"Blundering council worker flattens Big Butterfly Count meadow" in the Knowle parkland

The annual big butterfly count started up ten days ago - and the adults at least have been doing very well in this hot weather:
Futures Forum: Big Butterfly Count > 20th July - 12th August

However, things have not been going to plan in the Knowle parkland - as reported nationally by the Mail today - already with scores of comments:

Blundering council worker mows a wildlife meadow at centre of Sir David Attenborough's Big Butterfly Count

• Employee on mower turned valued site into a desert at The Knowle in Sidmouth
• Worker was tasked with cutting a pathway but instead he cut whole nine acres
• Wildflower meadow was blooming with all kinds of flora including orchids
• Man was counting butterflies but turned up the next day and they were gone

By MARK DUELL FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 17:54 BST, 31 July 2018 | UPDATED: 20:58 BST, 31 July 2018

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Red-faced council bosses have apologised after a blundering worker mowed flat a wildflower meadow being monitored for David Attenborough's Big Butterfly Count.

East Devon District Council said sorry after an employee on a sit-on mower turned the valued site into a desert at The Knowle in Sidmouth. The worker was tasked with cutting a pathway from the car parks for people to walk down to the town. Instead he cut the whole nine acres.

‹ SLIDE ME ›

A worker on a sit-on mower turned the site in Sidmouth into a desert (seen before and after)

The wildflower meadow was blooming with all kinds of flora including orchids and bristling with butterflies, birds and insects.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) decided to mow the strip of the field nearest the road to provide a clear footpath but leave the rest growing wild.

To the dismay of Sidmouth Arboretum treasurer Ed Dolphin the whole lot was cleared by accident. He had been counting butterflies the previous day for a national survey and turned up the next day to find butterflies and wildflowers were all gone.

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The wildflower meadowwas  being monitored for David Attenborough's Big Butterfly Count

He said: 'I was horrified because it wasn't just the number but the sheer variety of butterflies there - at least eight different sorts - the day after there was just one, a good old cabbage white. It's tidy but it's more like a desert. Mowing it when they did and leaving the cuttings on is going to mean fewer wildflowers next time.'

An EDDC spokesman said: 'We regret that one of our operatives misunderstood the instructions he was given and cut the arena area by mistake, instead of just cutting some pathways and a flat area to help those using the park for walking through. We agree this shouldn't have happened and will be taking measures to ensure that this doesn't happen again next year.'

EDDC said it would be bringing in a machine by the end of next week to pick up the cut grass.

Blundering council worker flattens Big Butterfly Count meadow | Daily Mail Online

As observed by the East Devon Watch blog:
“Blundering council worker mows a wildlife meadow at [EDDC HQ] centre of Sir David Attenborough’s Big Butterfly Count” | East Devon Watch

And as reported in the Herald:

Thriving meadow in Sidmouth reduced ‘to desert’ after worker cuts nine acres of land

PUBLISHED: 18:00 30 July 2018

Richard Wright

Ed Dolphin of Sidmouth Arboretum surveys the wildflower meadow mowed by accident

A wildflower meadow in Sidmouth was reduced to ‘a desert’ when a council worker mowed it by accident.

Orchids before the field was mowed

Council mows Knowle wildflower meadow by accident | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

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Plans for Port Royal: viewing the Drill Hall

It's a little frustrating getting information about the sale of, let alone the condition of, the Drill Hall:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: "EDDC have started the clock ticking on the 6 months available for community bids and yet community groups are not able to get the basic information required to judge if a bid is feasible."
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: questions raised at full District Council meeting

A viewing of the building was organised with the agent JLL last Thursday 26th July.

