There is an organisation in Abingdon that you can be part of, which has a vision for the town to help ensure people can collectively all live within the earth’s resources whilst building sustainable communities.
One Planet Abingdon has established a Climate Emergency Centre in Abingdon’s County Hall in the town’s Market Place. They have been granted the use of the space below the museum at no charge for one year by Abingdon Town Council. By providing a suitable environment where people can get together, collectively people living in Abingdon can get involved in mitigating and reducing climate change. The Climate Emergency Centre and volunteers involved with One Planet help build community ties by working collaboratively with local groups and individuals, educating the public, local businesses and other local organisations on the impact and reduction of damage to the climate, ecology and social challenges that drastically affect us all. Working together, residents can build a sustainable, enjoyable, and positive future. Collectively reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing biodiversity whilst addressing the issues of social injustice and inequality, can build resilience and cohesion.
Providing an ideal meeting place, One Planet runs a café selling a selection of refreshments and an ever-changing selection of homemade cakes. They don’t sell them but ask for donations instead, to ensure accessibility for all. The cakes are made by volunteer bakers using ethical and locally sourced ingredients.
One Planet Abingdon supports organic sustainable farming with no pesticides. They use locally grown seasonal items reducing food miles. All items are ethically sourced Fair-Trade ingredients and wherever possible they come from a food bank reducing waste. By using organic milk in glass bottles, they demonstrate how to eliminate single-use plastic.
Members circulate information on the various events they hold each month, inviting views and ideas from everyone living in the Abingdon area.
Recently, One Planet Abingdon Climate emergency centre has been engaging with young people and a group of five of these young teenagers recently arrange a teenage clothes swap event with further Clothes Swap events planned for later in the year. The mayor was present, and the hall was granted for free with refreshments provided by the Town Council. Clementine, who was involved with the event, said “I am part of the CED Youth as I want to be effective and stop climate change. I loved helping out in the Teens Clothes Swap and it was great to see so many people turning up. It just shows how much people are keen to help the planet. The atmosphere was really friendly, and everyone was kind. I certainly want to be part of the next event.”
Leo was also involved. “I really enjoyed helping at the Teenage Clothes Swap. Everyone was very enthusiastic and encouraging about our cause. It was a successful day with a healthy flow of visitors throughout, all bringing clothes to swap for something new. It was so satisfying to see happy customers leaving with new clothes, knowing that they had avoided adding to the environmental impact of fast fashion.”
Other events being held this summer include the Abingdon Community Festival on 9 July. This is a new festival celebrating all things sustainable, health and happiness for the people of Abingdon. It is a collaboration of various groups, including the Abbey Buildings Trust, the Abingdon Carbon Cutters and One Planet. One Planet Abingdon has also been asked by the Town Council to take the lead on making bunting for the Queen’s Jubilee. There is an Eco-Business Fair planned for late September/early October.
Following Abingdon Town Council’s Climate Emergency declaration in March 2019, recognising the crises we are all facing as global warming takes hold coupled with the destruction of the natural environment, the Abingdon Green Forum was established. The Forum’s objectives are to promote and initiate changes helping toward carbon neutrality within the town, reducing waste, promoting the general well-being of residents, and improving biodiversity. The Forum Steering Group has brought together a collaboration of various local voluntary groups who are actively trying to improve the town’s environment.
The next quarter is focussed on biodiversity and interested parties can email contact@oneplanetabingdon.org for more information on how to get involved.
To find out more about how to become a member or a volunteer simply visit oneplanetabingdon.org/get-involved.
