Local Green Groups:
For those of you looking for a local 'green' group to get involved in I am pleased to be able to offer this list (if I have missed one please let me know) of active 'green' groups in the Stafford and Stone area. (I am also organising a 'green group' at Stafford College so if your a student there watch this space for more info)
Meeting times and contacts are given where available.
Get involved, make a difference!
Action Organic
Action Organic is the Stafford Local Group of the Soil Association, which supports and encourages farming and gardening organically on healthy soil. The Soil Association was formed to promote the idea that healthy soil is crucial to growing healthy food - organic gardeners and farmers work to improve the structure of their soils, and do not generally use chemicals to suppress weeds and kill insect pests. Organic food therefore does not contain traces of the poisons that can be present in conventionally-grown fruit and vegetables. Action Organic is currently an informal group, with occasional meetings and visits.
Those wanting to join the group and support or learn more about organic growing should contact the Chair, Tom Moore, on 01952 550535 or email tommoore@cslink.com. An interesting newsletter, 'Living Soil', is produced once a year. Those wishing to be on the mailing list, should contact Dave Grain on 01785 611677 or email david.grain@btinternet.com.'
Earth Women
(7.30, first Tuesday of the month, the Vine Hotel)
Women of all ages are welcome to this group. The aim is to learn from each other, and to discuss green issues and anything that can help members to be more environmentally aware and to take action. The group hopes to invite guest speakers from other eco groups from time to time.
Contact: Lesley Darbyshire Lesley earthwomengroup@btinternet.com
Friends of the Earth, Stafford
(8.00, first Monday of the month, County Staff Club).
This group was launched way back in the 1970s and is one of more than 220 Friends of the Earth local groups. The group campaigns on a variety of local and national issues, and actions might include lobbying MPs and councillors, meeting with decision-makers and holding street stalls to give out information to the public. Locally we have campaigned for better kerbside recycling facilities, and against plans for a new incinerator near Cannock. We have also taken part in Friends of the Earth’s highly successful ‘Big Ask’ campaign, resulting in the introduction of the Climate Change Bill, which will commit our government to making essential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. When taking part in a Friends of the Earth national campaign the group receives campaign materials, support and advice from the national organisation.
For more information about the local group see www.foestafford.org.uk. For more information about Friends of the Earth generally see www.foe.co.uk.
Contact : Email:contact@foestafford.org.uk or Contact Julia Fox - Phone: 01889 505771 email: julia@foestafford.org.uk
GAME Group Against Motorway Expansion
(no set pattern of meetings)
G.A.M.E. (the Group Against Motorway Expansion) are against any more road building and believe that the best answer would be to reduce the amount of traffic - by reducing the need for transportation of both people and goods.
GAME was formed in 2004 by environmental activists in Stafford concerned about the government's intention to build over 50 miles of tolled expressway from a few miles north of Birmingham (junction 11) to Knutsford (junction 19) south of Manchester.
The governments initial plan was dropped in favour of widening the M6 from 4 to 6 lanes - at a cost of £3billion.
In 2007 a trial of Active Traffic Management and use of the Hard Shoulder at peak times was successful and it was thought that this programme will most probably be expanded and the idea of ‘full widening’ for this section of the M6 will most probably be dropped.
Contact: John Gale. E-mail - john_gale@tiscali.co.uk Web address: www.game.org.uk.tt
Green Reading Group
(7.30, first Thursday of the month, Vine Hotel, Stafford)
This was formed in June 2008 with the intention of promoting the gaining of knowledge in Stafford society. The books chosen are primarily concerned with Green and Social issues. All are welcome, especially members and representatives of the political parties that are currently deciding the direction of our society.
Open to everybody. Click on 'Green Reading Group' for more information
Contact: John Gale. E-mail - john_gale@tiscali.co.uk
S.A.IN. Staffordshire Against INcineration
Staffordshire is set to become the dumping ground for the West Midlands with a proposal to build a huge incinerator to burn not just domestic waste from Staffordshire, but also waste from other counties and commercial waste.
