Welcome to December's Newsletter

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Hello there, dear reader,
Can you believe it is already December? Nope, me neither! Well.. here we are; Christmas festivities and a general election are upon us, but so is the WACE newsletter! Get yourself comfortable, grab a drink and let us keep you updated with what's happening near and far to help our planet......

A dark and very wet Saturday, 23rd Nov, saw 35 adults and 8 children/young people arrive at Wimbleball Lake ready and keen to plant some trees! Patricia Robertson, former chair of Wiveliscombe Action on Climate and Environment, was responsible for initiating this tree planting project and sadly died suddenly in the spring this year. W.A.C.E. was determined to complete the project and found it to be incredibly easy with all the wonderful support of so many people from the local community, as well as Patricia’s family and friends. Trees were provided at no cost by the Woodland Trust and the planting work was lead by the Lucy Alford, warden at the SW Lakes Trust. By the end of the day over 300 trees were planted on the site, including hedgerow areas near the overflow camp site, as well as in the lime park area. People got literally stuck into the mud and, as well as planting trees, were happy to help clear growth around trees that had been planted a few years ago.
What was obvious is that people love to plant trees. This event was just the beginning and we should plant more! The difficulty is finding appropriate land. To get the free trees from the Woodland Trust land needs to be accessible to the public. If anyone knows of any potential land that could be used to develop a community woodland please do contact news@wiveyaction.org.uk. Sara Dove.

Wednesday 4th December 6.30pm.
Talk by Rob Hopkins at St James Church, St James Street, Taunton TA1 1JS
The founder of the international Transition Towns movement asks why true creative, positive thinking is in decline, asserts that it's more important now than ever, and suggests ways our communities can revive and reclaim it. In these times of deep division and deeper despair, there is an epidemic of loneliness, and anxiety, (also) catastrophic climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity. The fracturing of ecosystems and communities beyond, it seems, repair. But there is plenty of evidence that things can change, and cultures can change, rapidly, dramatically, and unexpectedly–for the better. For tickets (£10)......
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/taunton/st-james-church/tlf-talk-from-what-is-to-what-if-rob-hopkins/2019-12-04/18:30/t-opedjr

Thoughts for the General Election.

Let's be clear. W.A.C.E. is non-political. But there are some events and links that may be helpful to you, as like-minded people; passionate and caring about the planet.

Don't worry if you missed the recent hustings on 27th November, here is another opportunity to ask your questions at the 'Climate and Nature Hustings'
Wednesday 4th December 7-9pm at Taunton, Somerset at Creative Innovation Centre CIC

Somerset Wildlife Trust is organising this event on behalf of the Taunton Environment Network (TEN) in order to keep climate change and nature at the heart of this General Election. Georgia Stokes, our CEO, will chair the event and there will be plenty of time to ask questions about nature and climate to the candidates. All four candidates have confirmed their attendance: Gideon Amos - Liberal Democrats, Liam Canham - Labour, John Hunt - Independent and Rebecca Pow - Conservative.

Register to come along now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/taunton-ge-2019-climate-and-…
There will be time for open questions from the public on the night but if you would like to forward a question in advance please email steve.mewes@somersetwildlife.org (These advance questions will not be shared with the candidates but we will select a handful to start the event.)

Friends of the earth are asking candidates in the general election to sign the following pledge.

If elected, I pledge to:

Make the climate crisis a deal-breaker in how I vote in parliament.
Vote to support measures that help us rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions and build a fairer and greener society

Find out if your preferred candidate has signed the pledge. https://friendsoftheearth.uk/

Whatever your political stance, if you feel passionately about the planet, climate and environment, check out each candidate's stance on this. As you may know, three parties; the Green Party, the Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru have agreed an electoral arrangement together. So this means that in Taunton Deane, Clive Martin (Green Party), is standing aside for Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrats).

Climate emergency plans - Update from Cllr Dave Mansell (www.wiveygp.org.)

Earlier this year, all Somerset principal councils declared a climate emergency and agreed to work towards reducing carbon emissions in their areas to net zero. Somerset West and Taunton Council was one of the first, where I proposed the motion with all party support.

After May’s local elections, working groups were established to prepare strategies and action plans, both for the district and county-wide. We had planned consultation at events and online in November, but these had to be postponed due to the general election and will now be held in the new year. An inter-faith event is planned on 12^th January and a Somerset business summit on 28^th January. The main event for Somerset West and Taunton will be a day of activities and talks at Taunton library on 18^th January.

