VGS is very interested in the natural environment and works to support the efforts of the Sidmouth Arboretum, Sidmouth in Bloom, Friends of the Byes, the Sid Valley Biodiversity Group, the Beach Garden and other groups concerned with growing things, ‘green affairs’ and nature.
Amongst many ‘niche’ organisations, you may be interested in the Plant Heritage Devon Group for example.
We are currently involved in the initiatives around Sidmouth to deal with single use plastic and the environmental effects of plastic – le by the Plastic Warriors
Nature can also be of use in our Built Environment as our Green Roofs page shows.
SUBJECT LIBRARY:
The VGS website also has several reference pages [available via the menu under Subjects library] which look at the issues around the Natural Environment – for example:
Beach Management Plan – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Sidmouth beaches and tourism – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Climate Science – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Air pollution and emissions – Vision Group for Sidmouth
Biodiversity – Vision Group for Sidmouth
RECENT NEWS:
The regular blog pages [available at Recent News – Vision Group for Sidmouth] look at the latest in the news – for example:
An ongoing issue in the Sid Valley has been Councils managing their grass-cutting regimes – something the VGS has been working on through its Cherishing Sidmouth Cemeteries, with the working party at the Sidmouth Cemetery founded in January 2024.
For much of the 2020s, there has been growing concern about the use of and quality of the water we are provided with. The VGS news pages have looked at reducing water consumption: eco-friendly tips for the home, for example. Its Sustainable Sidmouth Champion Awards for 2023 also promoted ideas on how to ‘save money and save the planet’. And the website dedicated to helping the Sid River since April 2022 has looked at the state of our natural waters.
The VGS is a Transition Town, which is very much about caring for the natural environment: back in December 2020, there was a piece on Devon Transition Towns looking to the future and in February 2018, the group looked back to 2008 and becoming a Transition Town.
Looking at engaging with the authorities, on 7th June 2019 Peter Blyth, a Beach Safety Officer for East Devon District Council, gave a talk to the VGS about the requirements for being a Blue Flag Beach – one of which is to provide educational activities which foster a greater understanding of the natural environment.
For many years, the VGS has worked with Sidmouth in Bloom – the group joining the VGS AGM in 2013 for example. And in June 2023, Britain in Bloom visited Glen Goyle, earning Friends of Glen Goyle an ‘Outstanding’ Award.
Finally, since its inception, the VGS has been in the business of engaging people on climate change. As part of this engagement, the group has regularly posted blog pieces on the climate, from considering the County Council’s carbon plan – Vision Group for Sidmouth in 2019 to addressing concerns about solar farms in 2021. Furthermore, in June 2021 it set up the Sidmouth Solarpunk website, dedicated to visions of sustainability; and in December 2022 it became a founding partner of the Climate Awareness Partnership Sidmouth – another website created and maintained by the VGS.
FUTURES FORUM:
And before the VGS website’s own blog, there was the Futures Forum news blog:
Futures Forum – Vision Group for Sidmouth
With an example of ‘natural environment’ covered from some years ago:
Futures Forum: Local authorities and managing the natural environment [October 2014]
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