We aim to make St Davids the first carbon neutral city in the world and to demonstrate how we can all help reduce the environmental damage caused by global warming.  Examples of renewable energy technology and biodiversity can be seen on the eco trail around the city.

What is the St Davids Eco City?

Like many of the best things that happen, the St David’s Eco City Project started out when a group of highly motivated local people decided do something that would make a difference in addressing the causes of global warming.  Although there are so many things that need action, St.David’s unique position as the spiritual and adventure capital of Wales and its status as Britain’s smallest city steered the group’s thinking, and we decided to focus our efforts on two main themes:

  • Start the journey towards making St.David’s the world’s first carbon neutral® city, and in doing so, prove that it’s possible to be gentle on the planet without compromising community
  • Educate and motivate both local residents and as many of the city’s 500,000 visitors as possible to play their own role in reducing their carbon footprint through specific projects that address energy, local food, transport and…

To make these two things happen, the group decided that increasing awareness of the reason for change and potential solutions was critically important, and to make this happen, committed to creating a special Eco Trail that would link up specific sites around the community that demonstrated good use of environmental technology, or represented important habitats that needed preserving. 

In addition, the Eco City Group has been busy over the last two years and has:

  1.  Successfully applied for a £114,000 grant from the Big Lottery’s Transforming your Space fund to develop the Eco Trail
  2. Appointed a part time project manager to manage the different elements of developing the Eco Trail
  3. Commissioned a feasibility study into the supply of biodiesel for local and visiting motorists to reduce CO2 omissions from driving.
  4. Conducted a survey of energy use in local households, to be followed by work helping households reduce energy use installing things like low energy light bulbs and improved insulation. 
  5. Working with County Council, National Park and National Trust to install renewable technology equipment on local buildings such as solar water heating, solar electricity generation, rainwater harvesting and water conservation techniques. 
  6. Supported Tidal Hydraulic Generator Ltd’s efforts to attract grants to investigate the feasibility of installing a tidal turbine in Ramsey Sound that could provide St.David’s with 100% renewable electricity

The group is looking to commission a local sculptor for a project to build a sculpture that is powered by nature.  There is £14,000 available for the right project that stimulates interest and gets people thinking about the experiment we are taking with the world wide climate.  Email julian.o@tyf.com if you are interested!

Back