Website: www.s-a-in.org.uk
Stafford Borough Council Sustainable and Healthy Communities Team
This team is the main delivery mechanism for sustainable development at the Council, though there are also a variety of corporate and mainstreamed activities. Specific partnerships/working groups include the Cycling Working Group, the Walking Working Group, and the Biodiversity Strategy Steering Group (with different events/activities such as the promotion of Local Nature Reserves going on). The team has also secured funding for a new Cycling for Health pilot project. Details of the Council’s sustainability initiatives can be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk.
Contact: Karen Davies 01785 614878
Stafford Green Drinks
(7.30, second Tuesday of the month, Vine Hotel).
‘Green Drinks’ is an international movement. Typically a regular date is fixed and people get together in a pub to network and discuss green issues in depth.
Stafford Green Drinks started in early 2008. Members of the growing list of active green groups holding their own regular meetings have appreciated the chance to meet with members of other groups and to discuss the big issues informally without the pressure of having to work through business agendas.
Most sessions start with a brief input on a particular theme followed by discussion. About half-way through the evening the group breaks for more drinks, and informal chat and networking. Themes have included zero carbon Staffordshire, community supported agriculture (led by Julia Madders), peak oil (led by Dave Moreman of Staffordshire University), transition towns, and energy from renewables.
Contact: Roger Oldfield 01785 664328
Stafford Green Links
This is a Yahoo group set up to discuss sustainability issues for the Stafford area and find out more about what's going on. The group is open to anyone who would like to discuss sustainability, climate change, trade justice, green transport, energy efficiency, peace, sustainable construction, resource use and any other green issues.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/staffordgreenlinks/
Stafford and Stone Green Party
(7.45, last Wednesday of the month, County Staff Club, Eastgate Street )
The Stafford and Stone Green Party is an independent branch of the Green Party. Working closely with other ‘green’ groups we represent the constituencies of Stafford & Stone.
We have monthly meetings which are open and friendly – you don’t have to be a party member to take part. We have lively debates around a different discussion topic at each meeting.
The Green Party is a political party that recognises that the problems of climate change and peak oil are interlinked with and inseparable from the boom & bust system of economics which creates poverty & despair. For this reason, not only are all our policies intertwined with environmental measures, they are also designed to create a society that is just and equitable , as well as sustainable.
Website: http://www.staffordandstonegreenparty.org
Contact: John Gale (01785 214894) john_gale@tiscali.co.uk or Damon Hoppe damonhoppe@yahoo.co.uk
Staffordshire Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
"Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) can take many guises but in effect it allows people to share the responsibilities and the rewards of their local farm by contributing to the daily running costs of the farm (including a fair salary for the farmer), in exchange for part of its (generally organic) produce."
There are plans to hold a public meeting in the very near future.
See the Staffs CSA Google group for more information.
Contact: Julia Madders
Sustainability Matters in Stafford Borough
(7.30, first Wednesday of every second month, County Staff Club).
This group was established in 2003 as an umbrella organisation representing the community of Stafford Borough on sustainability matters. It is a non party-political organisation, with membership open to any business, organisation or individual. It is committed to improving quality of life for both present and future generations by supporting the further development of practical measures and initiatives across Stafford Borough. Its main emphasis has been on lobbying or working with the Borough Council and other institutions; it held seminars on climate change for councillors and others in 2004, and a conference (‘Brick by Brick’) on sustainable building in 2006. In 2008, using outside funding, it launched a website called ‘Save Your Energy’ which offers advice and information on how to save energy, sometimes through grants and discounts and generally using local companies.
Contact: Roger Oldfield 01785 664328
Transition Town Stafford
(no regular date as yet)
Transition Town Stafford is a newly formed grass roots group addressing the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil (ie the end of cheap oil). It aims to work with local people, businesses, and government, helping them to take action to help themselves, and to enjoy themselves in the process, including developing appropriate skills. Everyone is encouraged to get involved. See http://transitiontownstafford.org.uk
Information about meetings and other events can be found via the forums on the above site.
