Sustainable South Brent

SSB's 'Waste Not, Want Not' Jumble sale
2024-11-23 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 23 November 2024: SSB ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ Jumble Sale and cafe in the Old School Community Centre;
Doors open for a quality jumble sale from 10am to 12:00.
This is a fundraiser to help with running costs of the hub.
Volunteers needed to help. Drop off your pre-loved items on the Friday eve and then we will set up from 8am on Saturday morning. If you can help for a few hours on the eve of Friday 22nd or any time in 23rd we would be most grateful.
There will be a café, so any cake makers, your help is needed!
For more information or to offer help, please contact Eva in the hub or email: hub@ssb.org.uk.

POSTPONED: - Home Composting Masterclass with 'Dr Compost'
2024-11-23 10:00 - 15:00 | The Marsh Composting site, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
This event has been postponed until new year, due to the forecast bad weather – if you would like to go on the waiting list please email info@sussh.org

Saturday 23 November 2024: Home Composting Masterclass from 10-3pm at the SSB’s new home compost demonstration site at the Marsh Compost Site (Exeter Road South Brent TQ10 9QF)
This your chance to learn all you ever wanted to know about compost – and more! Sustainable South Hams ‘compost mentors’ ‘Dr Compost’, Nicky Scott and Mel Harvey will guide you through different methods of home composting and the pros and cons of each. Learn about home composting methods such as ‘daleks’, ‘green cones’, ‘tumblers’, ‘bokashi’, ‘hot heaps’ and ‘biochar’. We’ll take a specific look at what to do with woody offcuts and learn about the power of biochar. Bring a sample of your own home compost and Nicky will make suggestions for how to improve it.
Please bring your own notepads, cameras and ideally, a pop-up chair, plus lunch and snacks. There will be ample supplies of hot drinks. Although there is some shelter, the event will be held outside, so please dress accordingly. – And there is a lovely compost loo on site!
This all-day event is free for SSB Marsh volunteers (both compost and wood groups), who need to book on Eventbrite, as below, by 15th November. After that date, any spaces left out of the 20 available, will be available to other attendees, with tickets costing £20. The event runs over 5 hours as there is so much to learn!
Nicky Scott has been around compost for most of his life from a Saturday job whilst still at school to coordinating the Devon Community Composting Network, employed by Devon Local Authorities. He’s been Chair of the Community Composting Network, is the founder of ‘Proper Job’ in Chagford and a regular contributor to compost forums around the world. Nicky has written many books about composting, spoken at conferences here and abroad and runs innumerable compost workshops. Currently he is revising the third edition of ‘How to make and use Compost’ for Bloomsbury publications. Nicky has most recently worked with Sustainable South Hams to produce the booklet ‘Composting in the South Hams‘.
This event is being run by Sustainable South Hams in collaboration with Sustainable South Brent and is made possible by the support of South Hams District Council.
Book via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/home-composting-masterclass-tickets-1062112329569.

Hedges and Woodland Group - Coppicing
2024-11-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Overbrent Wood, Didworthy, Devon, TQ10 9EF, United Kingdom
Leaders Mike, Mic, Julia
For current Hedges and Woodland group activities, Click here to open the programme

Children’s Christmas Crafting session
2024-12-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 07 December 2024:
Children’s Christmas Crafting session:
An SSB family event from 10am-12md at the Old School Community Centre.
Suitable for children age 7+ (all children must be accompanied by an adult).
Tickets £5, £3 or free – book between 9am on 16th November and 5pm on 6th December via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/childrens-christmas-craft-session-tickets-1037800598527.
– or scan the QR code

This event is hosted jointly by SSB and South Brent & District Caring.

Hedges and Woodland - Coppicing
2024-12-08 10:00 - 15:00 | Overbrent Wood, Didworthy, Devon, TQ10 9EF, United Kingdom

SSB Quiz Night
2024-12-14 19:30 - 22:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 14 December 2024: SSB Quiz Night
Starting at 7:30pm in the Old School Community Centre Hall.

Teams of up to 6;
Entry: £1.00 per person.
Prize for the winning team R
Raffle on the night.
Drinks and refreshments available.

