Thinking global; forthcoming local activities; tree & hedgerow planting this winter; working with Shaftesbury Town Council; updates from Dorset's climate action network; other news in brief |
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Think global ...Two major international conferences in two months: COP27 on climate, COP15 on biodiversity. The UK's independent Climate Change Committee has now published its assessment of November's UN climate summit, highlighting key outcomes and next steps for the UK. Starting next week (7-19th December) the delayed second part of the 15th UN conference on biodiversity takes place in Montreal, Canada. The environmental law charity, Client Earth, is amongst those publishing commentary on the proceedings. Those campaigning for recognition of a new international crime of ecocide will have a strong presence at COP15 and are also taking their case to the International Criminal Court at The Hague on 6th December (described as their 'event of the year'). This session will be live-streamed, details on our website (use the link below). |
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... Act local Tree planting begins at Wincombe Rec. this weekend, Sunday 4th December. Turn up at 10.30am. Join in with planting 60 tree saplings - part of a 5-year plan for increasing Shaftesbury's trees and hedgerows on town council land. Please bring a spade and gloves and wear stout shoes. Further areas and verges yet to be scheduled for planting this season include Ash Close play area, Cockram's Field, Castle Hill Close play area, Enmore Green Community Field, and Grosvenor Road bank on north side. Dates for these will be set when the nursery's delivery dates are confirmed. To be invited to one or more of these later sessions email volunteer offers to birchbark@btinternet.com Thursday 8th December, 7.30pm Shaftesbury Town Hall. Planet Shaftesbury's pre-Christmas gathering co-ordinated by Shaftesbury Tree Group. Starts with a few apple themed songs from members of Palida choir to get us in the mood and includes an illustrated talk, Lost Orchards of Dorset, by cider apple expert Liz Copas. Hear about ancient customs and old apple varieties before sampling ciders (optional!) and mingling informally. All welcome to join in. Local activities will be reviewed in a global context at our first monthly meeting of 2023; Thursday 19th January at Shaftesbury Town Hall, 7.30pm. Join us as we take stock. Looking further ahead, it has been suggested that several events in 2023 could be scheduled for the period around Great Big Green Week which will be 10th - 18th June. We have previously supported GBGW without generating much impact, perhaps forward planning could make a difference next year? |
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Climate change activists adding to local woodland Chris Harwood has taken a lead on encouraging local landowners to make land available for planting trees, helping to secure saplings, and then coordinating community planting days. In November, the planting of a new woodland at Wardour near Tisbury was completed: in all, more than 1400 saplings were planted to make 4-acre Harfish Wood. On the Nextdoor network comments included 'a very rewarding experience', 'a fabulous effort', 'really enjoyed helping' and 'magnificent'. Work to create a second woodland starts on January 21st at Lower Coombe Farm. Details on our website, or find out more about Chris' work on his website (link below). |
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Working with Shaftesbury Town Council (STC) Our town council has reduced the number of formal meetings and made time for more working groups where interested lay people can join some councillors and staff to discuss specific projects or themes informally. The first meeting of a Sustainable Shaftesbury / Climate Change Working Group took place on 29th November with Cllr Alex Chase, the Town Clerk & her Assistant (Brie Logan and Billy Maddock) and nine invited members of the public. The group will be updating and extending a plan to include: 1. This is what the council is doing 2. This is what businesses are doing 3. This is what you can do The group will refer back to STC's Strategic Plan (2017) and Sustainable Communities Action Plan (2019) as well as tapping into resources across Dorset (using the climate action network) and referencing work done in Truro and Helston (the county of Cornwall is regarded as being at the forefront of regional CEE responses). It was agreed that the group will meet monthly (2nd Tuesdays). Lucy Young, one of those participating in the group, has volunteered to act as a point of contact for our wider network - email her at LYoung@wwf.org.uk |
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News from across Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) Updates from two campaigns: for a better Local Plan for Dorset (Dorset Deserves Better); and against the granting of planning permission for a waste incinerator at Portland, have been posted to our website - use the link below and click through to the Forum. Dorset CAN would like to become a registered charity. This would make them eligible for more grants and fundraising and require a more robust governance structure. They've called a General Meeting of members to wind up the existing organisation and decide to apply to the Charity Commission to be registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. All members are encouraged to attend the remote General Meeting at 6pm (for 45 mins max.) on Wednesday December 14th (joining details via our website link below). Fundraising for Dorset CAN: over 7,000 brands will donate to Dorset CAN when you use easyfundraising to shop with them. Web link included below. Catch up with news from across Dorset, sign up for the newsletter, and join as an individual member through the website: https://www.dorsetcan.org/ |
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Shaftesbury School is hosting students from across the Sherborne Area Schools Trust for a number of future-oriented study days across this academic year including on Future of Food (7th December) and Future of the Planet (11th January). A small team of volunteers from our network will help the school manage the influx of visitors - with opportunities to sit in the sessions. See our website and email Rachel c/o planetshaftesbury@gmail.com if you'd like to join us on one or more of the days. |
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Last, but not least, on Thursday 22nd December, 7.30pm, join a reflective gathering close to the midwinter solstice. We'll use the large room at the Quaker Meeting House for this last meeting of 2022. All participants in the Planet Shaftesbury network are welcome, see the website for more details. |
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This newsletter is earlier than usual to highlight our pre-Christmas meeting, the next newsletter will appear in mid-January. Please send news to be shared to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com |
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