Here is the latest newsletter from the Rescue Sidmouth Drill Hall site from Friday:

Dear Friends, Yesterday I had my appointment to view the Drill Hall. We were a group of 5 and were met by John Kinsey and Alexandra Deere of JLL. Mr Kinsey was keen to chat and explained many things about how the process will go. Once I have some things clarified, so I am not relying on my memory alone, I will put details on the Drill Hall for sale page. There are now two sub-pages to the page, one is additional photographs to supplement those from 2013 and 2017. It is possible to see that much of the original detail still remains even though some is lost or worn. This would make it possible to refurbish it to close to the original style if wanted. The second page contains the Structural Engineer's report. This page is protected and you will have to register in order to see it. I realise that that is a bit of a faff but I believe it a necessary precaution. At the moment JLL are only providing details and access to community groups; commercial groups won't be allowed until October. Therefore I think it only right that I restrict information too. Having to sign up to view the page also means that I have a list of people who have looked at the document, this will help me show that there is interest within the town should I need to. I do hope you are interested enough to go and look at these new pages and to register to view the report. Keep checking the Drill Hall For Sale page! kind regards, Mary

The viewing of the Drill Hall
Rescue Sidmouth Drill Hall - Sidmouth Drill Hall Rescue

With more info on the campaign website uploaded yesterday:

View the Drill Hall

July 30, 2018

Bannister at half landing

Detailed pictures from my viewing of the Drill Hall last Thurday:

July 2018 Interior Photographs

We have interior photographs from 2013 and 2017. The marketing of the Drill Hall has allowed me to build on these general views and record it in greater detail. We also have an interior view from 1909 which shows how little has changed over the past 100+ years. 2013 interior photographs 2017 interior photographs I … Continue reading

Structural report July 2018

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Blog - Sidmouth Drill Hall Rescue
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On the River Otter: 'Beavers and Business' > The University of Exeter invites business owners/managers in Devon and Somerset to contribute towards the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ by completing a survey to examine the impacts of the presence of beavers on local business.

From the latest East Devon AONB newsletter:

Calling all East Devon Businesses  Has the Beaver re-introduction programme affected your business? The project research team at Exeter University have created a survey and are keen to hear from businesses to learn if they have (or have not) seen impacts (whether positive or negative) as a result of beaver presence.   Responses to the survey are anonymous and participants will be offered the opportunity to see the outcomes when they become available. Businesses within and outside of the river catchment area (the Otter and tributaries) are encouraged to respond so that comparisons might be drawn. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, and will be open until the end of 2018. Businesses only please. To contact the team directly, please email Roger Auster: rea213@exeter.ac.uk

AONB Summer Newsletter
East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Welcome - East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The link takes you to the University project:

  
Beavers and Business - A Survey

The University of Exeter would like to invite business owners/managers in Devon and Somerset to contribute towards the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ by completing this short online survey to examine the impacts of the presence of beavers on local business.

The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete.
 

Study Information

The multi-organisational ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ was established in 2015 to monitor a free-living population of Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) living on the River Otter. Research is being conducted by the various partners, focused in multiple areas and continuing until 2020, following which the UK government will consider the results when making a decision on the future of beavers in England.

Beaver reintroduction is also being considered in Scotland and Wales, with decisions being/to be made by devolved governments.

This survey seeks to understand whether the presence of beavers on the River Otter has affected local businesses positively, negatively or not at all.

The results from this research will be reported on for the end of the ‘River Otter Beaver Trial’ and for UK government. They will also be reported in a PhD thesis, and perhaps academic papers. Information gained from your participation may be used for any of these but would only be used in a way that would not disclose your identity to others.

You may complete this survey if your business is based anywhere in Devon or Somerset.

Beavers and Business Survey - University of Exeter
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East Devon AONB summer newsletter

It's not a very quiet summer in the East Devon AONB, as their latest newsletter proves:

