OTHER INITIATIVES

* 9carrots: Various local businesses have joined the 9carrots scheme (www.9carrots.org), whereby they pledge to put aside 10% of the money they take from 9carrots customers for an upgrade to make their business more energy efficient. The scheme really NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT, so do tell your friends and if you can, go along and spend with them and say you would like a 9carrots voucher. This will help them to achieve their target and also support our local businesses. Signed up so far are:

* The Shop On The Hill, 7a Harefield Road
* The Broca Food Market, 209-211 Mantle Road
* Mr Lawrence Wine Bar, 391 Brockley Road
* Royal Tandoori, 387 Brockley Road
* EXP Chinese Experience, 390 Brockley Road

If you know of any businesses who would like to join the scheme, feel free to sign them up (contact us for details).

* GLOBAL ACTION PLAN: We organised for GAP (an independent charity which advises business on energy saving measures, www.globalactionplan.org.uk) to visit a couple of local small businesses to discuss how they might make energy savings, and help them survive the current economic downturn. The visits were welcomed and the businesses have asked GAP to return to work with them in the new year.

* BEEKEEPING: With the invaluable help of our local beekeeper, Camilla (http://www.capitalbee.co.uk/), we have sparked off a substantial increase in the number of beehives being set up in the area, following two 'veils-on' sessions with buzzing bees and a film showing of The Mysterious Bee. There has been a huge interest in beekeeping in response to the worrying decline of the rural bee and the (by contrast) fortunate good health of the urban bee.

* PERMACULTURE COURSES: There will a course in sustainable growing using permaculture principles held at Frendsbury Gardens on Sat 27 and Sun 28 March.

PERMACULTURE - AN INTRODUCTORY WEEKEND

Date: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March 2010

Time: 10am – 5pm

Venue: Frendsbury Gardens, Frendsbury Road, Brockley, SE4

Led by Graham Burnett (author of Permaculture - a beginners guide) this weekend Introduction includes: sustainable design principles, permaculture ethics, organic gardening, community economics, forest gardening, 'hands on' practical experience and more….

Spaces are limited so please book a place by phoning Gareth on 0208 314 2071 or emailing gareth.schweitzer@lewisham.gov.uk.

Light refreshments provided, but please bring your own lunch.

Sorry, not suitable for children.

Negotiations are also under way for permaculture courses to be held for Lewisham's Envirowork, and Glendale, the council's parks and gardens maintenance team, have expressed interest.

* SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT: The proposal Transition Brockley submitted to increase the Government fund for grants towards renewable energy installations (the Low Carbon Building Programme) has been shortlisted by the LGA for review by the Secretary of State, who will decide whether to recommend this proposal for acceptance by the Government.