Extra Tree Planting Day at Hope Wood
2026-02-04 10:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | Hope Wood, Portford Lane,, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9DD
In addition to the published February dates for Hope Wood planting, an extra day has been arranged for Wednesday 4 February from 10.30-3pm

All tools provided but it’s helpful if you can bring your own spade, and wellies are essential for your walk to the site. Go on – give it a try! You’ll be making a valuable contribution to something that will last hundreds of years.

Come for as long or as short a time as best suits you.
Visit the Hope Wood project page – Click Here

More Community Tree Planting in Hope Wood
2026-02-06 10:30 - 15:00 | Hope Wood, Portford Lane,, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9DD
Wednesday 4 (extra day); Friday 6; Friday 13; Wednesday 18 (extra day);Saturday 14; Wednesday 18 (extra day); Friday 20; Friday 27 & Saturday 28 February 2026: Community Tree Planting in Hope Wood from 10:30am-3pm.
We’d love you to join us for the second part of Season 2 at Hope Wood – South Brent’s new community woodland!
Find us north of Portford Lane (What3Words: boldest.landscape.repay), a few minutes’ walk from Palstone Park Recreation Ground (where you need to leave any cars as there is no parking available on site). Follow signs to site or scan QR code below for directions.

Wear wellies! Tools provided but bring a spade if you have one.
See https://ssb.org.uk/hope-wood/
and ParkLife – the organisation contracted by South Hams District Council to arrange tree planting sessions.

South Brent Seed Swap, Free Tree Giveaway and Gardeners' Social Cafe
2026-02-14 10:30 - 15:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 14 February 2026: South Brent Seed Swap, Free Tree Giveaway and Gardeners’ Social Cafe:
South Brent’s annual seed swap event from 10.30am-3pm in the HUB in the Old School Community Centre. All gardeners welcome, from beginners to ‘old hands’.
Come along, bring, swap, share & discover new seeds to what promises to be an exciting day with something for everyone. As well as an opportunity to swap seeds with fellow gardeners, there will be a sale of three varieties of seed potato for your spring planting: Casablanca (organic) Charlotte (organic), and Kestrel.

You can collect small brown envelopes in which to pack your seeds for swapping from a box just inside the door of The Hub (see right)

There will be also be:

a Gardeners’ Question Time session at 1pm – Always well supported and informative, with local experts. Bring your questions.
a Soil Microscope: meet some of the tiny but miraculous soil creatures that help our crops to grow. Bring a soil sample if you like. Children welcome!
Reconditioned tools for sale – Bring cash and pick up a bargain!
Woodland and coppice crafts – Browse and buy natural, locally made hand-crafted items for your garden and home.
a Raffle and a fun quiz.
a wonderful Café serving soup, scones, cakes and hot drinks

The seed swap will run alongside a Free Tree Giveaway outside the Old School; For details see https://ssb.org.uk/event/free-tree-giveaway/.
Between now and the day there’s a lot of work to be done and the organisers would welcome your help on: Tuesdays 20 & 27 January and 3 February from 6.30-8.30pm in the Hub, Old School Community Centre.
If you would like to get involved and help, or for more information please contact Carol on 0790 0666070 or email halfmoonfield@planetmail.com. To donate raffle prizes please phone Dominic on 07770 956381.
More details to follow

Free Tree Giveaway
2026-02-14 10:30 - 15:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 14 February 2026: Free Tree Giveaway
Under the awning outside the Old School Community Centre from 10.30am-3pm, or until the trees run out (Come early to avoid disappointment).
Run by SSB’s Hedges and Woodland Group. We will be giving away up to five trees/shrubs per person, together with guards and canes. First come, first served, until the stock runs out. There will be a dozen species to choose from, all wild and native to Britain. The plants are one-year-old nursery seedlings (20-40cm tall), so they will need aftercare following planting.
The trees are grown from seed and provided by Devon Wildlife Trust as part of the wider Saving Devon’s Treescapes
Running alongside the Seed Swap (see https://ssb.org.uk/event/seed-swap-2/ ).

