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Here's to a happier and greener new year
! 2021 ! There is certainly a lot going on to inspire us to make changes in how we do things at home, in our businesses and in our communities to tackle the effects of climate change and learn to live our lives more sustainably. Lyme Regis Town Council recently agreed its plans to aim for zero carbon by 2030. Turn Lyme Green with Plastic Free Lyme Regis and other local groups are continuing local projects and developing environment policies and action plans, At county level, Dorset CAN (Climate Action Network) provides a network of local groups to share experiences and campaign together. And this month is a last chance to have your say on Dorset Council's climate action strategy.(see details below). All this against the background of an increasing sense of urgency at national and international level in advance of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow next November. David Attenborough hopes for a brighter year in 2021 in his short message to 'The Perfect Planet'.
We plan to continue to inform you about various campaigns and information on a wide range of issues from electric cars and bikes to reducing waste and energy to retro-fitting your homes.
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ON YOUR BIKE!
Rob Smith, TLG supporter and local councillor, shares his latest blog...
It has always been possible, given enough gears and athletic endeavour, to bike around Lyme. But unless cycling is your thing, it’s not an attractive prospect.
Enter the e-bike – a bike with an electric motor to assist. When you pedal, the motor pushes too.  You still have to pedal the pedals, which means you still get health benefits – but the hills become less daunting.
You can select how much extra push the motor gives you – depending on how athletic you’re feeling, but impacting on how long the battery will last. For us, the e-bike opens up the possibility of cycling down and back to the shops, or cycling down to the beach and back, rather than doing these journeys by car.
E-bikes are in demand with prices starting at £1,200 for a new one. We converted a 23 year old mountain bike by the addition of a 250W motor, and a 250Wh battery. The kit was not only about half that price, but is good re-use of an otherwise great bike. An average adult produces 250W whist pedaling – so on full power, this is like having a buddy pedaling too. For general cycling, 250Wh is plenty of battery for a range of 20 miles or more, depending on how hard you’re cycling. However, climbing Lyme’s hills laden with shopping demands a lot from the battery – so I’m finding that a 250Wh charge is good for 2 assisted ascents. For a relaxed ascent up Lyme’s hills, consider a slightly more powerful system. E-bikes are available from most bike shops, including Colyford Cycle, Soanes Cycles in Colyton and Axcess Bikes in Axminster, who specialise in e-bikes.
An e-bike makes cycling around Lyme fun. It’s a great way to cut CO2, pollution, congestion and to get fit. Cycling with an electric motor seem like cheating – but e-bikes are better exercise than being daunted by the hills and taking the car instead.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP TURN LYME GREEN?
Would you like to volunteer with the team at Turn Lyme Green and Plastic Free Lyme Regis in this new year? We are working together with fantastic local projects to protect our environment locally and nationally. You will make new friends, use your expertise and help us to make a difference! Please get in touch with your ideas and hopefully as a new volunteer. Email or contact Jo Smith Oliver for more information.
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Based in Bridport, Seeding Our Future is leading the way in exploring all issues to do with land, growing and resilience in communities. Food Security is a key project in Bridport. Local organisations and individuals are invited "to explore how this community of 15,000 people in West Dorset could adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. This work is focussing on food security, with a number of initiatives underway, including Allotment Ambassadors to advise home growers, a ‘food hub’ to offer affordable cookery classes, information resources and more, support for local food poverty projects, and support to increase local production." There should be lots of learning and scope for sharing information and experiences for other communities. Their website is full of information. There is also a great newsletter - Bridport Food Security. You can join that mailing list on the website.
Transition Town Bridport is hosting an evening zoom of speakers and discussion on Tuesday, 12th January, 'Digging Deeper into Local Food'. It is free but registration for tickets is necessary. There might be some left. Follow this link.
