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GVEG  
Golden Valley Environment Group
Local Everything What's New? GVEG Themes Dates to Remember Past Meetings Got something to lend?

Who are we?  The Golden Valley Environment Group was set up in late 2006 to help people who want to do something positive for the environment in and around the Golden Valley in West Herefordshire.
The group is working on important environmental issues that people are concerned about and helping people to do something about the issues to improve the situation

Some of the GVEG Committee Members have been working with Parish Councils in the Golden Valley to gain support for an emerging proposal for a series of linked cycle tracks in the Golden Valley.  Click here to read more about our progress.




Local ~ Local ~ Local

For every  £  that you spend on local services, local produce, local product, whatever, 80% of that cost remains in the local area and 20% of it "disappears".  Whereas, for every  £  that you spend on imported services, produce, product, merchandise, only 20% of that cost remains in the local area!
So on that note, follow these "local links" and see what is available locally.



Dates to Remember

Next GVEG Meetings:       

 
All GVEG meetings are open to anyone and everyone in the local area
who is interested in the environment.
Why not bring a friend, relative, neighbour or "stranger" to our next meeting.  
Everyone is welcome.  Spread the word!!  Hope to see you there.

  
Sunday, 26th July 2009   from 1 pm
Green Lunch at Lyonshall Barn, Stockley Hill

Each family is asked to bring a locally sourced dish / drinks to share.
Fingers crossed for a sunny day!  
For directions, please e-mail Peter and Judy

After lunch,
Laurence and Alison Matthews will discuss
24 October 2009: A Global Day of Climate Action,
This campaign will be held in Copenhagen and
will call for a reduction in CO2 emissions
in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million by 2020,
for more details, follow this link 350.org website.  
 




What's New at GVEG?
  • Community Wind Turbines
    Jon Halle, Energy4All, spoke to twenty-four members and guests who attended the March meeting of the Golden Valley Environment Group.  He touched on a variety of alternative energy options. The meeting minutes can be found by following this link :   Minutes from 12 March 2009

  • Ecological Buildings
    Our Guest Speaker was  Nigel Gervis,  Founder of Ty-Mawr Lime.  The February meeting minutes can be found by following this link :   Minutes from 12 February 2009


  • Hay-on-Wye mulls Transition Town Concept
    Residents of Hay-on-Wye and neighbouring communities are considering whether to become a 'Transition Town'.  Click here to read more about concepts   and  FAQ and Background Notes are available at Transition Towns

    Plan to attend!  ‘What is a Transition Town?'  which will be held at  The Globe at Hay, in Hay-on-Wye, at 7.30pm on Thursday,  22nd January 2009.  Check out the event details.  


  • Living on Local Food
    In case you missed Trish Marsh speak at our January 2009 meeting on her experience of eating local produce for one year,  follow this link for a recap of the evening:   Minutes from 8 January 2009


  • Recycle your TV for £5
    Sadly our TV "died" last week.  We sprang into action and bought a new energy-efficient, replacement.  :>)  One problem remained, where to recycle our old TV ?  Enviroability in Ross-on-Wye will !  And ensure that your old TV is disposed of properly for a nominal fee of £5.  Here is a map of their location in Ross-on-Wye.   You can e-mail them by  clicking here  or call on  01989 760919.


  • Climate Change Sessions in the Herefordshire libraries
    January 23rd thru March 4 - delivered by the Marches Energy Agency with some Energy Savings Trust funding. Aim to provide a gentle introduction to climate change for people with little knowledge of the subject.  We are encouraged to attend if you are interested.  Click  here to view poster details.  

     
  • Update on the Climate Change Bill
    In December 2007, a petition on the Climate Change Bill was submitted to Paul Keetch with copies to the Shadow Environment Ministers in the other parties.  GVEG requested the Ministers lobby for Climate Change targets to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.  Here is the 2008 update on the bill.      
     

  • Local Business Directory  Following on the "local economy theme",  there is quite a good website if you want to locate a local tradesmen.  It is very simple to use.  Search for local businesses by postcode or select a county from the drop down list.  To check it out, click on  www.bizfo.co.uk


  • Press Release:  Cycle Tracks in the Golden Valley   Follow this link and read the latest position on Cycle Tracks.  This press release has been sent to the local parish councillors and will appear next month in the local December publications including the Hereford Times.


  • Damian Culshaw, another satisfied customer says " I used your Green Action account for my Navitron Solar Panel, which is now tuned and working well, when the sun shines.  The immersion heater insert-approach is fine and gets the hot water where you need it!  If anyone else is thinking of this, they really need to use the TDC3 Controller, not a simple one.  I would be happy to give tips on how to set up the controls."  e-mail:  Damian


  • Alan wants you to know more about  Friends of the Earth
    Explore the issues:  Disappearing Countryside, Global Pressures, Climate Threat,  Biodiversity and Biofuels to name a few.  To learn more, please click on the FOE link


  • Sustainable Communities Act.  A new law gives you, your neighbours and friends power to tell Government how to help you stop your community declining.  For more details, follow this link.


  • Community Funding is now available.  For more details, click here



GVEG Current Themes include 
energy, carbon and climate change - we all hear about climate change every day but what is it and what can we do?
 transport - it's not easy to be green
 waste and resources  - it's a throw-away society whether we like it or not
 food and business - local food is one of the Golden Valley success stories and one of the sustainable business ideas for the area
 landscape and biodiversity  - it's why people come here and
 campaigning and communication - in this game you need to think global but act local - this bit is about the global.

A major driver of the group will be helping reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions - individually, as a community, as businesses and ultimately the country and the world!  More on the local side of this soon (carbon)

How can you help?  In a number of ways - first by reading and thinking about what is on this site, get more involved - if not with us then with another group doing something positive - or take some actions on your own.  You can help our work by using the weblinks on these webpages when you want to buy some goods and services - we work with some selected suppliers and if you go to them through this website (and buy something!) the group will usually receive a little money (at no extra cost to you) to help with our work, in some cases we have also negotiated a discount for you too!  See the Products page.

Past Meetings
To read about this year's GVEG Meetings click on  2009 Activities

For a recap of our Past  GVEG Meetings and Events just click on one of these  links

2008 Activities

2007 Activities



Possessions to Lend
Were you ever in the middle of a DIY project and realized that if you only had that one specialized tool, you would be able to complete the job immediately?  Well, your wish has come true!  Just click on this link to find out what is On Offer



If you only do one thing today, consider switching to a GREEN electricity tariff;
follow this link  for more information or go direct to  Good Energy

Click here to return to top of this page.


This website has been assembled collectively on behalf of the Golden Valley Environment Group. All information has been provided in good faith.  The group and the contributors make no warranty, implied or explicit.  Readers should always satisfy themselves of the information before acting.