Hedges and Woodland Group - Hedgelaying
2026-02-15 10:00 - 15:00 | Harbourneford Road, John Jellicoe's Hedge
See Hedges and Woodland Project page: https://ssb.org.uk/projects/hedges-and-woodland/

Community Orchard planting Postponed to 15 March
2026-02-15 10:30 - 15:00 | Community Market Garden Site
Tree planting in the new Community Orchard planned for 15 February 2026 has been postponed until Sunday 15 March due to the waterlogged site
See: https://ssb.org.uk/event/community-orchard-tree-planting/

Energy Advice Drop-in
2026-02-18 09:30 - 12:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Energy Advice Drop-in sessions Spring 2026

Wednesdays: 18 February; 18 March; 22 April; 20 May; 17 June
Energy Advice Drop-In Session from 9.30am-12noon in The Hub at the Old School Community Centre. Free impartial advice from Mark Skinner of South Dartmoor Community Energy. Worried about the rising cost of energy? Struggling to Heat your home? Not sure where to get good advice? Drop in and find out about: Reducing your energy bills; Grants available; Which energy supplier to choose? No appointment needed.

Drop-in sessions scheduled for:
Wednesday 18 February 2026; 09.30-12.00
Wednesday 18 March 2026; 09.30-12.00
Wednesday 22 April 2026; 09.30-12.00
Wednesday 20 May 2026; 09.30-12.00
Wednesday 17 June 2026; 09.30-12.30

Visit the SSB Energy Project Page: Click Here

Talk on Pine Martens
2026-02-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Friday 20 February 2026: Talk on Pine Martens.
The 4th talk in SSB’s new Nature/Wildlife series, at 7.30pm in the main hall at Old School Community Centre.
Tracey Hamston, who manages the Two Moors Pine Marten Project led by Devon Wildlife Trust will talk about this exciting project, which has involved the successful reintroduction of 15 pine martens on Dartmoor and 19 on Exmoor. She will also discuss the role that pine martens can play in the broader wildlife of Dartmoor.
All welcome;
Refreshments available.
Donations help us do more!

With thanks to Devon Wildlife Trust

Celebration of the life of Eva Stephens
2026-02-27 13:30 - 15:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Eva Stephens
29 December 1967 – 21 January 2026
With great sadness we announce that Eva Stephens died on Wednesday 21 January 2026.
Eva was a beloved friend, neighbour and tireless community champion in South Brent. She had a deep dislike of waste — not just of food or materials, but of overlooked potential. She saw possibilities where others saw rubbish. Her creativity was practical, imaginative and constant: turning scraps into something useful, transforming the ordinary into something beautiful, and sharing what she made with quiet generosity. Many will remember her handmade wax wraps, but they were just one example of her inventive, resourceful spirit.
As a trustee of Sustainable South Brent, Eva turned her values into action. She played a key role in introducing the Community Fridge, ensuring good food was shared rather than thrown away. She was instrumental in establishing the Hub, a collaborative project between Sustainable South Brent and South Brent & District Caring, creating a welcoming space at the heart of village life. She helped develop the partnership with FareShare that grew into the weekly Tuesday food project, widening access to affordable surplus food for local households.
Eva also initiated and helped establish several other projects and events, including the Repair Café, community films and discussions, Talking Rubbish sessions, and children’s craft workshops — always bringing people together and encouraging others to rethink waste and sustainability.
Beyond her community work, Eva made a lasting contribution to many children in the area as an excellent Maths teacher, both privately and during her many years as Vice Principal at Ivybridge College. She combined high standards with warmth and encouragement, helping young people grow in confidence as well as ability.
Eva gave her time, imagination and energy freely. Her legacy lives on in the projects she shaped, the students she inspired, and the many lives she touched.
Her funeral will take place on Friday 27 February. The burial at Sharpham Natural Burial Site will be for family and close friends, gathering at 10am for a 10.30am start. From 1.30pm to 3pm, friends from the wider village community are warmly invited to the Old School Community Centre, South Brent for tea and cake, to support the family, share memories to celebrate Eva’s life and be together as a community. Colourful and joyful dress welcomed.

