Education and engagement are vital in tackling climate change. By providing knowledge and awareness about the environment, we empower individuals to make informed decisions and take meaningful action. Engaging people in the climate challenge fosters a sense of responsibility and collective effort, driving positive change for a sustainable future.
River water quality may have been the scandal of this year but it’s still shocking that out of 200,000km of English rivers, there are only a couple of hundred metres that are deemed officially safe to swim in. Journalist Jack Thompson explains more, and talks with grassroots community group Friends of the River Dart.
Summer can be a tricky time to keep the momentum for your environmental work going. So, as we approach the end of August, we’ve put together a list of a few ways to develop your personal climate and nature actions and get things moving again!
The South Hams is jam packed with businesses looking to operate in a sustainable way for communities and the environment. Two local businesses are making big changes, with Harbertonford’s village shop coming into community ownership and zero waste shop Green & Wild searching for new owners, and Devon company Planet & People may be of interest to those of you hoping to make your own business more sustainable.
Transition Streets - a community-focussed initiative supporting social cohesion, carbon reduction, and energy saving; Incredible Edible Totnes - supporting local and accessible food growing in public spaces; Totnes Climate Hub - a public space for creating community support and local responses to our global challenges; REconomy Project - a project inspiring economic regeneration locally; Time to Breathe - a meditative space for personal wellbeing support
Bigbury Net Zero is a community group promoting cooperation between neighbouring parishes in Aveton Gifford, Thurlestone, Ringmore, Kingston & Modbury in order to reduce our joint carbon footprint and rebuild nature between the River Avon and the River Erme.
We now have a number of well-established projects, including the Marsh Composting Centre, a school garden, a hedges and woodland group and the 4B's. We have more than 200 members. SSB works closely with South Brent Parish Council who declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019. The Trustee group is presently reviewing strategic priorities and is currently focussing new effort around transport and energy projects.
Ugborough's citizen science project uses the iNaturalist app to record wildlife
Devon Living Churchyards Project encourages churches to support wildlife
Contribute to the resilience of our region's rivers, their habitats and wildlife