Launching conversations about Shaftesbury 2030; Meeting again; Farming futures; Other Shaftesbury news in brief; Dorset & beyond; Web-links

New partnership, new opportunities, new conversation

 

Some of us have been collaborating with Alex More of Shaftesbury School and were excited to recognise the opportunities that this presents. It works both ways. The partnership between the school and Planet Shaftesbury was made public this month. So what makes it exciting? And what's happening right now? Quite a lot ... 

 

  • Reinforcing our connection to the town's young people seems overdue. Planet Shaftesbury sometimes uses the strap line 'local people working together for a better future'. We need all ages, and especially young people, to influence the vision of what 'better' might consist of. And, in conjunction with the launch of our school partnership, we're launching a conversation about the Shaftesbury area at the end of this decade. 

 

  • We have offered support (speakers & workshop leaders) for a major, post-COP26, sustainability event at the school on 11th May. Students aged 9-14yrs will take part from across the Sherborne Area Schools' Trust. Afterwards participants will be ambassadors who can take key messages back to their schools and fellow students.

 

  • We're organising a follow-up, evening event (19th May) at the school for older students, parents, our network, and others. We aim to offer a choice of sessions (short talks/films) on a broad spread of sustainability topics - from sustainable communities and sustainable consumption to sustaining life on land and in water. After that participants will eat together whilst compiling questions for a closing panel discussion. This will focus attention on the changes we want to make at home or see across our area. The event takes the place of our regular 3rd Thursday meeting at the Town Hall and will connect our wider network and the schools' sustainability event through conversations about Shaftesbury in 2030. Save the date. Bring a friend. And if you share the project team's excitement, get involved and help to make it happen! Email Karen at karen@karenwimhurst.co.uk

Seeking inspiration and support? Let's get together!

 

Planet Shaftesbury meetings are returning to their 'regular' pattern from March. Some of us will welcome this opportunity for (cautious) face-to-face conversations!

 

  • 3rd Thursday of the month: the main, in-person, meeting. Open to all. Opportunities to exchange news and often a themed discussion or workshop. Usually 7.30-9.30pm at Shaftesbury Town Hall. Details via the website. Next meeting 17th March with a 'Shaftesbury 2030' theme.

 

  • 1st Thursday of the month: an online meeting, relatively informal with agenda built by participants, may or may not have a theme. Can provide a valuable sounding board for testing ideas. 7.30pm for about an hour. Details including joining link will always be on the website. Next on 3rd March. 

 

Informal social opportunities have happened in the past but petered out. Green teas? Green drinks? A 'climate cafe'? Bring ideas to the meeting on 17th March.

 

Networking: Our Planet Shaftesbury network can get inspiration from other networks that we're associated with or that individuals belong to. Could you help to reinforce the connection between Planet Shaftesbury and the Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) or Friends of the Earth (South-West)?  Are you close to people in neighbouring Transition Towns? Could you share news from other campaigning organisations? Pass information to the newsletter by sending contributions to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com 

Bringing farming futures into the conversation

 

Vallis Veg - an inspiration? This small farm on the edge of Frome, Somerset, is run by Cordelia Rowlatt and Chris Smaje. They say 'In 2003 we bought 18 acres of bare land with the aims of making it productive, environmentally friendly, and good for people. In practice, it was very hard to achieve these objectives but we have built up a diverse holding and learned a lot about what has worked well, what hasn’t and how we could have done it better.' They're both keen to share their experiences and insights and to promote and support small eco-farms as a constructive response to global challenges. There are two different opportunities coming up in Shaftesbury:

  • Cordelia is visiting Shaftesbury Homegrown on Sunday February 27th. Join her for a walkabout and discussion of her ideas for supporting a resurgence of eco-farms. Could we achieve this in our area? The format of the day means numbers are limited and places are going fast.
  • Chris has maintained a respected blog for more than 10 years and published his book 'A Small Farm Future' in October 2020. He will be in conversation with ffinlo Costain (of Food & Global Security Network and producer of Farm Gate, the regenerative agriculture podcast) at the Grosvenor Arms on Thursday 31st March.

