Nailsworth CAN have been thinking about projects that the town, community groups and businesses can sponsor or participate in. Here are some initiatives we can all play a part in promoting:

• Edible Open Gardens: The Edible Open Garden scheme promotes the growing of fruit and vegetables across our community in whatever space you may have. Due to the pandemic, our plans to open these gardens for people to visit had to be put on hold. However, we are showcasing them virtually right here! There are some wonderful gardens to see, all offering inspiration, tips and advice.

• Nailsworth In Bloom: Supporting and working with the wonderful NIB team, on projects to grow edibles in town. NailsworthCAN has already funded some fruit trees, but we can do much more. We love their idea of a linear orchard, running through the town.

• Community Veg & Fruit Growing: By supporting or taking part in community schemes, everyone can make a contribution. It is a great education for children to learn more about the whole process, and be part of a collaborative effort.

• Hospitality Venues: Working with hospitality venues to understand challenges and opportunities during these difficult times, and aim to improve things in ways that bring benefits to them, and to sustainability andshare good practice.

• Support Local Producers: Whether at the regular Nailsworth Market, or at other venues or outlets, we want to encourage people to buy from local producers.

• Community Fridge: We would like to see the setting up of community fridges at different locations where those with excess produce can share or exchange with others.

• Community Compositing: It would be great if Nailsworth could emulate the successful community composting scheme at Bisley. This provides a way to repurpose garden waste, while creating free, high quality, organic compost, free.

• Cookery Courses: To help those who are new to vegetarian or vegan cooking, we want to promote basic courses to show how extremely tasty, healthy dishes can be created on a budget.

• Meat Free Days: To promote meat free days for those wanting to explore vegetarian or vegan food.

What are the benefits of these projects?

Carbon Reduction: Numerous opportunities to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) from food production, processing and consumption.

Local Economy: Local jobs in food and agriculture are important to the town, especially in hospitality. By improving our green credentials as a town, we help to secure these jobs, and others that may arise.

Fairness: Better access to high quality, but affordable, food must be at the heart of initiatives around this theme. The Long Table in Brimscombe offers a model where food is provided, but also employment opportunities for the young; and has proved both successful and inspiring.

Health & Wellbeing: Healthy food is good for us, but there are also other benefits from communities coming together around food.

Nature Restoration: By seeking to eliminate Palm Oil and other highly processed food from our diets, we can help in reducing impacts thousands of miles away, and promote local producers who are doing their bit to restore hedgerows and wildlife corridors, and reduce use of pesticides.

Resilience: Ensuring the endurance of natural ecological systems is good for nature, but also good for us. We rely on the web of nature, and if we take care of nature, it will take care of us.