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Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. This is a place for us to update you on what we are doing at South Hams District Council and what things are going on around the District.
It will tell you what's going on nationally and things you, our residents and businesses can be doing to reduce your carbon footprint and manage your land to improve the environment and its biodiversity.
If you have anything you would like to include in this newsletter, contact our Climate Change Specialist by email here
Council Updates
New Climate Webpages are now live
Since we have moved to a new website hosting platform, we have been working on bringing topic specific web pages which were hosted on external website platform onto our new central hosting system. The Climate Change and Biodiversity webpages are now available on our website and can be found here.
We'll keep this regularly updated and it will be the place to go to find out what we're up to and what our plans and strategies are.
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An exciting and ambitious woodland deal for a new 65-acre community woodland has been agreed and is going to be created in South Brent.
With the support of the Government’s Trees for Climate Land Acquisition Fund, South Hams District Council has been able to buy the site. This is part of the Council’s priority to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity by 20% over four years.
Tree planting will start later this year with a community planting event.
Leader of South Hams District Council, Cllr Julian Brazil, said: “We are so thrilled and excited about this project. As an ambitious administration this is all about what we are trying to achieve. It emphasises our priority around the climate change and biodiversity agenda, but it does so much more.
"We will be working with local schools, social prescribers, and other local community groups. It will leave a lasting legacy for the South Hams.
“We hope to plant around 25,000 trees on this site. It is the start of us planting a tree for every resident of the South Hams. Thank you so much to all those involved. My fellow councillor John McKay, as executive lead, and local councillors Guy Pannell and David Hancock have all helped to get us this far.
"We all want to make a difference.”
As part of the woodland, the fields will continue to be a productive landscape, with parts of the site still being grazed. As part of the varied community proposals, an orchard and a market garden will be created in partnership with local group, Sustainable South Brent to deliver the project for their local area.
They are passionate about the project and will use some of the woodland for education and community food production.
The Vice-Chair of Sustainable South Brent (SSB), Hayden Gabriel, said: “This new woodland can deliver so much for the community of South Brent and aligns precisely with SSB’s vision of creating a resilient, low-carbon community where all life thrives.
"Varied habitat creation and nature recovery in this zone of woodland, increased local food production and a natural educational resource are just some of the many advantages on offer.
“The opportunities are huge and we are excited to work with the District Council and the Community Forest to maximise the potential of the site for the community. Sustainable South Brent trustees and volunteers are keen to get behind this project.
"Now news of the woodland has been made public, we will be inviting local groups and schools to help shape and deliver this uplifting endeavour.”
Director of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, Kathryn Deeney, said: “The Community Forest has successfully been supporting a varied programme of new planting within the Plymouth, South Devon and Dartmoor area over the last couple of years.
"This marks the first land purchase through the Community Forest, and is an exciting milestone, reflecting the strong partnership built up locally, and was a proposal we could confidently champion and support.”
Over the coming months South Hams District Council will engage with local residents over proposals for the site and consider detailed design and planting with the community, partners and stakeholders. The planting will be supported through a partnership with the Woodland Trust and their MOREwoods scheme.
The planting will be supported through a partnership with the Woodland Trust and their MOREwoods scheme, which is funded by Lloyds Bank.
Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust, Eleanor Lewis, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for a new woodland serving the South Hams. MOREwoods is an established scheme that provides expert advice, funding and trees to landowners who want to create a woodland.
“With careful planning this site can deliver huge benefits for people, wildlife and climate, as well as incorporating local aspirations for continued local food production on part of the land. We look forward to working collaboratively to design a woodland that can deliver multiple benefits with the local community at its heart.”
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The Imperial Community Impact Fund is a new initiative designed to support local community groups and charities that are committed to making a positive difference.
There is a total annual fund of £10,000, offering grants up to £1,000 to encourage and empower local organisations working in the fields of environment, sustainability, creativity, and addressing local problems.
Community groups and charitable organisations can apply.
The focus of the fund is to provide small grants for community organisations and charities making a difference in their local community.
Application deadline for round 1 is 26 September 2024. The round 2 deadline is 20 March 2025.
Click here to find out more and apply
The funding is intended to support activities that will have positive social, economic and/or environmental impacts on the area. There is a particular focus on education, training and skills.
The programme objectives are:
- Support climate change mitigation and adaptation - through community education on sustainable practices
- Promote a just transition
– encourage and promote skills, education and training in climate solutions
– reskill or upskill people for jobs in climate solutions
- Promote general skills development
– encourage and promote skills and training for local people
– provide training and development for employees
- Improve local education
– create educational initiatives that relate to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
– create educational activities for the community
– support local academic institutions
Registered charities, CICs, charitable trusts, academic institutions, charitable companies and unincorporated organisations can apply for grants up to £5,000.
