Invitation to councilors

In an attempt to show the district council the merits of the project at Trevalon we have invited all the councilors on the planning committee to attend our open day or make arrangements to meet with us.

The letter each was sent is copied below:

11 09 07

Dear Cllr,

On Thursday 6th September the planning committee considered enforcement action at Trevalon, Herodsfoot. I understand that there was some sympathy amongst councillors for what we are trying to achieve at Trevalon and I feel confident that we will be able to persuade planning officers and councillors of the merits of the project. Attending the planning meeting, however, I was disappointed by the lack of time given to debating whether enforcement action was appropriate.

Trevalon is owned by a not-for-profit land trust who’s members and investors share the common belief in managing land to the highest standard for the benefit of wildlife, present and future generations. Central to the management of the land are the principles of permaculture and organic agriculture with the aim of producing high quality food for local people whilst improving the local environment.

In running the business at Trevalon we aim to reduce our contribution to climate change. We intend to minimise our use of fossil fuels, including using working horses, where possible, in preference to a tractor, minimising packaging, reducing the use of motorised transport for both business and personal use and using local sustainably sourced materials in all permanent buildings. We are also undertaking new tree and hedge planting. Already we have created 350 metres of new hedgerow, 150 metres of which was on an historic field boundary and planted 1000 trees. A wildlife habitat management plan has been drawn up which exceeds the DEFRA recommendation for the habitats we have.

Future plans.

1. This winter we will lay the first 100m of field boundary hedge, leaving standard trees every 20 metres and using materials for fuel wood, craft or mulch in the form of woodchip.
2. We will continue to carefully manage the grazing of the lower meadow to increase its biodiversity.
3. We will increase the wildlife value of the wetland in the lower meadow by using rainwater runoff from the road, which is first cleaned using reed-beds and a pond.
4. Construction of a purpose built vegetable packing barn made of straw bales and with a turf roof.
5. Increasing the educational activities undertaken including school visits, open days, courses and workdays.
6. Increasing the number of vegetable boxes delivered each week to 120 and delivering these boxes to more local customers.

If we were starting this project ten years ago we may have been considered alternative but today the need to reduce fossil fuel use and minimise the effects of climate change are well-recognised policy goals of both central and local government, as are the efforts to improve farm biodiversity. I believe that this project is in step with current thinking and instead of just talking we are taking the action needed to tackle the two urgent problems of biodiversity loss and climate change. Both these problems will need radical and innovated solutions in the form of land use and local food production and it is, in part, up to the planning system to meet the challenges and enable appropriate local solutions.

There will be future planning applications made for work and buildings at Trevalon and some work will be undertaken using permitted development rights. I would like to invite you to come to Trevalon and see for yourself what we have achieved in the last two years and to be able to discuss our future plans. If you would like to attend our open day on Sunday 16th of September you would be most welcome. Alternatively please contact me and arrange to make a visit, I will be glad to answer questions and will do my best to address concerns that may be raised.

Yours faithfully,
Mark Simon