Community Asset Transfer
The first stage of the Community Asset Transfer application to Dorset Council for a lease on the 10 acres of Land north of St Martinsfield and the Church, has been approved by the Council. After a recent meeting with Sam Hoida of DCs Estates Department to answer some of our questions regarding access and covenants etc, we feel it is now appropriate to continue with the Business and Management plans. We have 6 months to complete the plans and will work in conjunction with the Estates department to make sure it meets expectations. We have a team of 5 people working on the plans. We will keep you updated with developments through these pages. This project will be successful with help and support from villagers so do respond to requests for help and/or volunteer your ideas, skills and time. Contact via the website greenmartinstown.org.uk
Dorset COP 2
Four of us from Green Martinstown attended the second Dorset COP (Conference of the Parties)
Many of the 200 or so Dorset groups working towards sustainability, mitigation of climate change, adaptation and resilience to the effects of climate change were present. This year the event was held at Bournemouth University and was bigger again. With over 100 organisations represented and 350 individuals – the University was buzzing!
There were 8 workshops on subjects like transport, energy, food production. There were creative workshops, business related sessions, a speakers corner a community exhibition and many opportunities to network. Green Martinstown had a small display.
Community Garden at the Vicarage
We have been in conversation with Rev. Teresa Stuart-Sykes, our relatively recent incumbent at the Vicarage. Theresa has a hope that part of the garden at the Vicarage becomes a community garden. The east end of the garden is secluded and accessible from the east, therefore not impinging on her privacy. There is space for growing vegetables and flowers and a space just to be. However, what emerges will be dependent on what the villagers want. So if you are interested please let us know.
Emails
While we all know wasting food, energy and water is expensive not only financially but also for our planet many of us do not consider our consumption of technology. You might be surprised to know that emails and cloud storage affect CO2 emissions. The average carbon footprint of an email is 0.3g CO2e. The numbers go up, however, if it’s a long email that takes ten minutes to write and three seconds to read (17g CO2e), or if it’s got one image or an attachment (50g CO2e), or is sent to multiple recipients. Source Google. It is therefore important not to use ‘reply all’ unnecessarily and better IT etiquette and less wasteful to delete unnecessary chain messages. Or start afresh and avoid wasteful lazy habits.
Further savings can be made by reducing unwanted subscriptions both online and through the post. The power of unsubscribe, usually found at the base of an email, and required by law, is liberating. A quick phone call to mail order catalogue companies, saves trees, water, print production and postage van delivery services. The businesses concerned are only too happy to update their mailing lists. It’s a win win for all concerned.
