in hand.