Greener Teign July 09 - December 2010 Report from the Chair

During the publicity about the Copenhagen Climate Summit some of us were inspired by the 350 campaign to look in to the possibility of a climate action group here. Our first meeting on 30^th July 2009 was to ascertain whether there would be support for the 350 Global Day of Action, essentially a worldwide awareness raising event. We had a good turn out and vigorous backing: it was decided to form an unaffiliated association and Greener Teign’s constitution was adopted on 12th August 2009. Its aims are

· to undertake activities within the Teign Valley and its surroundings which reduce carbon emissions

· to raise awareness of climate change, and the need to adapt to its effects, among the people of the Teign Valley and its surroundings

· to lobby for action to reduce climate change.

We had a stall at the Christow Show that August and also in August 2010.

We currently have 120 members on our mailing list.

Our first event was the film The Age of Stupid in September in the Great Barn at Ashton. In early October participation in the 2 Moors Low Carbon Festival enabled us to obtain a grant from DNP providing the wherewithal for publicity materials and a giant 350 flag. The flag was carried up to Haldon Belvedere by horse and the accompanying cavalcade involved local children, horse riders and cyclists. The flag flew for 10 days. Mid Devon Advertiser and Express & Echo ran stories and pictures.

The choice of dance as the focal point for 350 day enabled us to request something specific of the schools. Although the secondary school, Teign, was eventually unable to participate in the dancing their link teacher provided helpful points of contact and a display board of material for 24^th October. One of our members had experience as a choreographer and dance co-ordinator and taught children from 3 of the primary schools the “350 dance” which was performed on the parish field. Each of the primary schools also contributed artefacts they had worked on. Dunsford Year 1 made a lovely hanging globe surrounded by paper hands with pledges written on them. Hennock put together a video from their project on “Taking Care of our World”, (this was also shown inside the Belvedere whilst the flag was flying). Christow produced art work around the theme of the Catlin Arctic Survey and showed the professional videos which had inspired them.

Doddi school made stunning 350 banners, an eco scarecrow and produced illustrated CO2 reducing slogans which went up on lollipop sticks around the field on 24^th Oct. Ann Daniels spoke and it was moving to be part of the 5 200 similar actions taking place right around the world on that day. Greener Teign’s 350 event headlined, albeit briefly, Spotlight’s 6 pm news. Reviews were written for Christow News and Unity, pictures appeared on Bridford’s website. Express and Echo ran a story.

A small group of Doddi school children were able to visit our MP with us to hand over photographs of the day and ask him questions. This same eco-club has continued to meet and has been working on a waste reduction plan for the school. Their efforts have been recognised by an award from Teignbridge. Greener Teign contributed with a striking poster display to the school’s ceremony on May 14^th when Jonathon Porritt formally opened their LEAP building. The Headmistress has requested GT’s help in replacing their heating system with something more sustainable and the complex process of getting energy audits, feasibility studies and grant applications has begun. It should help that we have established a good relationship with Devon Association for Renewable Energy, DARE. Less helpful are the new financial arrangements schools are struggling with and the additional pressure on teacher time.

On 4th December 2009 Greener Teign had a small presence both at The Wave, the huge march in London on which a number of Christian groups joined forces with environmental groups, and later in the month at the vigil for climate action on Cathedral Green in Exeter where unfortunately the flag was stolen.

During the autumn of 2009 we were approached by Community Council of Devon with a view to our participation in a Weather History Project. Shane Edgar and Maggie Bonnell put in a proposal and in 2010 obtained a grant to enable research on this to take place. It was hoped that the end product would be something local people could access. Vanessa attended the conference which showcased the project to the Lottery Heritage Fund and presented on behalf of Greener Teign.

We were asked by the newly formed Teign Scout groups if we would be willing to collaborate with them on their individual environmental awards. This has not yet borne fruit but may do so when they are more established.

Greener Teign was invited to join Dartmoor Circle Ltd, a network of Climate Action Groups and businesses, who have been developing a Low Carbon Plan for Dartmoor. The steering group discussed the plan and fed back comments. The network members plan to meet annually. At their first meeting on February 18^th 2010 Adrian was asked to be one of the directors as a representative of Greener Teign. DC Ltd are currently setting up an Industrial & Provident Society for financing community renewable energy projects.

We have a loose group discussing the feasibility of various co-operative renewable energy generation schemes here – hydro, wind, photo-voltaic and biomass/woodland management. Our links with Dartmoor Circle should make finding out about and applying for the necessary grants easier. Our website, www.greener-teign.org.uk provides some information on the economics and feasibility of installing domestic renewables. We arranged for TVCH to have a free energy audit from DARE. The National Park Authority expressed enthusiasm and DARE’s report indicated that there were worthwhile carbon and cost savings to be made, but the TVCH committee remain concerned about risk. Work remains to be done on this front.

For the 350 Global Work Party on 10^th October this year 350.org joined forces with the 10:10 campaign calling the day 10:10:10. The aim was both to encourage people to reduce their energy consumption by 10% during the year 2010 and to highlight actions promoting sustainability. All four local schools were keen to support this in different ways. In the event Doddi and Hennock, normally stalwarts, were prevented by illness and by Hennock’s Apple Day falling on the same date from participating on the date itself. However both these schools are making progress with monitoring energy usage and with planning improved insulation. Christow and Teign School both made valuable contributions to GT’s main event which was an Eco Fashion Workshop and Show. There was a full and accurate report of this in Christow News written by Rosie Gibson, a year 12 pupil at Teign. She also had a similar illustrated article published in the Mid Devon Advertiser.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the event was the effectiveness of collaboration between a number of different sections of the community. The Embercombe team invited us to use their Centrefire Hall supplying us with a wonderful venue. DNP offered us financial support with a grant of £1170; Teignbridge District Council’s Recycling Department helped with publicity and gave us contacts with organisations in Leeds and London who were able to offer advice on this kind of event. Young Devon provided a designer, models and a facilitator. Tiverton High brought a team of 2 teachers and some keen textile students. Teign and Christow Schools provided creative & modelling input; CCANW brought along their highly informative road-show; two young women with connections to the Valley organised the make-up. Many people donated clothes and jewellery. Becky Wells who knows the Valley well from her garden design work did an amazing job of catwalk management. Vanessa Miles once again produced stunning photos for the website. The individual dressmakers and models really spanned the generations as we had hoped they would and, as the photographs prove, worked and had fun together.

Mollie Lemon, a year 12 textile student from Ashton, who brought along one of her designs and who refashioned clothing on the day and Clarise Burrows from Young Devon who helped and modelled, accompanied Mary Roddick, to Plymouth during half term for a Radio Devon interview on Fitz’s Interactive Lunch. They were very convincing about the need for the fashion industry and for consumers to take sustainability seriously and minimise its detrimental impact on the environment. They also both enjoyed it and felt it boosted their confidence in speaking up for their convictions.

Greener Teign as an organisation has packed a lot into the 16 months of its existence. Obviously there have been gaps. We cover a wide area and it is far from easy to find times when members can get together. The original steering group was composed of very busy people, some of whom were clear from the outset that their input was time limited. Briony Falch, Jan Deane and Jan Williamson have all had to resign due to other commitments and lack of time. Our 2 co-opted steering group members are currently unable to participate and will be reconsidering later next year. We’d like some new steering group members and we definitely need to elect a new secretary tonight.

We also need to be realistic and one question the steering group have to consider is how to manage our energies. Maybe fewer evening meetings? Maybe more low key opportunities to meet and discuss around a film or a talk? Maybe smaller groupings supporting a school energy conservation project?

Mary Roddick. Chair.

mary@greener-teign.org.uk