Author: Julia Patrick

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How to plant a tree

Did you know?

  • Just 13% of the UK’s total land area has tree cover (compared to an EU average of 35%).
  • Doubling UK woodland cover could help absorb 10% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions annually.
  • Not only do trees absorb carbon, they fight flooding, reduce pollution, nurture wildlife and make landscapes more resilient.
  • In a year, a single mature tree can absorb up to about 22kg CO2. That’s roughly equivalent to driving 10 miles in heavy traffic.
  • 100 mature trees can absorb roughly a third of an average annual UK carbon footprint (excluding stuff we buy and international flights).

Every tree counts, and we need more trees in cities like Oxford. If two thirds of all households in Oxford planted just one tree in their garden, we would have an additional 40,000 trees, which in time could grow into the equivalent of a tenth of Wytham Woods!

This short video from the RHS talks you through what you need to consider if you want to plant a tree.

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Our chance to take action – have your say on traffic reduction plans for Oxford

Oxford is taking to the streets. Over 5000 children and adults took part in last Friday’s Global Climate Strike, spilling through Broad Street, Cornmarket and surrounding streets, demanding action. This was followed on Sunday by World Car Free Day, as Broad Street was stripped of its car parking and “given back to the people”.

Now is our chance to build on this and help Oxford become a less congested, healthier and more pleasant city to live and work in, reducing its climate impact as well as air pollution: Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have published ambitious proposals to reduce congestion in Oxford and are inviting the views of residents, commuters and employers. Members of the Coalition on Health Streets and Active Travel, including LCON, will be contributing to the consultation and we encourage everyone to have their say. Find out more,  including how you can respond, here. And check out Cyclox and LCON’s Alison Hill’s column in the Oxford Mail.

  • This is what more of Oxford could be like – CAR FREE Broad St on 22 Sept
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Calls for poems by XR

Calling all activist poets! Extinction Rebellion Oxford will publish an anthology of poems (planned for the autumn) from people rising up to demand urgent action by local and national governments to halt the deterioration of our planet before it is too late.  Please send your own poems about the climate emergency, the urgent need for radical measures across the world, and the transnational campaigns to put them in place, to: rebtalk@igy50.net by 15 September 2019.

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E-Car Club – new Summertown e-car can do 120-150 miles

Back in 2013 LCON partnered with E-Car Club, to provide the residents of Summertown with their very own electric car sharing scheme. This was part of a wider project to combat climate change and improve air quality in and around Oxford.

Six years later and with significantly more members using the service, we’re now delighted to announce that E-Car have launched a brand new, fully loaded Renault Zoe 40KwH to replace the vehicle previously available to the residents of Summertown. The new model, located at the Diamond Place Car Park, offers a much wider charge range of 120-150 miles. This new feature will enable users to travel longer distances without having to worry about re-charging the electric vehicle. To celebrate this, E-Car are offering new members 50% off the sign-up fee (£25 instead of £50) and £10 driving credit. To redeem this special offer, enter DIAMOND19 when prompted during sign up. You can sign up here.

New e-car comes to Summertown
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Oxford Together on Climate Change – 10,000 actions for our climate

LCON is supporting Oxford Together on Climate Change (OxToCC). This is a major new initiative looking to involve as many people as possible in Oxford and across the county in taking action in their own lives to help tackle climate change (and to tackle the idea that ‘nothing I do will make a difference’. OxToCC is seeking to get people taking 10,000 actions by June.

The OxToCC website has advice and information on actions aorund four key issues – Food, Travel, Money and ‘Making Change Happen’ – please visit the site and choose what you can do. Register the action on site and it counts towards the 10,000 target.

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LCON responds to the Oxford North proposal

LCON has submitted our objection to the controversial Oxford North development. You can download it here.

In summary we covered:

Energy efficiency and energy supply

We want to see this site (if it goes ahead) pioneering a zero-emission future in energy use in buildings and in transport.  We have strongly objected to the idea that solar PV might be installed ‘subject to roof design’.  Roofs should be designed so that they are suitable for PV panels!

Roads and transport

We have strongly objected to road layout plans. There are no safe and attractive routes into and out of the site for people who walk and cycle. Air quality legislation dictates that no development is permitted to make air quality worse within problem areas, yet this development with its predicted extra car movements will make it worse.

Employment and housing

One of the main reasons for allowing this part of the Green Belt to be built on was ‘poor housing affordability in Oxford and ….. backlog of housing needs’. We have thus objected to the lack of provision of affordable housing, particularly social rented housing.

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Roads are for people: Andrew Gilligan calls on Oxford and Oxfordshire residents to put pressure on local politicians


“Oxford is too polite.” This was one Oxford resident’s response to Andrew Gilligan’s presentation at the “Roads are for people” event, held on Tuesday 2 October in Oxford’s Town Hall and hosted by Low Carbon Oxford North (with Cyclox, the University of Oxford and Oxford Civic Society). 

Over 180 people turned up to hear Andrew talk about Oxford’s congestion crisis and the need for greatly improved cycling infrastructure. The answer to Oxford’s traffic issues, he said, was “staring us in the face”. There was huge support from the room, including from local politicians Tom Hayes (city), Susanna Pressel (city and county) and Neil Fawcett (county), and on behalf of local MPs Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran as well as Leader of the County Council Ian Hudspeth.  

Andrew Gilligan’s recent report to the National Infrastructure Commission, “Running out of Road”, calls for £150m to be invested in cycling to combat unmanageable traffic volumes and create a healthier, cleaner and safer city. Specific proposals include segregated cycle lanes on arterial roads including Banbury and Botley Roads.

Andrew called on Oxford and Oxfordshire to put “pressure on the leaderships of the City and County for change”. He highlighted the importance of having someone in power whose job it is to bring about change – the equivalent of his role as Cycling Commissioner in London. And instead of being too polite, he told residents, “make yourselves a nuisance”. 

Building on the success of this event, LCON will be working with other organisations to build public pressure and identify priority asks from the city and county councils.