Temporary closure of the SSB Community Compost site
Temporary closure of the SSB Community Compost site We want to give you advance notice that the site will shortly need to be closed for three weeks so that long-planned…
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More Tree Planting in Hope Wood
Tree planting at Hope Wood continues apace. If you’d like to be involved, please see the information below from ParkLife – the organisation contracted by South Hams District Council to…
Inaugural Community Tree Planting event scaled back
Due to the poor weather forecast from mid-afternoon onwards on Saturday 4th January, the Community Tree Planting event has been scaled back to focus primarily on tree-planting. We’ll start the…
Guided Walk in Penstave Copse
The Hedges and Woodland Group hosted a lovely walk around Penstave Copse on Sunday 3 November (for more info see ssb.org.uk/event/guided-walk-at-penstave-copse/), with about 50 people who came to learn about…
Name the new South Brent Woodland – round 2
Name the new South Brent Woodland: After a first round of suggestions enabled a short list to be drawn up, please pick the one you prefer from the four listed…
Name the new South Brent Woodland
Name the new South Brent Woodland: South Hams District Council (SHDC) working with the Woodland Trust and Sustainable South Brent (SSB), is inviting local people to name the new 55…
Weekly Tuesday Fare Share
Tuesday Fair Share: from 2.30pm at Palstone Park Rec starting from Tuesday 17 September 2024. A new weekly opportunity for residents of South Brent and the surrounding area to access…
Creation of a Woodland, Market Garden & Orchard at Palstone
Creation of a Woodland and Market Garden at Palstone. There is a Community Drop in on Wednesday 14 August 2024: between 3 and 8pm at the Aune Room at the…
Community Fridge – Drivers needed
Community Fridge – Drivers needed: Can you help us put more food in our community Fridge? We have a growing list of retailers who want to give their surplus to…
Job opportunity – Hub Facilitator
Job opportunity- closing date 19th June SSB are looking for a Hub Facilitator on a freelance contract for 3 months. Flexible weekly hours, 5 hours per week, £14 per hour.…
Balsam Bashing!
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: It’s that time of year again with the Himalayan balsam just about to come into flower in several places. Following his survey for Dartmoor National Park,…
Helping our swifts to soar
There are exciting plans afoot (a-wing!?) to help our local Swift population. You’re invited to apply for a Swift nest-box for your home which could be yours free of charge…
Our Energy Futures – Sustainable South Brent Survey
Sustainable South Brent is looking to influence National Grid’s upgrade programme by promoting the future energy needs in the village. Please click this link or access the form via the…
South Hams District Council Recycling Service update:
Since 3 October 2022, South Hams District Council has been operating the waste and recycling services in-house. Between Monday 25 September and Friday 27 October, those households still on kerbside…
Ways to make payment to SSB
Paying or donating online: you can do this using the online form at https://ssb.org.uk/donate/. Please indicate in the ‘Message (optional)‘ section what the payment is for. You can pay by…
Scything the Sanderspool Cross Roundabout and the ‘Apple a Day’ Orchard on Saturday
Saturday 12 August 2023: Scything the Sanderspool Cross Roundabout and the ‘Apple a Day’ Orchard at the Health Centre. We will be meeting again at 10am, by the Sanderspool roundabout…
Scything at the Marsh on Saturday
Meeting at 2pm this Saturday 5th August at the Marsh (SWW site) off Exeter Rd. – Please note changed time for this activity We’ll be scything the meadow and clearing…
Bumblebees event cancelled
The ‘Introduction to Bumblebees‘ event planned for Saturday afternoon (15 July) has been cancelled for now, due to the bad weather forecast. It is hoped it may be possible to…
Forest Rising Workshops
Forest Rising – a programme for the next generation of leaders, that harnesses youth power, and puts young people at the heart of decision making. Forest Rising is a part…
Talk, Q&A and book signing by Guy Shrubsole tonight is POSTPONED
POSTPONED at short notice due to Illness: Tuesday 25 April 2023: ‘The Lost Rainforests of Britain’ – Talk, Q&A and book signing by Guy Shrubsole at 7:30pm in South Brent…
National Emergency Alerts Alarm system test
Sunday 23 April 2023: National Alarm Test at 3pm. The Government plans to test the National Emergency Alerts Alarm system by sending a national test alarm – a siren and…
Local Democracy
Local Elections will take place on Thursday 4 May 2023. For more information see the South Hams District Council website election page. To be able to vote, you will need…
New SHDC garden waste collection (chargeable )
The free brown bin collection service finished in 2022 and a new chargeable service for South Hams residents wanting to have garden waste collected will start on 3 March 2023.…
ShareShed ‘Locker’ in the HUB!
