Solar Schools ...

Solar Schools

Solar Schools provides teams of staff, pupils and parents with the training and tools they need to crowd-fund the cost of solar panels - cutting carbon, building communities, boosting budgets, learning new skills, and exploring energy and climate change in a totally new way. This year, our Solar Schools have won awards and been celebrated in parliament!

Now we’re looking for 100 schools to join us in doing something amazing. Do you know a school that fits the bill?

Solar Schools is a fundraising toolkit that helps schools to raise the money
they need to install solar panels. We provide each participating school with:

 A webpage on the Solar Schools site (www.solarschools.org.uk) - designed by experts
to make it easy and appealing for family, friends, businesses and ex pupils to donate.
 Printed resources like banners, posters and stickers to help spread the word.
 Training sessions on everything from fundraising to press work.
 How-to-packs, case studies and videos to help along the way.
 Staff support throughout the journey - our team are always on hand for advice.

Investing in solar cuts carbon and cushions schools against rising fuel costs. Plus, thanks to government Feed-in Tariffs which provide an income to anyone installing renewable energy, our Solar Schools will enjoy an additional boost to their budgets for 20 years. But Solar Schools brings far more than just finances;

 An exciting new way to teach pupils about energy by involving them in
a positive, practical project that tackles climate change.
 New enthusiasm for eco-work within the school.
 Improved links with parents and local businesses and organisations.
 Boosting the profile of their school in the local area.
 New skills and confidence that can be applied to other exciting
projects in the future.

“Fundraising for Solar Schools has unlocked the potential within our school community and identified that for many local businesses they were just waiting to be asked for help. This increased engagement has the potential to have a real long term benefit for our school and we are delighted with the response that we have received.” Mary, Bursar
"Solar Schools has completely re-invigorated our students approach to sustainability. We've had pupils queuing down the corridor to get into our eco-team meets and … we've been able to get loads of other projects off the ground that we've been keen to do for a long time like setting up a gardening club." Gary, Teacher

Applications for Solar Schools 2013/2014 open on April 15th. Explore the project and get involved at www.solarschools.org.uk/apply

Want to hear about Solar Schools from teachers who’ve taken part? Head to www.solarschools.org.uk or get in touch with us- hello@solarschools.org.uk

DDC's Schools environment campaign

School Visits Help Raise Awareness of Environment

 

Dover District Council has launched a series of assemblies with local primary schools to talk to pupils about the importance of putting litter in the bin, picking up after pets, and keeping our district clean, tidy and safe for the future.
The environmental crime team has been visiting schools across the district to talk about a range of issues, including:

• The impact litter has on our environment
• How long it takes for litter to biodegrade
• The health implications of dog fouling
• The penalties for dropping litter and failing to clean up after your dog
• What we should all do with our litter - and the need to ‘bin it’
• How dog owners should always pick up after their pets.

DDC is working to raise awareness of the impact of littering and dog fouling across the area, and has been displaying signs and posters, visiting schools and Neighbourhood Forums, and providing a detailed web page.
If you think your school would benefit from a presentation from the environmental crime team, please contact DDC at (01304) 872096, or for more information, please see the environment pages. 

Community Garden Progress ...

Both DWI's Community Garden projects are going fantastically well. Both our projects got a great response at the Deal Town Council annual meeting last thursday.

Deal Station Garden 

We have our official launch next Saturday 4th May at 11:30am.The Mayor is coming down as well as many of local organisations and business which have supported us. So please pop down see what we are doing

We are starting to get of watering system going thanks to Roisin. All the planters are starting to look good and the plants are coming on.

Things we need
- More large plastic bottles for the watering system. Ideally 2-3ltr size. We probably need another another 10

- More large watering cans

- Any donations of veg or fruit plants

- More volunteers for early morning watering

- Mulch material leaf or compost based

Please contact Sarah or Alan on 01304 389 553 or at food@dealwithit.org

Landmark Community Garden

This is really brightening up the High Street now - we have had great donations of annuals (Most edible flowers Ed.) but have now got an interesting range of rare english plants and veg and fruit going in. Great willow frames have been build and we have a local school planting some Salad areas next week.

Some lovely feedback from passers bye each Saturday ... Thank you to Mrs Dunne  who donated some money for us to by a another fruit tree. Also Thank you to Sunshine Ukes who came down to play today

We meet on Wednesday Afternoons from 2:30pm and Saturdays from 10:30am - All welcome

Please contact Vickie or Rosie at info@dealwithit.org 01304 - 381 849

Victoria's Green Matters - 25th April 2013

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury

All governments agree that global warming must be stopped but seem reluctant to actually take the steps that are needed to cut the carbon emissions that cause it. We need to start phasing out the use of fossil fuels fast enough to bring down our emissions gradually over the coming decades if we are to have any chance of not adding to rising world temperatures.

It would appear that despite the steps we have already taken by using clean technologies to produce energy; there has been a growth rate of carbon emissions during the last ten years that equals that of the 1850s during the Industrial Revolution.

We have more coal, gas and oil than we can burn if we want global temperatures to remain safe. This is universally accepted but it is not just governments that do not act. Investors are encouraging fossil fuel companies to find and developed more and more reserves. More exploration costs more money which pushes up the cost of fuels.

