Photovoltaics, Bikeabiltiy, School vegetable gardens, Fairtrade Diocese, community orchards and more……

Read about them and how we plan to build on these in 2011.

                                              1. Local people take up new Clean Energy cash- back scheme & feed-in tariffs for PV solar panels.

Anyone planning to take this up needs to act sooner rather than later to get the full benefit, the rate will fall year on year from April 2012.  If sufficient numbers install PV in one area a discount can be earned.

 Watch this space for full details of one couple’s experience of going solar – coming shortly. 

 2011 – aim to get 100 local clean energy generators and earn a discount.

 2. Wiltshire Council.  Wiltshire signed up to 10:10, a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.   What they say: “Over the course of the next two years, we will develop and implement a climate change action plan.  The action plan will address energy reduction across all areas of the wider community and our own estate.”

2011 – ensure a greater level of commitment through the developing Parish Plans.

 3. Say No to Plastic Bags WE DID!  SCRAP’s shop survey in the city  found that most retailers are interested in reducing their plastic bag use by asking customers if they need a bag rather than automatically giving them one, using biodegradable bags or charging for bags.

2011 -The environmental concern is evident; can we translate this into a strong commitment to make Salisbury PBF?

4. Fairtrade Diocese.  In April 2010 the Diocese of Salisbury was recognised as a Fairtrade Diocese, marking the commitment of over half of parishes in the Diocese to using and promoting Fairtrade products.

 2011- can we persuade Wiltshire to become a Fairtrade County?

5. River Bourne Community Farm goes from strength to strength with sustainable, traditional farming on our doorstep and extensive community involvement.

2011- add to Salisbury’s network of natural green spaces and wildlife corridors.  Set up a Salisbury Greenspace Alliance to co-ordinate management for the benefit of wildlife and people.

6. Local Food.  Growing interest in allotments, community gardens and orchards.  River Bourne Community Farm sells eggs and meat from the farm, Martin Future Farms opens a shop in the village, Tisbury Community Allotment makes a profit, and Downton holds an Apple Day.

 2011- Community Orchards to be planted in Salisbury’s Parks, firstly in Fisherton and Bishopdown.  If successful these will be followed by other areas throughout the city.

7. Cycling.  100s of children in Salisbury and the surrounding area receive level 3 Bikeability training.

 2011 -  achieve first steps towards Connect 2 cycle link between Wilton and Alderbury. 

8. Schools.  More schools develop outdoor classrooms with ponds, native hedges, wildflower meadows and vegetable gardens.  Children grow their own vegetables, learn about composting and harvest their produce for school dinners.

2011- increase the number of Eco-schools in South Wiltshire, acheive more  safe routes to school for walking and cycling and encourage energy saving through the WC Climate Change Schools officer.

9. Launch of Green Café and Green Drinks. This initiative, started in October, has brought more of those interested in ‘green’ issues together for informal discussion.  Go to ‘Events and Meetings’ for future dates.

10.  Membership.  SWA21 membership reached 100 individuals and organisations.

2011 –aim to attract more young people.

If you know of other good things that have, or are happening why not send them in via our contact address.  They can then be posted on the website and more people can hear about them.

Talk inspires … and sets some homework!

River Bourne Community Farm - the vision

Ben Parker, from River Bourne Community Farm in Salisbury and Nick Snelgar, from Future Farms Co-operative at Martin both spoke at our recent ‘Local Food and Farming’ meeting.   Ben spoke of his vision for a community based project to re-create a working farm, such as those of the 1950s/1960s.   The farm is readily accessible to local schools and provides a ‘hands on’ educational experience for local children.  

Nick talked about the ‘Future Farm’ project in Martin, where local households are involved in growing their own food.  This project started some 7 years ago, with the aim of producing as much food as possible locally and raising people’s awareness of the source of their food.  For those whose appetite had been whetted by his talk …

… Nick has suggested the following homework:

Colin Tudge – ‘Feeding people is Easy’

Graham Harvey – ‘The Carbon Fields : How our Countryside can save Britain’

Bee Wilson – ‘Swindled: from poison sweets to counterfeit coffee – the dark history of the food cheats’

Felicity Lawrence – ‘Not on the Label’.

“An essential documentary … if you like eating see this film”

Daniel Etherington – Channel 4

Studio Theatre, Ashley Road, Salisbury

Thursday 22nd April, 7:30 pm

Doors open 6:45, Bar available

Tickets £5, Students £3

To reserve a seat contact South Wiltshire Agenda 21 by email. Reserved tickets must be collected at the Theatre by 7:15 pm.

The honeybee is under threat, mass die-offs are occurring and no-one knows why. This film explores the collapse of the Earth’s pollinators through the eyes of those whose livelihoods depend on them.

Introduction in music and dance by Wiltshire College (Salisbury)

For more about the film and to sign an online petition to help secure funds for a systematic review of the impact of pesticides on bees visit the film website

For more info visit www.greencone.com

 Happy composting!

Janet Maxwell

Privet hawk moth / Photo: trippedamine

The same household has seen several slow worms this year, two of which were brought in by the cat, and were returned to their natural habitat unharmed.

We have had excess plants from the greenhouse this year, which have been put outside the house for people to take. All have disappeared.

We saved seeds at the end of last summer and have swapped them with friends and neighbours – so doing away with costly seed buying and the F1Hybrid horror.

Janet Maxwell

Our best route as consumers who care about the health of the countryside and ourselves is to keep organic farmers in business.

Organic spinach / Photo Ian-S

Farmers in the UK are outraged, saying that crop yields will fall dramatically without the use of these chemicals. But it is well known that many of these substances (especially used in combination) can be very injurious to human health, being carcinogenic, mutagenic and hormone-disrupting.

In organic farming the whole emphasis is on building and maintaining healthy soil, teeming with micro-bacteria. This grows sturdy plants which resist most disease. The overseeing body, the Soil Association, does allow the use of four mild pesticides (under licence only) in a crisis situation – compared with the dozens available to the crop-spraying ‘conventional farmers’.

About forty years ago the British Trust for Ornithology found that organic forms had twice as many breeding birds as did other farms. Numerous further studies have been ‘lost’. Farmland bird numbers have now seriously declined – surely partly due to the obliteration of insect life on crops?

In 2001 the UK launched a Voluntary Initiative on Pesticide Use, aiming for farmers to record and report and then hopefully reduce their usage. But this is not working (annual reports are mostly not being submitted). The imposition of a tax on pesticides is now likely. And the EU ban should become law this summer.

Our best route as consumers who care about the health of the countryside and ourselves is to keep organic farmers in business. If we choose to buy organic food we are doing this. It is usually more costly because more labour is involved in its production. Perhaps we can buy fewer items – all organic – and try to eat more simply. But for biodiversity’s health and our health – it is worth it.

Anne.

Date: Wednesday 28 May 2008, 6.00pm
Venue: Salisbury Playhouse 6.00pm.
Cost: £8.00

The award will be presented on Tuesday 22 January 2008 at 10 am during the weekly Charter Market in Salisbury. The giant cheque will be handed over in the Farmers Market section indicating our support for local produce. This will be followed by coffee in town.

If you are in the market on that Tuesday morning please join us and swell the crowd.