You will now find a ‘ShareShed Locker’ in the SSB Hub/Warm Space at the Old School Community Centre. Open from Monday – Friday 9am-1.30pm. So, if you can’t come to…
SSB & the South Brent Parish Plan
The South Brent Parish Plan has been in place since 2016 and is currently being evaluated. SSB’s name was next to many of the key actions in the plan. If…
£2 bus fares – Single journeys capped at £2 – extended
The Bus Fare Cap Grant scheme is a Government funded scheme being introduced on most single (including Child and Student) bus journeys across England from 1st January 2023 until 31st…
Old School Community Centre collaboration with SSB & SB&DC on Radio Devon
You can hear Susanne Archard and Rik Meek talking about the collaboration between The Old School Community Centre, South Brent & District Caring, SSB and other organisations such as The…
What do you think of the Hub?
What do you think of the Hub? This great community collaboration means that the trial period for the Hub is proposed to be extended to the end of April. To…
The Community Fridge is Launched!!
The Community Fridge, which has been open and being well used since October, was formally launched and declared open today (Thursday 10 November 2022) by Devon County Councillor Dan Thomas…
New ‘South Brent Sustainability Hub’
Sustainable South Brent has launched its new ‘South Brent Sustainability Hub’ in the Moor Room (formerly the gym) in the Old School Community Centre for a trial period from 24th September until the end of November. Hub…
SHDC waste collection service
We’ve had some enquiries regarding the situation at present with our waste collection service provided by South Hams District Council. They have assured us that the recycling process is still…
Bike Bank Holiday
Please note that the Bike Bank will be closed from Monday 22nd until Monday 29th August. We will not be able to respond to any email requests during that period.…
Big Bike Revival in Ivybridge
Big Bike Revival events in Ivybridge: Sundays: 14 August, 11 & 25 September, 2 & 23 October; : – Encouraging people to cycle through fixing bikes, teaching skills & leading…
Come Scythe with me! – Sunday 7th August
Jeremy Sabel says: “We have been enjoying the wildflowers once again in the village as more road verges are being allowed to grow wild. Now we are entering hay making…
Balsam Pulling Days in South Brent
Thursday 4 and Tuesday 9 August 2022: Balsam Pulling Days in South Brent as part of the Dartmoor Invasive Species Project. Following the survey conducted by ecologist Mervyn Newman for…
SSB’s Community Fridge on Radio Devon
SSB’s Jessica Shipp, Nick Cape and Penny Wainwright will be on air on BBC Radio Devon, on Friday 15th July on the their Breakfast Show between 6 and 9am, in…
Volunteers needed help to tackle Himalayan Balsam around Brent
Starting from Monday 11 July 2022: Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: Following the survey conducted by ecologist Mervyn Newman for Dartmoor National Park, Mervyn, and Dartmoor Ranger Ella Briens and are…
Funding Opportunity – Bring it Back Fund (reduce reliance on single-use packaging)
Bring it Back Fund A new £1million fund to reduce reliance on single-use packaging in the food and drink sector in the UK has been launched by Starbucks and Hubbub.…
Would you like to be involved in a Community Fridge/Larder project in South Brent?
A Community Fridge is a well located space where donations of surplus food can be made and be available for anyone to collect and use free of charge. Donations could…
What happens to old mobile phones?
What does happen to all those old phones? Can you help a local student doing research on recycling phones and raising awareness, as part of Environmental Science for her International…
SSB AGM on 28 April 2022
More information including Agenda, Annual Report, Trustee nomination forms and other relevant documents will be available for download from the website resources from 14 April.