Throughout the world, people want climate change to be controlled but can a developing world be persuaded that it is more important to limit fossil fuel use than it is to have cheap fuels, power, flights and goods?

If we want to keep the world we know we need to limit our use of fossil fuels and cut our carbon emissions. We can all do our bit towards a greener community but we need our governments to take action at the top level.

Landmark Garden ...1st planting

Thank you for everyone who pop-ed down for the planting today at the Landmark Community Garden in Deal's  High St.

Special thanks to Maxtons and Kitching Gardens for their Plant donations and the Sunshine Ukes for bring down some music...

Everyone is welcome to get involved - we meet on Weds from 2:30pm and Saturday's from 10:30am

Victoria's Green Matters - 11th April 2013

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury

It seems that whatever protection is put in place, the world’s wildlife is still under threat from the criminal activities that support the global black market in animals and plants. These are sold for food, traditional medicines or exotic pets. The people that fight against these crimes are losing out in the battle to halt exports of endangered species and need much greater support from the international community.

It is difficult for us to understand how these crimes can happen. Some countries – for example Vietnam – are at the forefront of the trade with their import of exotic animals to fulfil the demand for traditional medicines which do not have any proven benefit in scientific fact. These crimes are happening on a massive scale but profits are high and worth the risk to the traders. Rhino horn can have greater value than heroin but the penalties when traders are caught are often only fines. Heroin smugglers can face the death penalty.

China is the main market for elephant ivory ornaments and Thailand is the centre of the illegal import of exotic animals such as the live leopard cubs, pythons, bear cubs and parrots found in luggage at Bangkok airport.

The secretary general of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has stated that ‘the illegal trade in wildlife has now reached a scale that poses an immediate risk to wildlife and to people’.

This horrible trade is worth billions but it must be stopped if the world’s wildlife is to survive.

Deal Station Garden: 1st Planting day

Sunshine at the 1st planting day at the Deal Station Community Garden. 

We had nine volunteers out today and managed to get all the perennials herbs, some fruit trees, stawberrys, a few onion sets and chance a few seeds.

The regular visits start from next weekend - we have a rota for maintenance and watering. If you want to get involve please contact Sarah or Alan at food@dealwithit.org or phone.01304 389553

Useful things we need if you want to donate:

- Wheelbarrow
- Hand tools
- Watering cans (large)
- Large plastic bottles e.g 4ltr coke/water. We need these for our watering system in the planters.

We hope to have our 'official openning' on Saturday 4th May

Wind turbines at Eastry/Eythorne (A256) exhibition

From 'This is Kent'

"A SERIES of public exhibitions will be held to explain the impact of two wind turbines to the Eythorne area.

The nearby villages are set to become a new hub of renewable energy, as reported by the Express last month, with plans on the way for two wind turbines and a solar array the size of 14 football pitches.




Scoping reports are being carried out for proposals for two wind turbines, in Barville Road, Eythorne and Thornton Lane, Eastry, by renewable energy developers RES UK & Ireland Ltd.


They will hold public exhibitions from 1pm until 7.30pm between April 24 and 26.

Wednesday's will be at Eastry village hall, Thursday's at Tilmanstone village hall, and Friday's at Eythorne Resource Centre."

Full story at here

RES site here

UN Earth Day Canterbury 20th April 2013

It's UN Earth Day next Saturday 20th April and the UNA is holding a conference at Canterbury Christ Church University with talks and stalls.

Anselm Hall (North Holmes Rd Gate 4) - 10:30 to 4:15pm

Stalls:

- Abbots Mill Project
- Canterbury UNA
- Canterbury Fairtrade
- Greenpeace
- Canterbury Environment

Planting starts on Sat @ Deal Station Garden

Hardy plants and gardeners will be enjoying spring Saturday 6th April   - planting time is 11 - 1pm.

 If you'd like to find out what plans we of  DEAL station gardening group have  to prettify  our station drop by and and talk to us.

We know there is a wealth of gardening experience in Deal and Walmer and would like to benefit from it!

If anyone has any  seedlings to donate to the project we'd love to hear from you Tel 01304 389553   or fb Deal Guerrilla Gardeners

Sarah x

Victoria's Green Matters - 4th April 2013

Deal With IT's Secretary Victoria Nicholls writes a regular column in the East Kent Mercury

Climate change is the biggest challenge that faces us today and will face our children in the future. To read last week that there are plans to remove it from the school curriculum along with sustainable development seems like absolute madness and a huge backward step.

We know that there are still those who deny climate change out there, all around the world, despite the evidence that has built up over the years that shows us that our production of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels is accelerating changes in the climate which will mean disaster for many nations.

It would seem that teachers will have the choice whether to teach students about climate change as part of the geography syllabus and with the continuing pressures of education could well opt to leave it out. The reference to climate change in the chemistry syllabus is only about the production of carbon dioxide. Sustainable development seems to have fallen foul to political interference.

The world is facing a low carbon future; fossil fuels will run out and continuing carbon dioxide production will cause further climate warming. Students need to know about the options that face them; about the chance to live a more sustainable and better life rather than to rely on the possible development of scientific solutions.

While our government turns away from renewables and gives encouragement to damaging technologies, we need future generations that can learn about, debate and combat the effects of climate change.