Events and News

Events - Sustainable Tiverton

Activities and events information, kindly provided by Sustainable Tiverton's newsletter.

Find more details for all these events at info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

Note our Community Fridge opening times:
Monday, Tuesday Thursday mornings 10-11.30am
Friday afternoon 1-2.30pm There will now be two volunteers at the start of each session when it is busiest.
Please remember our rule :
ONLY ONE VISIT PER DAY PLEASE

We can always do with more volunteers! Contact us through facebook or at info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

Phoenix House Phoenix Lane, Tiverton EX16 6SA

Day of Event	Event
Saturday 9.30am till 12 Noon	Share Shop
2nd and 4th Wednesday 10am-12noon	ECOE drop in for Energy advice
3rd Thursday 2pm-4pm	ECOE drop in for Energy advice

Other activities and locations:

Tuesday May 6th	Naturally Healthy May Local bat walk @ Exeter
Saturday 10th May	Repair Café @ Tiveton Library
Sunday 18th May	Naturally Healthy May Pop up Wildlife day @ Tarr Steps Exmoor
Tuesday May 20th	Naturally Healthy May Dawn Chorus Bird Walk @ Simonsbath Exmoor
Wednesday 21st May	Mid Devon Wildlife-Field trip. @ Dawlish Warren
Thursday 22nd May	Mid Devon Wildlife meeting @ Tiverton
Friday 23rd May	Rambler wellbeing walks, Leader Training @ Exeter Library
Friday 23rd May	Rambler wellbeing walks, Leader Training @ Barnstable Library
Sunday 25th May	Tidcombe Fen Working party am
Saturday 31st May	ReRooted cafe @ St Georges-am
Tues 27th May - Sat 31st May	Give or take @ Gold Street Tiverton

Further details and volunteering opportunities for all these events below, or later ones in the next newsletter.

Sustainable Tiverton Membership scheme

Become a member of Sustainable Tiverton CIC!

Sustainable Tiverton is a company limited by guarantee and like all companies is accountable to its members. Membership is open to everyone aged 16 or over who lives or works in, or within 15 miles of, Tiverton.
As a member you will get notice of our AGM and other general meetings, and be able to vote at these meetings, including the appointment of the Directors who run the company day to day. For a membership application form, please e-mail committee@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

Friends of Sustainable Tiverton

There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved in Sustainable Tiverton

Be a regular project volunteer for  Repair Café or  ReRooted,

Develop a new skill - become an equipment librarian for Shareshop, or learn to keep bees with  the Bee Group

Join in with one-off events such as Tree Planting Days
Become a member or friend
Get a friend involved!
Can you be a Sustainable Tiverton Director? We are looking at the skills we most need centrally - we would love to hear from people with skills to offer who can commit the regular time needed.

Look at individual project details for who to contact below, or get in touch at info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

NEWS FROM AROUND THE GROUPS.....

Share Shop is now open!

Shareshop Lending Sessions

Every Saturday 9.30am-12 noon

at The EcoHub, Phoenix Lane Tiverton

We have 200 items to choose from, and our website and online catalogue are now live at shareshoptiverton.org.uk
To borrow - visit the website and follow the links to become a member. Then browse our catalogue and reserve items on-line.

We now have lots of camping equipment and are checking it all at the moment - including tents, pans, sleeping bags, airbeds and camping mats, and even a camping toilet!

We also have some items for parties -reusable crockery, popcorn machine, cupcake stands, karaoke machine. We would love more items for children's or adult parties, equipment for visiting children or adults, and to add to our newly started 'newborn' section.

Bring your items for donation to us at the following times:

Fridays 10 - 1 pm at the Eco hub

Or take to next Repair Café @ Tiverton Library between 9.30 am and 12.30 pm.

Are you unsure if your item is suitable, or need larger items picked up? Email shareshoptiverton@gmail.com to discuss what you have or make different arrangements for donating.

Volunteers Needed

We always need more volunteers to train, and we are also collecting names of people who can step in occasionally when a rota volunteer has to cancel.

Email shareshoptiverton@gmail.com fill in our volunteer form.

Or chat to the team on a Saturday.

Skills Sharing and Re-purposing

Volunteers needed.
We would like to run practical community sessions on repurposing. We need skills in crafts, hand or machine sewing, woodwork, but most of all we need your ideas! Do you have something you have repurposed you can show to others to start them off? We are also collecting left over fabric in bright colours. To get involved, contact Gill at gillgale101@gmail.com, email shareshoptiverton@gmail.com . or call Catherine on 07763882955 to find out more.