See further details of Vallis Veg and of these events through the links below.

 

Food & Farming for our Future is the title for discussions that will take place with an impressive panel of speakers in Dinton, Wiltshire, (also live-streamed) on Wednesday 11th May. An outline for the event is on our website, ticketing details not yet available, save the date.

 

Want to take the conversation to the Spring Countryside Show on 23rd/24th April? Those thinking about Planet Shaftesbury's participation would welcome more people to become involved, email planetshaftesbury@gmail.com 

Other Shaftesbury News in Brief

 

Myrtle & Marigold: Good to see the liquid soap refills business in prominent High Street premises! 

 

'Reading the Land'  - Shaftesbury's new book festival has fascinating speakers and children's workshops too. After being postponed by 18 months - and slimmed down - the team and authors are pleased that it will be happening on 11-13th March. Get tickets before they've all gone (link below).  

From Dorset & beyond

 

Dorset Deserves Better: Michael Dower and Giles Watts, who are leading the campaign to secure a re-think of Dorset's Local Plan, report that Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council, has had a positive meeting with the Secretary of State and will shortly be meeting the Planning Minister to discuss the Local Plan further. Meanwhile we have made sure that Michael & Giles are aware of the Highways England 'M4 to Dorset Coast Connectivity' strategic study which could have major implications for the A350. There will be opportunities to review the campaign strategy at a meeting of alliance organisations on February 22nd (open to all Planet Shaftesbury participants, details through the event details, link below).

 

Our bus services: Dorset Council has drawn up a bus service improvement plan which it would like to implement through an enhanced partnership with the various bus companies (due to come into play in April). Last October the council made a bid for financial support for their ambitions from the government's £3bn funding for revitalising bus services nationally. Bids from across the country exceed the £3bn, but now it is feared that the Treasury may seek savings at the expense of services. Links to more information and a request to email the chancellor at the foot of this newsletter.

 

Dorset Sustainable Palm Oil Community: Would anyone like to be our point of contact for this campaign to make Dorset the world's first sustainable palm oil county? Please reply to the Forum post that includes their latest newsletter. (Link included below)

 

Hedgehog rescue: Dorset Mammal Group are helping some of our local hedgehog group members access first aid training this Spring. After that, they'll be capable of supporting injured hogs locally. If you have a spare rabbit hutch or hen house that could be donated for housing a rescued hog, please contact Mariko at shaftesburyhedgehogs@gmail.com

 

Dorset Amphibian and Reptile Network (DARN) aims to promote the conservation, recording and appreciation of native amphibians and reptiles across the county. Dorset has 12 of the UK's 13 native amphibian and reptile species, and a handful of non-native species. (Link included below.)

 

Portland Waste Incinerator will be discussed at a Dorset Green Party meeting with Dorset Councillor Brian Heatley, 22nd February, 7-8pm. For joining link email dorsetgreenparty@gmail.com

Click for upcoming event details and links

Web links - as referred to above & more 

 

  • Vallis Veg & Eco-Farm Future project http://vallisveg.co.uk/   Book details  https://smallfarmfuture.org.uk/

 

  • Reading the Land book festival: more details and tickets here

 

  • Funding to support bus services: article here https://bettertransport.org.uk/blog/buses/a-funding-cliff-edge-is-threatening-local-bus-services-across-the-country and opportunity to email the chancellor here https://bettertransport.eaction.org.uk/bus-funding

 

  • Dorset Sustainable Palm Oil Community: see Forum post here.

 

  • Dorset Amphibian and Reptile Network: website here

 

  • New fossil fuel extraction: participate in UK Government consultation with Greenpeace support here. And/or ask UK Government to rule out all new coal, oil & gas extraction: follow this link for petition by Friends of the Earth 

The next monthly newsletter will appear around the end of the 3rd week of March.  If you have news to share please send it to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com

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