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ABOUT US For details of the Steering Group see HERE Vision Statement A rural community that is friendly, inclusive and resilient where people share skills, ideas, knowledge, experience and time. A connected and healthy community, where everyone can get around with minimal carbon emissions. A green community that is rich in wildlife, that encourages biodiversity and cares for all species. An empowered community, where every individual can make a positive difference for the benefit of all. A socially responsible and sustainable community where we actively care for our environment and the wellbeing of current and future generations. Mission Statement ​ ​ To share information, enabling constructive dialogue around sustainability and supporting positive behaviour change To identify opportunities to support and enable the reduction of carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases and waste To respect, protect and restore our natural environment by fostering greater community awareness To create a self-reliant and environmentally resilient Parish where community cohesion and well-being are enhanced Objectives To make a positive contribution towards finding practical and affordable ways of reducing carbon emissions in our community To champion environmental awareness by working with all ages and experience and sharing reliable information that will lead towards a greater understanding of our impact on the natural world To support our natural world, and where possible, increase the diverse range of birds, plants, insects and mammals in our community To promote practises that have a positive and lasting benefit on our environment To encourage participation and inclusivity in the group’s work leading to an improvement in personal wellbeing and sense of belonging

Bat Detectives Saturday 2nd or Sunday 3rd September 2023 Williams Hall Stoke St Gregory Somerset Bat Group Stoke St Gregory Environment Group Somerset Wildlife Trust 7.15 - 9.30 pm Book HERE FREE This event is weather dependent as it needs to be a dry and not windy early evening, so it will hopefully be on either the Saturday or the Sunday evening. We will be learning how to use a Bat Detector, which attaches to a phone and working in small groups to see how many species and numbers of bats we can identify in the village. It will be a fun evening and suitable for all ages. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. ​ This is a FREE event, but PLEASE do BOOK via the SWT Web Site - HERE Starting out at Stoke-St-Gregory Village Hall you’ll get a short briefing, collect a bat detector and your group will head out to an area within Stoke-St-Gregory parish (including Curload, Woodhill and Meare Green). Please note that you will need to arrange your own transport to get to your survey location. Once you have surveyed your area you will head back to base to return your kit and find out the results. Please be aware that this is not a guided walk and your team will not be accompanied by a member of staff or volunteer during the survey This event is part of the Somerset BIG BAT COUNT It's your chance to get involved in real-time, night-time monitoring of bat species and use the very latest, cutting edge bat detecting technology to collect data. The more data we collect about the county’s bats, the better we can conserve the habitats they call home. I f you would like to find out more about Somerset bats have a look at the Somerset Bat Group's web site HERE

Recycle Your Smart Tech Is your old computer still working, but you now have an upgrade? Stop before you throw the old one out! With a few quick repairs your old machine could make someone else’s life a bit easier. Not all old computers and electronics are disassembled. Machines that are in working condition may be donated to low-income families, underfunded organisations, or schools. This gives adults and children across the world access to the technology they need, but might not have been able to afford. Did you know that over 40 million tons of electronic waste are discarded every year? Because of this astounding number, recycling old computers and other electronics is more important than ever. Materials in old computers can be used again, and working machines can be donated to schools and charities. Computers and other electronics contain hazardous materials, like carcinogens, lead, and mercury. If an old computer is dumped in landfill, these nasty substances can leach into the atmosphere and waterways. Polluting can be harmful to plants, animals, and humans, too. When recycling old computers, the computers are disassembled. Many of the parts can be broken down into raw materials to be used again in new electronics. This means reducing the need to mine