Diary dates & invitations

Planet Shaftesbury informal drop-in this week at Black Cactus Cafe, Thursday 19th Sept 7-9pm. Come along to connect with others - both long-standing participants in projects or events and complete newcomers. Our hosts Julie and Glen will have hot drinks, wine, and maybe cake on sale till 9pm. Feel free to invite friends or neighbours and to bring information to share informally. This will be a good gathering for first-timers to join.

Open Greener Homes

More than 30 Dorset homes, allotments and more are open to visitors this week (14th-22nd Sept). Hosts across a range of types of property are willing to share their experience of the changes that have supported greener living. Full details of participating homes here. This event is organised by Dorset CAN (climate action network) and sponsored by Dorset Community Energy. Shaftesbury Homegrown, our community farm, is open to visitors again next Sunday 22nd from 10am to 1pm.

STOP PRESS: A newly built traditionally-styled Shaftesbury eco house with extensive use of sustainable materials is a late addition to this year's event. Alcester Cottage is a short walk from St James' church and is open on 21st & 22nd September by appointment. See good insulation, a heat pump, solar pv and battery. Email to book your visit: reuben.chappell@outlook.com

Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW), 20-29th September

The special theme for SFW 2024 is 'The Power of Repair'. Events in or near Shaftesbury include a combined film show (RiverBlue) & clothes swap hosted by Shaftesbury Arts Centre (book through SAC), and creative workshops at Hawkers Farm. Details are on our website. Full Dorset program here.

Invitation to help with creating a dead hedge: 29th September &/or 20th October

From Jenny and Neil at Hawkers Farm: would anyone like to have a go at creating a dead hedge for biodiversity near Duncliffe Wood? We’re offering a light lunch in exchange for some help to create a wildlife corridor using branches from our recently coppiced copse. Meet at 10am. For more details email: info@hawkersfarm.org

Food & Farming

The first 500 copies of our 'Eat Well' leaflet (information on 'Food that's healthy for you and healthy for the planet') have now been distributed and we're seeking donations to fund a second print run. Please support if you can www.crowdfunder.co.uk/eat-well-shaftesbury

'Six Inches of Soil' film & discussion, Thu 10th Oct, doors 7pm, Shaftesbury Town Hall.

The film tells the inspiring story of young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system to produce food regeneratively, in order to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities. To be followed by a brief but broad-ranging panel discussion. Free admission but you'll need to reserve a place through this link.

The Food Conversation, Mon 4th Nov, 7-9.30pm, Friends Meeting House

This is Shaftesbury's own contribution to a nation-wide conversation organised by the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission (FFCC) to find out what people expect from government and business when it comes to food. Number of participants are being managed so that everyone in the diverse group can join in. The session will be facilitated by Sarah Rudder (The Kitchen Table) and ffinlo Costain (Chief Editor UK farming & agriculture news channel, 8point9.com) using materials provided by FFCC so that points made locally will add weight to the influential national picture that is taking shape. Watch out for details of booking arrangements on the website and in a later newsletter.

Interested in Community Energy?

Shaftesbury Town Council, supported by the Sustainable Shaftesbury Advisory Committee, are hosting an open meeting at the Town Hall on Thursday 17th October, 7 for 7.30pm start. Can Shaftesbury benefit from what has been happening elsewhere? New Forest District Council has partnered with Community Energy South to fund a community group to support residents in becoming more energy aware and to provide them with free advice on cutting their energy bills.

Could something similar work here? What else is possible? Spread the word.   

Shaftesbury School: Our connection to Shaftesbury School opens opportunities for people in our network to support a range of different activities at the school according to availability and interest. In the past different people have offered workshops, supported students by giving practice interviews, provided feedback on presentations (oracy practice), assisted staff during busy days when the school was hosting additional students ... and more. In particular, this can connect us to the school's Eco-Club and the STEM/STEAM offer to students (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths). At the start of the month we received an invitation for one or two people to accompany staff and students on chosen planned STEAM workshops/trips this term. If interested please email planetshaftesbury@gmail.com for more details.

Connect across Dorset: Last year more than 100 organisations and 250 individuals concerned about the implications of the crises facing climate and nature came together in Dorchester for the UK's first community-led COP (Conference of the Parties). Work is now taking place to prepare for this year's event - The Power of Community, Saturday 2nd November at Bournemouth University. The aim is to help build the local resilience plans that community groups need to put in place throughout the coming year. Latest information and booking link are here. 

Are you concerned about deep-sea mining? Or curious about why you might be? Jocelyn Elson-Riggins has asked us to share this petition to the International Seabed Authority. It comes with plenty of supporting information. Access the petition here.

This newsletter appears once or twice a month. Please send news or event details to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com for sharing across our network