Thame & surrounds Environmental Newsletter

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Environmental Groups in Thame		Volunteer		List your Events

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Put your Green Group on the Mycelium Map today!

Great news - the Mycelium Map, an ecosystem of eco-groups, is now live and open for green organisations of all types to showcase their work and events. It’s open to everyone in and around the Chilterns working on climate and nature sustainability.

Initiated by an Oxon charity, the Hedgerley Wood Trust, it is free to non-profit organisations, though voluntary donations are very welcome. Green companies are also welcome, and free for a trial period until the autumn, when we will be introducing a donations system to ensure the map remains sustainable.

It’s a way for us all to work together as residents of Thame, to make our town and surrounding area climate-resilient and nature-friendly. And to see that we are not alone in our efforts: the Map mirrors just how many of us are taking action, with more green activities springing up each week.

You can read about the map here: https://hedgerleywood.org/mymap/

Or check out the map, and watch as more and more groups join, at: https://mymap.eco

As soon as your group is ready to join, just drop us a line at [email protected]. We’ll send you the information and link you need to put your group on the Map.

Thame Green Business Breakfast - spread the word!

Tuesday 4 June

9.30am – 11 am

Thame Town Hall, High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3DP

South Oxfordshire District Council has recently opened a second round of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and welcomes applications from Thame based organisations.

In this business breakfast event, the council’s Economic Development team will be giving attendees an overview of the scheme, with details on how to apply, the types of projects that can be awarded funding and the amount you can apply for.

The REPF supports capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure that help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities.

Funding is available to help achieve aims set out in SODC’s Corporate Plan, including action on the climate emergency, and improving community and economic wellbeing. REPF offers up to £75,000 of capital funding for projects that help to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. Full details are at the link above.

Participants are encouraged to read the details of the funding and start to work through an application prior to the event if possible, so that you can bring specific questions to the session for support.

Come along, meet the team and ask any questions you have about the scheme, with a chance for networking over breakfast at the start of the meeting.

Book a space here.

Family Bike Ride in support of the Haddenham-Thame Greenway

Sunday 30^th June, 3:00pm start from Haddenham Airfield Pavilion, Tibbs Road, Haddenham HP17 8FH

Haddenham Safe Walking and Cycling group together with Thame Green Living have long supported a Greenway as a safe active travel route between Thame and Haddenham. Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Councils are working on plans at present. The Greenway would be as positive for health, leisure and accessibility to the station as the immensely popular Phoenix Trail. Join us to celebrate the joys of active travel! We encourage people of all ages to show support and join in the fun!

The 5.5 km. circular ride will be on village roads in Haddenham. Participants may choose to finish at Church End Green after 2 km., where we will pause for a photo. The ride will be overseen by marshals, but parents or responsible adults must accompany and supervise their children under 16. All riders must wear cycle helmets. Adults are responsible for their own safety.

Refreshments and parking available at Haddenham Airfield Pavilion. All welcome to bring a picnic and to enjoy the playing fields.

To register your interest or for further details, including a map of the route, please email [email protected].

More information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/HaddSWAC/posts/pfbid02QNeqaBRxSv6jEfso38VudJx13QkmekB3JoXM2CjkP4NSGScBN7BKsACCv1NhmRXBl

Tickets still available for 4pm showing only

Six Inches of Soil is the inspiring story of British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, benefit our health and provide for local communities.

ON: Friday 7 Jun

Times: 4pm

Where: Lopemede farm

Tickets: Six Inches of Soil Tickets, Fri 7 Jun 2024 at 16:00 | Eventbrite

Apply for the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme

The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme helps voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSEs) across England to deliver more efficient services for people and communities by saving money on their energy bills.

The scheme is now offering Independent Energy Assessments to help identify energy-saving opportunities in your building. The programme also offers Capital Grants to implement measures recommended in your assessment.

To get started, you'll need to use the eligibility checker to see if you’re eligible to apply for the cost and delivery of an Independent Energy Assessment (IEA) or a Capital Grant. If you’re successful, you'll be matched with an independent energy assessor who will work with you to assess your building and help identify energy-saving opportunities.

Capital Grants of between £2,000 and £150,000 can be used to install capital energy efficiency measures.