Shareshop Volunteers needed!
Sign up to help at a Saturday session on our rota here volunteersignup.org/938Q7
We always need more volunteers to train, and we are also collecting names of people who can step in occasionally when a rota volunteer has to cancel. Email us at shareshoptiverton@gmail.com, fill in our volunteer form at https://shareshoptiverton.org.uk/volunteer-now/ or chat to us at a Saturday session.

Grow Plants to raise funds

We are looking for green fingered help to raise funds this spring - for Sustainable Tiverton and for Tiverton Library.

Can you start growing now for two plant sales in June? - with your help and care a few seed packets will grow into many plants.
The sales will take place on the first two Saturdays of June - there will be ways to drop the plants off before each sale - but please start growing now!

Give or Take May @ New location 26 Gold Street Tiveton

Tidcombe Fen SSSI

Tidcombe Fen Nature Partnership took over the tenancy of Tidcombe Fen on 1st March,

There is an active volunteer group managing this important site, and they would welcome help. You can find out more and contact them through their website www.tidcombefen.com

Monthly working parties are the last Sunday of the Month, from 10am until 1pm. Dates coming up:-

25 May, 29 June, 27 July, 31 August, 28 September, 26 October, 30 November

Please wear trousers, sturdy footwear, waterproofs, welly boots and bring a pole/stick for support and a drink/snack/ packed lunch if you want one.

Introducing Emily, Callum, Megan and Indi, the members of SASSY, our new Youth Team.

Picture of The Sassy Youth Team

With the help of grant funding they have organised fun sustainable-themed one off events for different groups of young people.

The SASSY team have been gathering young peoples opinions and concerns, and will be presenting these to councils and through the media. They hope their activities will attract many more young people who are Serious About Sustainable Society led by Youth

Following our pool night for 16-18 year olds @ West EXE Social Club, we organised a Sustainable Shake up Cocktails event for young adults age 18-30.

All idea for pop-up themes were linked to sustainability and come from young people and all were youth led. We aim to gently start conversations linking climate justice and local projects with young people's needs and Ideas.

We had A Generous grant from Devon Community Foundation which has made many activities possible. Plus a smaller grant from Lidl. Many thanks to all our supporters .

We are currently working on the results of our Vox Pop project and on preparing for BBC radio interviews and our presentation's to Local and District Council meetings.

We want young people's ideas about building a sustainable society to be listened to as widely as possible. Do come along when we make our presentations to council meetings this month.

Monday 25th November Town Council meeting @ Tiverton Town Hall @ 6.15pm.

Tuesday 26th November MDDC Environment meeting @ Phoenix House.

More details next time about our interview on BBC local radio and the results of our Vox Pop project. At the moment there is a funding application in as we have lots of ideas for 2025 too.

Update visit BBC sounds for the podcast series hosted by Sassy.

Friends of the River Exe

Friends of the River Exe have now established a Tiverton Citizen Science water testing group.

They recently had their first training session at Lowman Green in Tiverton run by Howard Cuthbert.

FORE is applying for more funding to continue the workers for this project and hopes to hear soon.

Sampford Peverell Bees

Shortly after the last newsletter went out, in that spell of really warm April weather, we opened up the hives for the first time this year. Always exciting for the beekeepers, (though not so much for the bees – they already know what’s going on) and this was a brilliant day, as we found eggs and larvae in each of the three hives, including the one with the very small colony that we had been afraid would not survive the winter.

We couldn’t find the queens, but we now know they are in there. So now we are adding supers (boxes of frames) on the top of each hive, to give the bees space to store the new honey, and the queen space to lay, so they won’t think about swarming.

If you are interested in joining the group contact us through info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk
Teresa

Talks to Groups

Would your club, church or community organisation members like to hear more about the work of Sustainable Tiverton?
We recently gave a well-received talk to Tiverton Civic Society, and are happy to talk to other local organisations, and also get their feedback on what we do.
To discuss having a talk for your organisation, please call Peter on 01398 332094 or email info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

The Naturally Healthy May initiative is led by Active Devon and Devon County Council on behalf of the Devon Local Nature Partnership. Taking part in outdoor activity in Devon’s green and blue spaces can enhance physical health, reducing risks like obesity and dementia, but also improve mental well-being, easing anxiety and boosting mood.