SHDC Green/Garden Waste collection is Restarting!!
South Hams District Council’s collection of garden waste in the brown wheelie bins will be resuming with the first collections taking place the week commencing 28th March. The service will…
Compost Project Co-ordinator
Thought you would! Over the last 8 years the marvellous Martin Duckworth has co-ordinated the fantastic work at the Marsh. However he is now hanging up (and passing on)…
Come and Talk Rubbish at the EcoPubHub on Thursday 6 January
Thursday 6 January 2022 ‘Let’s Talk Rubbish’ at the ‘EcoPubHub’ from 00-9.30pm. We all know we need to reduce our waste in order to live sustainably, but what does that…
Bike Bank – short temporary closure
Please note that the Bike Bank will be closed from Friday 15th – Sunday 24th October inclusive. We apologise for any inconvenience.
No SHDC brown bin collection? – ‘The Marsh’ will welcome your garden waste
South Hams DC has suspended all garden waste collections from Monday 16 August for a minimum of four weeks, see: https://www.southhams.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/guide-waste-and-recycling/garden-waste-service. The Marsh – Sustainable South Brent’s Community Compost Site…
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project – Can you help with some ‘Balsam Bashing’?
Wednesday 25 August and Wednesday 1 September 2021: Dartmoor Ranger Ella Briens says: “Thank you so much for the help you have been giving this project over the Summer. We…
Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Base
IPPC report published 9 August 2021 Scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on…
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project – more Volunteers needed
Wednesday 11 August 2021: Dartmoor Invasive Species Project – more Volunteers needed. Dartmoor Ranger Ella Briens says: “Thank you so much for the help you have been giving this project…
Call for volunteers to help with a wildflower meadow at The Marsh!
Call for Volunteers to help with the Marsh Meadow! 10am to 3pm – come for as much or as little time as you can manage at the Marsh off Exeter Road…
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: more volunteers needed
Wednesday 21 July 2021: Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: more volunteers needed from 10am-3pm. Dartmoor Ranger Ella Briens says: “It was brilliant how much Himalayan Balsam we got cleared on 14…
Community Led Electric Car and Bike Club Survey
Community Led Electric Car and Bike Club – Survey Launched: Local residents, businesses and community organisations are being asked for their views on establishing a community-led electric car and bike…
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project – Volunteers needed
Wednesday 14 July 2021: Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: Volunteers needed. Dartmoor Ranger Ella Briens and ecologist Mervyn Newman are looking for help! Following the survey conducted by Mervyn for Dartmoor…
Penstave Copse – Path Closure to manage Ash Dieback
Penstave Copse – path closure to manage Ash Dieback: Ash Dieback is killing ash trees across Europe. Usually, affected trees are removed along public paths, but the Woodland Trust, which…
The Marsh – compost available again from 23 May
From Sunday 23 May, having placed collection of compost on hold for a few weeks, compost will be available for collection again. However, we still need MORE green garden waste…
Remember the Bike Bank
Here’s hoping the dry weather will soon arrive with early summer!! Just a reminder that SSB Free to Loan Bike Bank is open whatever the weather. Take the opportunity to…
Bus Strategy Survey
Bus Strategy Survey: Anthony Mangnall MP is running a Bus Strategy Survey to gauge local use and perception of the bus services in Totnes and South Devon. The results of…
Young Adult Ambassadors
At the AGM on Tuesday 20 April, we introduced concept of SSB ‘Young Adult Ambassadors’. During the evening, SSB trustee, Hayden Gabriel presented this exciting idea to the membership, which…
A message from the Marsh – We have no compost – We need more green waste
We have been overwhelmed with requests for compost since we re-opened in March. This is the busiest period fo the year but more compost than usual is being collected. We…
Recycling medicine packets and blister packs
NB. This programme will now end on 21 May 2021 South Brent Pharmacy is one of the participating centres in the TerraCycle scheme for recycling medicine packets and blister packs…
SSB’s 2021 AGM is on 20 April
For full details of the AGM, to access the relevant documents (including trustee nomination and proxy forms) and for the link to join the meeting, go to https://ssb.org.uk/event/sustainable-south-brents-annual-general-meeting/ .
