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Planet Shaftesbury Meeting - Minutes - 23/10/2025

Updated: Nov 7

People interested in Planet Shaftesbury met at the Grosvenor Arms in the Library at 6pm.


Robin Walter volunteered to chair the meeting

Ed Bersey Volunteered to take these minutes


Rachel Bodle who has been leading the Planet Shaftesbury Network meetings for the last six years gave a short introduction:


This meeting brought together people wanting to see Planet Shaftesbury playing its part in creating resilience across our community, complementing the work of SuSAC, harnessing new interest and fresh energy following the 'Refresh', and more.  



The meeting was then opened by Robin Walter and the agenda was created from a quick round the table discussion with anyone present able to contribute.


The agreed agenda:

  • An update on Planet Shaftesbury and Sustainable Dorset

  • Proposal for a meeting and talk hosted by writer Chris Smaje.

  • How to fund the website going forward

  • New project contents for the website - e.g. Shaftesbury Orchard Town

  • How to create the Newsletter moving forward

  • Who will monitor the Planet Shaftesbury in future

  • Who will update the events on the website ion the future

  • The 89% project - a climate concerned majority in Shaftesbury

  • The Dorset River Orchestra and Dirty Rivers Campagne

  • What is Planet Shaftesbury

  • Dorset COP

  • SuSAC and Planet Shaftesbury - what do they mean to each other

  • AOB and next meeting



An update on Planet Shaftesbury and Sustainable Dorset

  • Rachel explained that organisations can be members of Sustainable Dorset. This would allow Planet Shaftesbury to apply for funding under this heading. 

  • Rachel asked if there were any funding that Planet Shaftesbury could seek that it would become excluded from if it were part of Sustainable Dorset?

  • Rachel explained that if Planet Shaftesbury became part of Sustainable Dorset and funding was obtained via their charitable status it would require governance and control.

  • John asked if you are involved with a charity does that limit scope of political activities e.g. XR.

  • Karen Wimhurst said that we actually need the idea of what we need funding for first and then we can work from there to see what is appropriate. 

  • Rachel offered that Dorset Community Energy are a relaxed organisation that will fund at a low level - 1-2k with little regulatory requirement.

  • Richard Thomas added that The Swans Trust and the Trinity centre along with others in Shaftesbury were also worth pursuing.

  • Action - Robin Walter and Karen Wimhurst to speak to Giles Watts about this topic at the Dorset COP.




Proposal for a meeting and talk hosted by writer Chris Smaje.

  • Robin Walter and Rachel Bodle proposed and event - "In conversation with Chris Smaje - How do we feed Shaftesbury in testing conditions?"

  • Chris runs Vallis Veg in Frome and is a multi book author including "Small Farm Futures"

  • Chris is keen to do the event and says it would be good to invite key local people

  • Richard Thomas asked if this should be linked to the SuSAC Green Wheel initiative.

  • Timing would be mid January 2026

  • All agreed this was a great idea

  • ACTION: Robin Walter and Rachel Bodle to organise



How to fund the website going forward

  • Karen Wimhurst proposed that the Transition Town funds be used to pay for the Planet Shaftesbury website renewal on a monthly basis up until April 2026.

  • Lucy and Richard agreed to propose a fund request to SuSAC for assistance with website costs next year - a quote has been supplied of the order of £390

  • DESCISION: Transition Town funds to pay for website to April 2025

  • DESCISION: Pending approval, SuSAC to fund website next year 2026

  • ACTION: Ed Bersey to switch website to monthly billing to allow a part year bill.



New project contents for the website - e.g. Shaftesbury Orchard Town

Ed Bersey agreed to continue maintaining and updating the website with new content as required. People wanting to get items on the website must provide finished copy and photos. This will then be presented nicely but Ed will not be able to write on behalf of a group.

ACTION: Ed Bersey agreed to add some guidance notes to the website on how to submit content.



How to create the Newsletter moving forward

Previously all newsletter content has been collated and created by Rachel Bodel. Going forward we agreed that anyone with interesting news could write some finished content and supply to Ed Bersey once per month and Ed will send out the newsletter.

ACTION: Ed Bersey to send newsletter monthly with content provided.



Who will monitor the PlanetShaftesbury@gmail email account in future

  • Robin Walter kindly agreed to monitor the PlanetShaftesbury@gmail email account on a trial basis.

  • ACTION: Ed Bersey to set up forwarding of email to Robin.



Who will update the events on the website in the future

Ed Bersey agreed to add events to the website - but not to search for them. If you want to advertise your event on the Planet Shaftesbury website send finished content including at least one photo or poster to ed@bersey.com



The 89% project - a climate concerned majority in Shaftesbury

  • Recent national research has revealed that 89% of people are concerned or very concerned about climate change but they think that no one else is. The perception is that Climate Change is a niche subject and no one talks about it. 

  • The office of national statistics have done a similar exercise their result was 69%. Crucially all concerned parties believe they are a minority when they are not.

  • Karen Wimhurst has been talking to Keri Jones (Alfred Radio) about these findings, because media is very important in managing perception. Keri has suggested a series for the radio. The challenge is finding the right people to speak personally.

  • Keri mentioned Gary Mantle (ex CEO of WWT) as a possible guest, saying it would be more powerful if they are people who are not normally known as activist.

  • Karen W wondered of we could entice people who fall within the 69% within Shaftesbury to come together.

  • ACTION Karen Wimhurst to follow up with Keri Jones.



The Dorset River Orchestra and Dirty Rivers Campagne

  • Karen Wimhurst recently ran a river project which was filmed.  Dorset River Orchestra

  • Karen would like to do another event around World Water Day but unfortunately this clashes with the Reading the Land (Shaftesbury Book Festival)

  • There is a whole group of farmers who have been working to reduce run off going into the river stour. KW would like to organise a talk by these Farmers.  RSPRS  (Reducing Phosphate levels in the river Stour)



What is Planet Shaftesbury

Having worked on many grant applications, Karen Wimhurst volunteered at a previous meeting to write a precis of what Planet Shaftesbury is. This work has been completed and is available on request should we make an application for funding for any projects.



Dorset COP

Dorset COP is taking place on 1st November in the Sturminster Exchange.

Various people present are attending and all agreed sharing of lifts



SuSAC and Planet Shaftesbury - what do they mean to each other

  • Richard Thomas gave an explanation of what SuSAC is and who is involved. Importantly SuSAC is tied to the town council.

  • Rachel Bodle commented Planet Shaftesbury must remain independent and in touch with other groups and be free to connect as necessary without the limitation of the Town Council.



AOB and next meeting

  • Rachel Bodle mentioned that we have nearly run out of the Food Leaflet. Its content needs updating and she will liaise with Lucy to consider how to progress this.


  • The SUSAC Green Wheel project - John gave a brief description of what this is - initiated by Sue and Angela, it is about creating nature friendly corridors surrounding Shaftesbury. More information here SuSAC John has visited other Parish Councils like Motcombe and Cann - Shaftesbury is actually small compared to other parishes, so involvement of other parishes is important.  This will also feed into the Shaftesbury Neighbourhood plan and the Dorset Plan. The idea is being presented at the Dorset COP. Initially they will map land ownership and use, then  working with Landowners to improve the land use towards nature recovery.

  • The Next Meeting will be held on 27th November 2025 also in the Grosvenor subject to permission

  • Action Rachel Bodle to book Grosvenor for next meeting



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