finite resources. The metals removed from an old computer’s circuit board, for example, can be used again in a new computer’s circuit board – so nothing goes to waste. If you’re looking to buy a new computer, it’s worth checking out any trade-in deals available at computer retailers. Some are willing to give a discount to those who bring in their old device. Natural resources are not unlimited. We need to reuse resources we already have. When using recycled materials, less resources, energy, and money is needed to manufacture new products. So what’s happening at this year’s ENVIROFAIR? Somerset Waste Partnership’s Fixy initiative will be there and will happy to receive any smart tech equipment you are willing to donate. They will accept donations of unwanted laptops, tablets, mobile phones, digital cameras and other smart devices. All data will be securely wiped before items are passed back into the community. If it’s working or repairable it will help bridge the digital divide between t he rich and the not so rich. If you can’t get to the ENVIROFAIR ? You can donate your smart tech at one of DonateIT’s collection points across Somerset and other parts of the South West. One such is Langport Library, Whatley, Langport TA10 9RA. Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 10am - 4pm. Sat 10am to 4pm More details at https://donateit.co.uk

Williams Hall Stoke St Gregory 10 am - 4 pm FREE ENTRY Saturday 1st June sees Stoke Environment Group’s Fourth Annual ENVIRONMENT DAY in the Williams Hall, Stoke St Gregory - Free Entry & plenty of free parking. Make a note in your diary - it will be ‘Serious Fun For All The Family’. If you came to either of the first three ENVIROFAIRS you only need to know that this one will be even bigger and better. Have look HERE at some of the contributors Plant Table We Need Seeds, Seedlings & Plants For Our Plant Table PlantTable Please think about it NOW . If you are planting seeds, can you sow a few more in another container to l et us have on the day? If you have some plants you are thinning, can you pot them up now, so they have time to root? ​ And can you make sure you label them? Please drop them off to the Village Hall as early as you can on the morning of Saturday 1st June. If you can't be around then, please drop them off at Trevor & Jane's, Birch House, Woodhill , Stoke St Gregory as near as possible beforehand. Bring something with you & take something away; or just bring something with you; or just take something away. All free, but there will be a pot for donations. If you have somewhere you could display a poster please download and print this one HERE Fixy

Stoke St Gregory villagers, young and old, gathered last Saturday to plant 120 metres of native hedging around their Village Hall. About 500 whips of 14 different species were planted, being sourced from Reimagining The Levels and the Woodland Trust. Apart from the general benefits to the local environment, the new hedge will provide an important wildlife corridor from the hedge in Dark Lane to the one in Slough Lane. Roads, buildings and arable fields create huge barriers to wildlife. By filling in the gaps and connecting what must seem like an impossible obstacle course, wildlife - both great and small - can move safely from one place to another. This is the first environmental project organised by Stoke Environment Group that directly involved members of the community. We hope and believe that this will encourage community ownership of the hedge and the project overall. Wildlife Corridors Roads, buildings and arable fields create huge barriers to wildlife. By filling in the gaps and connecting what must seem like an impossible obstacle course, wildlife - both great and small - can move safely from one place to another. But it’s not just tunnels under motorways, or even hedges round village halls. We can all help to make smaller corridors within our village, especially from garden to garden. Winter is the best time to start. With some of the vegetation died back we can see what’s what. For ideas, have a look at this RSPB page HERE Below is a list of the species that were planted A Big Thank You to everyone - of all ages - who turned up to make this a truly 'Community Planting Day' Amongst the young people helping was Cecily Arthurs, aged 7½, Kingfisher Class, Stoke St Gregory School, who gave this interview: Why do you think it is important to plant hedges? C: Because it makes homes for wildlife and makes more oxygen in the air. Did you enjoy planting the hedge? C: Yes, because I saw lots of worms. And worms mean the soil is healthy. Why do you think it is important to look after the environment in the village? C: Because I have never seen a hedgehog and I really want to see one. And there will be more homes for squirrels.

