Our Covid-cautiousness has led us to substitute larger in-person meetings with online sessions at least for January and February this year. However, that's not going to slow down our activities over the coming weeks ... here's an update as we gather momentum for a new year!

Outline plan for 2022

December's meeting laid the foundations for 2022. It produced a scheduled indication of topics that could be addressed by public talks, films or workshops and activities that may accelerate local adaptation to the challenges of the climate and nature crises. It suggested that we can all make more use of project pages and resources on the website to publicise our interests and connect with like-minded others.  December's meeting and outline plan for 2022 is now documented in a blogpost here. Related website changes will follow.

Interested in 'Farming Futures'? An invitation from Gillingham & Shaftesbury Showground

James Cox at G&S Showground has written with an update and invitation:

“We are currently working on some large layout changes to the Show so aren’t quite yet in a position to introduce the Environmental Wildlife Garden, that being said we are working on a 5 year plan which includes this, solar panels (office and planning dependent) and planting tree rows on the Showground. We are running a Spring Countryside Show on Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th April which we are doing Show Gardens at, the only slight issue is that this is in the main centre of the Showground so all gardens have to be returned to grass turf straight after. I don’t know if something temporary and small to demonstrate what can be done would be good? You are of course welcome to have a stand at this Show as well. …It maybe good to demonstrate on the best plants for wildlife? We do have a discussions stage if wish to get involved with that?"

To be part of a Planet Shaftesbury response please email planetshaftesbury@gmail.com with ideas and offers.

Could you help people of all ages engage with Sustainable Development Goals?

Shaftesbury School are to host a post-COP26, two-day county-wide student event in June, with a possible extension into the late afternoon/early evening for adult participation. The school's Alex More would like the focus to be UNESCOs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and he needs speakers who could address the specific goals below. 

• Affordable clean energy 
• Sustainable cities and communities
• Responsible consumption & production 
• Climate action
• Life on land 
• Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure 

If you can help please contact Karen Wimhurst who is liaising between Planet Shaftesbury and the school, email karen@karenwimhurst.co.uk  And please add yourself to our website (see below) as well.

Share your experience or expertise

Ed Bersey has offered to add a list of people willing to share their experience or expertise to the Resources section of our website. Do you want to be on the list as a speaker? Or do you have experience you could share? Is there something else you'd like to offer across our network or to other local groups or events?  There is a template here for you to describe your offers to be added to the website. Please complete and send to Ed c/o planetshaftesbury@gmail.com

Connecting online and in-person

• Through January and February there will be online meetings on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays. On 17th February we will consider whether to return to the pattern of in-person meetings on the 3rd Thursday for March onwards (continuing with online sessions on 1st Thursdays).
• Our online meetings will have a pre-agreed theme for discussion, where the theme could be presented by someone from our network or an outside speaker invited by them. If you want to specify a discussion theme please book out any meeting date which is currently free (i.e. no topic shown on the website). Email details to planetshaftesbury@gmail.com 
• Covid-cautious, smaller in-person meetings can still take place with Planet Shaftesbury's support. Email as above. 

Other news & meetings

Dorset Deserves Better: the Dorset CPRE & Dorset Climate Action Network joint campaign for a rethink of the draft Local Plan will be launched at an online meeting on Tuesday 11th Jan. Planet Shaftesbury is part of this initiative and the joining link will be added to the event on the website homepage shortly.

Tree & Hedgerow planting: the trees to be planted on community sites around Shaftesbury this winter will be arriving next week and some protective fencing at Wincombe Rec. is being installed by volunteers. For those wanting to do some private tree or hedgerow planting, Ros Eveleigh still has bird cherry whips available in Marnhull at £1 each (T.01258 821049).   

Green Show: Georgie Faulkner-Bryant is seeking to ensure that This is Alfred has plenty of sustainability pieces to slot into its other radio content. She's inviting others to support her so that listeners hear diverse voices. To find out more email Georgiekirby@hotmail.co.uk

Bus Service Improvement: Dorset Council are working towards enhanced partnership working with local bus operating companies to secure service improvements. See more details online here. We're invited to participate in briefing sessions which have been included with events on the website.

Government Consultation may lead to reduced plastic litter: The government (Defra) is considering a ban on certain single-use plastics.  They are particularly interested in that which ends up as litter - ie, not disposed of "appropriately".  Tean Mitchell says "I did a research project on this very subject 20 years ago and it ain't got no better!!" Please complete the government survey here.

The next newsletter will be distributed at the end of the 3rd week of the month. If you have news to share please send it to Rachel Bodle at planetshaftesbury@gmail.com