Contact Eva at the Hub to book your place – email hub@ssb.org.uk
or book via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quiz-night-tickets-1089736564399

Hedges and Woodland Group - Hedgelaying
2024-12-22 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-09 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Harbourneford Road, John Jellicoe's Hedge
For current Hedges and Woodland Group activities, venues and leaders, Click here to open the programme
Visit the Hedges and Woodland Group’s webpage – https://ssb.org.uk/projects/hedges-and-woodland/

The March Composting Site - Closed today
2024-12-29 10:00 - 13:00 | The Marsh Composting site, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
The Marsh Composting site webpage: https://ssb.org.uk/projects/the-marsh-community-compost-and-re-use-centre/

Hedges and Woodland Group - Tree Planting
2025-01-04 10:00 - 15:00 | Palstone Woodland, Palstone
Tree planting at the big Community Woodland Launch event – see https://ssb.org.uk/event/opening-of-south-brent-woodland/
For current Hedges and Woodland Group activities, venues and leaders, Click here to open the programme
Visit the Hedges and Woodland Group’s webpage – https://ssb.org.uk/projects/hedges-and-woodland/

Community Tree Planting Day and Opening of the new South Brent Woodland
2025-01-04 10:00 - 15:30 | Palstone Woodland, Palstone
NB. 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 day with the unveiling of the woodland name at 10am before setting about planting as many trees as we can before the weather closes in at around 1pm. Hot drinks will still be available, but food and children’s activities have been cancelled.
A reminder that limited parking is available at Palstone Recreation Ground, a few minutes’ walk from the planting site. The route will be clearly sign-posted. Wellies and very warm, waterproof clothing will be essential. Do bring a cheery sense of humour and – if you have one – a spade. Limited parking available at Palstone Recreation Ground TQ10 9PU – What3Words: shock.lushly.sparks.
Entrance to tree-planting site – What3Words: someone.snowstorm.amends.

Saturday 4 January 2025: Community Tree Planting Day and Opening of the new South Brent Woodland 10am-3.30pm, at Palstone Meadow, off Palstone and Portford Lanes, a few minutes’ walk from the Recreation Ground (where there will be limited parking).
JOIN US: Bring wellies and a spade (if possible), to help plant 2,500 trees in one day.

The 55 acre community woodland, off Palstone and Portford Lanes, in which in which around 25,000 trees will be planted is part of the 65-acre site purchased by South Hams District Council with the support of the Government’s Trees for Climate Land Acquisition Fund and in collaboration with the Woodland Trust and Sustainable South Brent (SSB).
(The other 10 acres of the site have been given over for SSB’s Orchard and Market Garden project (see https://ssb.org.uk/projects/market-garden-orchard/)).

See: https://southbrent.gov.uk/new-community-woodland-for-south-hams/ and www.southhams.gov.uk/news/2024/we-have-agreed-ambitious-woodland-deal and www.southhams.gov.uk/palstone-land.
For further information email communitywoodland@ssb.org.uk or parks@swdevon.gov.uk.

The Marsh - Open for Garden Compost and Waste
2025-01-05 10:00 - 13:00 | The Marsh Composting site, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
The Marsh Composting site webpage: https://ssb.org.uk/projects/the-marsh-community-compost-and-re-use-centre/
Current Marsh volunteers rota Jan-April 2025 Click here

SSB Board of Directors Meeting
2025-01-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Sustainable South Brent’s board of Directors/ Trustees, meet monthly, currently on the first Tuesday of the month.
For further information please contact chair@ssb.org.uk

South Brent Repair Cafe
2025-01-11 09:30 - 12:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturdays: 11 January; 8 March; 10 May; 12 July; 13 September 2025: SSB’s South Brent Repair Café from 9.30-12noon in the Old School Community Centre.
Do you have items you are tempted to throw in the bin? Help is at hand!! Electrical; Jewellery; Household; Bikes; Clothing; Computers / IT; Tools; Furniture; Toys; Knife Sharpening. A team of volunteer repairers offer their services for free, several times a year, with a café with cake to enjoy while your item is being repaired.
Please bring up to 2 small household items for repair. Free, but we welcome donations.
The Repair Cafe runs on the second Saturday morning of January, March, May, July, and September plus the first Sunday in November.
Visit https://ssb.org.uk/projects/repair-cafe/

If you like repairing: OR If you like helping: Organising; Social Media; Baking; Hosting: We need you! Contact repaircafe@ssb.org.uk.