24th September to 4th October The Big Planting Saturday, 24th September, The Williams Hall, 10am – 4pm Come along and join SEG volunteers planting native British bulbs at The Spinney, the Village Hall and along Willey Road. These will provide food for the early pollinators in the spring and add a touch of colour to brighten up our village for everyone to enjoy! (Refreshments and lunch will be provided). ‘Ways to Save on your Energy Bills’ Wednesday, 28th September, The Williams Hall 1.30pm-2.30pm The Centre for Sustainable Energy will give a talk on how you can make your home even more energy efficient. Hear about the grants available and the ‘Low Cost, No Cost’ actions you can take to reduce energy use and cut your bills. Get independent advice on suppliers, tariffs, billing, meters, payment plans and debt. The Big Swap Saturday, 1st October, The Williams Hall, 10am – 4pm Come along with any items you no longer use or need and would like to swap for something new to you! Clothes, toys, furniture, tools etc. Book a table or just come along on the day. A fun way to meet up with neighbours and share! Refreshments available. Email: envirostoke@yahoo.com Website: www.envirostoke.org

STOKE FOOD PARTNERSHIP Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, England stokefood@yahoo.com Back HERE to Stoke Food Partnership Home Page FOOD WASTE (Using All We Can ) As UK households we waste 6.5 million tonnes of food every year, 4.5 million of which is edible. We’re not just talking egg shells or chicken bones. We mean the last few bites from my plate that I couldn’t quite manage, or bread crusts, or potato peelings – all stuff which could have been transformed into something delicious. " Love Food Hate Waste" (Web site HERE ) is a very good starting point for anyone interested in reducing the amount of food they waste. As they point out: "The average family of four can save just over £60 per month by reducing their food waste. Whether you’re doing the food shop or ordering a meal at a restaurant, every decision is an opportunity to save food from the bin. If you don’t want a side salad, ask for your meal without it. If you won’t make good use of the extra portion, don’t be tempted by it. And if you can’t finish your main, ask for a doggy bag! Food is made to be loved, so that’s what we should do." Stoke St Gregory & North Curry Homegrown Swap Shop is a great way of cutting down on waste food if you have a surplus - from your garden or an unwanted BOGOF offer. Their Facebook page is HERE Spare plants are also always welcome. Just leave stuff on the shelves outside the Wagon House, Meare Green. The BBC 'Good Food' Section has some useful material on food waste (see HERE ) Reminding us that misshapen, marked, discoloured or oddly sized fruit and vegetables often don’t meet the standards of the marketplace (up to 20-40% are thrown away before even leaving the farm). There are suggestions and recipes to help avoid throwing away leftovers and surplus food. What Can We Do? Your suggestions and examples of your own experience would be very welcome. Let us know what you do at home to cut down on waste food and we'll post the suggestions here. Please contact us at stokefood@yahoo.com

ROUND ROBIN - 07 - April 2023 Click HERE ​ ROUND ROBIN - 01 - December 2022 WELCOME TO STOKE ST GREGORY’S NEW BLOG ON ALL THINGS ENVIRONMENTAL, SPONSORED BY SEG. WE HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY THIS PUBLICATION, FIND IT USEFUL, ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE. WHAT CAN I DO? GO TO:Change.org ‘The World’s Platform for Change’ This is the largest platform for global social change, founded 2007, as a non-profit foundation.This a simple way to support multiple causes. You can just tick, share or donate as you wish. In 2019, the young sisters Ella and Caitlin took on McDonald’s and Burger King to ban plastic toys in their kids’ meals. They achieved over 560,000 votes on change.org. In 2019 Burger King banned plastic toys. McDonald’s attempted to give a choice of toy or fruit - eventually 2 years later they have capitulated (paper and soft toys). This is in the UK only. The irony is these plastic toys are now being sold as collectors items. At least they are not all going to landfill. *************************************************** The Wild Life Trust: ‘Changing Nature’, have made a climate risk assessment on their estate of nearly 400 sq. miles. They are campaigning to see increased efforts from governments, business, and other landowners. You can read on line their Impact Reports: wildlifetrusts.org. To join Somerset group: £3.50 per month. This dynamic organisation has many campaigns and ways you can support or be involved. ENGLAND’S TOP LAND HOLDERS (ACRES) Forestry Commission 489,814 National