The lockdown has cocooned us at home once more, but we can still make a difference!
Here are two things you can do this month to benefit our local community:
1. Respond to Dorset Council's Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy Consultation and utilise our User-Friendly Guide to make it easier.
2. Sign our petition in partnership with Dorset CAN to lobby Dorset Council to go carbon neutral by 2030 and inject more urgency into the Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.
Sign the petition now
Pour yourself a cuppa and get ready to soak up all the news and positive actions from local groups that you can get involved with. Seizing every opportunity to rebuild a better future in 2021 starts here!
With over 100 people regularly attending our Zoom Get-togethers and with over 300 members and new people joining us every day the Planet Purbeck movement is really gathering momentum.
Join us and experience the great feeling of working with other people who share your drive, passion, and commitment to create a future where our community has: Cleaner Air, More Wildlife & Wild spaces, Less Traffic, Energy & Food Independence & a Thriving Green Economy and Purbeck as "THE" Destination for Sustainable Tourism!
How do you join us? It's simple, just click HERE.
Our next Zoom Get-together will be announced soon. Watch this space.
Thank you all for your support and energy. Let's keep up this momentum, 2021 is going to be such an important year for our movement!
- Rob Waitt Core Team & Events Coordinator
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The Planet Purbeck Festival 25th-26th Sept 2021
I am focussing my attention as part of a highly experienced team to get the Plant Purbeck Festival off the ground. However, because of the uncertainty we currently face due to covid-19 we've decided to scale back our plans this year but we're still committed to doing something fun for the community in the Autumn. I'll be arranging a brainstorming session on the 23rd March 7.00 - 8.30pm to gather alternative ideas, more information to follow soon.
- Doug Skinner Festival Coordinator
Media Team
Planet Purbeck needs YOUR help to grow the movement and raise awareness of the local issues on our doorstep
Please follow us on social media, invite your friends to like /follow us and share our posts!FacebookInstagramTwitter
If you have an event or any information you'd like us to share on the website or via social media please email us with your text and images.
Email us
We're in the news! Check out our first piece of press coverage in the Daily Echo HERE.
- Dean Storer Media Coordinator
Legal & Finance
To help enhance the credibility of Planet Purbeck, and to manage legal/commercial liabilities associated with events such as the 2021 Festival, a company to be called Planet Purbeck CIC (Community Interest Company) is being set up, with seven Directors.
- Steve Hutchings Coordinator
Lobbying Team
Our main focus has been responding to and publicising the Dorset Council Climate Emergency Strategy.
James Mercer submitted an excellent response in the form of a letter to the Dorset Council CEE Strategy Consultation on behalf of Planet Purbeck, with contributions from the whole team. You can read a copy of the letter HERE.
We produced a Change.org petition to lobby Dorset Council to inject more urgency into the CEE strategy by bringing forward the target date for Zero Carbon in the DC's operations to 2030 from 2040 and to assist the whole of the DC area in becoming Zero Carbon by 2040 rather than 2050. Please sign and share!
In order to help individuals to respond to the consultation, we published a ‘User-Friendly Guide’ for the online response form. It enables you to read several possible statements to each section and utilise them to make your own selection.
Complete the DC online response form HERE.
View our User-Friendly Guide HERE.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed to the user-friendly guide.
- Helen Sumbler Coordinator & Ian Duckworth
Land Use Team
Updates coming soon!
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On the 5th Jan Corfe Castle Parish Council Environment Group hosted an empowering People's Assembly. The first event of it's kind for Dorset Parish Councils!
Over 60 people turned out for the meeting via Zoom. The Assembly was held to discuss Dorset Council’s proposed Strategy & Action Plan on the Climate & Ecological Emergency. You can read a full write up of the event HERE.
Save the date 21st Jan for our next Corfe Environment Group meeting focusing on what actions we can all take as individuals.
- Josephine Parish, Helen Sumbler & Luke M Luke
Contact: corfecastlepc@aol.com
The Secret Meadow
The secret meadow... With huge thanks to the National Trust, the community of Corfe is being granted permission to re-nature a substantial field ideally located between the village & the common. A well-sized project that will further empower Corfe's community to deepen its connection with nature. It’ll bring us together & inspire a small but noisy rabble of villagers to think big! More info coming soon.
- Luke M Luke
Contact lukemluke@gmail.com
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PTAG has now received inputs for a Purbeck Transport Plan from most Parish and Town Councils.
The plan will focus on environmental, safety, and health problems and propose active travel and public transport solutions. In the meantime, PTAG is supporting villages that want to introduce 20 mph limits.
How can you support this?