THE MARSH REOPENS ON SUNDAY 7 MARCH
The Marsh: SSB’s composting site: Having been closed during the National Lockdown, the Marsh will reopen on Sunday 7 March on Sunday mornings from 10am-1pm. Initially, on 7 March, this…
Public Consultation on the Devon Carbon Plan
Public Consultation on the Devon Carbon Plan: A ‘Net-Zero Task Force’ are creating an evidence-led Devon Carbon Plan which will consider the earliest, credible date which should be set for…
South Brent Station reopening – Survey
South Brent Station reopening – Survey: Anthony Mangnall MP, Cllr. Richard Hosking, Cllr. Peter Smerdon and South Brent Parish Council invite you to take part in their survey to gauge…
Active Hope Course
February – April 2021: Active Hope Course “Exploring how to face the mess we’re in without going crazy”. Dates: Wednesday 24 February; Wednesday 3 March; Sunday 14 March; Wednesday 24…
Marsh closed for lockdown
As a result of the current pandemic situation, the decision has been taken, in consultation with lead volunteers, that The Marsh, SSB’s Composting and Reuse site will remain closed for…
SSB’s Virtual ‘Betwixt & Between’ Pub Quiz on Tuesday 29 December 2020:
Click on the poster for more information
Glyn Richards retires as Old School Community Centre Manager
Glyn Richards Manager of the Old School Community Centre (shown here joining in with our Community Radio Project way back in 2016) Glyn retired as Centre Manager in November 2020. …
FRANK NOBLE – Village Drive through on Thursday 13 August 2020 between 1250 and 1305
Thursday 13 August 2020: Frank Noble – Village Drive Through: Many of you will have heard that Frank Noble, passed away peacefully on 22 July aged 80. Frank was an…
Volunteers needed for stacking 500 bales of straw for strawbale barn building
Volunteers are needed please on the morning of Wednesday 22 July for stacking 500 bales of straw for the strawbale barn building course near Diptford on 17-28 August . The…
Mobile ShareShed’s ‘Library of Things’
Mobile ShareShed ‘Library of Things’ – every Friday from 10am to 12noon, at South Brent Old School Community Centre, from Friday 3 July you can find the ShareShed, the world’s…
Sustainable South Brent’s Remote Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 21 July 2020
Sustainable South Brent’s Annual General Meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21 July 2020. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic the Annual General Meeting (originally scheduled for from…
Arundhati Roy – ‘The pandemic is a portal’
“Whatever it is, coronavirus has made the mighty kneel and brought the world to a halt like nothing else could. Our minds are still racing back and forth, longing for…
South Brent Community Crisis Assistance (updated 12 April 2020)
Coronavirus / COVID-19 South Brent Community Crisis Assistance continues to develop under the auspices of South Brent & District Caring with more internet resources and information See http://sbadc.org.uk/ and visit…
Food Donations Please
Food Donations Please. Food Banks have been struggling due to reduced donations as concern about coronavirus spreads. Facilities are being planned for food donation so that needed items can go…
South Brent Climate Fair – has been postponed
POSTPONED: South Brent Climate Fair 2020 – initially scheduled for Saturday 18 April this event, long planned by Sustainable South Brent supported by South Brent Parish Council, Rattery Parish Council…
Love Devon hate fly-tipping? Your county needs you! – ‘Clean Devon’ Logo Competition
‘Clean Devon’ is a new partnership of organisations working together to tackle litter and fly tipping across Devon, which will be launched in the New Year. It will see environmental…
Talking Rubbish – New Coordinator opportunity
November 2019: New Coordinator opportunity! Hardly a day passes without there being some news related to waste, pollution, plastics etc etc. Thank goodness it has become part of mainstream conversations,…
Dartmoor Local Plan Consultation
The final draft of the Dartmoor Local Plan has now been published – click here to download There will be a Dartmoor Local Plan Consultation Drop-in Event on Tuesday 1…
Climate Action
Climate Change Action: a Global Day of Climate Action was held on Friday 20 September 2019. Millions of school children and students around the globe have struck to demand an…
The Devon Bat Project
Find out about Devon Horseshoe Bat Project: https://devonbatproject.org/ Make the most of the long summer days by joining some of the Devon Bat Project’s events. For information on local events…
