Adapting to Climate Change: Northmoor Trust workshop, Oxfordshire
Become a policy maker for the day and use the highly acclaimed Little Wittenham Model to decide on the energy choices for 2026.
Date: Saturday 18th October 2008
Location: Hill Farm, Little Wittenham, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4QZ
Time: 10am - 4pm
Cost: Adults £20, Friends £16
Booking: Please call 01865 407 792 to book your place.
Become a policy maker and use the highly acclaimed Wittenham Model to decide on the energy choices for a 2026 south Oxfordshire community.
Cut carbon emissions by 50%, save energy by insulating houses; see the outcome of your decisions on the landscape.
What is the Wittenham Model?
The Wittenham Model is an aerial map of South Oxfordshire that can be changed with numerous overlays to create the landscape of the future. Visitors become policy makers and take decisions for the future of the landscape. We will set up a scenario for you, based on real life decisions, come and act it out and see what decisions you make! Cut carbon emissions by 50%, save energy by insulating houses; see the outcome of your decisions on the landscape.
What people say about the workshop
"The interactive approach is fantastic - much more effective than presenting an array of facts and alarming statistics!"
"People really engaged with the challenge and were really debating the issues."
"People worked together as a team."
"People enthusiastically got to grips with the challenge."
Use the Wittenham Model to understand:
- energy options for a future sustainable fuel economy based on scientific data.
- how the government may achieve its 50% cut in carbon emissions by 2050.
- energy saving measures and the cost of energy may have in reducing the impact of Climate Change.
- the impact that decisions will have on the South Oxfordshire landscape.
- the impact of global environmental challenges. This will make the issues more real.
- how individuals can minimize environmental impact through our choices.
What the day will include:
1. Introductions.
2. Summary of the day and key objectives.
3. Use the Wittenham model to understand what a 2026 community will look like. This is the governments target year for another 10,950 houses in this landscape.
4. Meet the experts. Use the interactive ‘Energy exhibition’ and the experts to learn the facts behind different energy sources that could contribute to a 2026 community.
5. Visit the Wittenham Clumps to look at the impact of energy on today’s landscape and to think about the possible outcomes for future landscapes.
6. Work in your group to decide what energy sources you are going to use, to fuel your 2026 community. Your targets will be to:
- Cut Carbon emissions by 50%
- Stabilize the %age of household income spent on energy to present day-levels- unless you need to increase price for political reasons- but then justify!
- To understand the part energy saving measures may have in reducing the impact of Climate Change.
- Minimize environmental (landscape) impact.
7.Show the outcomes of your decisions on the South Oxfordshire landscape by using the Wittenham Model.
8. Debate the options, and the best way forward.
9. Think about how we as individuals can minimize environmental impact through our choices.
10.Do we know what children and young people think about the prospect of Climate Change? Do they feel optimistic or pessimistic? Hear a soundscape of young people recorded at the Northmoor Trust nature reserve at the Wittenham Clumps describe how they think and feel about climate change.
Lunchtime Challenge
Bring a packed lunch which demonstrates both low food miles
and has been prepared with as little energy used in the cooking process as possible. There's a prize for the most innovative and thought provoking lunch!
