Dorset Greener Homes 2-3 October

Shaftesbury is celebrating the adaptations some people have made to their homes or life-styles by joining in with this county-wide event organised by the Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN). Around 50 homes are taking part between 25th September and 3rd October. Some of these are new houses with the latest heating or ventilation technologies; others have been retrofitted with improved insulation, windows, or solar panels; and there are some where the inhabitants have chosen to make life-style changes - such as growing veg, maintaining a wildlife-friendly garden, travelling less, reducing waste. There's a website with map, details of what you could see at each home and what the viewing arrangements are. October 2nd offers the greatest number of opportunities close to Shaftesbury. Find the website here. You'll find local opportunities to visit and talk with the inhabitants about the choices they've made, including

• The Threshold Centre, Gillingham: a pioneering co-housing community based around eco-friendly, sustainable and collaborative lifestyles;
• Greatfield House, Enmore Green: a 1960's house which was previously described as an 'ice-box' and is now amidst major works including insulation, windows being reconfigured for solar gain, and installation of an air-source heat pump;
• Hawker's Farm, Stour Provost, a 500-year-old, formerly near-derelict farmhouse where the owners have used a wide range of traditional and renewable materials in their restoration and where a barn is now a sustainability hub;
• A 1930's former council house on Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, with a timber-framed rear extension, attic conversion and kitchen re-fit where the works done reflected cost and desire to be energy efficient.
• A 2004 3-bedroom home in Donhead St Mary which has been adapted over the years so that it now has a loft conversion, better quality windows, benefits from solar gain, solar PV and an air-source heatpump. The owners have an electric car and describe their garden as 'pretty wild'.

All the hosts are happy to talk about their experiences - and they won't be trying to sell you anything!

This event is organised by the Dorset Climate Action Network as part of The Climate Coalition's Great Big Green Week. Participation across Shaftesbury and North Dorset is being coordinated by Rachel Bodle (of Planet Shaftesbury) & Jenny Morisetti (of Hawkers Farm & Sustainable Dorset)