The Climate and Nature Symposium for South Hams Councillors held in Totnes on 16th October, saw group leaders and councillors gather to find ways to collaborate for climate and nature.
Our last Changemakers meeting focused on how we communicate climate and nature change through community events.
With the support of the Government’s Trees for Climate Land Acquisition Fund, South Hams District Council have purchased a 65-acre site to be transformed into a community woodland, orchard, and market garden.
We connect with like-minded individuals and organisations within the PL:21 area to collaborate on projects beneficial to the community, and our goals of addressing climate change, reducing fossil-fuel dependency, and increasing local economic robustness. Our key areas of interest are: Food; Energy; Transport; Community; Ecology and Economy. As the groups have evolved and expanded some have become separate while still working closely with PL:21.
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.
Dittiscombe Rewilding offers a great example of how land can be transformed
Transition Streets is an award-winning project that brings neighbours together
Workshops promoting Earth Friendly values around food from the Deer Wood Trust