Climate Cafe Blairgowrie and Rattray
Perthshire is the home of Climate Cafes, a global network of groups of people who are concerned about the climate challenges facing our planet, its biodiversity and its inhabitants.
First established in Dunkeld and Birnam in 2015, there are now Climate Cafes across the planet, and Climate Café Blairgowrie, Rattray and District – which started in 2016 - was the second group in the world to start meeting regularly.Climate Cafes provide a welcoming, inclusive and informal space in communities, workplaces or schools for people to join the conversation about climate, whether that is with a local or a global focus.
The idea is to inspire action to try to reduce and mitigate the increasing damage to our environment, and the impact that is having on biodiversity and on people.One example of this is highlighting the use of fossil fuels and how wasteful use of resources is contributing to the chaotic climate and extreme weather affecting us all.
In Blairgowrie, Rattray and District, the Climate Café has met in a number of spaces in the town, and, as well as its regular get togethers has hosted talks, films, book reviews and informative stalls at community events.Several independent projects have grown from conversations at Climate Café Blairgowrie, Rattray and District, including The Heat Project, which provides home energy advice and is now part of Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust, the Strathmore Cycle Network which promotes active and sustainable travel routes in the area, the local Repair Café and a tree planting project, Tayside Woodland Partnerships, which is working towards establishing and maintaining woodlands in Tayside for habitat restoration and sequestering carbon.
Other initiatives have been the Last Straw campaign, crisp packet and blister pack collections for recycling with accrued funds going to charities, and tree planting and protection – all proving that you can think global and act local to make a positive difference!
Climate Café Blairgowrie, Rattray and District meets at 7pm on the third Monday of the month in the BARI Building, 53-55 High Street, Blairgowrie, and everyone is welcome to come along and join like-minded people for coffee, cake and chat. Email info@climatecafeblair.org.uk for more information.
