Sustainable Ottery

Who: Clive, Yvonne, Tony, Mandy, Vaughan, Will

It was decided that as Phyllis at the Tourist Office is planning a food event later in the year that it would make sense to join her plans rather than have a “celebration of local food” in opposition to her plans. Tony to find out more and tell us about it at the next meeting.

We decided that we will hold a Food Forage on 10th July at Blacklake Farm on East Hill. The cost will be £2 pp (under 16s free), people will have to book their places in advance and we will arrange a car share from Ottery town centre. Tony offered to cook what we find (with a few other ingredients???) and serve a sort of stir fry if appropriate. Jo has offered someone to lead the forage (?). Clive will arrange with Catherine at Blacklake Farm. Discuss details at next meeting. Clive will talk to TRIP to see if there is a cheap minibus we could use.

Flower Beds in the town – Clive will make contact with Ottery in Bloom again and Julia who offered to try and arrange for SO to plant up some of the beds with veg.

Cookery Club has hit a very quiet patch and Tony does not think he can keep it going without some commitment from people. Clive suggested that the Childrens’ Centre (Sure Start) might be a good way of making contact with our “target group”. Clive will let Tony know who the contact is and he will speak to them and see what can be done.

Mandy said that she would be able to find funding for running cookery sessions for 6 young people (mid teens). There are some issues that need resolving before we do this- how do we attract the young people, what do we need to do about CRB checks and safety, where would we use for this. We will discuss this at the next meeting as in many ways it seems a great opportunity.

Millennium Green fruit and nut planting. Vaughan (tree warden) said that he could discuss ideas with the MG committee and see where a small orchard of local variety apple trees (10 standard trees) and two Sweet Chestnuts, one conker and a couple of Walnuts could be planted. He will liaise with Yvonne about this and we will discuss at next meeting, including funding. Mandy has a couple of small walnuts, Vaughan has some hazels.

Land – We decided that Yvonne will not write to Gerway Nurseries to see if there is any chance of using the greenhouses and or land next year as a community farm/garden as they want to sell it for building. Mandy will contact Mr Ross Pohl who owns glasshouses on the other side of the road to see if he is interested in offering space to a community farm/garden. In the meantime the search continues. If we are successful in getting an offer in principal then we will try and drum up interest in the community and encourage people who respond to move the project forward as no one at the meeting are able/willing to be involved deeply in such a project. There are 22 people on the allotment waiting list and perhaps these people could be approached with the consent of the town council?

Youth Group – Kings School pupils might be setting up a Green group themselves and it was suggested that we offer SO’s help and cooperation as opposed to trying to start a SO Youth Group.

Otter Rotters has access to some land for educational and community purposes and Clive asked Mandy to keep us in the loop about these as SO would be interested in these. Clive also said that SO would be really keen to put news from Otter Rotters in the newsletter on a regular basis.

Apple Day – a suggestion that SO could hold an apple day in a venue in the town in cooperation with Otter Rotters was seen as a good idea. Bring to next meeting. This could tie in with Phyllis’ event.

Next meeting Tuesday May 4th 7.30 in the London Inn, Jo will be there.