Trust 474,641 Ministry of Defence 397,098 Crown Estate 264,233 United Utilities (water companies) THE CUP THAT CHEERS: ‘Plastic’ free tea bags is often misleading. PG tips uses PLA (Polylactic Acid) from plant fibre, which will not break down in your compost. Tetley, Yorkshire are following suit, Twinings have plans for 2025. Pukka, Teapigs, Whittard use various plant fibres and pulps - but these still need commercial composting. Break open to compost leaves, put the bags in your food disposal box. Best option? Buy loose tea sustainably packaged such as Pukka and Teapigs. Langport Stores sells loose tea; you can take your own container. RECYCLE Plastic bottles eg milk containers: swill out, squeeze and screw on top. Put in Blue bag. Glass containers eg beer bottles, jam jars: Swill out, put glass in box and metal tops in Blue bag. You can put small tops inside an empty can then squeeze shut. Stoke telephone box - next year we hope to make this a recycling depo for blister packs. SEG has grubbed out and planted the bank next to the box. HOT TOPS FOR KEEPING WARM Invest in hot water bottles, they make cosy portable heaters. Put behind your knees for best effect. Thermal underwear can be very expensive. Wear several thin layers to trap body heat. Have a thick blanket on your settee to snuggle into. Wear warm slippers in the house. Hats and gloves outside - or in the house or even in bed. Body extremities are where you loose most heat. A curry, chilli or soup will warm you up. A cup of tea warms your inside and hands! Keep doors closed, use draught excluders eg: curtains, sausages - I made mine from an old pyjama legs stuffed with the rest of the pyjamas. When you turn the oven off leave the door open for residual heat to escape (not if you have young children). GREEN GARDENING I recently decided that my garden lacked one important element - water. I didn’t want a pond, risk hazard for the grandchildren, expensive to install and a lot of maintenance. So I went much, much smaller. I re-purposed an old washing up bowl, two plastic boxes and one small tin tray. I put gravel and stones in the bottom of each and filled up with rain water, or you can use tap water that has stood for a couple of days. The tin tray I filled almost to the top with small pebbles to make a bee bar. The bowl and a small box have been inserted into an old pallet. NO PLASTIC PLEASE SANTA! You can eat Quality Street this Xmas without feeling guilty. They are introducing paper wrappings. This will remove 2.5 billion pieces of packing from their industry, per year. Smarties have also gone plastic free. Sweet! ****************************** At Xmas we use in the UK roughly 300,00 tonnes of wrapping paper and card, and 1000,000 tonnes of plastic - 80% of which is toy packing. Use paper tape, eg. Naturally Wrapt (online) or tie with string, ribbon, raffia. Use recycled/recyclable wrap. Eco friendly wrap sold at our shop. Buy second-hand toys/books/games, or from charity shops. Buy your Xmas vegetables/fruit loose from a local farm. Homemake crackers, or make little boxes filled with sweets (Smarties and Quality Street?) or festive gingerbread. Don’t buy any cards wrapped in plastic. Children find it great fun to make their own cards, or make new cards from old. Send Xmas postcards instead, like the Victorians. See Eco Craft (online) for sourcing and inspiration. XMAS RECIPE PANZANELLA SALAD great use for stale bread, cheap and filling. 2 lb ripe tomatoes, cut into small chunks and deseeded 1 red onion thinly sliced 3/4 lb thick bread cut into small cubes lightly tossed in olive oil Cucumber, thin slices cut into 1/2 moons Sauce: 2 tblsp Red/White wine or cider vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil, basil, crushed garlic, seasoning. Put bread on a tray and bake 180 C fan until crunchy but not brown. Drain tomatoes and put juice to the side. Mix onion, cucumber and tomatoes. Add cooled bread. To tomato juice add sauce ingredients and whisk until thick. Pour over bread and stir together. Chill for 6 hours. There are lots of variations to this recipe. You could add olives, roast peppers, anchovies or capers. ……………………………………………………………………… Shockingly we waste about 8 million tonnes of food a year in the UK (latest figures available 2018) LEFT OVERS: Use stale bread for: Stuffing the turkey, or make into balls with herbs and onions, or bread sauce. Coating homemade burgers, patties, fish, chicken fillets. Mix with grated cheese and use as a gratin topping, grill or bake. Make garlic bread, crostini, brochette or croutons. Bread and butter pudding or bread pudding all good cheap fillers. SPREADING THE COST: An easy way to make your butter go further is to make your own spread. Put 200g of salted butter in a bowl and beat until soft. Add 100ml