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Environmental Groups in Thame		Volunteer		List your Events

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Could Thame Bloom in 2027?

Thame Town Council is exploring the possibility of entering RHS Britain in Bloom 2027 – the UK's largest community gardening and environmental improvement campaign. Britain in Bloom celebrates communities that work together to make their towns greener, cleaner and more welcoming through horticulture, environmental responsibility and community participation.

At this stage, they are simply looking to find out whether there is enough local interest to make an entry possible. If there is sufficient enthusiasm, the idea will be presented to Thame Town Councillors to consider the next steps, including what support the Town Council may be able to provide and what funding opportunities could be explored.

For this to succeed, we need a community-led team. While Thame Town Council can offer administrative support and help seek funding, it cannot lead the project. They are therefore looking for enthusiastic people who would be willing to help shape and lead the initiative, as well as others who would like to contribute in whatever way they can. Whether you enjoy gardening, organising events, engaging with businesses, supporting wildlife projects, fundraising, communications or simply lending a hand, there could be a role for you.

If you'd like to register your interest in helping Thame explore a Britain in Bloom entry for 2027, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]

Registering your interest does not commit you to anything at this stage – it simply helps us understand whether there is enough community support to take the idea forward.

Thame's new Swift conservation group takes flight

Listen closely on a warm summer evening, and you'll hear it - a joyful shriek slicing across the rooftops. That's the sound of our Swifts, home again after their 14,000-mile journey! We're delighted to introduce the newly formed Save our Swifts (SOS) Thame, a community group dedicated to protecting and increasing nesting opportunities for one of our most extraordinary, and most threatened, summer visitors.

Why Swifts need our help

Sadly, Swifts are now on the UK Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern, with numbers down by around 65% in just 25 years. The causes aren't fully understood, but a shortage of nesting sites is thought to be a major factor as older buildings are renovated or modified in ways that seal up the little gaps Swifts rely on for nesting.

What we've been doing

Group members have been surveying nesting sites and identifying low-flying areas around Thame; with support from the RSPB and other national swift protection organisations to ensure our methods match best practice used across the country. The survey has already turned up some real hotspots. The two most active sites identified so far are: The Mart (multiple confirmed nest sites) and Goodsons Yard (a favourite for flying practice). This mapping helps us protect existing nests and target new nest sites ahead of next year's breeding season.

Get involved

We'd love more people from Thame to join us - surveying, spreading the word, or simply keeping an eye out for Swifts nearby. We're also offering free Swift boxes and support with installation to residents and building owners who'd like to provide a new nest site; the sooner these are installed, the better their chances of being occupied next year.

Get in touch to join the group, report a sighting, or request a free box - we'd love to hear from you. [email protected]

Thank you to 21st Century Thame and to their long-term organisational sponsors BP Collins, Lightfoots, Lucy Electric and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE).

EVENT: Sketch the River Thame

Old Fisherman, Shabbington

Sunday, August 16 • 10 AM - 1 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1994549125125?aff=oddtdtcreator

Spend a morning sketching the River Thame and discovering nature through art. No experience needed.

Join River Thame Conservation Trust on Sunday, 16 August, from 10 am to 1 pm at The Old Fisherman in Shabbington (near Thame) to sketch the River Thame.

We'll spend the morning looking closely at the river through drawing, painting and sketching. It's a chance to really get to know this stretch of the river, so it doesn't matter whether you paint every day or haven't picked up a crayon since primary school.

Help and guidance will be available if you'd like it, and we'll finish by sharing our work together at 1 pm. You're welcome to stay afterwards and have lunch at the pub if you'd like (lunch is optional and at your own expense).

If you have your own art materials, please bring them along. If you'd like us to provide paper and markers, just let us know on the booking form. We don't want cost to be a barrier to anyone taking part, so materials are available free of charge.

We suggest bringing something firm to draw on, such as a sketch board or large book, and a portable chair or stool so you can choose a comfortable spot to sketch. As we'll be outdoors, please dress for the weather.

If you're in a position to do so and would like to support future events like this, donations to River Thame Conservation Trust are always welcome. This event was made possible through funding from the Connected Communities Fund.

EVENT: Fun with nature and a produce swap

Happening on Friday 28^th August, 2–4pm, at the August Bank Holiday Marquee on White’s Field, off Mill Lane, Chinnor.

Come along and enjoy nature activities with fun crafts and lots of play, including storytelling, music and a bird trail, hedgehog collage, bug hotel, wildflower garden and much more. Suitable for all ages.

There will also be a PRODUCE SWAP. Please bring surplus fruit and vegetables to swap with others or take away anything that you fancy for a donation.

This is a great way to share unwanted produce, and to cut down on waste.

Organised by Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth

www.chinnorthamefoe.org.uk

or visit Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth on Facebook

Park(ing) Day

Park(ing) Day in Thame was a great success. Community groups were invited to find an alternative use for parking spaces.

Thame Library had a very popular story time under their gazebo, Red Kite Centre and Kubota provided play space for children, Thame Runners has activities whilst Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth, Her Land and Edge all provided green space for sitting and chatting. The need for shade on such a hot day was highlighted by the fact that Thame museum had to leave early as the gazebo they had brought could not be secured with the strong winds. One parking space was able to store no less than twelve bicycles!

Three pages of feedback was all very positive:

‘There is a lack of space where people can sit in a green area where they could meet their friends, chat and eat a sandwich. A few more trees would be nice!’

‘Shows why the largest part of the town centre should be space for people, not their empty cars’.

Are you eligible for free home energy upgrades?

Warm Homes: Local Grant can help eligible households get free home improvements, such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps. These upgrades can make your home warmer, use less energy and cost less to run.

With energy bills still on many people’s minds, it’s worth checking if you could get support before the colder months come back around.

Read this case study for an example of the potential impact.

Find out more about the scheme and check eligibility by visiting Welcome the Warmth’s website or by calling 0800 038 6775.

Have you heard about the Strategic Nature Network?

The SNN will provide a framework through which the UK’s most important ecological landscapes can be recognised and managed as critical natural infrastructure. By identifying and connecting priority areas for nature protection and restoration at a national scale, the SNN enables landscapes to function as integrated systems that deliver essential ecosystem services such as flood mitigation, water security, climate resilience, and biodiversity recovery." https://www.rebuildingnature.com/strategic-nature-network/

Get involved in green action in your community

Did you know Thame has a Green Living Plan - a 10 year plan for a greener, cleaner Thame. The plan includes over 190 actions that we want to take by 2030 to help achieve this.

You find out more about these actions and see what has already been completed, what is in motion and what still needs to take place at the Thame Green Living Website - https://thamegreenliving.org.u...

There is so much to achieve so get in contact through the website to play a part.

Events coming up

To find out what is happening in the local area please visit the Calendar you can find at this link: https://thamegreenliving.org.u...

To add an event to the calendar contact [email protected]

Send details of your event to be included

Google Calendar for local sustainable events

21st Century Thame have set up a google calendar that is up to date with any environmental / sustainable events - https://21stcenturythame.co.uk/21st-century-thame-environmental-calendar-of-events/

- let them know if we’re missing any - and click on the ‘add’ cross at the bottom of the calendar to subscribe to the calendar so that the events appear on your personal device.

Add your Green Group to the Mycelium Map!

The Mycelium Map is a digital ecosystem for eco-groups to showcase their work and events. It’s open to everyone in and around the Chilterns working on climate and nature sustainability.

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

Or check it out at: https://mymap.eco

Email [email protected] for information and the link you need to put your group on the Map.

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