Here are some notes from the February meeting planning SOW activities for the rest of the year. There was also a talk on “Not the End of the World”.

Plans for monthly meetings

• March 26: Eco Kids will lead the session, plus we’ll do the Big Plastic Count and talk about the results. Plus terracycling/recycling actions.
• April 30: provisional – Leo will talk about bees and bee-keeping. May not be a whole session so could we find someone to tell us about eg butterflies too?
• May 28 or May 21 (avoiding half term): Provisionally foraging talk or blossom walk
• June 25: Garden tool/knife sharpening workshop, plus advice on maintaining/mending garden tools
• July 30: no plans yet. In the school holidays
• Sep 24: possibly foraging talk
• Oct 29: community vegetarian meal
• Nov 26: (provisional) wreath making workshop

Other ideas included asking Shepreth if they could come and speak to us about hedgehogs; someone from allotments talk to us, or show us round their plots to inspire; a speaker from a local sustainable business such as Daily Bread.

Other activities

• 10 May – plant swap (to be confirmed)
• October – apple pressing
• Nature Recovery Project

Other ideas included: sustainable/no-mow garden visits, litter pick.

Green space around the village

There has been another planning application for development of the land behind Manor Farm Close. Especially with Northstowe planned to be built right up to Oakington, there is a desire to somehow safeguard green space around/within Oakington & Westwick. Landowners might possibly consider setting aside land for the community’s future generations. (We’re also inspired by Histon & Impington Green Spaces while recognising they are a bigger parish.) Please get in touch if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Also…

• If you missed the Repair Cafe, Sustainable Rampton’s Repair Cafe on 15th March still has bookings available.
• The Eco Kids reported back from the Parish Council meeting on Monday night about the solar farm.
• Tree planting at the school on Saturday 8th March, 1-4pm. Bring a spade/shovel. Also general garden tidying if there are more than enough to plant the trees.