oil of your choice and mix slowly at first, then increase speed for approx 2 mins until homogeneous (well mixed). It may look too soft but when chilled it will be fine.This is a healthier as it reduces the saturated fats found in butter. ………………………………………………………… If you have any have any queries about this publication please contact Karen Housego email: housego20@yahoo.com uk The research and content of the Round Robin is done to the best of our abilities.Let us know if there has been a big blunder, for the little ones please forgive us. JOIN US AND TURN THE WORLD AROUND Contact: envirostoke@yahoo.com MOBILE PHONES What is 3TG? It is an umbrella term for ‘Conflict Materials’ eg. Tantalum, Tungsten and Gold - the mining of these is linked to human suffering, pollution and destroys ecosystems. We no longer have a law against regulating this (EU law 2021). How can I cut my phone carbon emissions? They create around 1% of global greenhouse emissions. Most of the carbon foot print is in the making of a phone - a 2 year phone will be 52.5kg - 10 years later 10.5kg. It is estimated that currently there are 55 million unused phones in the UK. So the solution is simple and so much cheaper - buy a 2nd hand phone. The longer you take to write and read an email the more emissions, more if you copy in lots of people and send attachments. Avoid unnecessary emails eg: ‘LOL’, gifs, emojis and images. If we each sent one less ‘Thank you’ each day, the UK would save more than 16,433 tonnes of carbon a year. Research has found that we check our phones every 5 minutes, we spend on average 4 hours per day on the phone (LSE 2021). What are Smart Phones Made Of ? (average phone) 25% Silicon, 23% Plastic, 20% Iron, 14% Aluminium, 7% Copper, 6% Lead, 2% Zinc, 1% Tin, 1% Nickel, 0.03% Barium, tiny amounts of Gold, Palladium, silver. How do I buy an environmental and ethical phone? Look for the TCO Certified label - https://tcocertified.com/ product-finder (Ethical Consumer 199 Nov/Dec 2022) Oxfam shops now take unwanted or broken phones to recycle.

BACK to Footpaths & Footways BACK to Projects BACK to Stoke Environment Home Page STOKE FOOTPATH GROUP has put together 8 Circular Walks of varying lengths all starting in the square where there is parking, and also refreshments and toilets when the shop or the pub is open. These walks can easily be changed in length by cutting out bits or combining a part of one with another. ​ If you would like to know more about the FOOTPATH GROUP , and maybe get involved , see the bottom of this page. ​ Just Click on the Walk Numbers ​ Walk 1 Huntham - Windmill - Sedgemoor - Huntham 3.7kms 2.3mls Walk 2 West Sedgemoor - Woodhill - Dark Lane 8kms 5mls Walk 3 Collickshire - Curload Hill - Playing Fields 2.7kms 1.7mls Walk 4 North and South of Huntham Lane 3.3kms 2mls Walk 5 West Sedgemoor and Curry Moor Ridge 7.5kms 4.7mls Walk 6 Above and along the River Tone 7.2kms 4.5mls Walk 7 River Tone - Windmill Hill - Willows and Wetlands Centre 3.1kms or 4.1kms 1.9mls or 2.5mls Walk 8 Dark Lane - Woodhill - East Deane Way - Main Drain - Pincombe Drove 5.7kms 3.5mls Walk 8a Extension of Walk 8 to Stathe & North Drove ​ If you are up for trying some new walks, have a look at our 'Beta Walks' page HERE and give us some feedback Since the summer of 2021 individuals and small groups have been out and about cutting back and trimming around stiles and along some of our footpaths. This is being done with the agreement of the landowners concerned. The footpath group was formed in the summer of 2021 as an offshoot of the Stoke Environment Group. The aim is to encourage people to walk round and across fields and vary their walks to get to know the lovely countryside that surrounds the village. Footbridge from Dunfield Space to Walk Initially, the members of the group cleared stiles, bridges and gates of brambles and nettles to make them easier to navigate. Subsequently, following various trials, the group has put together directions and maps for eight local walks of various lengths - all starting in the village square. This helps people who are new to the village (and those who have never found the footpaths) and has helped ensure that people stick to the rights of way. Some of these were shown at the 2021 Envirofair with a lot of interest from those attending. These are now available below as downloadable and printable pdf files, and some printed copies are available in the cafe (jar for donations towards printing costs) . More will follow starting from different places in the village. The group has also replaced missing arrows and ‘re-yellowed’ faded arrows to make them easier to follow. Landowners have generally been co-operative and accepting of our help. The group has regular meetings and ideas for improvements are always forthcoming. The 'Clammer' in Slough Lane If you would like to be involved, please contact: Sarah Evans ssrs@btopenworld.com 07970 856798 or Email envirostoke@yahoo.com ​