Share your feedback and support for the plan when it is put out for consultation (Feb/March 2021)
- Nick Ward Chairman
Contact nick.ward@myphone.coop
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We develop climate and ecological education for Dorset Schools, community groups, and businesses
Working with local youth climate groups (Get in touch!)
We'll be hosting bioblitz/local ecology education workshops (more news to follow) and mapping trees around Leeson House and their carbon content.
Visit our Website and follow us on Twitter.
- Peter Boorman Field Studies Tutor
peter.boorman@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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Starlings are starting to murmur at Little Sea… aim for dusk, walk from the Discovery Centre along the seaward shore of the lake. Only a few hundred at the time of writing but with some colder weather more may join the flock.
Can you help reduce people being in the wrong place with the wrong vehicle? Any time you can give to checking that directions to the popular landmarks are directing people to park and walk from the most appropriate locations will be welcome. You can do this by seeing how far off-road you can be directed following Google Maps or similar. If we have many eyes and reports hopefully the maps will be updated, giving our visitors across Purbeck the right information that stops them from ending up in the wrong place.
- Tom Clarke National Trust Community Engagement Officer for Purbeck
Contact Tom.Clarke@nationaltrust.org.uk
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Members of LPA have been actively involved with creating and progressing Planet Purbeck and Dorset CAN. We plan to continue networking with other local environmental groups and we will support and encourage local resilience, genuine sustainability, and regeneration of nature and wildlife. Here's an update on a couple of recent projects:
1. LPA renewable energy group met with Purbeck Energy Group and with a Solar/PV local provider in November- outcome from meeting LPA will be progressing Transition/Solar Streets.
2. LPA Members have inputted into Planet Purbeck response and have independently responded to the DC CEE consultation.
- Collette Drayson
Contact collettedrayson@gmail.com
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St George’s School in Langton now has a Forest School. The Forest School meets in the community woodland and orchard adjacent to the school field. This term the Year 3/4 class has been exploring the wood, playing games, enjoying craft activities, and learning how to light fires safely using fire steels. Every class in the school will enjoy Forest School adventures in 2021.
- James Mercer
Contact jamesjmercer@me.com
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After an enforced break due to lockdown II, Swanage Beach Buddies resumed their Sunday morning beach cleans on December 6th. 14 volunteers carried out a socially distanced clean up removing 73.5kg of rubbish from the beach. As I am sure you will have anticipated, the Town Council has advised suspending our beach cleans until further notice. If you wish to join this group at a beach clean and help clean up a little bit of our planet when it's safe again to do so please contact us.
- Dave and Sally Pratten
Contact: swanagebeachbuddies@gmail.com or tel: 07974 399887
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The Purbeck Energy Group will hear back from Swanage Town Council about Solar Streets after their January council meeting and hope to be able to present plans at the Sustainable Swanage Open Meeting in March. In January we will apply with Dorset Community Energy for funding for a feasibility study for Energy Local Clubs on Purbeck.
- Lucinda Neall Founder
Contact: lucinda@neallscott.co.uk
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An important recent focus for CPRE Poole & Purbeck has been working on the Main Modifications to the proposed Dorset Council Purbeck Local Plan. The content of an adopted Local Plan is of huge significance for future planning, which is why open and transparent consultations are so important to make "informed and sustainable decisions". We now await due clarification of the subsequent procedures, initially from the Independent Planning Inspector. This is inspiring evidence of what happens when environmental and community groups come together.
Purbeck & Poole Group of Dorset CPRE.
- Gerald Rigler Chairman Purbeck & Poole Group CPRE
Contact: gerald.rigler@gmail.com
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Swanage Town Council approved the Environment Action Plan on 14th December 2020.
We have applied for grant funding from SALIX to undertake an energy efficiency report and implementation. At present we're still waiting on the result. The proposed Council budget for 2021-22 includes a wide range of expenditures focused on environmental improvements across all departments.
Sustainable Swanage Open Meeting taking place Tuesday 27th January to focus on STC’s Action Plan.
- Culvin Milmer Visitor Services Manager
Contact: c.milmer@swanage.gov.uk
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As part of Durlston’s ongoing work to minimise our impact on our climate, later this winter, we will be taking delivery of our first electric chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and other power tools. Over the next few years, we will be ‘retiring’ our petrol tools as they reach the end of their life, and replacing them with electric versions. Find out more about our sustainability policy HERE.
Durlston’s winter habitat management work is in full swing – over 3,000 species have been recorded at Durlston over the years, making it one of the richest areas in the UK for wildlife. Keep up to date with the latest sightings with the Ranger’s Diary which we have written every day since 1976 and is uploaded every morning HERE.
