Thame Environmental Newsletter

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Environmental Groups in Thame		Volunteer		List your Events

Welcome to the first of 2024's Thame Environmental Newsletter . We are now using 'Sender' for these, (an online newsletter platform). If you do not want to continue to receive these emails then you can 'unsubscribe' using the link at the bottom.

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Thame Environmental Forum

Get involved

At the most recent Environmental Forum meeting we discussed the potential of starting up a regular environment-focused event that aimed to connect with more of the community of Thame and surrounds. From discussion, some early ideas were:

Run regular events, on the alternate months to the Environmental Forum, that is scheduled to run bi-monthly this year.
Events could be on different days/times, to allow them to reach different audience
Ideas for events included a film event, arts event, youth-focused event, 'in conversation with' events, workshops, speakers and more.
Different people could run different events - no one needs to be responsible for all of them, but there is also opportunity for a small team who work to coordinate the publicity and organisation of events.
The events would share an identity - whether that is a name/branding etc. - that would probably link them in some way to the Environment Forum.

If you would like to find out more, help to shape this event, have an idea for an event, or want to play a regular part in a small team coordinating the events then come to the first planning meeting we are having:

Date and time: 22/02/2024, 7pm - 9pm

Location: Upstairs at Racquets Fitness Centre

Thame Trees (21st Century Thame)

Get involved

#Thame Trees are making the most of tree planting season, which runs into March whilst trees are dormant.

Keen to get involved?

Volunteers are needed on Saturday 9^th March to plant a section of hedgerow at the Showground from 10am until mid to late afternoon, or any part of that which you’d be able to attend. You don’t need previous experience. Please email [email protected] with your availability during the day.

If you can't do that date, don't worry - we will also have a further project this season needing volunteers, and really need some help with the heavy jobs of turf cutting and fence removal ahead of planting days – please message us about your interest. If you’re not already signed up for our emails, please fill in the form at: #ThameTrees Get Involved » 21st Century Thame

We will be completing hedging at Elms Park and the Skate Park on two dates in February and look forward to working with volunteers from several local businesses. We are grateful to John Singer from Thame Rotary for his help in finding and coordinating our Elms Park volunteers. We will be posting details of all our projects once completed on our website.

Lord Williams’s School is nearly ready for their own tree and shrub planting project on the school site next week. They would love some help with planting and with shovelling topsoil on Thurs 15th or Friday 16th February (tbc) in half term. Also, if anyone has wildlife-friendly shrubs to donate, please let them know. Contact: Kate at [email protected]

Book your tickets here

Thame Environmental Forum

Six Inches of Soil

Six Inches of Soil is the inspiring story of young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system, transforming the way they produce food – to heal the soil, improve our health, and provide for local communities. The film is being shown as part of Picturehouse Green Screen, at Phoenix Picturehouse, Oxford, 57 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AE on 4/4/24 at 6pm.

Thame Environmental Forum is exploring the possibility of showing this film in Thame at a date in the future, so a group of people will be attending from Thame to learn more about how to host an event. If you would like to attend with them, then please go ahead and book your own tickets and let Becky know by emailing [email protected]

Thame Green Living

Haddenham to Thame Greenway - an update

Sharing here the news and views from Haddenham Safe Walking and Cycling group who are working hard to see the long-promised Haddenham to Thame Greenway established. They publish a regular newsletter with updates. You can read the latest edition here. Thame Green Living are also working with them now to lobby for progress, including a recent letter to John Howell MP.

Thame Environmental Forum

Host a table at Thame Environmental Forum

Following a review of the Environmental Forum at the end of 2023, our new format includes an opportunity for anyone to host a table discussion around a particular topic. The space allows table hosts to share an idea/ difficulty/ opportunity that they have and seek input from other members of the forum.

If you want to host a table at a future forum (spaces are limited to 4 per meeting) please contact Becky in advance with details of what you wish to discuss.

[email protected]

Chinnor & Thame FoE

An update

Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth recently planted 6 established fruit trees for residents on a new estate in Chinnor, and 6 native trees to add to a copse on Whites Field in Chinnor.

We continue with our Clean Air Campaign, supporting schools to discourage parents from leaving their engines running at drop off and pick up times. Sturdy NO IDLING signs have been donated to schools.

Nature and Wildlife books have been donated to libraries in Thame and Chinnor.

Upcoming events

Planning for a new climate focussed event for Thame - Thame Environmental Forum

Date and time: 22/02/2024, 7pm - 9pm

Location: Upstairs at Racquets Fitness Centre

Come and help to shape the idea for our new climate focused even for Thame (see article above for more info)

FOE AGM

Date and time: 22/02/2024, 7 for 7.30pm

Location: Chinnor Village Centre

FOE AGM and Cosy Homes presentation

Thame Repair Cafe - 21st Century Thame

Date and time: 24/02/2024, 12:00pm

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.

READ MORE

Help the Hedgehogs - Chinnor

Date and time: 28/02/2024, 10.30am - 12pm

Location: Climate Cafe at Chinnor Village Centre

Date and time: 29/02/2024, 7pm - 9pm

Location: The Windmill Café

Please come along to learn all about hedgehogs and how to encourage them into your garden. We are working towards having a hedgehog champion on every street in Chinnor. Thank you to those who are already hedgehog champions!

A hedgehog in your garden means more biodiversity and health – they eat beetles, caterpillars, worms and other invertebrates. Having hedgehogs around is a barometer of the health of our local environment, so please do come along to learn and meet fellow hedgehog champions.

Hosted by the Chinnor Climate Café.

For more information, please contact Ali on 07770 935579 or email [email protected] or Maureen via

[email protected] 07528030151

A new community bus for Thame - Thame Town Council

Date and time 29/02/2024, 3pm, 6pm or 7pm
Location: Thame Town Hall

Thame Town Council has funding to deliver a new Community Bus Service in Thame and want to make sure it meets community need. We want to hear from anyone who is either interested in using a bus, or who might like to play a part in delivering the service. There will be opportunities for both voluntary and paid work in this project.

At this meeting you will be able to find out more about the current bus services available; hear plans for new services; inform us where the gaps are; and tell us more about what sort of service would be most useful to you.

Spaces at the meeting are limited, so please RSVP here

Spread the word!

READ MORE

Green Crendon Clothes Swap

Dates and time:

02/03/24 2pm - 4pm

Location: Long Crendon Baptist Church Hall

Green Crendon Clothes Swap Event - Come along, get involved, update your wardrobe sustainably!

This is a clothes swap for adults

We will have rails and tables of clothes to select from

and yummy Tea & cake

Clothes need to be dropped off to Tracy @ Bucksum or @Renewed Eco Shop, Long Crendon in advance of the clothes swap

To take part you need to donate up to a max of 5 good items, we recommend that you choose your 5 best options.

You will then receive tokens for your items which you can then ‘spend’ at the event. So if you donate 5 items, you can take home 5 items. There will be no clothes to purchase.

Clothes left over will be donated to charity or kept for other clothes swap events

Any questions or to get involved please message Lisa Vaughan Thomas (+44 7879 402587)

Thame Environmental Forum

Dates and time:

28/03/2024, 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start

23/05/2024, 6.30pm for a 6.45pm start

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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