Woods and Water It was great to see both new and familiar faces last week as we welcomed nearly 50 partnership members, ambassadors and interested individuals to our summer AONB Partnership event, at Colyton Ffeoffes Hall.   The event was a great success as an opportunity to learn more about ‘Woods & Water’ in the AONB, with our speakers giving valuable insight into the history and growing importance of managed woodland and projects working to improve conservation and our resilience in the fight against flood and water pollution.   Following an informal network over lunch, there was also the chance to enjoy a guided walk around the Coly River with local landowner Tony Underdown, who gave fascinating first-hand and anecdotal insight into the history and challenges of his riverside farming.   Many thanks to our speakers, ambassador volunteers and Tony for your excellent contributions. The Next Event! The AONB Partnership Annual Meeting is a key event in our calendar and it’s coming soon.   Join us for an evening of presentation and celebration at the AONB Partnership Annual meeting on Thursday 20th September 2018. Our focus this year is Art and Wellbeing in the Natural Environment, and we’re delighted to start the evening with a viewing of the ‘Art on the East Devon Way’ exhibition at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG). We then welcome AONB Partnership members, Ambassadors and special guests to join us at the Beehive to learn from our keynote speakers and enjoy the opportunity to network, in an informal environment, over a complimentary buffet (Not an AONB Ambassador? Find out how you could become one). We will also celebrate exceptional local projects contributing to art, health and/or wellbeing in the environment, with the presentation of this year’s Acland Award. The Best of the AONB The countdown to the East Devon AONB Acland Awards has begun and we need your nominations for outstanding individuals, projects or initiatives that deserve public recognition and celebration for their efforts.   This year we hope you will help us highlight Health and Wellbeing projects.    Eligible nominees could include any project, operating within the East Devon AONB, working to enhance physical, mental, social or cultural wellbeing via a connection with the natural environment Help us give a worthy project the credit they deserve and make a nomination. Please forward to any groups, schools or organisations that might be interested. Help Keep East Devon Outstanding The East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Draft Partnership Plan (2019-24) is now out for consultation. The document outlines the priorities for the AONB Partnership, building on the successes of the last 15 years.   The current (2014-19) Strategy has guided the direction of the Partnership in this work over the last 5yrs, enabling initiatives such as new multi-use facilities, policy development, farm support programmes, community orchards, bat monitoring, habitat improvement schemes, archaeological research, heritage projects, walks, talks and events, business advice and rural development schemes across the AONB.   Members of the public are now invited to 'have their say' on the proposed plan for 2019-24. Hard copies of the draft Plan will be sent to all libraries in and around the AONB, as well as to all Parish Councils within the AONB. The Draft Partnership Plan and associated documents can also be viewed on our website.   In addition, a drop-in exhibition will be held at Kennaway House between 3-7 September 2018 for members of the public to view documents and provide feedback. Staff will be available at set times during this period. The closing date for feedback is 18 September 2018. If you experience any technical problems accessing the documents on line, please contact the AONB office on 01404 46663 or email info@eastdevonaonb.org.uk  Calling all East Devon Businesses  Has the Beaver re-introduction programme affected your business? The project research team at Exeter University have created a survey and are keen to hear from businesses to learn if they have (or have not) seen impacts (whether positive or negative) as a result of beaver presence.   Responses to the survey are anonymous and participants will be offered the opportunity to see the outcomes when they become available. Businesses within and outside of the river catchment area (the Otter and tributaries) are encouraged to respond so that comparisons might be drawn. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, and will be open until the end of 2018. Businesses only please. To contact the team directly, please email Roger Auster: rea213@exeter.ac.uk   Art on the East Devon Way Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the East Devon Way, our partnership project with the Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) continues to go from strength to strength   Inspiring people of all ages to connect with nature in new and creative ways, events so far have been a huge success with excellent feedback – and a great deal of enjoyment.   This is fantastic news for us as we really hoped to help forge connections that might otherwise be missed within the AONB landscape.   There’s still time to get involved and try one of the workshops or family events along the East Devon Way. Green Spaces = Happy Places It’s well documented that spending time in nature is good for us – it has been found to increase happiness, improve mental health and strengthen immune systems – as well as inspire a more active lifestyle and creativity.   In 1982, the Japanese government recognised the benefits to the degree they created a public health programme (that continues today) recommending shinrin-yoku - the practice of forest bathing - to enhance health, wellness, and happiness.   Here in the East Devon AONB we have some of the most beautiful landscape, green spaces and woodland to enjoy – whether you call it shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, a walk in the woods, or a stroll in the park, take some time this summer to connect with nature and feel good. 5 woodland areas you might like to visit: Holyford Woods, East Hill, Harpford Woods, Shute Woods, Offwell Woodlands   Tel: 01404 46663 Email: info@eastdevonaonb.org.uk Follow us on Twitter www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk © Copyright East Devon AONB Partnership 2017 East Devon AONB Partnership Kennaway House Sidmouth EX10 8NG Got a story you would like to share? Please contact us at the email above. These newsletters are issued seasonally. Share with a friend

AONB Summer Newsletter
East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Welcome - East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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Climate change: the Transition Town movement is fundamentally about reducing our carbon footprint