We'll share details soon here and www.wiveyaction.org.uk

Somerset Otters

Tuesday 10th December 7.30-9.30pm at St George's Catholic School, The Mount, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3NR
A public event by Somerset Wildlife Trust. Come and learn more about how these wonderful, iconic creatures are coming back to Somerset's rivers and streams.
Price £3 for members, £3.50 for non-members. Booking not required.

Thank you to everyone who donated fabric or bought a tote bag around Plastic Bag Free Week. We raised over £450 for WACE.

We are still making them and this time the money raised is going to the World Land Trust. A donation of £5 for a bag will fund the nurturing, planting and protection of one tree.

So if you would like a useful Christmas present that also raises money to help restore a forest for wildlife, then email me jennidutton@icloud.com All fabric donations still gratefully received by the way.

The Big Climate Fight Back

The Woodland Trust have started a tree planting pledge campaign on 30th November. "You can still help us fight for the future of the planet by being one in a million people pledging to support tree planting. Every tree Counts". Find out how you can join in, sign up and get planting. https://campaigns.woodlandtrust.org.uk/page/46713/data/1
Share #EveryTreeCounts on social media and encourage your followers to get involved.

And now for some interesting reading....

Calculate your carbon footprint: http://www.carbonify.com/carbon-calculator.htm

Tree planting could help solve the climate crisis:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions

Ecosia: Plant more trees by using this not for profit search engine!
https://www.ecosia.org/?fbclid=IwAR3R0O2Tm7o-fLUzmiXEayqd2iGFZNJ1p3dklvmJ2M2rvL0RfilsqHuGE5k

Forest garden community project in the UK https://theecologist.org/2019/jul/19/food-forests

Edible forest village, South Wales https://www.theedibleforest.com/

Amazing story and documentary link
https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/indian-man-single-handedly-plants-a-1360-acre-forest?fbclid=IwAR0iVDdIPpg4MIv3qOE4JLbsM1GRTfTgy1cz8HDp-u4gWyzCC_luX6xGHtQ
Indian man single-handedly plants a 1,360-acre forest | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Petitions - Rainforest Rescue https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions

Watch a film all about permaculture https://vimeo.com/ondemand/inhabit

Ever tried calculating your carbon footprint?

Here's one to try: https://www.carbonindependent.org/ This one is an environmental footprint calculator: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/

Was it a surprise? We all want to reduce our impact. Why not share with us your 'footprint story'; what you found, what you did, what's worked, what's been tricky, what things in the community would really help to reduce it? It could inspire others to take action.

Sharing Eco Tips

Look out for some handy tips on our Facebook page shortly. If you have any great tips, do share them with us. https://www.facebook.com/wiveyaction

Anyone spotted this beautiful artwork?
By Wivey XR (Extinction Rebellion) Art Group

Brendon Orchards Wassail

Brendon Orchards Coop invites one and all to our Wassail Celebration on Sunday January 19^th at Wiveliscombe Community Centre. Come at 5.00pm to raise glasses of hot mulled cider or apple juice, to sing with Yvette Staelens, the legendary leader of the Voice of the People choirs, to partake in our unique ceremony to bless the trees, to enjoy substantial soup and cake and to let loose in some folky dancing with live band. Last year’s blessing invoked yet another marvellous season this year:

·   One quarter of a million apples pressed
·      Kit hires reaping 15,669 litres of juice, cider or cider vinegar
·      Community pressing nights and our Big Community Pick and Press events; producing another 2000 litres

We are looking for inspired new directors to expand the work we do, so see our website to find out more about us and get in touch if you are interested in processing any nature of fruit in any sort of way, kick-starting new enterprises, providing work for local young people, health and well-being projects in orchards – or anything else connected to making the most of our amazing local gifts of nature.

In September 2019 London went car-free for a day. Watch this short video on You Tube showing highlights from the day. Could we imagine Wiveliscombe car-free?

Well that's all we've got time for folks. We hope you've found something to enliven and muse upon. Wishing you a very merry, planet-friendly Christmas and New Year. Best wishes Kim, Helen and the Committee.

Wivey Action on Climate & Environment

Newsletters - archive of past issues
Website - wiveyaction.org.uk
Email - news@wiveyaction.org.uk