Click HERE for ENVIROFAIR Home Page The first Stoke St Gregory Environment Fair was held on Saturday 16th October 2021 at the Williams Hall. It was a great success. Stoke Environment Group held their first ‘Envirofair’ at The Williams Hall in Stoke St Gregory on Saturday 16th October. The Group, established five months ago, aims to raise awareness of the importance of nature and the environment within the community. The Group has almost eighty members, some of which have already been making a difference by clearing footpaths and permissive ways with the cooperation of local landowners. This has proved highly popular within the community. In order to raise awareness of their work, and that of other environment and partner organisations, the Group held an Envirofair and invited the community along. It proved to be highly popular. Plans for the Second Annual Envirofair are already under way. The fantastic effort made by members of the Group was rewarded by the positive feedback from members of our community. We are building a firm base and a clear vision so that we can carry out more projects that will have a positive impact on peoples’ wellbeing, whilst contributing to the work needed to tackle the impact of climate change. We welcomed a wide range of groups and organisations including the Somerset Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Somerset Waste Partnership, Coates English Willow, the School, Somerset Beekeepers, Somerset Wildlands, Dykes Farm, the Parish and Baptist churches, and Willow Set and clubs. There was also a very interesting and informative presentation by Alasdair Cameron of Somerset Wildlands. His inspirational leadership has made people think again about the benefits of re-wilding parts of our countryside. Feedback was very positive, from the visitors and exhibitors: Rev Simon Bale – Athelney Benefice "I am so pleased the messages people left were 'of God'. The spiritual side to the climate emergency is so often overlooked or assumed to be understated, but I feel very strongly that making more of it can encourage broader action in general. I think the day was successful because it didn’t set out to do too much. The stalls were relevant and local, the talk from Alasdair was very helpful. The welcome was honest. Perhaps, one thing for future is to have some more child-focused activities? Also, perhaps, more chance to gather in a workshop setting to discuss detailed issues? But, that said, if we were to do the same as yesterday in the future, it would be very good again!" Dawn Baker – Head Teacher Stoke St Gregory Primary School "I'm so grateful for your help and for those brilliant willow backing boards. They were simply incredible. Thank you for the update and I appreciate the encouragement about our input for the day. The children were certainly proud of what they have done. In terms of feedback, in all honesty, I was really impressed with how everything worked. Your communication with us in school, all the way from the early planning stages to the actual event, was great. Not too 'in my face' with constant messages, a mutual trust of knowing what the plan is and then being able to work to it and knowing exactly what we were doing. I am more than open to us being involved in future events." Rachel Parish – Head, Willowset Pre School, Stoke St Gregory "It was a lovely first event, it was advertised well and supported by mainly the over 40s. I think for younger families there will need to be something else to attract them but I’m not sure what that is in keeping with the event. It was good to be there and to showcase some of our efforts, recycling and keeping our village area clean. Thank you for inviting the Willow Set." Marilyn Clarke – Stoke St Gregory Resident "Thanks to all concerned for yesterday‘s event. What a great success. It was really good to have the opportunity to see what everyone is doing and to feel encouraged that the small things we do individually really are part of a growing trend. Very motivating!" An interesting and engaging display from Somerset Wildlife Trust Stoke Footpath Group aroused a lot of interest with their prototype village footpath walk maps and directions. The hamper full of eco friendly household goods was won by Sara Sollis. Somerset Beekeepers were on hand to answer questions and encourage newcomers. They hope to have live bees at next year's event. Climate Action Athelney brought along their amazing piece of kit that minces apples then presses the juice out using mains water pressure. The juice is available in local shops and the equipment is available for private hire.

