From little acorns...
If we want to become a community resilient to the effects of climate change then where shall we begin?
Perhaps it starts with an acorn. Take one from the Common. Put it in a pot for a year or two. Take it back and plant it in a gap left by ash dieback. That's nature restoration; a tiny contribution to saving the planet. But, if everyone does it? That's 500 oak trees from just our parish.
But perhaps the acorn might sprout not just shoots but ideas.
What about digging a pond; cycling to work, school or the shops; buying locally; changing electricity supplier; or walking more, talking more?
If we managed all this might we be proud of being part of a greener community; something that could inspire others? Because the problem is far too big for one parish to solve.
And that's just from one acorn.
From little acorns...
A Community Journey
In modern times, with technology, spread out friends and families, and pressures of life, it seems harder than ever to maintain strong, supportive local communities. Climate change, pandemics and recession are global issues that we are all now facing together.
Whilst 2020 and 2021 have been catastrophic in so many ways, one of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been for us to spend a lot more time at home. That has enabled us to get to know our neighbours better and with Zoom, WhatsApp and long walks, a growing group of parishioners have started exploring ways that we can move towards becoming a sustainable community.
A Greener Langford Budville is our opportunity to stand up together and take our futures into our own hands without waiting for someone else to take responsibility. We might only be talking about action in one tiny parish among many, but as they say, 'Change begins at home', and 'From little acorns grow mighty oaks!' If what we do here makes Langford Budville a nicer place to live then that would be wonderful. If what we do is replicable for other communities then that would be amazing!
The One Planet Living Principles (see below) give us a framework to work within, and Community, Sustainability and Democracy are the three 'Big Ideas', the glue, that will bind it all together. Despite this action being new to many of us, and after years of feeling somewhat insignificant and powerless in the tides of change, this is our chance to find out together how we can make positive change in our little corner of the world!
If you're ready, then let's begin...
The One Planet Living Principles
Following what interests us most, with our three big ideas of community, sustainability and democracy always front and center, we have begun to work on these principles. As part of its Climate Emergency Community Fund, Somerset County Council has awarded A Greener Langford Budville the funds to get started. To begin with, the ten of these principles would be too much to take on all at once, but as community interest and engagement grows and the broad spectrum of parishioners' skills and passions come to the fore, who knows where this journey may take us!