Independent Energy Assessment closes for applications on Thursday 20 June. The application window for the Capital Grant closes on Friday 14 August.

Apply for the scheme via the Groundwork website.

Climate progress reported by OCC

A health action plan to support vulnerable residents during heatwaves and the imminent completion of the streetlighting LED replacement programme are among the key points in a new climate action report for Oxfordshire

Find out more

Get involved in green action in your community

If you want to take action locally, here are current opportunities:

Help to set up Thame's response to a 'Climate Cafe'

A team of people who are part of Thame's Environmental Forum are exploring how to set up and deliver a Climate Cafe, or similar, in Thame. Discussions have already started on this, but they would love more people to be involved so anyone who wants to play a part is invited to the next planning meeting on Thursday 20th June. Venue tbc.

If you want to find out more please let Becky Reid (Thame Town Council's Environmental Project Officer) know by emailing her at [email protected]

Become a Green Champion

Join a local network to receive support and ideas about how to share 'green' tips and ideas with your peers.

Click here to find out more

Upcoming events

https://www.thametowncouncil.g...

Chinnor Climate Cafe

Date and time:

Weds 29 May 2024, 10.30am – 12pm
Location: The Chinnor Village Centre

Focus: Ideas on how to forage food.

Date and time:

Weds 29 May 2024, 7pm – 8.30pm
Location: White’s Field Windmill Café on Mill Lane,
Chinnor, OX39 4RF

Focus: The Magic of ponds – build it and they will come.

Come along for a chat, tea or coffee and cake.

For more info contact Maureen via email: [email protected]

Green Living Fayre with bike exchange

Date and time: 2/06/2024, 11am - 4pm

Location: Chinnor Village Hall, Church Road, Chinnor, OX39 4PG

BIKES: Bring bikes to sell from 10.30 – 11am, clearly marked with name and selling price, return at 1pm to see if your bike has been sold

GREEN LIVING: A range of displays and activities for all, including Walking, Cycling, Bee Keeping, Hedgehog Highways, Plastic Free Living, Clean Air Campaign, Recycling and Climate Change Action

ENERGY ADVICE

PLUS: Crafts, gifts, plants, books, jewellery, local and Fairtrade. Café serving soup and rolls, cakes and drinks. Fun activities for children - free

ENTRANCE FREE

For further information, please contact Maureen Dyroff, Chinnor & Thame Friends of the Earth, on 07528030151

or e-mail [email protected]

Six Inches of Soil - film showing with Q&A with Chris Van Tulkien

ON: Friday 7 Jun

Times: 4pm or 7pm

Where: Lopemede farm, Thame Rd, Long Crendon, Thame OX9 3SH

Six Inches of Soil Tickets, Fri 7 Jun 2024 at 16:00 | Eventbrite

Following this showing there will be a presentation from Eddie Rixon Regenerative Farmer at Lopemede Farm and Q&A

Thame Repair Cafe - 21st Century Thame

Date and time: Saturday 29th June 2024 2pm - 4pm

Location: Racquets Fitness Centre

The idea is to match amazing amateur repairers with people who need stuff fixed and all for FREE. The Repair Cafe will be a learning experience to help everyone get more confident on fixing things at home.

Bring your small electrical, mechanical, household items and textiles and learn how to repair them.

https://21stcenturythame.co.uk...

READ MORE

Chinnor Climate Cafe

Date: Last Wednesday each month

Time:10.30am - 12pm

Location: Chinnor Village Centre, High St, Chinnor OX39 4DH

Time:7pm - 8.30pm

Location: White's Windmill Cafe, Mill Ln, Chinnor OX39 4RF

A monthly meeting in Chinnor exploring Climate Change. Email [email protected] to find out more.

Thame Environmental Forum

Dates and time:

25/07/2024, 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start

12/09/2024, 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start

28/11/2024, 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start

Location: Thame Town Hall

A regular meeting with the purpose of working together to embed environmental issues in the community muscle – ensuring they become an integral part of community and citizen life (and ultimately a part of political life), recognising that much of this work will have to happen through empowering, connecting and nurturing community groups, rather than creating a plethora of ‘new’ initiatives through the Environmental Forum.

Get in touch!

email [email protected] if you have an article you would like to include in this newsletter

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