More Community Tree Planting in Hope Wood
2026-03-06 10:30 - 15:00 | Hope Wood, Portford Lane,, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9DD
More Community Tree Planting in Hope Wood from 10:30am-3pm.
Friday 6; Friday 13; Saturday 14; Friday 20; Friday 27 & Saturday 28 March 2026:
We’d love you to join us for the third part of Season 2 at Hope Wood – South Brent’s new community woodland!
Find us north of Portford Lane (What3Words: boldest.landscape.repay), a few minutes’ walk from Palstone Park Recreation Ground (where you need to leave any cars as there is no parking available on site). Follow signs to site or scan QR code below for directions.

Wear wellies! Tools provided but bring a spade if you have one.
See https://ssb.org.uk/hope-wood/
and ParkLife – the organisation contracted by South Hams District Council to arrange tree planting sessions.

South Brent Energy Fair
2026-03-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 7 March 2026: Energy Fair
Hosted by Sustainable South Brent, Sustainable South Hams and South Dartmoor Community Energy in the Old School Community Centre from 10am-1pm.

Drop-in for expert practical and technical energy advice from a range of local organisations;
Practical ideas on energy efficiency and reducing energy costs.
Access to expert, tailored advice on retrofit and renewable energy options from local energy installation companies.
Free impartial advice and information on government and other grants and funding from South Dartmoor Community Energy.
Refreshments available

Children’s Activities
– Create your very own mini Solar Scarecrow to take home! Workshops starting at 10:15am & 11:15am Find out how we can make electricity from the sun and store it for light at night. Children must have a responsible adult on site at all times… so ask yours to check out the Energy Fair while you get creative! FREE!, but limited places – book a place to avoid disappointment via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mini-solar-scarecrow-workshops-for-children-at-south-brent-energy-fair-tickets-1981721961734,
or use this QR code.

Parking limited.
See: www.sussh.org/events/energy-fair-south-brent.

Community Orchard - Tree planting
2026-03-15 10:00 - 15:00 | Community Market Garden Site
Sunday 15 March 2026: Tree planting in the new Community Orchard:
(Postponed from 15 February due to waterlogged site)
SSB has been given funding towards the new orchard and has taken delivery of approximately 150 orchard trees of varying sizes and types (apples, pears, quinces, plums, mulberries, medlars and nuts). Having been necessary to postpone the initial planting due to very wet conditions on the ground in February, please come and get involved on this very special occasion!
There will be lots to do, for all ages and levels of exertion, from planting, mulching and setting up stakes and tree guards – so it would be wonderful to see as many people there as possible.

10am: arrival time: please head towards the gazebo towards the bottom of the field;
10.30am: welcome and introduction, demonstrations and project update and from
10.45am onward: Tree planting (later arrivals will be allocated to a team who will show them exactly what to do);
3.00pm approximately: finish.

This is the last opportunity for our trees to go in the ground, so whatever the weather we will go ahead, supported by the Sustainable South Brent Wood Group – if the entrance to the field is under water, you will be directed towards the gate of the adjacent Hope Wood field.
Do bring a spade if you can. Wellies, waterproofs, warm clothing, thick gloves, and something waterproof to sit on are strongly advised, along with snacks and flasks of hot drinks. The plan is for this to be the first of many work-days and gatherings on the field throughout this year.
If you are not able to help but want to see what’s going on – you are welcome to come and have a look, and a chat.
No dogs on site please. Children, however, are welcome to come and help to plant a tree, which they can watch grow to maturity as they do themselves!
Access to the Market Garden field site – on foot or by bike, but absolutely no cars – is along Palstone Lane then left down Portford Lane to a signposted entrance on the left. – What3Words: extend.showed.spreading.
For more information on the Community Market Garden and Orchard project, see https://ssb.org.uk/projects/market-garden-orchard/.
If you are interested in helping on this day or for further information, please email marketgarden@ssb.org.uk.

Talk on Devon's World-class Hedges
2026-03-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Friday 20 March 2026: Talk on Devon’s World-class Hedges:

The 5th talk in SSB’s Nature/Wildlife series at 7.30pm in the main hall at Old School Community Centre.
Rob Wolton will talk about the origins and history of our hedges, about their wildlife, and about the many ways they benefit farmers and us all. He will cover their management, from steeping to flail trimming, concluding with the challenges that lie ahead.
Living on the family farm in West Devon, Rob has been closely involved with hedges for over 30 years at both national and local levels and is chair of the Devon Hedge Group. He is the author of the recently-published book Hedges in the Bloomsbury Wildlife series.
All welcome; Refreshments available;
Donations help us do more!

