The new organisation will be called TaVi Network which brings together the “TaVi” from Tavistock & Villages (TaVi) Development Forum and the “Network” from West Devon Environmental Network (Westden).

The new aims and values are:

• To support and promote sustainable economic, environmental and social development in the Tavistock & Villages (TaVi) Community.
• To work in an atmosphere of partnership, co-operation and consultation with individuals and the public, private, third and voluntary sector organisations with similar aims and objectives.
• To be inclusive, independent and community-led.

Move information will follow about this important news. One of the key changes is that the address if moving to:

c/o Tavistock Taskforce, Pixon Lane Trading Estate, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8DH.

The telephone number is changing to. Watch this space.

Max

To watch the TED short click here.

Sunday 5 June

Westden’s event will likely see a return to the Bannawell Street Park….more info to follow nearer the time.

Buckland Food Growers Ltd (B.F.G.), based at the National Trust’s Buckland Abbey, near Yelverton, have been working hard to set the roots of their project since beginning work on it last spring. Now with just under a hectare of land which has been on lease from the National Trust since January, the growing and rearing of produce is underway in earnest.

Born out of an idea by Chair of the group, Lucy Wood, encouraged by organisations GrowTavi, the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and HogCo in addition to the National Trust, the initial idea of growing vegetables has expanded. Lucy says: “Over thirty local families and households across the Buckland Monachorum parish are now involved with the B.F.G., getting stuck in not just with growing vegetables but also with taking stewardship of an orchard with a view to cider production, bee husbandry and rearing pigs for pork. This is a project that’s come from a community need to grow our own local, fresh and environmentally sustainable produce”.

Great news has come to the group in the form of over £12k of funding that has been granted by the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund. Jane Griffin, member of B.F.G. says: “Buckland Food Growers are so exhilarated to have been chosen for a grant from the DSDF.  It will mean that the BFG can get off to a flying start, meet the needs of the local community and really start to achieve our overall aim of, ‘Local food, grown and nurtured at the heart of the community’.”

Jez Mcdermott, property manager at Buckland Abbey says “We have supported this project from the start and we are really happy to help the local community by providing an area for the BFG project to establish it’s roots. We hope the work of the project will soon be able to be viewed by visitors to Buckland Abbey too, so everyone can get a flavour of what’s been happening. I wish the project every success.”

If you are interested in our work or wish to find you how you can join us, please visit our website at www.bucklandfoodgrowers.co.uk or contact Lucy Wood on lucyjwood@googlemail.com. Alternativly come along to our special general meeting on 2 April at Buckland Abbey at 10.30am to see for yourself what the project’s activities are.

-          Ends –

Photographers and journalists are invited to come along and meet the group, see the site and areas of work at the special general meeting on Saturday 2 April at 10.30 at Buckland Abbey, near Yelverton, PL20 6EY.

For further info, questions, stock pictures and directions please contact, Jon Cummins, Publicity officer for the BFG on 01822 856001 or jonathan.cummins@nationaltrust.org.uk, or see: our website, www.bucklandfoodgrowers.co.uk

Buckland Abbey, estate, restaurant, shop, gardens and gallery are open daily until 30 October 2011, 10.30 – 5.30.

The venue will be Buckland Abbey.

Guestspeakers will include organic specialist Tom Petherick.

There will also be a chance to tour the new work that the Buckland Food Group are doing with the National Trust….veg, pigs, fruit….(cider, we hope!!)

For more information and to get on the mailing list contact Max at contact@westden.org.uk or 01822 618 715.

http://www.impossiblehamster.org/

1. Energy Farms – Anaerobic Digestion (2.7Mb)
2. Community-led Food Initiatives (6.0Mb)
3. Energy Performance Energy Services Company (1.6 Mb)
4. Community-led Hydro Initiatives (3.5Mb)
5. Sustainable Community loan Fund (2.7Mb)
6. Community-led Wind power (0.9Mb)
7. Community-led Reuse of Resources (1.4Mb)
8. Community-led Transport Initiatives (5.1Mb)

Please note: some of these files are quite large and may take time to open depending on connection speed.

Of course, any information provided is only as up to date as the day it goes to print. Many of the specific examples have worked so well because of the people involved, the skills they possess or the resources that were available to them. Thus these examples will predominantly serve as an inspirational call to arms. However, many of the packs contain useful ‘how to’ guides, copies of legal templates or list of regulations, all of which may be useful to community groups wishing to set out on their own project. All of the packs contain notes or links on where to find more help.