We desperately need some good news and here it is! Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds have finally been banned. This came into effect on 1st October 2020 and is a brilliant step towards reducing the use of single use plastics. There is a host of alternatives, such as bamboo and metal that can be bought easily online or local shops that promote environmentally friendly products.
Dorset Council has published its draft Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan and wants to hear from individuals and organisations. We would like to encourage everyone to give their views using the online form and you can find the full document on the county web site. It is broken down into sections, including renewable energy, buildings, food and drink, transport, waste and water. The closing date is 20th January 2021. Turn Lyme Green will be sending a response to the proposals.
There are other ways you can find out more and voice your opinions. Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) has recently been formed as an umbrella organisation for a host of environment groups in the county. Its first task is gathering views on the county consultation. TLG will be sharing its views with them.
Also Peoples Assemblies are being organised in November. They are holding 4 assemblies to get as many people as possible to attend: Sat 21st, Mon 23rd, Wed 25th and Thurs 26th. Detail from the Dorset Action web site. They write, “The consultation is our chance to tell the Council what we think of the action plan.”.
Our November newsletter is now out. A variety of topics, featuring ‘How and Why to Reduce Period Plastic’… and including ‘Stop Discharging Raw Sewage into our Seas and Rivers’, car share opportunity and films to watch.
Check out our October newsletter, featuring information on how to change your energy supplier to one offering green renewable energy to your home.
Volunteers needed for a number of projects.. see if any of these interest you. We are always happy to provide more information and welcome you.
URGENT Act by Friday 9th October !!!
Are you a customer of Southwest Water? Act now, apply for your FREE share in the company and have your say about how they deal with sewage coming into our seas and rivers.
Anyone paying their water bill to SW Water should have received a letter from them saying we can have a say . You get a free share – to use that share as a shareholder and therefore be entitled to vote and as a shareholder make your complaint to them about sewage in our seas and rivers. More details here from Surfers Against Sewage.
How to register for your share
On the main letter on the back page is your customer number and access code. You will need your National Insurance number too. They ask for your bank details to pay any dividend – this is normal and must be provided.
Then go here: Two parts to fill in – on the Date of birth – double click on the year on the calendar and it’s much quicker to fill in.
We only have until 9th October to claim our voting rights. Go to the Southwest Water web site.
What a great opportunity to make ourselves heard!
TLG and Plastic Free Lyme welcomed the Council’s consideration of a range of actions tackling environment issues at the Council’s recent meeting. Members approved a host of recommendations to support their decision to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. These included a training programme for councillors and staff led by Councillor Belinda Bawden. A report on the meeting is in Lyme Online.
There is much to be done and TLG is supporting projects to protect our environment. New members and expertise and interest are always welcome. Please get in touch with your ideas and hopefully as a new volunteer to help.
Email enquiries@turnlymegreen.co.uk
It continues to be so important to use your own refillable cups and water bottles. Yes, some shops were hesitant about refilling in the early months of covid, but most now do this gladly, supporting your efforts to re-use and avoid single-use plastic.
We are proud that so many local cafes and kiosks in Lyme support Refill, the popular national scheme. There is a mobile app which you can use to find a local shop taking part in the scheme started by City to Sea. Over 23,000 businesses are now members. Remember, you don’t have to make a purchase – each retail member is keen to show how they are doing their bit to protect our environment.
There is a great video on Plastic Free Lyme Regis’ site showing how this can be done.
a variety of topics, including where to find cloth reusable masks locally.
Our latest newsletter is out, featuring Rob Smith’s blog post – It’s time to write to your MP about a Green New Deal; Shop Locally; a range of local producers to support and how you can still use your refill cup for coffee in cafes… ‘Coffee a Go Go’.
Friday 25th – Monday 28th October
The Malthouse Gallery, Town Mill, Lyme Regis
Guitars on the Beach
Saturday 19 June
This year GOTB is going green!
And Turn Lyme Green and Plastic Free Lyme Regis are joining in.
Come and visit our stand.
Enjoy the music.
Bring your guitar and join in with the Sand Band.
Find out more here: https://guitarsonthebeach.com/
The Green Weigh, Bridport’s Plastic Free shop will be bringing its wares to Charmouth and Lyme Regis on a weekly basis at the following two permanent pitches;
Mondays
9.30-12pm in Charmouth, trading from the layby at the bottom of town
12.30-3pm – Lyme Regis Football Ground
A message from Green Weigh –
“Bring any containers to fill or help yourself to our recycled jars (and donate your old ones), purchase draw string cloth bags or, if all else fails, there’s paper bags.
We sell loose dry foods, oils and vinegars, household cleaning product refills and personal care products and our prices are cheaper than supermarkets! Win win!”