Click here to find out more and apply.
The Tree Council grants programme, Branching Out, is now open for applications from not-for-profit organisations seeking to establish trees and hedges in the 2024/25 planting season.
You can apply for grants of between £250 and £2,500 for the purchase of trees, hedging, hedgerow trees and fruit trees, together with planting aids such as tree-guards, stakes and mulch.
Projects with strong community involvement will be looked on more favourably and projects over £500 will be expected to be include different types of planting and take broader environmental considerations into account.
Schools, colleges, community groups, care homes, parish & town councils, Tree Warden Networks, Community Interest Companies and small registered charities are all eligible to apply for funding.
Groups must have a bank account registered in the name of the applicant organisation, into which the grant can be paid.
Early applications are encouraged, both to increase the chances of a grant being awarded and to ensure that planting can take place as early as possible in the tree planting season so that the trees have the best chance of establishing.
Click here to find out more.
Funding is available for organisations that want to transform their local community through projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment.
Community groups, schools and colleges or small businesses involved in sustainability initiatives can apply for a grant from the new Stobart Sustainability Fund.
There is a short online application form where you need to describe your project or initiative and explain how it will positively impact the environment and support creating a sustainable world.
Click here to find out more and apply
Farm Diversification: Circular Economies. 12 September 2024
Exbourne EX20 3QU
Join us for a tour of Hayes Meadow's cutting-edge processing facility. As dedicated regenerative farmers, Hayes Meadow produce organic, environmentally sustainable beef, proudly endorsed by the ‘Soil Association’ and ‘A Greener World’.
Their farm-to-table journey has evolved from direct customer sales of their meat boxes to a diverse range of offerings, including charcuterie, pantry staples, and skincare products derived from beef tallow. This innovative approach champions sustainability by repurposing animal by-products.
Agenda
- 'An introduction to Hayes Meadow Organic' from Luppo Diepenbroek, Improving Farming consultancy
- 'Circular economies from a research perspective' presented by Claire Pearce and Amanda Burton, University of Plymouth
- 'Mobile abattoirs and making use of fifth quarter products' presented by Andy Gray, M C Kelly
- Tour of the new production unit led by Graham Macklin, Hayes Meadow Organic
- Food and refreshments
- Q&A and Panel discussion.
Please note: If the event is oversubscribed, priority will be given to farmers based within the West Devon district.
The Agri-Events series has been commissioned by West Devon Borough Council using UK Shared Prosperity Funding and delivered by Devon County Council. Our outputs across the SPF Agri-Events series relate to four different districts, therefore, for the sole purpose of reporting we will ask for your business name and postcode to establish the geographical location of your business.
Photos will be taken on the day for the purpose of reporting and marketing. If you do not wish for your photo to be taken please mention this to one of the Devon County Council staff members on the day.
For more information on our SPF Agri-Events series please use the following link: Agri-Events - Economy and Enterprise (devon.gov.uk)
Click here to find out more and register.
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FUTURES 2024: Climate Change and Gardening
27 September. 7 p.m, St Marys Church Totnes
Join Frances Tophill from Gardeners’ World and three world-leading researchers for a special live event on horticulture in a changing world.
From flood mitigation to pollutant capture and urban green rooftops, gardens aren’t just benefiting humans, but represent essential spaces and habitats for wildlife and biodiversity.
Panellists will share effective gardening and growing practices that can sustain the extreme weather events we are already experiencing today. How will our expectations of gardens continue to change?
Hosted by former Radio 4 presenter Ritula Shah, we’ll also chat about related issues such as food security, pests, and soil health. We will ask how our gardens can positively contribute to our wider community and how to manage challenges like water stress and the invasion of non-native species.
Click here to book.
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On 18 July, the Climate Change Committee published its latest progress report which sets out the Committee’s assessment of how well the UK is delivering against its legal targets to reduce emissions.
Whilst emissions fell substantially in 2023, this was largely driven by increase electricity imports from nuclear power stations and reductions in home gas use, likely resulting from high gas prices.
Only one third of emissions reductions required to meet this target are assessed as credible, some sectors have increased risk due to roll backs on policy such as the zero emissions vehicle mandate.
This will need to change quickly. Ambitious action is needed beyond electricity, in buildings, industry and transport. Technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and renewables need to become normal for the UK to get back on track.
Click here to watch their explainer video and click here to read the report.
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