Inspiring report from Zero Carbon Dorset; Shaftesbury School events; What's happening on Christy's Lane?; Repair & reuse; Local food production; WANTED!; Earth Hope; Save these dates, web-links & more |
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Report can inspire our ambitions for Shaftesbury 2030 Zero Carbon Dorset has just released a substantial report: 'Dorset 2030: Living in a Zero Carbon County'. It assesses the current level of carbon emissions across the county and prompts the question, if we can get to zero, what would that look like and feel like for those of us living here? There are examples within the report that show what can be achieved and that can inspire our conversations about Shaftesbury in 2030. Link provided below. Shaftesbury 2030 was the theme for Planet Shaftesbury's meeting at the Town Hall on 17th March. We saw the Dorset 2030 report and other information describing the significant difference that local behavioural changes can make. To move towards zero carbon we need to change many aspects of our behaviour and the Dorset report covers: Power Down - reducing our energy use; Power Up - generating more renewable energy; Better Travel; Eat Well; Buy Better Waste Nothing; and more. Each section's case studies included several that seemed to have potential in Shaftesbury. We resolved to share this information with the wider community. Might there be support for an electric car rental club or a repair cafe? Could looking at the range of initiatives in a town like Bridport provide inspiration? Let's continue the conversation about Shaftesbury in 2030 informally, as well as at a number of special events, over the coming weeks and months, including our May meeting hosted by Shaftesbury School. |
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Collaborating with Shaftesbury School The plans for two linked events are gathering pace. The event 'Shaftesbury 2030: Choosing our future' on 19th May is already described on our website, please start telling friends and neighbours to save the date. It will be possible to book places from around the end of this month. To get involved in event admin, or to volunteer to help on the night, please email karen@karenwimhurst.co.uk Meanwhile, Jocelyn Riggins (Planet Shaftesbury's 'Whale Poo Ambassador') has already run one workshop at the school. Students created a representation of the ocean ecosystem highlighting the contribution of whale poo and the interconnections between species. Jocelyn then helped them to explore how human activities that have reduced the number of whales, have had wide-reaching negative effects on the whole ecosystem. |
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Behaviour change ... and the trees we lost Regenerating the A350 green corridor: Dorset Council are now fully aware of Shaftesbury's collective unease after healthy precious beech trees were lost during the development of Lidl's car park and a new segment of cycle way along Christy's Lane. Amends will be made: the surviving trees and hedgerows are to be conserved and volunteers from the community are working with the council to secure an enhanced 'green corridor' along the A350. A North/South cycle route: In separate discussions following the loss of the trees, local cycling enthusiasts have helped Dorset Council to map out a north-south cycle route that avoids the need for extensive widening of the A350 carriageway. The new route will use the short stretch by Lidl as well as connecting with the 'Shaftesbury Loop'. Shaftesbury Bus Survey: Shaftesbury Town Council would like feedback so that they can better represent local opinion when they contribute to Dorset's review and development of local bus services. Your comments will be valuable whether you currently use the buses or not. Find survey link below. |
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Reducing waste by increasing repair options Monthly Vintage & Eco-market: Sustainable clothing on sale alongside a stall demonstrating ways of repairing damaged clothes or re-designing a garment. At the town hall, 10am-5pm on the first Sunday of the month from April to October. Also at the Fringe Festival, 21st - 24th July. A Repair Cafe is a free meeting place where you’d find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, etc. You’d also find expert volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields. There's one in Marnhull and one in Gillingham. Could we bring all this into one place in Shaftesbury? Could we start by extending the offer at the monthly market? If interested please contact jennymorisetti@hotmail.com |
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Local food production, small farmers and more Volunteers at Shaftesbury Homegrown, the community farm off Breach Lane, have started planting crops for 2022. Additional people are invited to get involved. - You could join a working group on Wednesday, Friday and/or Sunday mornings - or extra evening or weekend sessions will be introduced if there is sufficient interest this year. Volunteers get a discount on produce according to the work put in. To join in with collective fruit and vegetable production, share in caring for the chickens, or just to find out more, please email Helen English: englishhv49@gmail.com
- The farm has some capacity to accommodate additional growing or other land-based activity whilst remaining wildlife and climate-friendly. As well as providing a small plot for the town's tree nursery, there are several ZEST bee hives (see link to find out more below) introduced by local enthusiasts. The farm has also hosted occasional workshops. Might there be an opportunity for you? Please contact Helen as above.
