Exeter Community Growers' Network newsletter

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Welcome to the second issue of ECGN newsletter, featuring bite-size news of greening and growing activities in Exeter to share. Our mailing list is growing. This month we highlight activity around bees, composting and an ECC initiative to reduce pesticide spraying. We also feature links to an exciting bee initiative in Plymouth. If you have something to share for upcoming issues, email us.

The illustration above is courtesy of local artist Christophe, who negotiated with Exeter City Council to keep a little area of wild garlic from being cut outside the Stoke Hill convenience store. Since then, Christophe has been identifying and photographing multiple species of bees visiting the small uncultivated patch. Christophe's intervention = positive community action for nature.

The hive and jar of honey above are from Exeter-based beekeeper Sam Gray. He tells us: 'Swarming season is upon us so I am very busy at the apiary! Even with the awful weather we’ve had in May, I’ve collected 6 clusters of bees around my apiary. Left out in prolonged bad weather, they can die of exposure or starvation so I check regularly. When I do discover a cluster, I shake them into an empty hive and feed them with sugar syrup to help them establish their wax combs. It’s a shame the weather has been so bad because this is normally peak nectar flow.'

P olle n ize, a beekeeping, membership-based community business in Plymouth, is playing a vital role in the city's bid to increase biodiversity and help bees in the city thrive. Watch this short (1.30 sec) video about their amazing work.
Image: Chris Parkes Photography

Did you know residents in Exeter are being given the chance to opt out of the second annual weed spray of the year of roads in Exeter to reduce the use of potentially–damaging chemical controls in the city?

The first spray commenced on 17 May and takes up to 28 days to finish. The second spray occurs in August.

Residents considering applying to opt out of the August spray must commit to maintaining part, or all, of their road, cul-de-sac, or street, depending on size.

They can do this either individually, or as part of a residential group.

Contact Exeter City Council Green Space team on 01392 262630, or email P&GS@exeter.gov.uk.

In the 2017 Devon County Council report on the composition of residential waste, it was revealed that a staggering 47.3% of Exeter's bins comprised of organic kitchen waste.With the recent news of how peatlands continue to be devastated for horticultural peat compost, it's time to focus on the wonderful benefits of composting for our soil's health, and keeping this precious resource out of landfill.

Whilst there is plans to introduce kerbside composting in Exeter, groups and individuals are getting active to tackle the problem. For example, local student Kiri, is bringing kitchen waste together from households on her street to supply local allotments on Prince Charles Way. if you would like to connect with Kiri, you can email the Community Builder here.

For locally sourced peat-free compost try The Compost Man
For a friendly Facebook group try Compost John's York Rotters.
Get a low cost compost bin from Exeter City Council here

For a really great first guide to composting, try this Devon Recycling webpage. It also features a wonderful short video from composting expert, Nicky Scott. What makes the video so good is Nicky's very clear demonstration of why it's important to get your compost mix of 'browns' and 'greens' right.

Please share this newsletter with your friends, neighbours and groups. We want to hear about ideas and stories; and promote opportunities and events - and anything else you want to talk about and share in relation to improving and celebrating our urban green environment. Email us here