Here are some events in May in Exeter and on Exmoor run by Active Devon

May 6 – Exeter: Pips and Pints Local Bat Walk
May 18 – Tarr Steps: Pop Up Wildlife Day
May 20 – Simonsbath: Dawn Chorus Bird Walk

Visit https://www.exploredevon.info/ for tips on how to get around the naturally healthy way, and find events near you at www.devonconnect.org.

Rambler Wellbeing Walks leader training - Libraries Unlimited

Libraries Unlimited are offering free training to prospective volunteer walk leaders to bring communities together and share the joys of walking and being outside in nature. Learn more here. They have four training dates in May at various locations across Devon:

Exeter Library - 23 May, 10.00 -13.00
Barnstaple Library - 30 May, 10.00 -13.00

Email Tom.Mack@activedevon.org to register

Food Growing
Community Allotment Tiverton

If you are interested in joining the new food growing group email info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

Our volunteers have covered much of the allotment with weed suppressant, dug over some areas, and put up a fruit cage! We have money to buy some fruit bushes too.

If you can help as a volunteer or with materials, please email us at.

info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

Shared Use Exe Valley Path Group

Following our presentation, Tiverton Town Council have passed a motion supporting this project, and we will also be presenting to MDDC planning environment and sustainability committee. We recently responded to the DCC cycle path planning document noting lack of proposals around Tiverton

If you would like to join us in working for more sustainable transport contact us via info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

Shared use Exe Valley Path TTC have passed motion in support.

News from other organisations...

Uffculme Green Team News

Uffculme Community Fridge

Opening hours
9.30- 11.00 a.m. Monday-Friday

Uffculme Community Fridge container
Grounds of Uffculme Branch Surgery, Commercial Road. Contact us for more information on hello@uffcommfridge.org.uk Please come and help us stop food waste - this is a community fridge and larder which is open to all.

The only day we'll be closed over the holidays is Christmas Day 25^th December - otherwise a warm welcome (and some good food) awaits!

Tiverton Volunteer Litter pickers

Love Where You Live –

– Help Keep Tiverton Tidy

We start at 10am every 2nd Saturday in the month,

finishing by 11.30am

All equipment provided for litter picking
Contact: tivertonvolunteerlitterpickers@gmail.com, and come and join us.

Wildlife wardens

For details of all Wildlife wardens activities and events go to https://www.midevonwildlifewardenscheme.co.uk

Junior Wildlife Wardens

The Junior Wildlife Wardens Project is fundraising to work with more local schools. We are currently working with Siverton and Brampford Speke but hoping to add more school, the project encourages students to learn about, protect and inspire others to support the local environment.

Both Tiverton Tesco Stores will be running a blue token voting scheme to ern funds for the project in January onwards. If you shop in Tesco we would appreciate your support in voting for us through the blue token scheme to receive some more funding. If you would like more information about the project please contact Laura on plasticfreebampton@gmail.com

Net Zero Visions - Launch of new primary school murals

Halberton Primary School mural launch

Uplowman Primary School Mural Launch

Inspired by the Tiverton Net Zero Visions mural and supported by Plymouth University Net Zero Visions project, two village primary schools have worked with artists to produce their own Net Zero murals. Many thanks got to everyone involved in this inspiring project, led by Steph Packham and with hard work and enthusiasm from children, teachers and many community members. Above are the photos of the launch of the murals.

Energy Advice

Energy Outreach Project - Get 1-2-1 advice or book a presentation on saving energy

This winter we are working with Citizens Advice to meet individuals or households and provide invaluable energy advice that will help you or your community to save money and keep warm.

Along with this advice, our DCT Energy Champion Martin Rich is available to come to your community for a free community energy presentation to provide advice to people in your area. These can be held in community spaces such as public libraries or village halls. This is especially beneficial to the community if you are a Parish, District or County Councillor and want to address high energy costs.

If you would like to receive 1-2-1 advice or arrange a presentation, please contact martin@devoncommunities.org.uk or call 07984 001542.

You can also contact Martin if you need advice on undertaking energy audits, funding energy saving measures or other help with cost reductions. All events and advice are completely free. Further information may be found below, including any upcoming community events.

Find out more at https://www.devoncommunities.org.uk/projects/energy-outreach-project
Best wishes,Devon Communities Together

MID DEVON REGULAR FREE DROP IN ENERGY ADVICE CLINICS
Sustainable Tiverton Ecohub – Energy advice drop-ins

Wednesday mornings 4th week of the month, 10 – 12.00

Thursday afternoons 3rd week of the month. 2 - 4pm

Information on other ECOE drop in sessions can be found on https://www.ecoe.org.uk/healthy-homes-clinic-information/
On this site you will also find information on current grants and on retrofitting insulation.