Marine Theatre – 7.00pm
Tickets from Lyme Regis TIC (01297 442138) or online from the Marine Theatre website
We are fortunate to have this event here on our doorstep! Through film, talks, facts, and discussion 4 speakers will share how they have observed, recorded, advised, and broadcast the effects of plastic, climate change, over-fishing and pollution on our seas. Hear and see what they have done to change attitudes and the actions they’ve taken. Lyme Regis sits overlooking Lyme Bay – there is a wealth of sea-life and wonders on its doorstep. Find out how you can help preserve it for future generations.
Marine Conservation: our shore and sea need protecting both locally and globally – come and see what we have & how it’s being achieved. Plastic Free Lyme Regis will be there with tips for reducing the plastic that we use.
Speakers:
DAVID JONES – the founder of Just One Ocean, an environmentalist, media diving specialist, cameraman and ocean plastic consultant. David has worked with David Attenborough, Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle. His work includes the award winning documentary film A Plastic Ocean and for the BBC.
WILLIAM THOMPSON – an explorer, paddle boarder, graphic artist, mapmaker, and author of The Book of Tides, The World of Tides and Tide Walker. William has featured in The Daily Telegraph, on the BBC, and in The Scotsman.
MORVEN ROBERTSON- a UK Project Manager at Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve facilitated by the Blue Marine Foundation. Morven works with locals, fisherman, and organisations caring for the sea.
ANNE BAKER – Scientist, Educator and Ocean Advocate. In 2014, with other scientists, Anne took part in eXXpedition gaining first hand observation of the significant challenge of ocean plastic pollution seen whilst sailing across the Atlantic and around the British Coast. She developed an in-depth understanding of the impact of plastic on our planet, the oceans, and our health. She gave such an inspiring talk at Eva Fahle Clout’s art exhibition in June and we are pleased she returns to Lyme for this evening.
‘The Magical Moths of Dorset’ – Paul Butter will share his knowledge and enthusiasm about moths found in Dorset. Royal Lion Hotel. Lyme Regis. 7.15 for 7.30pm. More details to follow.
£5 in advance; £7 on the door
Tickets available at the TIC Lyme Regis (01297 442138) or online from the Marine Theatre website.
Dr Kate Baker, Research Fellow at The University of Exeter and Chair of the panel, writes, “The celebrated film ‘Blue Heart’ documents the power of local community in protecting the largest undammed river in the Balkans. After the film, there will be a discussion with local experts drawing on similarities between community action in the Balkans with projects closer to home; communities are central to any successful environmental project. As an individual, it is easy to feel disempowered by the various environmental issues we’re facing. However, by joining together and working as a collective, positive changes can happen. We hope this evening will inspire people to get involved in local projects to create a better environment for future generations.”
The panel will include Richard Higgs, programme manager of the Riverlands project at the National Trust, a new £10 million project to bring the UK rivers back to life; Minni Jain, director of the Flow Partnership, an NGO working on rivers in the UK with community collaboration; and Dr David Smith from South West Water Upstream Thinking project, which aims find natural landscape-scale solutions to improve water quality.
Here is the trailer to the film: https://youtu.be/LadlBg9bmfg
Trill Farm: Supper and conversation
Sir Ghillean Prance, Turn Lyme Green’s patron, will be talking about his most recent work in Amazonia. He will focus on examining the current situation about deforestation and threats to the forest and include details of the time he has spent with the indigenous peoples of Amazonia studying their uses of plants and uses of the forest. For more information and tickets, follow this link. Talk only, £5. Talk and Supper £30.
The Bridport Friends of the Earth will have a stall in Bridport Orchard on Saturday 13 October to raise awareness of the Government’s attempt to bypass local decision-making and make fracking easier.
A great day out! Click the poster to find out more.
38 Degrees have an online petition and time is running out to sign it.
They write “The government has announced plans to streamline the planning process for fracking. If this goes ahead, it will be as easy to drill an exploration fracking well as it is to build a conservatory or erect a fence. These plans are deeply undemocratic – they twist planning laws to give the government and fracking companies the power to override the will of local people – who have fought relentlessly to halt fracking at every turn.”
You can also support 38 Degrees written representation on these proposals Click here to have your say. and add your name and objections to this proposal.
“This year we’ve seen heartbreaking images of dead sea turtles and birds, their bellies bloated with plastic.” EU politicians will be voting on new rules next week to cut plastic pollution. SumOfUs have a petition which you can sign. You can tell the European Parliament Environment Committee your view by signing. Follow this link to sign and find out more.
An enthusiastic group marched proudly in the Carnival Parade in August promoting Plastic Free Lyme Regis.