Hedges and Woodland Group - Coppicing
2025-01-12 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-01-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Overbrent Wood, Didworthy, Devon, TQ10 9EF, United Kingdom

An Evening with some Human Herbivores
2025-01-13 19:15 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Monday 13 January 2025: ‘An Evening with some Human Herbivores!’:
7.15- 9pm in the Old School Community Centre.
Curious about plant based diets? Join us for the third evening in our series of ‘An evening with …’ interviews and Q&As. This month we are delighted to talk with some of our local residents who choose to follow a plant-based diet!
– Is it really better for your health and the environment?
Refreshments available.
Tickets £8 / £5 / Free via Eventbrite – www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-the-only-vegan-in-the-village-tickets-1033780825277.
– or scan QR code

Seed Swap Preparation evening
2025-01-21 18:30 - 20:30 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Tuesdays 21 & 28 January & 11 February from 6.30-8.30pm, creative evenings in the Hub to prepare for the seed swap on Saturday 15 February, see: https://ssb.org.uk/event/seed-swap/
All welcome; Tea and Cake provided.
For more information please contact Carol on 0790 0666074 or email halfmoonfield@planetmail.com.

Energy Advice Drop-In Session
2025-01-22 09:30 - 12:00 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Wednesdays 22 January; 19 February 2025: Energy Advice Drop-In Sessions 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?

Subsequent Energy Advice Drop-In dates: Wednesdays 19 March; 23 April; 21 May; 18 June; 24 September 22 October; 19 November; 17 December.

Tree Planting in Hope Wood
2025-01-31 10:00 - 15:00 | Devon
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 arrange the tree planting sessions:
Join our Planting Days. Turn up on Friday or Saturday mornings from 10.00 onwards starting on Friday 31 January and Saturday 1 February. Please just turn up with wellies, waterproofs, spades, lump hammer, snacks and a warm drink. We’ll signpost the wood from Palstone Park Recreation Ground (where you need to leave any cars) if you haven’t been before. These planting days will run through until the end of March (unless we’ve planted it all by then).
With your help we’ll be doing two things by the end of March:

Planting the rest of the trees and shrubs – a mix of native trees (such as alder, aspen, birch, rowan, cherry and willow) and a range of native shrubs (including hazel, blackthorn, elder, hawthorn and spindle). These will be mixed between the oak circles that we planted on the 4th January.
Putting wool mulch mats around the trees and shrubs to limit grass growth and give them the best chance of establishing well.

Community Market Garden and Orchard meeting
2025-02-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Monday 10 February 2025: South Brent Community Market Garden and Orchard meeting at 7.30pm in the Old School Community Centre:
This is a new and exciting SSB project! – come along to a meeting to find out more about getting involved: from growing, building, infrastructure, marketing, promotions, finance, fundraising and much more… It’s YOUR Community Market Garden and Orchard – Please join us!
If you’d like to find out more about the new South Brent Community Market Garden and Orchard, or add suggestions of your own, you can also write your idea on a ‘post-it note’ at the Old School Community Centre or email us at: marketgarden@ssb.org.uk.
Visit the project web page on: https://ssb.org.uk/projects/market-garden-orchard/.

‘Gardener’s Delight’ - South Brent Seed Swap & Social Cafe
2025-02-15 11:00 - 15:00 | Old School Community Centre, South Brent, TQ10 9BP, South Brent, Devon, United Kingdom
Saturday 15 February 2025: ‘Gardener’s Delight’ – South Brent Seed Swap & Social Café from 11am-3pm
Presented by the Seed Swap Collective supported by Sustainable South Brent in the HUB in the Old School Community Centre.
Come along; bring, swap, share & discover new seeds.
We’d love to welcome all gardeners, from beginners to ‘old hands’; with or without seeds to swap.

Use our microscope to examine soil health.
Buy seed potatoes for your spring planting.
Win at our raffle & fun quiz.

1pm: Gardeners’ Question Time – bring your questions. Specialist topics include seed saving & successful germination, no dig growing & soil health, composting, and gardening to benefit wildlife. The panel will comprise:

Fred Groom (from Vital Seeds, Ashburton);
Mel Harvey (from School Farm CSA, Dartington);
Mike Ingram (local botanist with a conservation and land management background – gardening for wild life);
Francis Tophill (Gardeners World).