Small farmers: Chris Smaje is a social-scientist who co-owns a small farm (Vallis Veg) on the outskirts of Frome. He published 'A Small Farm Future' in October 2020 and will be in conversation with ffinlo Costain (chief executive of Food & Global Security Network and producer of Farm Gate, the regenerative agriculture podcast) at the Grosvenor Arms on Thursday 31st March. Organised by Planet Shaftesbury. What are the prospects for local small farmers? How can we better support local food producers? Come along, put your questions to Chris and ffinlo. Free but reserve a place. . Hedgerows & wildlife-friendly gardening are two of the themes for information and activities that will be found on the stall that Planet Shaftesbury, Greener Gillingham and Hawkers Farm will have at the Spring Countryside Show: at the showground, April 23/24. Could include the Great Big Dorset Hedge project, hedgehog highways, wildflower verges and more. To become involved, bring an activity, or volunteer to staff the stall for part of the weekend, please email rachel.bodle@gmail.com |
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WANTED! Reading the Land: Shaftesbury's new book festival (11-13th March) was successful on many levels. What did you most appreciate? Could you contribute comments (on a single session or multiple sessions) for a composite blog post to go on our website? Please send comments by the end of this month to Christina: strickland31@btinternet.com, letting her know if you're happy to be quoted in the edited version. Do you have a Home or Garden with features that support you in living more sustainably? The Dorset Greener Homes event will be repeated this year (early October), with support for local participation coming from Shaftesbury Town Council. If you might like to discuss your home/garden with visitors and want to know more, please email planetshaftesbury@gmail.com |
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For Earth and for us Saturday 26th March at Friends Meeting House: Earth Hour. We will gather by candlelight to share music and poetry, reflecting on the issues facing humanity and our home planet. This marks a global, annual event 8:30-9.30pm on the last Saturday of March. If you can't be there, join in by dimming the lights for an hour. Active Hope: how can we respond to global issues in this time of unfolding crisis without burning out? The 'Active Hope' programme is designed to inspire people to address their personal concerns about the issues of today, notably the climate emergency, in positive ways, and in turn enable them to act effectively at times when they might be feeling overwhelmed or too despondent to do so. There is a book, and a free series of workshops online, but the practical tools can be particularly supportive when used in a group. Christina writes: 'I have completed the Active Hope seven-week online course and hope that others might be interested in exploring these tools as an internal Planet Shaftesbury project. This could both support us personally but also practically as a network.' Link to more information on Active Hope is given below. If interested in being part of a group, email Christina: strickland31@btinternet.com |
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For your diary, Planet Shaftesbury events in the next month - Saturday 26th March from 8pm, at Friends Meeting House: Earth Hour.
- Thursday 31st March, 7.30pm Grosvenor Arms, Assembly Room: Making the Case for a Small Farm Future. Conversation between Chris Smaje, and ffinlo Costain.
- Thursday 7th April, 7.30pm, Online: Planet Shaftesbury's monthly Zoom meeting. All welcome.
- Thursday 21st April, 7.30pm at Shaftesbury Town Hall: Planet Shaftesbury meeting in person, all welcome. Theme: catch up with and support current projects.
- Weekend 23/24 April stall at the Spring Countryside Show.
There are other great events included in our website listings... |
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Brief news, web links, quick actions Dorset Deserves Better: the campaign to secure a re-think of Dorset's Local Plan, continues to build support across the county and is actively seeking to establish closer working with Councillor Flower, Leader of Dorset Council. Join the campaign or sign up for newsletters here. Dorset Declares gives the tools to enable businesses to declare a climate emergency. They have a website here. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, published 28th February, said that human-caused climate change is accelerating at a pace that calls for immediate action. Publicity was reduced by news of the invasion of Ukraine. The press release is here. The 5th UN Environmental Assembly concluded on 2nd March having agreed terms for a global treaty to stop plastic pollution. Edie, the environmental website for sustainable business, published a useful overview here. |
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The next monthly newsletter will appear around the end of the 3rd week of April. If you have news to share please send it to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com |
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