In 2019, Farnham Town Council declared a climate emergency and committed to take action to reduce carbon emissions at a local level. 

Councillors resolved that Farnham Town Council:

• Agrees there is a “Climate Emergency” that requires further action. 
• Aims to become carbon neutral by 2030, acting directly on activities within its responsibility, and in cooperation with principal authorities. 
• Continues to review its operations and the way in which it delivers services and develop an action plan to consider positive changes that would reduce carbon emissions.
• Recognises that to achieve its carbon neutral targets, it is essential for central government to provide powers, funding and other resources; so, the Council calls on UK Government and local climate change partnerships to provide the necessary support. 
• Continues to encourage the local Farnham community to take all practical steps to reduce its own carbon footprint and safeguard the environment. 

See Annex 1 to read the report which councillors agreed to adopt. 

Some of the actions taken so far include:

Managing outside spaces

Equipment

• Transitioning to electric or gas-powered vehicles.
• Expanding the range of low noise electric tools used by the outside workforce.
• Single use oil containers are no longer used.

Farnham in Bloom

• Reducing bedding plants by ten per cent each year and including more drought tolerant perennial plants.
• Planting nearly 400 trees in two years with over 9,300 kilogrammes of CO2 captured.
• Planting 6,000m2 of open space with wildflowers.
• Enabling 90 per cent of the bulbs in our floral displays to be reused by community groups.
• Choosing spring bulbs and spring flowers to support early pollination.
• Using peat free compost and baskets and troughs with reservoirs so that no water is wasted.
• Reuse plastic trays and plant pots.

Public spaces

• Seeking advice from a national expert in hydrology, geomorphology and plant ecology on steps that can be taken to enhance the stretch of the River Wey that runs through Gostrey Meadow.
• Recycling bins installed in parks.
• Plastic flowers discouraged in cemeteries.
• Providing allotments so more people have the opportunity to grow their own.

Biodiversity

• Monitoring bugs and insects in cemeteries and parks alongside the Farnham Biodiversity Group.
• Organising environmental events such as the Big Help Out. In 2023, over 100 people volunteered to help Farnham Biodiversity Group create a 10-metre dead hedge. The hedge aims to increase biodiversity, provide shelter and a food source for wildlife.
• Supporting moth habitats.
• Installing bat and bug boxes to increase wildlife.
• Adopting ‘No Mow May’ where appropriate.

Community events

• No petrol or diesel generators used at events at Gostrey Meadow.
• Organising an annual Sustainability Festival with Farnham Community Farm.
• Sourcing recyclable plastic banners to advertise events.
• Avoiding single use plastic wherever possible.

Travel

• Providing Waverley hoppa Community Transport with £20,000 towards the purchase of a new electric bus servicing Farnham.
• Introducing a cycle to work scheme for staff.
• Offering Zoom meetings as an alternative to meeting in person.
• Complimentary shuttle buses provided for large events.
• Installing temporary cycle stands.

Town Hall

• Installing a new efficient boiler in the Town Hall.
• Move to LED lighting.
• Buying more local goods and services.
• Cutting down on paper by introducing online forms and digital invitations for events.
• Switched from plastic cups to compostable or cardboard alternatives.