New this year – Recycle your unwanted gardening and wildlife books at our book bring or buy and choose new books to inspire you gardening needs and support your gardening community. All funds raised go to charity..
There will also be a wonderful Café serving soup, scones, cakes and hot drinks.
Save for the Seed Swap: there is a box of small brown envelopes available in the Hub to pop your seeds in.
Tuesdays 21 & 28 January & 11 February from 6.30-8.30pm, there will be creative evenings in the Hub to prepare for the seed swap, All welcome; Tea and Cake provided.
We would welcome contributions for raffle prizes – please text Dominic on 07770956381.
We would also welcome helpers to set up from 7pm on Friday 14th and on the day itself.
If you would like to get more involved and help at this event, or for more information please contact Carol on 0790 0666074 or email halfmoonfield@planetmail.com.
NB. There is a wonderful display over February, supporting the Seed Swap, in the Old School Corridor Gallery.

Hedges and Woodland Group - Coppicing
2025-03-09 10:00 - 14:00 | Penstave Copse, South Brent, Devon

Tool Sharpening Workshop
2025-03-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Thursday 13 March 2025: Tool Sharpening Workshop
at 7-8:30pm in the Hub at the Old School Community Centre.
This is a free event organised by Sustainable South Brent
– to book a place, please email hub@ssb.org.uk
(this will also help us organise – thank you!)
There will be a further Tool Sharpening Workshop on 29 March

Home Composting Masterclass with Nicky Scott
2025-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Marsh Meadow, United Kingdom
Saturday 15 March 2025: Home Composting Masterclass from 1-4pm at the SSB’s new home compost demonstration site at the Marsh Compost Site (Exeter Road South Brent TQ10 9QF – adjacent to South West Water’s site).
This your chance to learn all you ever wanted to know about compost – and more! Sustainable South Hams ‘compost mentors’ ‘Dr Compost’, *Nicky Scott and Mel Harvey will will guide you through different methods of home composting and the pros and cons of each.
Learn about home composting methods such as ‘daleks’, ‘green cones’, ‘tumblers’, ‘bokashi’, ‘hot heaps’ and ‘biochar’. We’ll take a specific look at what to do with woody offcuts and learn about the power of biochar.
Bring a sample of your own home compost and Nicky will make suggestions for how to improve it.

The event runs over 3 hours as there is so much to learn! Please bring your own notepads, cameras and ideally, a pop-up chair, plus lunch and snacks. There will be ample supplies of hot drinks. Although there is some shelter, the event will be held outside, so please dress accordingly. And there is a lovely compost loo on site!
The event is being run by Sustainable South Brent in collaboration with Sustainable South Hams and is made possible by the support of South Hams District Council.
Tickets are donation based (or free for exiting SSB Marsh volunteers (both compost and wood groups). To book your space go to Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/home-composting-masterclass-tickets-1217905220299
or scan the QR code:

*Nicky Scott has been around compost for most of his life from a Saturday job whilst still at school to coordinating the Devon Community Composting Network, employed by Devon Local Authorities. He’s been Chair of the Community Composting Network, is the founder of Proper Job in Chagford and a regular contributor to compost forums around the world. Nicky has written many books about composting, spoken at conferences here and abroad and runs innumerable compost workshops. Currently he is revising the third edition of ‘How to make and use Compost’ for Bloomsbury publications. Nicky has most recently worked with Sustainable South Hams to produce the booklet ‘Composting in the South Hams’.

Hedges and Woodland Group - Tree Planting
2025-03-16 10:00 - 14:00 | Palstone Woodland, Palstone

Hedges and Woodland Group - group planning meeting
2025-03-18 19:00 - 21:00 | tbc

Energy Advice Drop-In Session
2025-03-19 09:30 - 12:00 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Wednesdays: Energy Advice Drop-In Sessions 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?

Subsequent Energy Advice Drop-In dates: Wednesdays 23 April; 21 May; 18 June; 24 September 22 October; 19 November; 17 December.

Tool Sharpening Workshop
2025-03-29 10:00 - 11:30 | Old School Community Centre Sustainability Hub, Totnes Rd, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9BP, United Kingdom
Saturday 29 March 2025: Tool Sharpening Workshop:
at 10-11:30am in the Hub at the Old School Community Centre.
This is a free event organised by Sustainable South Brent
– to book a place, please email hub@ssb.org.uk
(this will also help us organise – thank you!)
