Beaver Scouts design air quality superheroes in an educational talk on pollution

Youngsters were empowered to design air quality superheroes when South Cambridgeshire District Council held its first pollution awareness talk in the community.

The interactive session aimed to transform complex issues around pollution and climate into relatable steps, which empowered 1st Bourn Beavers to find ways to protect their local environment.

Held at Caxton Village Hall, the session was designed to inspire young minds on the importance of clean air and the Council’s role in improving air quality for future generations.

The talk was part of the Council’s commitment to empowering youngsters by providing tools and knowledge to take active roles in sustainability efforts. It comes hot on the heels of a Climate and Environment Action meeting held at Comberton Village College last month.

Cllr Natalie Warren Green, Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Engaging younger generations on the importance of clean air is a crucial part of building a healthier, greener future. We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and curiosity from 1st Bourn Beavers, who asked insightful questions and shared their own ideas for environmental protection."

She added: “Empowering young people with knowledge about the environment builds a sense of responsibility and connection to our local ecosystem. We look forward to many more educational sessions as we work together toward a cleaner, healthier South Cambridgeshire."

Hannah Glover, of 1^st Bourn Scouts, said: “Our Beavers were very excited to take part and really enjoyed learning all about air quality in such a fun way.”

The talk highlighted key topics, including the impact of traffic emissions, the benefits of green spaces, and simple, effective steps for reducing pollution in everyday life - such as biking to school and planting trees.

A simple experiment was also held where a match was struck and placed inside a sealed glass jar to show the pollution from the smoke of just one match.

For the District Council, the talk represents the start of an ongoing commitment to outreach work to involve young residents in environmental issues and sustainability.

Cllr Peter Sandford, a district councillor for Caxton, said: “I’m pleased to see the Scouts are getting involved in environmental issues in a hands-on way.  The next generation should help steer council decisions and actions, even if they are too young to vote yet. Incidentally, Caxton Village Hall has two EV chargers, funded by the District Council, which is a great way for them to learn at a local level about changes that can be made to help the environment.”

Cllr Mark Howell, a district councillor for Caxton, said: “It is fantastic to see the young people of Bourn involved in this important issue. We must remember this is the next generation and they will have important decisions to make. We must not only educate, but also listen to what they say about the future they want. I think this is an excellent way to get people involved in the most important subject in the world.” 

Air Quality is a public health matter and South Cambridgeshire District Council goes above and beyond its legal requirements to ensure the district remains clean for the residents of tomorrow.

• All councils must measure air quality and in South Cambridgeshire, the Council has 36 diffusion tubes on lamp posts in towns and villages which measure nitrogen dioxide, a good indicator of pollution. Changed once a month, the tubes are sent to labs for assessment. This data is compiled into a yearly report which is sent to DEFRA. Air quality in South Cambridgeshire is good which reflects the rural nature of the district.

In addition, the District Council goes beyond legal requirements with two additional steps:

• In-depth monitoring at Harston, Impington and Northstowe. Real-time data measures pollution particles from things like car tyres, bonfires and hay bale fragments.
• The Council has invested in three hi-tech mobile monitors, called Zephyrs, which monitor nitrous oxide and particulate matter. These portable measuring devices are powered by solar panels. Following resident concerns, the Zephyrs were recently located to monitor pollution at Girton near to the A14 and at Great Shelford due to high volume of traffic commuting to and from Cambridge.

If you are a community group and are interested in hosting a talk about air quality in the district, then get in touch by emailing air.quality@scambs.gov.uk  Find out more about air pollution in the district and the role the Council plays on our webpage.