Working together, South Hams District Council, Sustainable South Brent, and The Woodland Trust are creating 65 acres of woodland near Portford Lane on the edge of South Brent. A proposed 10-acre community market garden and orchard also form part of the plans. Sustainable food production will also continue through conservation grazing as the woodland establishes.

With the support of the Government’s Trees for Climate Land Acquisition Fund, South Hams District Council has purchased the site and plans on planting 25,000 trees starting later this year to help tackle climate change and improve biodiversity. Meanwhile, it is hoped that that market garden and orchard will provide the community with local, sustainable, healthy food as well as opportunities for enhancing physical and mental wellbeing, education, and volunteering.

Find out more and get involved

The Teignbridge Climate Hub is Teignbridge Council’s Carbon Action Plan for the district. This hub aims to help residents and businesses take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

The plan covers six areas which originate from the Devon Carbon Plan, including Food, Land and Sea. Residents can find tips and ideas for actions to reduce their carbon footprint, such as eating with the seasons and minimising power usage. Furthermore, local businesses can find advice on the role they can play in tackling the climate emergency.

Visit the Teignbridge Climate Hub website

Communities can apply for a small grant of up to £500 to fund initiatives that support local wildlife and biodiversity through the Wild About Devon grant scheme.

The scheme recognises the value of community action in creating long term benefits for wildlife. Projects could include gardens and parks, churchyards, orchards, window boxes, ponds and ditches, buildings, and more.

Apply for a Wild About Devon grant

Thousands of adults across Devon and Cornwall have the opportunity to learn new skills with over 90 fully funded Skills Bootcamp courses now on offer across the region for those who want to ‘upskill’, change careers, or explore new opportunities.

Courses are free and flexible for adults aged 19+ in a variety of sectors, including hospitality, catering, and regenerative agriculture.

Visit Train4Tomorrow to browse available courses now

Join the Connecting People and Landscapes in a Changing Climate project each month at their new Connect Café for talks, chat, and to share ideas.

This is a free, friendly online space where you can:

• grow your knowledge of Devon’s wildlife and habitats
• get practical information on what you can do to help biodiversity
• discover more about monitoring and surveying
• connect with people, communities & organisations caring for local landscapes.

The first café takes place on Wednesday 21 August, 7:30 to 9:00pm, and will feature a talk from the Bat Conservation Trust on identifying bat species in Devon and using a bat detector. This will be followed by a chance to try out your new skills on a free bat walk at Blackmoor Farm, Buckfastleigh on Saturday 24 August, 7:30 to 9:00pm.

For details and joining information contact: hworthington@bats.org.uk Tel. 07565147459

Join the Devon Agri-Tech Alliance for a workshop focused on farm diversification and circular economies, held at Hayes Meadow Organic. Speakers include Graham Macklin (farm owner), University of Plymouth researchers, Luppo Diepenbroek (grassland nutritionist), and Andy Gray (farmer and entrepreneur). Tour the cutting-edge processing facility and see how their approach repurposes animal by-products to produce new income streams.

Register your place at Farm Diversification: Circular Economies

Visit West Town Farm in Ide near Exeter for an evening film screening followed by a ‘Rewilding and Regenerative Agriculture’ themed Q&A panel. Wilding tells the story of a young couple that places their faith in nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate. Complementary cider or apple juice will be provided, while local food and drink will be available to purchase.

Buy your tickets to see Wilding at West Town Farm

Chagford CSA are running their eleventh CSA start-up and scale-up courses this September. Building on the first-hand experience of Chagford CSA, the course will provide participants with the fundamental skills, knowledge, and confidence to start and grow a CSA in their own communities. Food and on-site camping are included, and participants can select either a single day or full two-day course depending on the topics of interest.

Find out more about Chagford CSA’s courses