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Whether we like it or not, we live in a consumerist world. Walk into any shop and you will see aisles of products packaged in single use plastics, as well as many disposable or ‘short-life’ goods. We are constantly being encouraged to buy more than we really need. Our homes are filled with many items that end their days in land-fill (here or abroad), incinerators or in our rivers and oceans
Here in the South Hams there are a number of projects run through our community groups and companies whose volunteers clean up some of this waste, run re-use and recycling projects and also encourage residents and visitors to consider alternatives when purchasing products.
Hopefully some of the projects on this website may provide ideas and inspiration. Many established groups will be more than happy to talk with you about setting up your own project and may be able to share resources to make it easier. Why write a Risk Assessment from scratch when you can probably modify one that is already written?
If you have a project that fits into this category but isn’t listed here please ‘add a project’ so that we can share the good work you are doing.
Get in touch with Ben Bryant, our Saving Earth Resources Mentor, for any further information or advice on ben@sussh.org
News
Sustainable South Hams in 2023
Our recent Christmas Celebration gave us the chance to hear about some of your proudest achievements from 2023, and was also a reminder of how much has happened for Sustainable South Hams in the last year! Read on for a round up of where we’re at now, what we’re looking forward to, and the wide range of things we’ve been up to.
December 22, 2023
Get Involved with our Composting Pilot Series
Building on June’s conversation around Scaling Earth Resources, the November Change Makers’ Meeting introduced a series of community composting projects currently in development by Sustainable South Hams, in partnership with Devon Community Composting Network and South Hams District Council.
November 12, 2023
Change Makers: District Council Corporate Strategy for Climate & Nature
Our new Change Makers Gatherings got off to a strong start with an online session discussing South Hams District Council’s new draft Corporate Strategy for Climate & Nature.
October 30, 2023
Resources
Groups
Sustainable Kingswear
Focusing on immediate and longer term infrastructure changes, including encouraging electric vehicle use, a community energy scheme, and addressing light pollution. Also working on community schemes, such as encouraging households and landowners to support wildlife, community composting and a Library of Things.
5-20
Volunteers
Parish Council working group
Project Cost
Sustainable Harbourne Valley
Supporting nature-friendly gardens and households; talks/discussion programme; supporting management of churchyards & playing fields for nature; Fruit Corner (community fruit trees/wildflowers); micro tree nursery; seed/plant exchange stall; Sow Grow Show food growing project; Give & Take reuse & exchange day; engagement with local school; supporting river monitoring.
5-20
Volunteers
Community Association
Project Cost
Transition Town Totnes
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
20-100
Volunteers
Charity
Project Cost
Projects
Promote Earth Friendly Values Around Our Food
Workshops promoting Earth Friendly values around food from the Deer Wood Trust
5-20
Volunteers
£5k - £50k
Project Cost
Host Climate and Nature Event with Local Sustainability Groups
A joint project led by SMASH with speakers, stalls and networking opportunities
5-20
Volunteers
<£5k
Project Cost
Engage your Community with a Nature & Climate Fair
Village summer Fair for South Brent with a focus on sustainability
20+
Volunteers
£5k - £50k
Project Cost