FOOTPATHS & FOOTWAYS To see the current activities of the Footpath Group Click HERE BACK to Projects BACK to Mobility & Transport For Footpath History Click HERE For Footpath Legal Stuff Click HERE Stoke Environment Group is committed to working with all landowners in the parish to maintain and improve the footpath network in the village. Any subsequent increase in use will be monitored to ensure that this does not interfere with farming practice, or householders’ privacy. Any successful footpath strategy must be a partnership between landowners and walkers, both having their own rights and responsibilities. Not since the invention of the bicycle have footpaths been the principal way of getting round the village (see HISTORY page). The vast majority of footpath journeys are now for leisure, exercise and dog walking. This creates different pressures on the network, which is used by people who have no connection with the land and agriculture. Farming methods have also changed. Seventy years ago in Stoke there were more than 50 farms and smallholdings whose milk was collected daily on behalf of the Milk Marketing Board. Forty years ago there were fewer, larger herds, and some people moving in to the village complained about the cow dung on the roads. Many of the herds were ‘hunted’ from the fields to the dairy twice a day for milking, and they would make a few ‘deposits’ on the way there and back. Today we have three large dairy farms in the village, a direct result of the nation’s obsession with cheap food (Do you buy your milk from a supermarket?). As with the change of use of footpaths, the methods employed in large scale milk production can also raise issues for those walking the paths. Landowners - if you have issues with walkers on your land, please get in touch envirostoke@yahoo.com to discuss what practical steps might be taken. Walkers - if you have issues with footpaths please contact us or the landowner to see how they might be tackled. You are welcome, or course, to go through official channels, but if you are a member or supporter, please make it clear that you are not complaining on behalf of Stoke Environment Group. ​ ​ To see the current activities of the Footpath Group Click HERE

If you're not there you won't be able to buy a Raffle Ticket These are some of the prizes on offer - and some links to the people and firms who donated them. Check them out! Local Honey, donated by Stathe Beekeeper, Eric McLaughlin Slow Cooker ECOVER "This is about more than fresh socks and squeaky-clean pots. This is about respecting the planet and looking out for nature. This is about fixing our waste culture and making an impact on our impact. Every basket of laundry and stack of dishes is a chance to shake the status quo. Because we need system change, not climate change. And together we can roll up our freshly laundered sleeves and get this revolution on the road." Check out their web site HERE Athelney Soaps . . . "are handmade in small batches on the Somerset Levels using plant ingredients. Our aim is to make soaps with ingredients that are as natural as possible and will always be either Vegetarian friendly or Vegan friendly. Athelney Soaps are made using the traditional ‘Cold Process’ method and are poured and cut by hand. We take great care to make every bar special." Check out their web site HERE Marcel’s Green Soap "I was inspired by my three daughters. They said, "Dad, the things you do aren't actually that good for the planet and what the world will look like in 10, 20 years." I had previously had a career at Unilever and large corporations like that. I stopped working there so I could make a more personal impact on the world for good . Everyone has to clean their house every day, and I think that this can be done a lot more sustainably and positively. I founded Marcel’s Green Soap, to use only biodegradable ingredients and packed in 100% recycled plastic. We started in The Netherlands, but we are now located throughout Western Europe." Check out their web site HERE Gruum " . . . we’re pretty concerned about the impact that big business operations and plastic packaging have on the world around us. We wanted to give our customers the reassurance that not only do we understand our responsibility to reduce our impact on planet Earth and its inhabitants, but that our commitment to the environment is at the forefront of every single decision we make; from where we manufacture our products, right down to the design of our packaging. When it comes to our products, the majority are manufactured for us right here in the UK. And when we do need to source our products internationally, we transport using shipping freight, to help keep our carbon emissions as low as possible." Check out their web site HERE Faith In Nature "What we find is that, as in Nature, there is an ever shifting balance to maintain — and that requires ecological thinking. A constant reassessment of what ‘sustainability’ means today. There is no such thing as ‘best’. Only ‘best for now’. Below is our best-for-now — but behind the scenes, we’re always working on our best-for-tomorrow." Check out their web site HER E Serious Soaps and Serious Tissues "Serious Tissues are made from 100% recycled paper - no trees are harmed in the making of this product. We use recycled paper - from newspapers, cereal boxes, etc. - instead of bamboo because the carbon footprint is smaller and we don’t have to ship the bamboo from China. We’re produced in the UK." Check out their web site HERE