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Apologies for cross-points this is a UK planning application and particularly for anyone you know who has connections with Mid Devon – this is an opportunity to really push forward sustainable approaches to land management, rural development, food provisioning, etc. Dear Critters The Ecological Land Co-operative (ELC) has applied to Mid Devon District Council for planning permission for three affordable and Low Impact smallholdings for new entrants to ecological agriculture (full info: http://www.ecologicalland.coop/greenham-reach-smallholdings). The planning officer has recommended approval and it is now up to the planning committee to either refuse or approve our applications on June 6th. We still very much need support from you and especially anyone you may know in Mid Devon! If you have the time we would be very grateful if you would consider the following: − Writing to Mid Devon district councillors, expressing your support for the project. If you don’t know who your councillor is or how to contact them you can find them by using this website: www.writetothem.com<http://www.writetothem.com/>. Letters can be short and simply state your support, or longer if you wish. The most important thing is to send something! − Writing to the Mid Devon Gazette, again expressing support for the project ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>). The two articles that have appeared so far about the project are linked here: o Most recent: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/John-Twyford-Planners-says-response-welcome/story-16152645-detail/story.html o First: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Planners-fear-eco-farm-set-precedent/story-16087733-detail/story.html − Attending the planning committee meeting on June 6th at 2.15 in Tiverton’s Town Hall (Fore Street) and asking a question in Public Question Time. The type of question we think might be appropriate to ask, for example, “considering Devon County Council sold 19 houses and 700 acres from the County Estate between 2002 and 2010 and set out in the 2010 Farms Estate Strategy Review to sell a further 50 houses and 1,500 acres, shouldn’t this Council be supporting the creation of new smallholdings financed through community shares rather than public funding?”. If you think you would like to ask a question, please get in touch with Zoe on 07963 955 338 or [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. − Tell your friends and anyone else you can think of and encourage them to write also. THANK YOU! Kind regards, Larch Maxey Director "There is a need for a transition to resilience and sustainability with organic, agro-ecological, and conservation agriculture. Business as usual is not an option" Hans R. Herren, Co-Chair IAASTD, www.agassessment.org<http://www.agassessment.org>, President Millennium Institute Ecological Land Cooperative | The Hub | 5 Torrens Street | London EC1V 1NQ M 07726 195 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> | www.ecologicalland.coop<http://www.ecologicalland.coop/> | twitter.com/#!/ecolandcoop ELC is an Industrial and Provident Society, registered with the Financial Services Authority, Reg. No 30770 R. Registered Office: The Hub, 5 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NQ P Help save paper - do you need to print this email? Kind regards, Larch Dr. Larch Maxey Room 106 Centre for Sustainable Future Teaching and Learnig Directorate 3 Endsleigh Place Plymouth University PL4 8AA 01752584525