October events: farming, food, energy, nature & more

This Thursday, 10th October, doors at 7pm, Shaftesbury Town Hall

'Six Inches of Soil' film & panel discussion hosted by Sarah Rudder of The Kitchen Table. The film champions regenerative farming that aims to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities. It tells the stories of three young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and raises questions both about farming and our food systems. Our brief discussion afterwards will provide opportunities to highlight local issues. The panel will include a representative of Primrose Organic Produce (Lymburghs Farm, Marnhull) and ffinlo Costain (of 8point9.com). Free admission but please reserve a place through this link. Places limited so do it now! Donations will be invited.

Sustainable Shaftesbury, Tuesday 8th October at 5.30pm

The town council's Sustainable Shaftesbury advisory committee will be considering time and date for future meetings, the next five years' plans for trees and proposals to make this an 'Orchard Town', a new allotments policy, the proposed Motcombe Solar Farm, becoming a 'nature friendly town', and more. Meetings are open to the public who can speak for up to 3 minutes per person at the start of the meeting. Tuesday's agenda is here.

The Future of Energy - what's the next step for Shaftesbury? Thursday 17th October, 7pm

Join Jenny Morisetti, Chair of Sustainable Dorset as she discusses community energy projects. Come along if you are interested in ... Saving money on energy bills? Earning money from renewable energy? Learning about heat pumps? Training opportunities? Becoming an advisor? What happens next will be influenced by the interests of those who turn up... one street in Walthamstow became a solar power station! We're co-hosting this meeting with the town council.

Postscript: Community energy projects will become even more effective for local people when locally produced energy can be sold in the 'host community'. The campaign group 'Power for People' is promoting an amendment to the Great British Energy Bill which will be debated in parliament soon - probably this week. Details and how to support the campaign are here.

Invitation to help with creating a dead hedge: Sunday 20th October, meet 10am

Jenny and Neil at Hawkers Farm will be continuing their work on a dead hedge for biodiversity near Duncliffe Wood. A light lunch is on offer in exchange for some help to create a wildlife corridor using branches from their recently coppiced copse. For more details email: info@hawkersfarm.org

Connect across Dorset: Dorset COP, Saturday 2nd November, 9am @Bournemouth University

The full programme for this year's local community-led 'conference of the parties' will be available online shortly. Access booking links and more through the DCAN news and events website here. This also includes details of funded carbon literacy training for local councils and community groups and the latest on the campaign to stop the Portland Waste Incinerator which was approved on appeal mid-September.

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

Plans are shaping up for Shaftesbury's own contribution to a nation-wide conversation organised by the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission (FFCC). FFCC aims to find out what people expect from government and business when it comes to food. Selected invitees are being approached by co-facilitators Sarah Rudder (The Kitchen Table) and ffinlo Costain (Chief Editor UK farming & agriculture news channel, 8point9.com) so that we can be sure of a diverse group of participants. There will be opportunities for others to reserve a place later this month - save the date and watch out for details on the website and in a newsletter.

The Red Dress is coming to Dorset: 29th Nov - 5th Dec.

The Red Dress (2009-2023) is a 14-year, award winning, global, collaborative embroidery project conceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod. It has provided an artistic platform for individuals (majority women) around the world, many of whom are vulnerable and live in poverty, to tell their story through embroidery. The Red Dress will appear alongside embroidered Sambhali Panels (Rajasthan, India 2019) in the Hawkers Farm Barn, Stour Provost as part of its world tour. See more about this amazing project here, https://reddressembroidery.com/ Details of opening times will be added to Hawkers Farm website shortly.

Thank you to supporters of our Crowdfunder, raising funds to print more of the Eat Well Shaftesbury food information leaflet (healthy for you and healthy for the planet). We've almost reached our target and are back in touch with the printers.

Emma Smith offers to connect Planet Shaftesbury projects or events to people in the congregation of St Peter's Church. You can email information to her, including posters for display, emmasmith07@btinternet.com or call her on 07562 305081.

Last month's informal drop-in at the Black Cactus Cafe (19th Sept) provided an opportunity to unwind, catch-up, share information and more. Participants and our hosts Julie and Glen are all keen to do it again. Watch out for another 'Climate Cafe' later in the year.

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