Sustainable South Brent's 2026 Annual General Meeting
2026-04-14 19:30 - 21:30 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Tuesday 14 April 2026: Sustainable South Brent’s Annual General Meeting, celebration and social event.
Open to everyone, at the Old School Community Centre. Doors open at 7pm.
The AGM business part of the evening is from 7.30-about 8.15pm, with:

a Review of the Year;
an overview of SSB’s Projects;
the election of trustees.

Following this, you’ll have a chance to chat with SSB members and find out about volunteering opportunities.
Refreshments and snacks will be available
We do hope you will join us.

The Agenda, Previous Minutes, Proxy form, Annual Financial Statements and Annual Report are available on the 2026 AGM resources page.

Since 2006, SSB has been at the heart of the village’s sustainability activities, aimed at ‘creating a resilient, low-carbon community where all life thrives’, and this annual event is a celebration of all things SSB, and SSB’s chance to thank publicly those who’ve made its achievements possible.

Protecting the Young Fruit Trees in the New Community Orchard
2026-04-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Community Market Garden Site
URGENT: Thursday 16 April 2026 : Protecting the Young Fruit Trees in the New Community Orchard:
After the wonderful effort put by volunteers planting the orchard trees last month there still remain the tree guards to be put in place. A few days ago all the trees were staked by a contractor and we noticed that some of the trees had already been nibbled by deer. We are planning to try and get all the tree guards in place today between 1 and 4pm. The work is easiest done in pairs, so if we can muster half a dozen couples we will be able to complete the work, as each tree guard does not take long. Bring a hammer and gardening gloves!
Access to the Market Garden field site – on foot or by bike, but absolutely no cars – is along Palstone Lane then left down Portford Lane to a signposted entrance on the left (What3Words: extend.showed.spreading). If you are interested in helping on this day or for further information, please email marketgarden@ssb.org.uk see:
For more information on the Community Market Garden and Orchard project, contact the Project Coordinator – marketgarden@ssb.org.uk and visit https://ssb.org.uk/projects/market-garden-orchard/.

Planting Potatoes in the Market Garden
2026-04-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Community Market Garden Site
Thursday 16 April 2026: Planting Potatoes in the Market Garden Field:
For any of you able to spare some time from 1 to 4pm at the Market Garden field – What3Words: reset.making.petted, there will be an opportunity to plant some potatoes! This will be our last chance this year, and we’ve again been given a large amount of seed potatoes that we can plant into compost, as we did very successfully last year.
There will be no digging so easy work and ideal for children to have the experience of planting some veg during the Easter Holidays.

Please bring gardening gloves, a trowel and maybe a shovel if you have one. The weather looks good! But bring wellies and raincoats anyway as the field is muddy.
For more information email marketgarden@ssb.org.uk and visit https://ssb.org.uk/projects/market-garden-orchard/.

Tree Care in Hope Wood
2026-04-17 10:00 - 15:00 | Hope Wood, Portford Lane,, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9DD
Fridays 17 & 24 April; 1 & 8 May 2026: Tree Care in Hope Wood from 10:30am-3pm.

YOU THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER!

We did indeed plant all 12,500 trees before Easter Sunday, but around 2000 of them don’t yet have their woollen mulch mats to protect them from competing grass growth. ParkLife SW will be on site, from 10.30am to 3.00pm (join anytime) to make a start and would be very grateful for your help.

Wear wellies! Tools provided but bring a mallet/lump hammer if you have one. ,

Find us north of Portford Lane (What3Words: deodorant.chainsaw.dads), a few minutes’ walk from Palstone Park Recreation Ground (where you need to leave any cars as there is no parking available on site). Follow signs to site. See https://ssb.org.uk/hope-wood/ and ParkLife – the organisation contracted by South Hams District Council to arrange the tree care sessions.