Home visits are available to those eligible, and regular clinics are now being held across the area. https://www.ecoe.org.uk/healthy-homes-clinic-information/

Talks are available to community groups. If you'd like a talk for your local group or parish please contact ECOE as above.

Repair Café 10th May @ Tiverton Library

Drop in or pre-book a slot - email with details of the item needing repair to tivertonrepaircafe@outlook.com.

Bring electrical items, sewing, ornaments, toys - just get in touch if you are not sure

We need help with repairs, with refreshments, set up and greeting people. If you can help, call Gill on 07762 730847

Planet and People

Planet & People launches a new Planet Action Workshop for schools.
'There's No Place Like Home' is a fully-funded half day workshop that offers a positive and age-appropriate introduction to climate change that empowers students to create a better future for planet and people. It inspires students to co-create a book for your school to encourage others to act for the planet.
If you are a parent or teacher connected to a school in Devon that would benefit from these curriculum-linked (to take the pressure off teachers!) and well-respected environmental education workshops (we have reached over 9000 students since Nov 2021), please get in touch via hello@planetandpeople.co.uk. We work hard to fundraise to ensure that our workshops are accessible and available to all. We are very grateful for all donations given (via the 'donate' button on our website), please consider making a contribution as we bridge the gap in environmental studies in schools. We also support eco councils and committees through our Environmental Health check and can offer teacher training days. You can see more on www.planetandpeople.co.uk.

Community Action Groups Devon

CAG (Community Action Groups) Devon is an organisation which supports community projects to reduce, reuse, recycle, share, swap, mend and compost.

If you have a local project that you would like to start you can find useful information here
https://cagdevon.org.uk/doing-stuff

To sign up to their monthly newsletter and keep in touch with what is happening with other groups around Devon and get ideas for your community go to
https://cagdevon.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1df054a243851ef35de6d23ee&id=d857be1c51

Devon Climate Emergency

Are you interested in what's happening across Devon to make our lives more sustainable? For more information about the Devon Climate plan and latest news from Devon Climate Emergency, go to https://devonclimateemergency.org.uk/. You can also sign up to their ,mailing list to receive a regular newsletter.

Sustainability advice for businesses

Devon Climate Emergency also provides a range of tailored support to businesses to enable them to become carbon neutral and work in a low impact way. You can find information, and access to funded one - to one advice on their website at
https://devonclimateemergency.org.uk/resources-for-organisations/tailored-support/
Other resources for business support in Devon are shown below.
The Devon Local Nature Partnership business section helps direct businesses to advice and resources, particularly in the Devon context
https://www.devonlnp.org.uk/knowledge-hub/sustainability-at-work/
The Federation of small businesses has free advice here
https://www.fsb.org.uk/knowledge/fsb-infohub/small-business-sustainability-hub.html as well as offers for its members

The Devon Planet Action Partnership (DPAP) is a sustainability consultancy service for businesses run by Jess Carter to help them take action for the planet through a supportive and practical framework.
To find out more go to www.devonplanetactionpartnership.co.uk

Plastic free North Devon has set up The Sustainable Business Resource which works with small and medium size businesses to improve their sustainability - see https://www.thesbr.org.uk/

Plymouth and Devon Chamber of Commerce has some free advice as well as more information and support for their members.
https://devonchamber.co.uk/net-zero-directory/

Interested in Electric Carsharing?

I would like to hear from anyone in the Tiverton Area interested in starting a low scale electric car sharing scheme or willing to share their electric car, sharing costs.

I gave up my car in March 2019 to cut down my carbon footprint, and rely on an electric bike, public transport and many kind folks who give me lifts. I would like to be more mobile and flexible but am reluctant to go back to resource wasting individual car ownership. Sadly Co Cars in Exeter closed down last year and traditional car hire fees seem cost prohibitive.

Please contact me if you are interested at sallychapman81@gmail.com

If you can help with any of the activities shown in this Newsletter, get in touch direct with the project, or email Sustainable Tiverton at committee@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

CONTACT US
You can contact Sustainable Tiverton using this email link

‘Sustainable Tiverton is always keen to hear from people with new ideas they would like to share’

Our mailing address is:
info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk

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Find more details for all these events at info@sustainabletiverton.org.uk