One of the founding aims of the Transition Town movement was to address climate change: 

The terms transition town, transition initiative and transition model refer to grassroot community projects that aim to increase self-sufficiency to reduce the potential effects of peak oil,[1] climate destruction, and economic instability.[2]

Transition town - Wikipedia

This has evolved to take on other sustainability issues:
About the Movement - Transition Network | Movement of Communities
Transition Network | Transition Towns | The Circular Economy 

Transition towns are local communities proactively preparing for an oil-scarce future in a warming world by reducing their dependence on fossil fuels and helping mitigate climate change by re-localizing, shifting production closer to home and creating functioning communities with the idea that strong neighborhood networks will help towns to weather future energy shocks. 
Transition towns address the issues of peak oil, climate change and economic instability by creating a strong, connected, self-sufficient community. 
The Transition Movement began in the British town of Totnes in 2006 and grew to thousands of people, initiatives and projects working in Transition across the world today.

Transition Towns - Everything Connects

As Rob Hopkins said in 2015, this has become a 'movement': 

Jon Alexander of the New Citizenship Project argues that Transition has come to the end of what he calls its ‘Response’ frame (which has run through all our materials to date back since the start of Transition – you know, “Transition is a response to peak oil, climate change, economic crisis, etc. etc.”) and would find it more effective to focus on a ‘Movement’ frame.

The Transition Story: Time to stop talking about climate change?

And has taken on many inter-related initiatives:
Transition towns | Environment | The Guardian

Becoming quite a flexible beast: 

And if you look at the Transition Town movement, it was launched in a way to scale out rather than scale up — to be replicable. It’s light touch framework can be used by groups and also adapted to make it their own. So it has transformed, for example, from a movement in response to peak oil in the UK to being used as a response to social challenges in Brazil and Spain. I’m not sure it explicitly sees itself as design thinking, but the thinking that informed the launch of the Transition town movement was about how can we create something that has enough of a framework for people to organise around, but flexible enough for local circumstance.
The Transition Network also have a cheerful disclaimer: you take part in a project with the knowledge that it might not work. There is also the Quaker model of notes and queries, which allows groups to revisit what they are doing and then make the suitable adjustments for systems to evolve.

“Utopia is all around us” | Red Pepper

Fundamentally, though, it is still about reducing our carbon footprint, as outlined by Transition Stroud a couple of months ago: 

THE TRANSITION Towns movement seeks to create a network for sustainable change in order to achieve a low carbon lifestyle. The movement was founded in 2006 and within a year Stroud had joined, which made it the world’s 5th Transition Town (TT). There are now over 1000 transition initiatives worldwide.
Transition Towns address the problems and opportunities caused by climate change on a practical day to day level. This sums up the organisation's motto ‘inspiring action for a sustainable future.’
“Climate Change is the key issue for it impacts on our very existence,” Erik Wilkinson, one of Transition Stroud’s eight volunteer directors, explained. “It also provides us with positive opportunities to work for a future with affordable sustainable energy.”
The organisation say that these forward-thinking ideas can help build a Stroud that is resilient to the environmental damage brought about by the modern world. To achieve this, 11 different initiatives have been set up throughout the Five Valleys including the Repair Café, Plastic Action Group, Edible Stroud, climate change workshops and film evenings.
For example, the ‘Live without plastic’ workshop presented by Claudi Williams, gave lessons on how she and her family has lived without plastic for over a year.
Currently TS are pushing forward their Zero Waste Action group to minimise waste in the home and support Stroud’s battle against single-use plastics. Residents are encouraged to take part in a variety of workshops including how to make zero waste toiletries and celebrating a zero waste Christmas.
Erik explained that it is hoped through co-operation as a community: “A future with less waste, better transport, less plastic, more locally grown food and a stronger sense of community can be achieved - do join us.”

How does Stroud benefit from being a Transition Town? | Stroud News and Journal

It's happening everywhere, as reports from the last 12 months show:

Regenerative agriculture in Manitoba:

At the February Prairie Organic conference in Brandon, a number of speakers spoke about the principles of regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture improves soil health compared to sustainable agriculture which only maintains the soil as is. Since our soils have degenerated considerably over the last 150 years, regeneration is a good strategy.

