CLIMATE Friendly Bradford on Avon group have installed a countdown clock in the town's library car park to highlight that time is running out to save the planet from harmful carbon emissions.

The clock made by one of the group's members, Chrissie Aslett, will count down the time to the start of the United Nation's COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow from November 1-12.

Mrs Aslett said: "The Climate and Ecological Emergency is the greatest challenge facing our world.

"In November of this year the UN Climate Conference (COP 26) takes place in Glasgow, the core purpose of the conference is to review the Paris Agreement from 2015.

"Over the last six years, science is telling us that the governments of the world are not on track to reduce carbon emissions to a level that will prevent irrevocable harm to our planet.

"Using our COP Clock (because we are running out of time) we are reaching to our community to make them more aware about the crucial COP conference."

Meanwhile, Bradford on Avon's town wardens and green spaces officer Chris Hogg have recently planted more than 600 tree whips to create hedgerows in a bid to bring back wildlife to the areas they manage.

The planting has been made possible thanks to a donation of tree whips from The Conservation Volunteers, a community volunteering charity that works to create healthier and happier communities for everyone.

The move follows the council's decisions over the past two years to declare ecological and climate change emergencies and to help purchase woodland in a bid to protect the local environment and improve biodiversity.

Cllr Alex Kay, chairwoman of the council's environmental and planning committee, said: "More trees will be planted as we take on areas from Wiltshire Council as part of the asset transfer process, which we will plant with help from community volunteers later in the year and once restrictions have eased.

"With Bradford on Avon Town Council declaring both a climate and ecological emergency, this work goes toward our efforts to not only negate the impact of human activity on the climate, but also to restore habitat and local biodiversity across the town.

"The more trees we can plant locally, the better chance nature has to recover, and the more chance future generations will have to hear beautiful birds such as the Yellowhammer sing in real life."

Mrs Kay said hedgerows are vital for all kinds of wildlife; connecting habitat, providing wind shelter, nesting sites and food for pollinator insects who in turn feed birds.

For more details, visit https://bradfordonavontowncouncil.gov.uk/climate-ecological-emergencies/