Shoe Recycling / Re-use – September collection
Buckfastleigh is doing its annual Shoe Collection during September and will take your unwanted shoes. They will be taken by a recycling company, who send good ones to third world…
Shipley Bridge Car Park closure and disruption from Aish to Shipley 9th to 13th September 2019
Shipley Bridge Car Park closure and disruption on road from Aish to Shipley Bridge between 9 and 13 September 2019: West Country Rivers Authority, in partnership with South West Water,…
Working at the ‘apple-a-day’ orchard
Down at South Brent Health Centre there’s been some scything going on… If you haven’t already visited the orchard at the rear of the Health Centre then please take a…
The new South Brent Archive is launching on 19 August
The new South Brent Archive – will be launched on Monday 19 August 2019 in the Old School Community Centre from 11am-8pm. Local Historian Christine Scott, who has donated her…
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: Himalayan Balsam – Volunteers needed
Dartmoor Invasive Species Project: Himalayan Balsam – Volunteers needed. Work has now started on the Dartmoor Invasive Species Project. Ecologist Mervyn Newman has planned volunteer work parties focussing on Himalayan…
“Unite behind the science” – Greta Thunberg at the French National Assembly on 23 July 2019
Video of Greta Thunberg’s speech to the French National Assembly on 23 July 2019 “Unite behind the science” (12 mins) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2412771489046644
Lights! Puppets! Action! – Creative Climate Awareness Workshop
Saturday 3rd August, 10:30 – 4:00 Old School Centre For adults and children (over 10 years). Explore solutions to the climate crisis in a collaborative and creative workshop, using shadow…
South Brent Parish Council Declares an ‘Environment and Climate Emergency’
At the first meeting of its new council on 20th May 2019, South Brent Parish Council resolved to declare an ‘Environment and Climate Emergency’. Prompted by a letter from SSB…
Brent Island Silver Jubilee Fair – Can you help?
SSB will have stalls at the Brent Island Silver Jubilee Fair on The Island on Saturday 8 June from 2-5pm (see event). If anyone is able to help set it up,…
Towards a Zero Carbon South Brent
Environment and Climate Emergency – towards a Zero Carbon South Brent: Sustainable South Brent has created a ‘Zero Carbon South Brent sub-group’. The group will look to pursue further local…
Greta Thunberg: “You did not Act in Time”
Following the discussion at the end of the AGM about what we should be doing in relation to climate change and the inspiration that had been gained from those participating…
Let’s help the Share Shed go mobile – UPDATE
UPDATE: Share Shed won its ‘People’s Projects Campaign’, thanks to the public votes, and received a cheque for £48,599! See Facebook. Visit https://www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk/projects/view/share-shed , watch the short video about Share…
The Marsh container has been moved… brilliant team work!
On Wednesday Richard Buckpitt brought his amazing machine to the Marsh site and, with the help of a number of volunteers was able to move the container we have used…
What do we want?
SSB projects feature in the Corridor Gallery throughout February – and the displays give a real flavour of the breadth and depth of SSB activities. And here are just a…
News from Bangalore
SSB Trustee, Laura Denning, is currently in Bangalore (India), undertaking a month long project with local art students, exploring the water crisis in the city and developing problem-solving strategies through…
Christmas Recycling
Wrapping paper is difficult to recycle as it contains thin fibres, is often dyed, laminated, glittery, metallic or has tape attached. For these reasons, not all areas will accept wrapping paper…
Permitted development for shale gas exploration – open consultation deadline October 25.
You may wish to add your voice to the consultation on the principle of granting planning permission for shale gas exploration development through a permitted development right and to making…
Ta -da! … the new solar powered compost tumbler…
It’s in action NOW. So come down to the Marsh with your garden waste and see it in action. The electric trommel (compost sieve) was made by Richard Mumford to…
Volunteering opportunity at Shipley Bridge
Shipley Weekend – Are you able to come along to help the Archaeologists and Dartmoor National Park Rangers at Shipley Bridge, South Brent? – Grid Ref: SX 680 629 On…
Brent Bees….