Regenerative Agriculture
Integrating Crops and Livestock - YouTube
Home - sustainability southeast manitoba
Regenerative agriculture - Wikipedia

Community participation in Ungersheim, Alsace:

Within the Transition in Ungersheim, there are critical factors that have improved participation, increased awareness, and led to greater exposure outside of the village. Those critical factors are: using the Transition concept as a vision, creating a story of the 21 actions for the 21st century, using publicity as a communication tool, participatory democracy as a decision-making tool, top-down and bottomup collaboration, demonstrating successful actions, and gaining access to resources for actions.

New thesis explores the Transition experiment in Ungersheim - Transition Network

Reducing disposable coffee cups in Reading:

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment, said: “The council is committed to playing a leading role in making Reading a cleaner and greener town and further reducing our carbon footprint.
“Innovative projects like Refill Reading, where community groups and the council work in partnership, give everyone a chance to take a single action which can potentially have a massive positive impact on the environment and I am delighted to see council venues taking part.”
The Refill Reading campaign is an initiative of Transition Town Reading, an organisation working to create a more sustainable town through community-based projects.

More than six million disposable coffee cups sent to landfill every year in Reading | Reading Chronicle

Retrofitting suburbia in Melbourne:

The nascent Transition Towns Movement (known as TTM) provides one of the more well-known social movements to emerge during the last decade in response to overlapping energy, environmental and economic crises.

Whereas the more established Ecovillage Movement has generally sought to escape the urban context to establish experiments in alternative living, the TTM, motivated by similar concerns, tends to accept the challenge of transforming urban life from within the urban boundary.
In the absence of progressive political leadership, might the TTM niche or something like it need to play a role creating new urban landscapes? What potential has this movement for changing the regime? What are the challenges it might face? And could cities ever become interconnected hubs of Transition Towns at large?

Retrofitting suburbia | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne
Ellen Dunham-Jones: Retrofitting suburbia | TED Talk
11 Urban Design Tactics for Suburban Retrofitting | Build a Better Burb

The Repair Economy in Edinburgh and Ghana:

While manufacturers such as Apple are increasingly designing products in ways that make them difficult for users to fix, according to Greenpeace, true heroes are stepping up. Remade in Edinburgh represents civil society rather than tech and creator Sophie Unwin has turned a former bank branch into a re-use and repair superstore. This social enterprise is where you can go to learn how to fix your own tech and extend its lifespan. It’s a similar idea to the many repair cafes, sometimes associated with the Transition town network.
To some, this will seem nicely mindful but unlikely to make a significant difference. I disagree. I think repair on a high street level, from person to person, can be a significant intervention and actually mirrors some of the entrepreneurial behaviours we have seen in Ghana and other informal reprocessing economies. The way to make a dent in digital castoffs is to get stuck in.

Reduce, reuse, reboot: why electronic recycling must up its game | Environment | The Guardian

Seed swapping in Worthing:

Inspirational talks, workshops for children and adults, and a wide variety of stalls helped make the annual Sow and Grow seed swap and spring fair a great success.
Worthing deputy mayor Paul Baker and head teacher Phillip Potter officially opened the Transition Town Worthing event
Ron Marsh, aka Recycling Ron, from West Sussex County Council’s waste prevention team, wore his ‘rubbish’ costume to highlight household waste recycling.
Transition Town Worthing aims to engage residents and encourage them to respond positively to challenges by creating a healthy human culture.

Seed swap proves inspirational for all ages - Worthing Herald

Plastic Free in Penzance:

A Cornish town has become the first community in the UK to be awarded “plastic-free” status after dozens of residents and business people backed a grassroots scheme aimed at helping clean up oceans and beaches.
As part of a campaign being run by the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), Penzance has been given “plastic-free coastlines approved” status.
Shops, cafes and visitor attractions have reduced single-use plastics and children and adults have taken part in beach cleans. The town’s status was confirmed after the town council voted to support the initiative.
Another 100 communities across the UK are taking part in SAS’s plastic-free coastlines scheme and working towards the status, which has been inspired by the fair trade and transition town schemes.

Penzance wins first plastic-free status award to help clean up beaches | UK news | The Guardian
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