This priniciple is about protecting and restoring land for the benefit of people and wildlife.
For example: habitat protection / creation, responsible sourcing of materials, global protection of ecosystems, biodiversity audits / surveys, reforestation, carbon sequestration, anything else we thing is important
One Planet Goals for land and nature:
- A positive contribution to local biodiversity and wildlife corridors
- Maximise carbon sequestration in the soil and biomass
- Maximise synergies between agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and carbon storage
- Enhance 'ecosystem services' such as clean water and air
- Engage people in recognising the value of nature, including its value to human health
Are there any issues or goals specific to Bruton?
What is Bruton doing already?
Who can contribute to this?
What more can we do?
Comments
Here's a brief summary of what we talked about:
Issues
Reconnecting people with nature
Involving children
Re-learning about nature as adults
Learning about wildlife gains and losses
Pollinators
Leaving areas to be wild (natural regeneration)
Leaving areas to die back naturally (providing shelter & food for wildlife over winter)
Badger cull (is it happening around here? - Police costs incurred for the badger cull in Avon and Somerset during 2018 amounted to £446,642.11. In 2017 it was £582,154 and in 2016 it totalled £700,303.36.)
Peat-free compost
Pesticides
Ecocide (Note: Stroud has just become the first Earth Protector Town)
Tree planting, saplings and seeds
Avoid trapping insects
Possible actions
Tree planting on town council land
Tree guardians
Tree seed collecting (23 Sept to 23 Oct) - add to BrueCREW walk on 5 October. Meet at 10am at stepping stones, Saturday 5 October)
Licensed hemp field (used for fabric, rope, food..., uses less water and inputs than cotton )
Involve Urquhurt and Hunt (landscape architects, ecological restoration, Selwood Forest project)
Involve Mill on the Brue
Pollinator awareness initiatives - fancy dress, walk (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-and-wild-places/saving-spec... and https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/p...)
Extending the flowering season for pollinators (If you want to see how great ivy is for wildlife, walk down Tolbury Lane from St Catherine's Hill. The ivy on the wall on the right is teeming with insects on the flowers.)
Celebrating and reconnecting with nature
Information / notices about specific plants and weeds (e.g. host plants for butterflies https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/ga...)
Quarterly A5 leaflet with what to do in the garden now, advice, suggestions for presents (plants / trees)
Promote peat-free (apart from Moorland Gold which uses peat reclaimed from reservoir filters)
Nature crafts: bramble baskets, willow activities
Capture stories about Bruton's nature (Beeches of Bruton)
Documenting nature (photo stories)
Visit exhibition at Bristol museum (blindfolds around species that have gone extinct https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/14/museum-shrouds-...)
Wildlife gardening talk
Scything not mowing or strimming
Open gardens trail featuring wildlife gardens and food growing
Organic seeds and bulbs
Pesticide-free town status (PAN UK - https://www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free/)
Next steps
Explore tree planting options
Article about sapling and tree seed collecting and sowing in October Dove
Explore Pesticide-free town status
Discuss possible projects at OPB monthly meeting.
There'll be other opportunities to suggest ideas and develop projects.
Positive biodiversity trends
Soil quality is conserved and improved, and managed for optimum carbon sequestration
Showcase sustainable agriculture and landscape scale biodiversity
Citizens are given opportunities to have positive experiences of nature & appreciation of nature and its value to human health
More birds, bees and beavers; Re-wilding programme
CHALLENGES
Legislation
Natural farming techniques
Intensive farming
Pesticides, insecticides, synthetic fertilisers, fungicides peddle death
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BRUTON NOW?
BrueCREW
Somerset Wildlife [Trust]
Eco development - CUBIS [green roofs]
42 Acres rewilding project
Bruton Trust Fishponds
Duck pond clearing
Some organic producers
Organic shop
FUTURE ACTIONS TOWARDS PRINCIPLE
Biodigester
Community compost
Recycling
Grow biodynamic
Bee / insect corridors
Bruton education / internet
Wormery
Re-wilding
Community garden
Tree planting
Organic gardening education
Education notice board
More hedges
Tree planting on parish land & private land
Plant wildflower seeds
Hanging baskets for wildflowers
Coffee grounds initiative