G-UP Hints, Tips & Links
How you can help make an impact:
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Contribute to the Devon Carbon Plan!
Devon’s Net-Zero Task Force are inviting practical ideas on how we can rapidly decarbonise our community from all Devon residents. Suggestions will be analysed and sorted and go through a ‘hearing’ process – eventually leading to a draft Devon Carbon Plan next year, which aims to, “Set out a clear road map of what we all have to do to ensure that Devon becomes net-zero and continue to thrive”.
A cross section of practical ideas is needed to ensure a workable net-zero plan which will affect us all. To have a say in how Devon deals with the Climate Crisis in practical terms click through to the form on the Devon Climate Emergency Website.
See Here: Devon Climate Emergency
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FOOD
In the UK the average family throws away 22% of their weekly shop (worth £800 per year). Sharing unwanted food is an easy way to reduce waste (and make good friends with your neighbours)! You may be interested to try the App OLIO which connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. Yo can also put out request for things you need and donate cosmetics, household cleaning materials etc which would otherwise be thrown away.. The more people who use it locally the more effective it becomes.
TRANSPORT
Cost save and reduce emissions by lift sharing. Car share Devon is a great resource for organising this.
Useful Links
http://www.sustainablesouthbrent.org.uk
Sustainable South Brent is well established (having launched some 12 years ago). Their website is worth scouring for the variety of inspiring projects they have implemented. Also worth looking at their ‘Zero-Carbon Working Group’ arm – launched recently in response to the Environment and Climate Emergency that Devon County Council, South Hams District Council (and most recently South Brent Parish Council) have declared.
The Transition Town movement involves using locally centred approaches to address challenges that communities might face. In starting local the idea is that communities can become stronger and more caring, more skilled and innovative and find ways to thrive together that can have a positively impact more widely. Ivybridge and Totnes are both Transition Towns.
http://www.wedmoregreengroup.co.uk/Home.aspx
This umbrella organisation was recently flagged up with me as one that is successfully encouraging sustainable living and supporting this in practical terms both in Wedmore and surrounding villages.
Friends of the Earth – interesting statistics on how the UK district-by-district is dealing with the Climate Emergency. Looking at where South Hams is at might help us target the most impactful initiatives for here:
About re-wilding: ~
Moor Meadows – a local (near Buckfast) community initiative to restore, conserve and create flower-rich grasslands regionally.
Knep is a pioneering re-wilding project in Sussex.