Environment section.qxp_Layout 1 20/01/2022 13:52 Page 6
MENDIP TIMES
Litter pickers
Off-road damage at Charterhouse
THE hamlet of Chantry is looking a lot tidier, thanks to the efforts of Seth Gillard, aged five, and his sister, Violet, aged two. For weeks Seth had been commenting on the amount of litter on the roadside and particularly through Chantry. So along with his sister and armed with hi-vis clothing and litter picking tools he set out on his quest to do his bit for the environment. When asked why he wanted to clean up the litter he said: “It’s important for the animals who live in our village.”
THE driver of a vehicle illegally damaging a scheduled monument at Charterhouse has been traced by police and warned that the vehicle will be seized if stopped again. The Land Rover had been driven across sensitive areas of the site damaging the surface and the rare plants that live in the unusual habitat before becoming stuck. Charterhouse has been mined for lead and other minerals for 2000 years and the spoil heaps provide a unique habitat for rare plants. Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB manager said: “It's reassuring that the police have taken this and other incidents of damage to our national heritage seriously. These sites are protected as they represent our collective history and can't be recreated. “This particular site is also a stronghold for rare plants and animals. At a time when we're facing an ecological emergency these sites become even more precious to us all. The message should go out to all people that drive off-road illegally that we take it seriously and will work with the police to prosecute offenders.” Bob Croft, from the South West Heritage Trust, said: “The nationally-important Roman and later lead mining remains at Charterhouse are exceptionally fragile and can be easily damaged by irresponsible off-roading. “The recent damage means that careful repairs to the earthworks will now be necessary.”
Tackling climate change with new online network ENVIRONMENTALLY conscious individuals, groups and organisations from across B&NES can now join the Zero Carbon Nature Positive Network to add their voices to climate action. The network provides a platform for people to learn what others are doing across the region to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and enables local groups to collaborate, support each other and share skills. Anyone can browse the network, share information, keep up to date with the latest news and opportunities and
find out how they can support action in the community to help tackle climate change together. Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, said: “The network forms part of the council’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergencies and providing the leadership to enable the scale of ambition to be realised. “The network will allow those organisations to showcase the commitments they have made, to
communicate ideas and events on sustainability and the climate emergency and to collaborate with likeminded groups and individuals to help Bath and North East Somerset become Carbon Zero.” The blog on the site will feature posts by guest bloggers and case studies. Anyone with a story who would like to feature on the blog can email: sustainability@bathnes.gov.uk with ‘ZCNP Blog Pitch’ as the subject heading.
Details: www.carbonneutralbathnes.ning.com
PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022
