|
01.
The Big Green Gathering
 
Dear
Editor,
Your
main front page article on the Big Green Gathering may have fuelled unfounded
fears among your readership, and certainly fails to give the whole picture. The
Directors of the Big Green Gathering have been in regular contact with Mendip
Council, Priddy Parish Council and local Councillors concerning the worries that
some local residents have expressed. Indeed, at one of our meetings with Mendip
Council, the public were invited along for consultation on our proposals and we
listened carefully to what was said. Two of our Directors attended a local
Parish council Meeting to explain what the concept of the Big Green Gathering is
and answer any questions that arose.
The members of the public who attended heard that a detailed traffic plain is
being worked out with the local constabulary, thus ensuring that the road
network will not become clogged. Strenuous efforts are made by the Big Green
Gathering to encourage participants to travel by public transport and to
facilitate this we lay on a bus from Weston Super Mare Station and a shuttle
service to and from Cheddar.
Effluent disposal is of great concern to members of the Big Green Gathering and
again we work in consultation with Mendip Council and the Environmental Agency
to ensure that all effluent is disposed of safely. We ensure that we have more
than adequate sanitation for all participants.
We are very well aware of the sensitive nature of the site and to this end we
have consulted with local archaeologists, English Nature and local wildlife and
nature conservation bodies. We can assure your readers that resident
archaeologists will be on site, precautions have been taken to protect rare
flora and fauna and many of our participants are extremely knowledgeable in
these areas.
Firewood will be brought on to the site and participants have been asked not to
have open fires but to use the braziers that will be available.
Police and emergency services will be on site to ensure the well being of
participants. The Big Green Gathering pays for these services therefore we can
reassure residents that monies are not being diverted from local resources.
The Big Green Gathering is a showcase of environmental and renewable energy
technology. The Gathering is a family oriented occasion with fun packed
children's area, street theatre, dance, poetry, story tellers and music of all
sorts from open air jam sessions to on-stage performance by live bands. All
attractions and entertainment are powered by solar wind or pedal technology and
the attendees are given an opportunity to view practices and exhibitions such as
permaculture, sustainable homes, solar showers, hand crafted goods or even try
their hands at learning fascinating new skills.
We extend a welcome to local residents to visit the Big Green Gathering and find
out for themselves that the purpose is to produce a gathering for peace and the
planet. Visit our speaker's forum and listen to experts exploring key aspects of
a green future, a future based on non-exploitation and an understanding that we
must provide for our needs without compromising those of future generations to
come.
The Directors of the Big Green Gathering take their responsibility to safety and
care of the natural environment very seriously and can assure your readers that
every effort is made to ensure all participants tread gently on the land they
use.
We have held many Big Green Gatherings in previous years and we have been held
up as an example of good practice by the police, fire and ambulance services. Do
come along for a day and find out for yourself rather than reading press
articles that have very little basis in fact. Day visitor tickets will shortly
be available from Organica in Cheddar and Wells tourist information offices,
price £12 for adults and £6 for children.
Yours truly
Brig Oubridge, Jean Vidler, Sam Hermitage, Penny Kemp
Tel: 01458 834629
www.big-green-gathering.com
2.
Weston college 'taster' courses
Dear
Editor,
Weston
College have some funding from the Learning Skills Council to encourage as
many people to learn new skills. They will be holding a series of short
2-3 hours free taster Bite Size courses in Blagdon next October on a whole
variety of subjects and hope that as many people as possible will join in.
if they are successful then longer courses can be organized in the area.
They need lots of suggestions on subjects you would like to have in
Blagdon. if you have some ideas then please will you phone 01275 810659.
Yours
faithfully
Liz
English.
3. Another
early retirement
Dear
Editor,
I
have decided to take yet another early(!) retirement and have stood down
as Involuntary Press Officer for the Wildlife Trust after 11, nearly 12
years. It didn't seem right that I should continue writing my little
homilies when we have a bright young mind taking over, so, yes, Morag will
be providing you with a piece for July & monthly after that. Having
said that, if I should feel the urge to shatter the world with something
so brilliant that it would be a tragedy to suppress it (very unlikely), I
might just offer it to you - but not for a bit, I must let Morag find her
feet first.
So, not goodbye but au revoir.
Best Wishes,
John
Harrison,
Note
from the editors:- many thanks John for you interesting, intriguing and
informative wildlife articles you have written for Mendip Life over the
years, we wish you well and look forward to hearing from you in the near
future.
|