We have heard that a local beekeeper needs to relocate three beehives – really to a place where the bees will be undisturbed and also the beekeeper can visit without…
Talking Rubbish – A New Group is Launched!
SSB’s Talking Rubbish Group has had two lively meetings in May and June. We discussed all things to do with rubbish – particularly plastic pollution and how we can reduce,…
Guided walk in Penstave Copse, Sunday 3rd June 2018
Guided walk in Penstave Copse, Sunday 3rd June 2018 This was the first walk of this kind, which the ‘Wood Group’ has organised, and it went splendidly. We did everything…
Guided walk, Penstave Copse, June 3rd, 2:30 departing Village Hall.
Penstave Copse, is a 21 acre Woodland Trust site, all less than a mile from South Brent, in the Avon valley. It’s part ancient woodland, part grassland, and part ‘new’…
Family Woodland Activity Day on Sunday 29 April 2018
Family Woodland Activity Day from 11am – 3pm in Railway Wood (on the far side of Palstone Recreation Ground). Come along and have fun! Join in woodland crafts, games, campfire,…
Sustainable South Brent AGM on 19 April 2018
Sustainable South Brent AGM at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. The AGM will be followed by a talk on ‘Energy Storage – Past present and future’ by Joddy Chapman: Recent…
Talking rubbish
Thanks to Dan Taylor and Hayley Russell who gave us a thought provoking presentation on ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. The fifty or so people at the meeting were keen to…
Secrets of the refuse sack
• Thursday 22 March 2018: Re-cycling: Secrets of the refuse sack: at 7.30pm in the Aune Room at the Old School Community Centre (note change of venue). Sustainable South Brent…
A new season of guided bike rides – March events
Here are the details for the March Rides. We will post details for later rides when we have them. Sunday 11 March 2018: Ivybridge to South Brent (11.5 miles /…
Listening to the South Brent Radio Archive
The South Brent Sound Map has sprung into action. This is an online map with snippets from the SB Radio archive. Click on the pins to listen in to conversations…
Vote, vote, vote for The Marsh
Congratulations to our team of volunteers at The Marsh Composting site who have been shortlisted for the Recycle Devon People’s Choice Hero award. Now they need your vote to help…
Feedback session – with cake…
A picture from the food project volunteer evaluation session. A huge thank you to the volunteers. Karin, our food project worker has totted up all the hours ‘given’ and it…
Woodland management and adding value to wood…
Our ‘Wood Group’ don’t cut trees down, because we dislike them; but to encourage new growth. Then, we make the best use we can, of whatever resources we have; woodland,…
‘They’re changing guard at the Old School palace…”
Rowan Wylie penned this tribute to Alice – which a motley crew sang on air during the last broadcast of South Brent Community Radio. They’re changing guard at the…
New SSB website launched!!
As you will have noticed, the SSB website has a very new look and feel. Although it was launched on 15 November, following the trustees decision to revamp the website,…
South Brent Food Project
A brilliant cafe ran alongside the South Brent Radio Day at the Old School Centre. Karin Jordan and a wonderful team of volunteers provided first class cakes and drinks, and…
Autumn Newsletter
SSB members have been busy over the past few months. Watch out for the Autumn Newsletter for all the latest news. You can opt to have this delivered by email…
Storytelling
In the Summer of 2016 SSB were contacted by Awards for All and offered £500 towards a special project of our choice. We decided to launch an Artist’s Commission and…
Wood Fair 2017
South Brent Wood Fair from 10.00am to 5.00pm at and around South Brent Village Hall. A free, family friendly event, celebrating our local trees and woodlands and all their rich…
Community Radio Workshop – Saturday 10 June 2017
Saturday 10th June 2017: Free Community Radio workshop in the Old School Centre from 10.30am-12.00. Make your own radio show! Have a go with the community radio equipment: Sound recording,…