Education and engagement are vital in tackling climate change. By providing knowledge and awareness about the environment, we empower individuals to make informed decisions and take meaningful action. Engaging people in the climate challenge fosters a sense of responsibility and collective effort, driving positive change for a sustainable future.
January’s Change Makers gathering will offer sustainability group leaders space to discuss using thermal imaging cameras as a tool in their community. We spoke with Dan Parnell, who has been using a thermal imaging camera with Sustainable South Brent (SSB) and will be speaking at the gathering, to get some insight in advance.
As we work to develop next year’s Assembly, focussing on Young People and Education, we’ve been learning from some wonderful exemplar projects. This month, a group from Sustainable South Hams visited the Harbour House Gallery in Kingsbridge to view the amazing exhibition by their young curators and to find out more about co-creating with young people from Dr Beth Richards, who headed up the project.
Building on June’s conversation around Scaling Earth Resources, the November Change Makers’ Meeting introduced a series of community composting projects currently in development by Sustainable South Hams, in partnership with Devon Community Composting Network and South Hams District Council.
We aim to increase awareness of environmental issues amongst residents, Councils, businesses & other organizations from the Dartmouth Cluster of communities. We have launched a website forum, responded to the Dartmouth Neighbourhood Development Consultation, linked up with existing local sustainability groups and are developing publicity material for distribution to organizations, businesses & individuals. We meet fortnightly on Zoom, and new members are very welcome - email Sune to join.
Supporting nature-friendly gardens and households; talks/discussion programme; supporting management of churchyards & playing fields for nature; Fruit Corner (community fruit trees/wildflowers); micro tree nursery; seed/plant exchange stall; Sow Grow Show food growing project; Give & Take reuse & exchange day; engagement with local school; supporting river monitoring.
Ugborough's citizen science project uses the iNaturalist app to record wildlife
Hope Cove and Soar Mill beach cleans and beach surveys with SMASH
Devon Living Churchyards Project encourages churches to support wildlife