Community action/Peterborough
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| Location | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52° 34' 21.28" N, 0° 14' 33.84" W |
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Peterborough.
'England's first cycle street' opens to the public, BBC News (May 29, 2026) - Sustainability on show at Co-op Group’s newest store, thenews.coop (Aug 21, 2025)
- ‘A game-changer’: the 9,000 acre project reclaiming the Fens for nature, theguardian.com (Nov 04, 2023)
- National Trust asks public to join call for urgent Government action after hundreds of wildfires break out, and full extent of nature loss at Dunwich Heath emerges, nationaltrust.org.uk (Aug 07, 2026) — “The climate crisis long predicted by scientists is happening here and now. Ferocious wildfires, unprecedented temperatures and record-breaking droughts are already hitting communities and nature across the UK – they are not a distant threat. Tackling this emergency must be a cross-Government priority because it touches every aspect of our lives, our society and our economy. So we’ve launched a petition to demonstrate to Ministers the strength of public feeling on this issue." National Trust Director-General Hilary McGrady. To sign the petition, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/wildfire-petition
- Firefighting aircraft aren’t enough – Britain needs to build a wildfire‑resilient society that involves everyone, Komal Raj Aryal, Lecturer in Crisis and Disaster Management, Aston University, theconversation.com (Aug 06, 2026)
- All of England's rivers and lakes polluted with chemicals, officials say, BBC News (Aug 06, 2026)
- Europe’s rivers are running dry, and the knock-on effects are disastrous, Yiannis Baboulias, theguardian.com (Aug 05, 2026)
- How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight wildfires, BBC News (Aug 01, 2026)
- May and June heatwaves killed about 2,700 people in England and Wales, data suggests, theguardian.com (Jul 13, 2026) — Extreme heat led to 440 deaths a day during June peak, say scientists, with climate crisis ramping up temperatures
- South Korea's president orders all-out response to heatwave, reuters.com (Aug 06, 2026)
- Young activists in the Maldives confront climate threats to their island nation, seattletimes.com (Aug 06, 2026)
- Philippines steps up solar transition as Iran war hikes energy costs, eenews.net (Aug 06, 2026)
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]In 1994, Peterborough was designated one of four environment cities in the UK and began working to become the country's acknowledged environment capital. Peterborough Environment City Trust, an independent charity, was set up at the same time to work towards this goal, delivering projects promoting healthier and sustainable living in the city. The council and regional development agency have taken advice on regeneration issues from a number of internationally recognised experts, including Benjamin Barber (formerly an adviser to President Bill Clinton), Jan Gustav Strandenaes (United Nations adviser on environmental issues) and Patama Roorakwit (a Thai "community architect"). W
Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/Manchester, Community action/Essex, Community action/West Sussex / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Aug 10 - 16, 2026 (Mon - Sun) — National Allotments Week, 2026 theme is “Grow to Learn.”, thenas.org.uk
Global or international events
- Aug 09, 2026 (Sun) — International Day of the World's Indigenous People, observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population, un.org
- Aug 12, 2026 (Wed) — International Youth Day, awareness day designated by the United Nations taking place on Aug 12 each year, un.org
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Peterborough video
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Community resources
[edit | edit source]Sustainable transport activism
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The Green Wheel is an 80-kilometre (50 mi) network of cycleways, footpaths, and bridleways in Peterborough, England. Designed as part of a sustainable transport system for the city, it was created as a project by the Millennium Commission.
The name Green Wheel alludes to the circular nature of the major part of the path, which encircles Peterborough, with cycle route "spokes" leading from this perimeter, which passes through several peripheral settlements around Peterborough, into the city centre, allowing easy transport around the network, much of which required no new construction, instead using or improving already existing cycle routes or roads. The only major new construction for the project was a curved cycle bridge over the River Nene near Whittlesey, from where the path can be accessed northwards towards Flag Fen, into the city centre, or southwards towards the Ortons. The network is fully signposted. Additionally, three circular pipe tunnels were constructed near Etton village to allow the Green Wheel route to pass underneath the A15.
The project also encourages recreational use and has created a sculpture trail, which provides functional, landscape artworks along the Green Wheel route and a ‘Living Landmarks’ project involving the local community in the creation of local landscape features such as mini woodlands, ponds and hedgerows.
The project cost £11 million and was 50% funded by the National Lottery through the Millennium Commission and has also won many awards, including a RIBA award for Architecture in 2003.
Peterborough news archive
[edit | edit source]- The Green Backyard celebrates after receiving £12,500 for new solar power system for Peterborough site, October 26, 2015...peterboroughtoday.co.uk
- Thousands of pounds on offer in new Peterborough recycling scheme, October 22, 2015...peterboroughtoday.co.uk
- Lessons from Peterborough: how to get, use and present a city's data, June 17, 2014...The Guardian
- Do unto others: on the appropriation of citizen empowerment, Kevin Harris,Neighbourhoods March 19, 2010.
About Peterborough
[edit | edit source]Past events
- August 13, 2016, Peterborough Environment City Trust Green Festival
- September 19 - 20, 2015, Harvest Festival www.metalculture.com
Peterborough ( PEE-tər-bər-ə, -burr-ə) is a cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England.
In 2020 planning permission was granted for a new university, ARU Peterborough, which will be based on Bishops Road, a five minute walk from the City Centre. It will be an employment focused university run by Anglia Ruskin University with four faculties: Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Creative and Digital Arts and Sciences; Agriculture, Environment and Sustainability; Health and Education. The new university is expected to take its first cohort of approximately 2,000 students by 2022, rising to 12,500 by 2028. ARU Peterborough is not expected to receive its degree awarding powers before 2030 when a review will take place to determine its future as part of Anglia Ruskin University or whether it should become its own entity. W
Near you
[edit | edit source]Cambridge community action - Cambridgeshire community action
| Authors | Phil Green |
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| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2014–2025). "Community action/Peterborough". Appropedia. Retrieved August 13, 2026. |