Talk: 'Plankton, Climate and Gaia'
2026-04-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Friday 17 April 2026: ’Plankton, Climate and Gaia’
The 6th talk in SSB’s Nature/Wildlife series at 7.30pm in the main hall at Old School Community Centre.
Dr Frances Hopkins from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory will talk about how marine life helps to regulate our planet.
Earth’s climate is shaped not just by winds and oceans, but by life itself. Dr Hopkins will introduce the remarkable world of microscopic marine plankton – the tiny organisms that produce half of the oxygen we breath, absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide, and even help clouds to form.
Drawing on Gaia theory, which explores how life and the environment interact to keep earth habitable, she will show how the earths ‘invisible forest’ plays a central role in regulating our climate. She will explain how her research uncovers the chemical conversations between the sea and the sky and how these delicate feedbacks are being affected by climate change.
A fascinating, hopeful journey into the hidden systems that keep our planet in balance.
All welcome; Refreshments available;
Donations help us do more!

ShareFest in Totnes
2026-04-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Totnes Civic Hall, Market Square,, Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 18 April 2026: ShareFest event in Totnes Civic Hall from 10am-4pm.
Celebrating all things related to sharing, repairing,making, swapping including a Big Repair Cafe. It’ll also be an opportunity to connect with others who share this passion, and promote local collaboration.Activities include:

Repair Café
Bike Repair and Maintenance
Clothes Swap
Skillshares
Pay What You Feel Café
Conversation Table
Community Singing
Talks
Children’s Activities
Various stalls

This FREE and family-friendly event, is organised by ShareShed in collaboration with the Network of Wellbeing, and will be one of over 50 ShareFests held around the world.
It aims to showcase a wide range of projects that encourage a more resourceful, collaborative and sustainable lifestyle Please come and say hello, bring items to repair, take part, attend a workshop, look at stalls, eat cake…
Enquiries to: repaircafe@ssb.org.uk
See: https://cagdevon.org.uk/event/sharefest-totnes/
and for further information, contact mirella@networkofwellbeing.org.
Book tickets (free) via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sharefest-totnes-tickets-1983361764428

Annual General Meeting of the Old School Community Centre
2026-04-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Tuesday 28 April 2026: Annual General Meeting of the Old School Community Centre at 7.30pm in the OSCC Hall.

Presentation of Annual Report and Accounts;
Update on Rejuvenating the centre plans;
Opportunity to become a trustee;
Wine and cheese.

All welcome; Not a member: no problem, you can join anytime!
For more info email info@theoldschool.co.uk or call 07707 723637.
Visit www.theoldschool.org.uk/.
NB, this is not an SSB event. However SSB works in partnership with the Old School Community Centre on a number of projects, notably the Hub, where SSB trustees hold meetings and run events. SSB appreciates the help and support the Centre affords us.

More Fruit Tree Care and Potato planting in the new Community Orchard
2026-04-30 17:00 - 19:00 | Community Market Garden Site
Thursday 30 April 2026: More Fruit Tree Care and Potato planting in the new Community Orchard:
After ten people came to the new orchard to install tree guards on the 16th (see: https://ssb.org.uk/event/protecting-the-fruit-trees/) on an unexpectedly warm afternoon, (many thanks for all your hard work!), we now have only around 40 trees left to do.
So we have another call out for volunteers to mulch the trees with the Marsh compost. There is already grass growing through the initial mulching, so we need to pile on some more.

There will also be an opportunity to plant the last of the donated seed potatoes – not many left after 150 were planted last week.
There is also some weeding to be done! Come and join us
– The entrance is muddy so wear boots.
Access to the Market Garden field site – on foot or by bike, but absolutely no cars – is along Palstone Lane then left down Portford Lane to a signposted entrance on the left – What3Words: extend.showed.spreading. If you are interested in helping on this day or for further information, please email marketgarden@ssb.org.uk;
For more information on the Community Market Garden and Orchard project, email marketgarden@ssb.org.uk and visit https://ssb.org.uk/projects/market-garden-orchard/

Hedges and Woodland Group meeting
2026-09-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Wednesday 2 September 2026: Hedges and Woodland Group meeting in the Hub at 7.30pm
FFI email woodgroup@ssb.org.uk and visit https://ssb.org.uk/projects/hedges-and-woodland/.
