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9th April 2008: TENONS members enjoyed a talk on bees and honey by John Carrott.
John has had a lifetime interest in bees and for 30 years was a member of the Avon Beekeepers Assn of which he has held various posts including President. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management.

John Flannigan, Trees & Countryside Officer for North Somerset

A handsome plaque comprising oak from Wales and tin from Cornwall has been awarded to Weston for Weston Woods. Weston was one of ten winners of a competition ‘Planting Places’ run by Sustainability South West (SSW), who were looking for imaginative and creative examples of urban greenspace in the region.

During the Forum, presentations were made by Leslie Watson for SSW; George Ferguson for Acanthus, Ferguson and Mann Architects; Gary Mantle, Wilshire Strategic Board; Keith Budden ‘Be Birmingham’ and Sandra Rothwell South West Regional Development Agency. During the afternoon we heard from Naresh Giangrande who is the Focaliser and co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and Jochen Rabe for ARUP.

Friends of the Earth – Residual Waste Disposal
By Jane Stevenson, Friends of the Earth

The West of England partnership are currently proposing to use PFI to build a 200,000-tonne incinerator in our area. This will be discussed at the WoE Project Board meeting THIS WEDNESDAY - 12 March, and again in the North Somerset Council cabinet meeting on 15 April.

If all goes according to their plans, they will put in a bid for PFI credits by 31 March - BEFORE the plans have been agreed by any of the WoE councils. They will put a business plan together for the incinerator in May - BEFORE there has been public consultation on the Joint Waste Core Strategy.

Planting 4 Youth Project - 1st and 4th March
By Rose Hughes

As part of the project to improve the South Ward area in Weston, 4Youth group asked for help to plant hedging along the walking paths in the area. 4Youth is a local youth group aged 10-19 created by The South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership managed by Sara Brown. They aim to change the negative view many people have towards youth and show that they can help towards improving the environment.

The project involved clearing litter and planting a mixed hedge by the Youth Centre, which was completed on the Saturday, and on the Tuesday to clear and fill in the gaps in the hedging in Windwhistle Lane which leads to the now disused Bournville Allotment Site.

Whilst clearing the litter and we made some interesting discoveries which included items from golf balls to old bicycle handles and also some barbed wire - not very nice. As could be expected, the majority of the litter consisted of plastic ranging from wrappers to bags.

Amongst the volunteers were members from Tenons, Judith Tranter and Terry Smith of the North Somerset Wildlife Wardens .

Victoria Rooke from the South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership, and Michelle Cleary and Simon Dyer, detached youth workers for the four estates supported the event. Emma Whitaker, Tree Life Centre Project Officer for BTCV was in charge.

The hedging was largely hawthorn but also included rowan, hazel, blackthorn, guilder-rose and two oaks. Sponsorship came from Western Power Distribution who paid for the trees and also Emma's time.

Charge for Plastic Bags
By Rose Hughes

We were very pleased to see implementation of the charge for plastic bags by Marks and Spencer for their food bags. James Shorney, Manager of Weston's branch tells us that Weston is part of a trial conducted in Ireland and the South West and that they have received very positive feedback.

Their chief executive, Sir Stuart Rose is reported to have estimated that if implemented over the whole of the country, use of plastic bags could be reduced as much as 280million per annum. We were told that the charge of 50p per bag will be going to the Groundwork Charity to help create or improve 'greener living spaces' such as parks, play areas and gardens in various neighbourhoods around the UK

We have been supporting and promoting the use of shopping bags and are heartened to hear the Prime Minister say that all supermarkets should be following the example of M&S.

It is important to remember that although changing light bulbs and taking a shopping bag with you is a very positive move to combat climate change, it is only the first small step on the road. This may be all you can manage for the present but please don't stop there. Look to see how you can reduce your carbon foot print still further, maybe walking or cycling instead of driving. Remember 'Think Global; Act Local'

Photograph courtesy of the Weston & Somerset Mercury, www.thewestonmercury.co.uk

In January 2008 the TENONS' committee was featured in the Weston & Somerset Mercury.
Missing from the photo is Fred Parsons. Joining us is Nkem Muluh representing the Association of Cameroonians in North Somerset. Nkem has worked as an engineer in the palm oil industry. Also joining us is Sonia Russe who was a Personnel and Training Executive with a major public corporation.