Current News
2010-06-25 - People needed at the Rossport Solidarity Camp
This camp exists to publicise and take direct action against Shell which plans to drill 80 boreholes in the Sruth Fhada Chonn estuary in Ireland, a EU Special Area of Conservation. Shell is starting a massively damaging scheme of work shortly and people are needed to help! Campaign websites: www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/ www.shelltosea.com/
Licence application and more details from Shell and other stakeholders at www.corribgaspipeline.com/index.php...
2010-06-25 - Open Day 2010
A big thank you to everyone who made this such a sociable event this Saturday. About 70 people came to enjoy the sunshine and woodland and take a tour around our dwellings which were open for the day. We hope it was as interesting for you as it was for us - thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, ideas and constructive criticism, and for your donations. We hope to see everyone again soon.
2010-04-22 - Incinerator and landfill proposal
An incinerator plant, ash treatment facility and landfill (in planning jargon, a "Resource Recovery Centre") is proposed to be built by the company Viridor, sited on the banks of the River Yealm, two miles from Ivybridge (pop. 15,000). The centre will handle 275,000 tonnes of waste a year, transported by HGV. The access road will be built through ancient woodland. For more info see the Viridor proposal at http://www.viridor-consultation.co.uk/index.php?contentId=162 and read about the potential impact at http://www.riveryealm.com/ This site also has links to the Facebook protest and info pages.
It is not too late to express your concern to Devon County Council. Address your correspondence to the planning officer Sue Penaluna, Re: Application Reference DCC/2975/2010 "The New England Recovery Centre". You can email your letter to sue.penaluna@devon.gov.uk or by post to The Planning Officer, DCC, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QW.
An expensive incinerator that must burn rubbish to justify its existence will not encourage solutions to the underlying problems of resource consumption, over-packaging and inbuilt obselence. Waste can be managed efficiently by a community company, creating opportunities for community building and education, demonstrating methods of reducing and recycling waste. It encourages local economic development, by offering employment, skill-sharing and networkng. Proper Job in Chagford is an excellent local example and this could be replicated across Devon.
Celebrating 10 years of SCW - Spring '10
To mark our 10th anniversary, you can download 'The Painted Forest' (pdf), poems inspired by living at Steward Wood, by Dandelion Digger.
Open Day - Saturday 12th June, Noon to 4pm
Come and visit our low impact structures, renewable energy systems, permaculture gardens, woodland management operations, and the beautiful woodland. As well as guided tours, there'll be refreshments and cake round the fire along with information and books to peruse.
Courses at the Woods
We have an extensive set of courses taking place this year at the woods covering subjects such as permaculture design, renewable energy, low impact building, wild food, organic gardening, and tree felling using hand tools. If you wish to book a place, please contact us (book early as places are limited).
7th August 2010 -
16 days
Permaculture Design Course with Aranya and Peter Cow
28th August 2010 -
2 days
Low Impact Living with Son Parsons and John Elsworthy
28th August 2010 -
2 days
Off-Grid Renewable Energy with Merlin Howse
3rd September 2010 -
5 days
The Wild Pagan Course - 5 day with Seth Kirton
Planning permission granted
We are delighted and thrilled that the Planning Inspector has granted us temporary planning permission for 5 years to continue this sustainable project. The permission is subject to various conditions.? Read the Press Release (pdf) and the Appeal Decision in full.
The Appeal followed the refusal of the Dartmoor National Park Authority to grant us planning permission after the first period of permission elapsed.
Our witness statements and other documents in the Appeal and the history of our planning can be seen on our planning pages.
We are still in need of donations to help us pay the solicitors fees for the Appeal.
Many thanks
Dan, Merlin, Beccy, Son, John, Seth, Mel, Chris, Owen, Ollie, Becky, Jamie and all the children
Come WWOOF with us...
You are welcome to come and WWOOF at Steward Wood. Phone us (0845 458 1926 or 01647 440233) if you are interested in booking a place. (WWOOFing is a splendid system wherein people visit interesting organic type places and work in exchange for food and accomodation. more info)
We offer educational tours, slide shows and talks about our life and work here researching and demonstrating low impact living in community. Phone or email us to arrange a tailor-made Steward Community Woodland educational experience for your school, group, college or club.
Last updated: 2010-04-17
