“The look of modern buildings is a catastrophe” [Thomas Heatherwick, architect] . Some four years ago, the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission led by philosopher Roger… Read More »‘Boring urban environments cause serious stress’
‘Biodiversity’ functions as a useful umbrella term that sounds more scientific than a word such as ‘nature’. [‘Review of The Idea of Biodiversity: Philosophies of… Read More »What do we mean by ‘biodiversity’?
New train stations… and moving to East Devon to work remotely… . The two leading contenders for the new parliamentary constituency of Honiton and Sidmouth… Read More »On the move: of HS2, WFH and the effect on small-town UK
“This is something we could really work with.” “There’s plenty more sustainable fish in the sea beyond the big five, you just need to know… Read More »‘Most British fisheries are unsustainable’: but not in Lyme Bay
“Peas instead of avocados for a version of guacamole. Avocados are not that sustainable right now: air miles, deforestation and drug cartels muscling in on… Read More »Avocado vs peas
“Sidmouth is lumbered with an impressive white elephant that has set back the biodiversity of a locally important site for years. It would have been far… Read More »The Knowle amphitheatre: a talk, a site visit and an alternative narrative
In the 1950s we spent a third of our income on food shopping – and by 2016 it was 10%. [Which?] . There are a… Read More »How expensive is food really?
“East Devon District Council is calling on you to press the government to find a more positive approach to solving the housing crisis and a… Read More »East Devon’s housing target: seeking a review
“All Reserved Matters have been approved, including details of an access that is most likely to be suitable for Residential use.” “The other site, known… Read More »Selling off the Sidford Business Park site: still on the market one year on
“Golf courses take up more space than solar power in the UK.” [Carbon Brief] “Solar farms cover less than 0.1% of the UK’s land area”… Read More »How much land do solar farms take up?
“Homes in England are less affordable and in worse condition than those in most other developed nations.” [Home Builders Federation] There are only 15 places available… Read More »“England has a dearth of housing”
The Land Use Framework is due out shortly. . There are several areas of ancient woodland in the Sid Valley – but no extant areas… Read More »How do we make use of our land?
“Yes you heard correct. More than halve.” [Jan Rosenow] . Many would consider installing a heat pump as “complicated, especially in rural areas“; the doubts… Read More »‘Halving your heating running costs’ with a heat pump
… and the workings of number 55 Tufton Street. . Perhaps a certain amount of scepticism is due when it comes to ‘net-zero carbon emissions’… Read More »An “honest” debate over the cost of net zero
The Covid pandemic was a reminder that localised networks give our food system resilience during disruption, but also that they pay farmers fairly to produce… Read More »How is local food doing in the Sid Valley?