Save the Date! Sunday March 10th 1.30 – 3.30 Community Meeting, Martinstown Village Hall. Tea and Cake. More to follow but it is exciting!
Save Another Date! Green Martinstown Members Meeting at the Manor House, February 29th 7.00pm Drinks and Nibbles as usual. Please make it if you can as it is about the exciting news mentioned above!
Positive News for the beginning of 2024! (taken from Positive News magazine)
The ‘Right to Grow’ in Hull
Hull City Council unanimously adopted a motion to give local community groups, charities and neighbours a formalised ‘right to grow’ on public land. The council will produce a map of the land it owns that is suitable for growing on and will support people who want to grow food on it to overcome practical obstacles such as insurance and irrigation. Helping with food resilience, growing locally saves on transportation and is wonderful for community building.
RSPB
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is running a 2 year pilot scheme giving free entry to 16 – 24 year olds. The RSPB has about 200 reserves and the average entrance fee is £6. Dorset’s Arne reserve on the edge of Poole harbour is beautiful and well worth a visit. If you haven’t been before now it makes a family outing more affordable.
The Beginning of the End of Built-in Obsolescence?
Many items these days are impossible to repair and obsolescence is built into the design. What a waste of resources. Now, though there are companies who respect such finite resources and are making laptops, vacuum cleaners and mobile phones that are easily repaired, have instructions on how to do so and have readily available parts. Good for them!
With an ever-growing awareness of the negative impact on the planet human consumption has, there are companies, like Patagonia the outdoor clothing firm, who are will repair their products for free. Good for them, too!
Also, there are some businesses who have ‘Nature Guardians’ – a member of the board or executive committee who represents and speaks for the Natural World. This ensures that every decision made has to take into account the impact on the planet, bringing sustainability, regeneration and care for the Earth to the forefront. Good for them, as well!
Kenya’s Tree Planting National Holiday
On November 13th last year Kenya declared a national holiday in order to plant a target of 100 million trees. Each citizen was encouraged to plant 2 trees each – supplied by the government. There is a plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. Drought has been of huge concern over recent years and trees can play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance, enhance biodiversity and sustain the livelihoods of people and communities.
