A Green Supper was held Thursday, September 20, 2007  at The Boosey, Snodhill. This was the first of possibly many Green Suppers.  It was a social evening with a serious intent.  It took the form of a Bring and Share ‘Green’ Supper,  where everyone brought a dish of food and/or bottle of something to drink made mainly from home-grown or locally produced ingredients (as simple or complicated as you want to make it and any colour you like, by the way, not just green!).  The result was a delicious buffet supper produced with a minimum of food miles!  It was the perfect vnue to meet new people, exchange ideas about environmental issues and combating climate change and find out just what needs to be done to make a global as well as a local impact.  It was a fun evening with a serious purpose to start off a new season with GVEG.

Why should I save energy or reduce my carbon footprint, unless everyone else does too?   And since climate change is a global problem, what’s the point of doing anything when China’s building more and more power stations?  Laurence Matthews is a writer who has worked in universities and in industry.  Recently, he gave evidence to the House of Commons Environment Select Committee on the psychology of tackling climate change. On Thursday, 12 July, Laurence Matthews gave an illustrated talk to GVEG.  Follow this link titled Why Light Bulbs are Important  to read a summary of his talk.  

Setting the future direction for GVEG.  Here are the  Strategy Meeting Minutes from July 19th  

Sustainable Communities Meeting was held on June 14, 2007
The concept of sustainable communities  is central to plans for future development and helps to inform the work that this group does.  

The concept involves a partnership between government, councils and local people to create surroundings in which people live and thrive, balancing the social, economic and environmental areas.

In short, these communities are likely to be:

• safe and inclusive
• well planned, built and run
• offering equality and opportunity for all

There is more information, click on the link to www.locallivelihoods.com

Hay Festival 2007
This year featured afternoon session on Things Green including how festivals can understand and reduce their own environmental impact.  There were lots of talks throughout the festival that were relevant to global as well as local environment issues.  Have a look at their Greenprint pages.  

Biodiesel was produced in the Marches by Richard Hill.  The project has been made possible by Patrick Dyke working on behalf of GVEG with Hay, Richard Hill and Adam Kennerley from the wasteless society in Bishop's Castle.  More information on biodiesel .

Greenlinks Launch
The Herefordshire Greenlinks directory was successfully launched on May 9, 2007.  Patrick Holden of the Soil Association gave a talk about prosperity after "peak oil".  GVEG participated in the discussions about how groups such as this one can contribute to sustainable development of communities in the light of coming changes to the climate and the supply of energy and service.

Kerbside Recyclable collection extended - Herefordshire Council are extending separate collections of recycables to include:  Brewardine ( limited service ), Cusop, Clifford, Vowchurch and Dorstone - you should get information and bags - PURPLE for paper and textiles, CLEAR for cans and plastic bottles and a calendar of collection dates.  No info on glass that I can see - could be that glass, card etc will still be taken to collection points.  [Hereford Times, 8 March 2007]