Welcome to Hovingham's
Project Purple

A warm welcome to Project Purple’s website. Project Purple is the name of our community action group with aspirations for Hovingham to become carbon neutral in the 2030’s. 

We believe we can achieve this through implementing ideas generated by the community, and encouraging residents and local businesses to further reduce our collective impact on the environment with three areas of focus:

1. Recycling, reusing and repairing more

2. Reducing our daily energy demand

3. Developing our own renewable energy sources

 

With thanks to North Yorkshire County Council, Stronger Communities - Restore and Recover for their 2020/21 support

“Following the results of the community questionnaire in June 2018, Hovingham & Scackleton Parish Council reinforce the communities concerns over climate change and endorse plans set out by Hovingham Actions group’s Project Purple – 18th September 2019” 

Our Ambition

"Hovingham’s ambition is to be carbon neutral in the 2030’s. The challenge is daunting but not impossible. Approximately 32% of the UK’s fossil fuel consumption is used in housing and private transport. We have to be part of the solution. I believe we will need to rely on our own initiative to make it happen!” 

Frank Colenso, Project Lead

About us

Our purpose

The purpose of Project Purple is to act as a facilitator and catalyst, supporting residents and local businesses in making a positive impact locally, towards eliminating our carbon footprint.  

We will facilitate, inform and encourage carbon neutral initiatives in every aspects of the way we live.

Participation is open to all residents of the villages of Hovingham, Scackleton and locally. 

Project Purple will share activities with other communities and work closely with relevant local and national groups, organisations, local authorities and Government.

Where ever possible, surplus funds will support community needs that will have a positive impact, on community and climate change. 

Our areas of focus

The project has three areas of focus:

 

  1. Recycling, reusing and repairing more stuff, reducing our demand on raw materials.
     
  2. Improving Energy Efficiency. Identifying ways to reduce our carbon footprint in our homes and transport. 
     
  3. Supporting our own Renewable Energy Sources

About us

We are local residents who are concerned about the impact climate change will have on us, our children and the wider community.

We are taking whatever practical action we can, to reduce our own carbon footprint. 

We want to share not only the solutions but the benefits, financial and otherwise. 

We will seek the best available training, tools and advice to support the team and residents achieve our goal to be carbon neutral in the 2030’s 

It all begins with the first small step and all our steps together will make the difference!

 

 

Our story so far

Project Purple was formed in 2017 to “encourage positive action at a local level, to find ways of reducing the community’s carbon footprint”. 

Under the auspices of Hovingham Action Group, who had carried out a community survey in 2011, Project Purple initiated a community survey in 2018. The survey covered all aspects of life in Hovingham including questions related to climate change. There was an 84 % response to the survey. 

The results provided a valuable window into the priorities and challenges experienced by residents and an expression of the community’s attitude toward climate change. 

68% of residents were concerned about climate change and a further 22% wanted to know more.

Residents felt strongly about the need to reduce the village “carbon footprint” with significant interest expressed and support for:

  1. Recycling, reusing and repairing more stuff, reducing our demand on raw materials.
  2. Improving Energy Efficiency. Identifying ways to reduce our carbon footprint in our homes and transport.
  3. Supporting our own Renewable Energy Sources

The aim of the group is to explore ways to be carbon neutral in the 2030s.

The purpose of the group is to act as a facilitator and catalyst, supporting residents and local businesses to reduce their impact on the environment.

Click here to read more about Hovingham Community Survey

Did you know?

'68% of survey respondents are concerned about climate change'

Hovingham Community Survey, 2018/19

A letter from a 7 year old written to her parents, May 2021

This letter was shared with Nell's grandparents who live in Hovingham. 

Nell (aged 7) initiated writing this letter to her parents  following what she'd learnt in a geography lesson. 

Reflecting on Nell's letter, her grandparents said "It begs the question, if a 7 year old gets it, why can’t the rest of us?" 

What would your children and grandchildren say?
Dear Mum and Dad. 
I’m writing to you because I need to tell you about the melting ice caps. The melting ice caps will cause the whole world to flood and if we don’t stop it won’t have a home. 
Have you been on your phone? If you have don’t do it as often because you will waste electricity and global warming will get worse. Mum have you considered getting an electric car? If you do get one it will help the environment. 
I hope you do some of the things I have written. I hope you can get some of them done. To help the environment and hopefully the ozone layer will heal. Hoping to see you do some of the things I have asked you to do. 
Love from Nell x O ❤️ x O❤️ 

Reflections from The Right Reverend James Jones KBE, Bishop of Liverpool (1998-2013)

Click on image to view

We need your consent to load the translations

We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view the translations.