Sustainable South Hams

12/08/2026

This is such a great film and a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and partnership! Well done to everyone involved 🙌

Saltmarshes are more than edges. They are unique ecosystems belongi...

12/08/2026

Devon Climate Emergency is putting together a directory of cool spaces across Devon, places where people can go to find shade, shelter and relief during periods of extreme heat.

As heatwaves become more common, it is increasingly important that people know where they can go to stay safe and cool, especially those who may be more vulnerable in hot weather.

They are asking people and organisations across South Hams to help identify suitable spaces. This could include libraries, community buildings, village halls, churches, shaded public places or other welcoming spaces that could offer somewhere cooler during hot weather.

If you know of a space in South Hams that could be included, please fill in the form here 👉 https://bit.ly/mapcoolspaces

Helping build this directory will make it easier for local people to find safe, accessible places during extreme heat.

10/08/2026

Our Energy Mentor Sune is looking for homeowners in Dittisham, Blackawton, Dartmouth, Ashprington, Cornworthy, Tuckenhay and the surrounding area to take part in this year's Open Eco Homes Tour - 19-20 September.

This brilliant scheme started off in Totnes and has now expanded to be a Devon-wide scheme, which means that more people can get the benefit of seeing real life Eco Homes in action. If you've improved the sustainability of your home, whether that's a heat pump, insulation, solar panels, nature-friendly garden improvements, or another sustainability project, we'd love to hear from you.

It doesn't need to be perfect, in fact real homes and honest experiences are what inspire most. Or do you know someone whose home would be ideal? Please let them know about this project. If you own an Eco Home or know of anyone in the above listed areas, please email [email protected]

03/08/2026

Could you use your financial skills for local good?

Sustainable South Hams is looking for a volunteer Strategic Finance Lead to help us strengthen our financial planning as our work grows.

We’re looking for someone with experience in finance, accountancy, business planning, charity finance or senior financial management who could offer a steady financial perspective and help us think clearly about budgets, funding, cashflow, project costs and long-term sustainability.

This is not a heavy bookkeeping role. It’s a flexible, voluntary strategic role that would suit someone retired or semi-retired who would like to use their experience to make a positive difference locally.

Time commitment: around a couple of hours a week, flexible.

Interested, or know someone who might be? Please contact [email protected] for more information.

31/07/2026

This is brilliant news, well done South Devon National Landscape! 👏

South Devon National Landscape has been recognised with a prestigious national Bees’ Needs Award.

31/07/2026

Get your bike checked for free at Ivybridge Library this summer!

https://tidycal.com/3qo4qvm/dr-bike-ivybridge-library-m7xl9zr-1k8q58n-mpn2wnd-1wr7ndw-1r6zkzv

23/07/2026

14 people joined us for a sunny Saturday morning to look at Home Composting techniques and equipment, including how to make compost for seed sowing, how to compost food scraps and what to do with woody garden scraps.

Some brilliant ideas were shared including using bindweed to tie up straggling herbaceous plants, ways of putting a small tumbler on top of a maturation bin to make emptying easier, and sharing ideas tips for recycling materials to make composters and reusing equipment.

Feedback included that participants felt much more informed about brown (air) and green (water) materials, and about the maturation process; that the morning was “strangely interesting... fascinating in fact”; that it will “help [them] on their compost journey”; that they “didn’t know about the organisms making the compost eg. bacteria in hot compost or worms in maturation bins”.

Sign up for our newsletter to hear about a programme of composting workshops and events coming up in the Autumn for beginners and more experienced composters alike! 🪱

20/07/2026

We had a wonderful time at Common Flora on Friday with the fabulous Trudy Turrell and Freya! We foraged for nourishing herbs and plants before making and sharing a tasty soup followed by acorn flour biscuits and truffles.

Big thanks to Jane at Common Flora for graciously hosting us and to Trudy and Freya for a great afternoon learning more about our local plants.

Sign up to our newsletter for more nature connection events!

15/07/2026

This week one of our compost mentors Ben facilitated an inspiring tour of community composting sites for existing and emerging community composting groups to meet one another, have a look at the work-flow, and equipment and share learning about bringing groups together to run the sites.

The group visited the long-established sites at South Brent and Ashprington which have upgraded their infrastructure meaning that they can accommodate the throughflow of garden clippings and make more amazing compost.

Marldon is a much newer composting site, which has an inspiring and low-tech approach to composting, with their own shredder, and a team of volunteers who turn the compost as well as processing wood as fire-wood.

All sites are receiving a lot of material at the moment, clearly indicating a bit demand for this service.

The group visited three very different sites and ways of working. Huge gratitude to the representatives from each site who were so generous in sharing their experience, wisdom and enthusiasm, inspiring potential new sites and energising all.

If you are interested in learning more about composting, the compost team are running two Home & Allotment Compost Workshops this weekend:

🗓️ Saturday 18th July
🕰️ 10am - 1pm
📍 School Farm, Dartington

🗓️ Sunday 19th July
🕰️ 2pm - 4pm
📍 Kingsbridge Community Garden

To book for Saturday, click here https://www.sussh.org/events/home-and-allotment-composting-workshop-weekend-session.

To book for Sunday please email [email protected]