- Alistair Tuckey Durlston Ranger
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Next open meeting Weds 27th Jan 7.00pm
Our next Open meeting: will be held on Wednesday 27th January at 7pm. We'll be talking about ‘environmental action plans’ and how we can all respond to the Climate and Ecological crisis. Swanage Town Council will be presenting their newly formed plan and offering a chance for people to ask questions.
Greening project updates: We'll continue tree planting, develop wildflower meadow areas, and develop ideas and plans for further sites for next winter 2021/2022. Exciting projects developing this year including the proposal to declare the Peveril Downs as a Local Nature Reserve. There will be many opportunities for people to be involved so do get in touch.
Energy update: We're continuing to work on developing 2 new projects to help local people access renewable energy – more details coming soon.
Active Travel: We're developing a vision for active travel to encourage and enable the community to make more use of active travel and reduce car use.
Visit our website HERE. and follow us on Facebook ,Twitter and Insta.
- Sarah Spurling
Contact: sarah.spurling@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
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Tues 19th Jan 7:30 - 8.30pm
Respond to the event HERE
What is a Green New Deal and how can supporters in Dorset help make it a reality? Help us campaign for climate, jobs, and social justice.
Everyone is welcome to join our second meeting for the Green New Deal in Dorset. The Green New Deal is an ambitious national plan to tackle the climate and ecological emergency while creating a fair society that works for everyone. In this meeting we will be discussing two main points:The Green Jobs CampaignWhat a GND could mean for Dorset.
Whose Media? Our Media? Tues 9th Feb 4:00 - 6.00pm
Respond to the event HERE and follow on social media HERE.
We'll be looking at how we can build an alternative citizen-led media in Dorset to provide a voice for community action and those ignored by mainstream media. We’re also asking for links to other media outlets and inviting them to contribute if they are interested.
- Mark Chivers Founder
Contact: info@zcd.org.uk
Despite all the challenges in 2020, at Operation Future Hope we continued to grow and develop conservation work in schools. Fortunately, the Julia Hailes rewilding project provided us with vital funding which enabled our Conservation School Award scheme to continue throughout the year.
We completed work on the Big Hug Wildlife garden at St. Andrew’s Primary School in Yetminster, this involved converting a disused swimming pool into a restorative garden for the children and wildlife alike.
In November we created two new wildflower meadows, one at The Gryphon School in Sherborne and one at King Arthur’s School in Wincanton.
Finally, we ended the year by starting the process of woodland restoration at the Digby Boarding House at Sherborne School, this project will continue in 2021.
We have plans to convert a disused football pitch at Milborne Port Primary School into a wildflower meadow this year.
This year we are focused on expanding our network of schools in the award scheme and very much hope that Bryanston School and several state schools in Blandford will be able to join the scheme.
We are optimistic and always seeking out new opportunities to continue our work to restore nature and help young people to reconnect with nature wherever and whenever we can.
- Lesley Malpas CEO and Founder
lesley.malpas@operationfuturehope.org
https://www.operationfuturehope.org
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Reading/listening/learning this month
Reading Dorset Green Living Project - The Green Living Guide
Reading Kate Raworth - Doughnut Economics
Listening to an inspiring podcast about behaviour change and how habits stick -Neuroplasticity and Behaviour Change
Taking part in giki zero - cut a tonne in 21
Reading CPRE - Litter In Lockdown Report
Listening to David Lammy's Oct 2020 Ted Talk - Climate Justice Can't Happen Without Racial Justice
Watching BBC One Series - A Perfect Planet - With David Attenborough
Listening to the Climate Curious Podcast - refreshingly hosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst as they lift the lid on the climate emergency aimed at listeners outside of the eco echo chamber.
Purbeck Planet Is Here To Help YOU!!!
Get your message out to Purbeck residents
If you're part of an organisation or a local group, this is YOUR opportunity to get your message out to Purbeck residents, network and help achieve your goals, Planet Purbeck is here to help!
Thinking about environmental issues can be daunting and sometimes leave you feeling helpless and overwhelmed, but working on this newsletter really lifted my spirits! I've really enjoyed getting to know so many passionate people who are committed to making a change in our community. I'm sure I'm speaking for everyone when I say how much I can't wait for the lockdown to pass so we can get outdoors in time for the arrival of Spring in the stunning Purbecks!
Together We Are Stronger
Thank you for reading
Heidi Florence and the Planet Purbeck Team Copyright © 2021 Planet Purbeck, All rights reserved.
If you'd like to be included in our next newsletter or have any feedback please contact:
media@planetpurbeck.org
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