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FREECYCLE is for everyone
It's a new year. Are you thinking of doing a clear out? Do remember Freecycle - a great place to post your 'offers' and it's for free. You can find a new home for things you don't need any more and avoid taking them to landfill.  And it works the other way round too. The offers cover a huge variety of items you might be looking for...baby stair gates, high chairs, roofing tiles, windows, carpets, furniture, plasterboard or parachutes. Always a good read!. It's a great community to be part of. Our closest groups are Bridport and Honiton. You can join one or both.. It's easy to sign up and you can arrange for daily emails as items are posted or a weekly digest summary of 'offers' and 'wants'.
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LYME REGIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT
A message from Cheryl Reynolds. " Greetings everyone. With the new lockdown in situ remember Community Support Volunteers are here to help you with shopping, prescription collection and help of any kind.  We work closely with Food Bank, Lyme Forward and other groups in Lyme Regis to provide help and support in many areas. Please do contact me direct if you need help. We are happy to help everyone. 01297 443814 or 07796074849 or E Mail: cherylreynolds1947@gmail.com
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FOOD BANK
The Food Bank opens each Wednesday at the Hub in Church Street,
10am - 12 noon.
 Collection boxes for the Food Bank are at Uplyme garage, Co-op Lyme Regis and Morgans in Charmouth. If you need any more information or would like to volunteer, please call Lisa or Mary on 07955 772314 or
07742 053736.
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CAR CLUB TRIAL - TRY IT OUT
Lyme Regis Council is supporting a car sharing scheme. Message from Belinda Bawden:
I'm talking to Co-Cars this week about the car club trial. We need 30 people to offer a £25 deposit for a six month trial with a Hybrid car based in the Woodmead Car Park.
Unfortunately, as my gmail no longer works, I might not have the details of those of you who have already offered to join us - please get in touch as soon as you can if you'd like to help us start a car-sharing club belinda.bawden@lymeregistowncouncil.gov.uk
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DORSET COUNCIL
Climate Emergency Strategy & Action Plan
LAST CHANCE TO COMMENT
It's your last chance this month to comment on the county proposals which includes an action plan to achieve its goal to be carbon neutral by 2040. The deadline is Wednesday 20th January.  One important comment is to press the council to bring forward their target date to 2030 to be in line with our local council and also the vast majority of others. Turn Lyme Green will be submitting comments. Please take a moment to send in yours. Online, you can use the consultation form. Tell them what you think! It's important to tell them you care and want them to get going on their action plans. Here is a shorter, snappier version of the survey which can easily be accessed using a smartphone:
Another request. Want Dorset to be carbon neutral by 2030? To emphasise the importance of reaching targets by 2030, Dorset CAN (Climate Action Network) has launched an online petition. You are urged to sign this petition.
DORSET CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK
Dorset CAN is taking off like a rocket - very well attended zoom meetings by people and organisations from all over Dorset,including many we know. The group is making its own submission to Dorset Council and will be setting up action groups to look at range of issues. Best of all, it offers a way to network, share experiences and campaign together. Meetings are open to all who want to learn more or contribute to solutions tackling climate change. Fun and inspiring!
Thurs, 14th January. 7.00-8.30pm
New Year 'Get to know each other' & Planning for 2021!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88482384651?pwd=NlVzNUxsVXZqajZlUndHWDJvSC8vdz09
They aim to provide inspiration and energy for a busy year of action ahead!
For more information you can email Dorset CAN
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THREAT TO BEES
ECO FILM-MAKER CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RESIST
POST-BREXIT LIFTING OF EU BAN ON BEE-KILLING PESTICIDES
Eco film-maker and organic farming champion, Robert Golden, is calling on the
Government to resist a push by UK farmers for the lifting of a pesticide ban whichcould mean a “spring slaughter” of honeybees in order to grow more of one of the world's most health-damaging foods, sugar. Mr Golden, from West Dorset, is also asking Sir David Attenborough and the Prime Minister’s fiancée, conservationist Carrie Symonds, to support a campaign for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [Defra] to reject any lobbying by the NFU, sugar beet farmers or sugar beet processor British Sugar for the EU ban on neonicotinoid pesticides to be lifted in post-Brexit Britain.
The pesticides were prohibited under EU law because they contribute to the decline of honeybees and other crucial pollinators. Click here to read more about this threat.
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