United Nations Initiative

This initiative is being run by the United Nations in order to improve education around the subject of Biological Diversity (biodiversity). It is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species – for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock – and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kind of interactions among their members (humans, plants, animals).

While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities. Given the importance of public education and awareness about this issue, the UN decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity annually.

Green Councillors Working For You

Following last month’s local elections, we’re proud to have 4 Green Councillors on the South Kesteven District Council. These Councillors have promised to represent the constituents that have put their faith in them to deliver for their communities, whilst at the same time protecting and promoting the unique plants, animals and ecosystems across Lincolnshire.

We hope you will join us today in reflecting upon the fabulous nature that surrounds us and what we can all do, from today onwards, to protect our green spaces for generations to come.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information on how the South Lincolnshire Green Party is helping and protecting communities and ecosystems across the region, please contact us using the button below.

The post Help Us Mark International Biodiversity Day appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

Grantham Journal Hails All Change

The post Green Party’s Historic Local Election Success in the Local Press appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

Grantham St Vincents Ward Delivers first green councillor

Councillor Patsy Ellis became Lincolnshire’s first ever Green Councillor, taking one of the three seats in the ward of Grantham St. Vincents. Ellis, and her fellow Green candidates Alex Ferguson and Anne Gayfer, were ever-presents on the streets around the ward in the lead up to the election, keen to hear the concerns of local residents and to find out how we can best serve them. Ellis was elected with the most votes out of the field of ten candidates, with current Mayor of Grantham, Graham Jeal (Con), and long-standing Independent Charmaine Morgan also elected alongside her.

The ensuing acceptance speeches reflected the significance of the result. “This is an historic day for the Green Party in this region,” stated Ellis. “I also think it’s a great day for the people of South Kesteven to see such change across the council.”

Previous Council Leader Loses Seat as Greens Win Big in Casewick

Next to be elected was Councillor Vanessa Smith, in a result that proved one of the biggest results of the night. Dr Smith was elected as a Councillor for the Casewick ward with an overwhelming majority. The result also saw Council Leader, Kelham Cooke of the Conservative Party, lose his seat on the council.

In her own acceptance speech Dr Smith reflected on the sentiment in her local ward. “There has been certain dissatisfaction with the leadership, particularly with regards to the Deepings Leisure Centre,” she revealed. “I realise it is an enormous amount of work ahead, but I will endeavour to work my hardest for those who voted for me to whom I’m extremely grateful.”

Bourne Austerby Delivers Two Green Councillors

As the results continued through the night, the members of the South Lincolnshire Green Party celebrated the elections of Councillor Emma Baker and Councillor Rhys Baker, took two of the 3 seats in the ward of Bourne Austerby. The married couple, both teachers in schools within the ward, were joined by Councillor Paul Fellows, an Independent who retained his seat. The result saw the former Conservative cabinet minister, Robert Reid, lose his seat.

Councillor Rhys Baker spoke of the optimism the Council results have brought. “Thank you everyone. This is not just a victory, it is a start,” continued Baker. “We now have a responsibility to deliver for our communities the best that we possibly can.”

South Kesteven District Council Enters New era

The complete results saw the Conservatives lose overall control of the council, a result that few could have predicted just a short few months ago.

The Conservatives remain the biggest party with 24 seats, whilst Independent Councillors took 22. Green Councillors, however, now have a significant voice in SKDC, joining the Liberal Democrats on 4 seats, with Labour taking 2.

The post Green Party Celebrates Historic Local Election Success in South Kesteven appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

The Green Party is a party of social and environmental justice, which supports a radical transformation of society for the benefit of all, and for the planet as a whole. We understand that the threats to economic, social and environmental wellbeing are part of the same problem, and recognise that solving one of these crises cannot be achieved without solving the others. We do not believe that the imposition of a mayoral authority on the people of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, without proper democracy and accountability, will further these aims.

The East Midlands Green Party welcomes any additional funding for our region but disagrees with the proposal and has submitted a detailed response setting out its reasons.

The post Green Party Opposes Combined Authority Proposal in East Midlands appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

Ian said, “I’m excited to be standing as candidate in this by-election. The Green Party is now the third party in terms of voter intention. Voting Green therefore can make a difference and we can, and do, win seats.”

Ian enjoys supporting the community, working as a volunteer in biodiversity group for the Wyndham Park Forum.  Ian can often be found with a litter picker in hand, keeping his local streets clean.  He helped establish and now helps with running Grantham Men’s Shed and he co-leads Grantham RiverCare, which recently won a prestigious award BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Make-A-Difference Award. He is a member of Grantham Lions.

Other of his priorities include traffic congestion and parking in Grantham, which he thinks are important in encouraging and supporting local businesses to bring a vibrant feeling back to the town.

Ian has lived in South Lincolnshire for over thirty years and as a resident of the ward.

For further information, please contact:

Anne Gayfer, info@southlincolnshire.greenparty.org.uk  Tel. 07443 492726

Martin Blake, coordinator@southlincolnshire.greenparty.org.uk  Tel. 07986 239688

The post Ian Simmons Named Green Party Candidate for South Kesteven By-Election appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

Local Green Party members have selected Anne Gayfer as their candidate for the Grantham and Stamford constituency at the next General Election.

Anne has lived in Grantham for many years, and stood for the Greens in the 2019 General Election.  Commenting on her selection, she said:

“I’m delighted to have the chance to stand again in a General Election. Both candidates currently vying to become prime minister support cuts to welfare benefits and are against free school meals, as well as being reluctant to commit to net zero by 2050.

“We need firm leadership on cutting emissions and making sure the country is adequately prepared for future extreme weather events.  And we need a politics of compassion towards the most vulnerable in society.  We need a General Election at the earliest opportunity.”

Anne is a long-standing environmental activist, has organised and led local tree-planting and wilding schemes, and is a volunteer with the local Rivercare group.  She also works hard at raising the profile of local issues such as protecting the trees at Prince William Barracks and Bourne Woods, and has pressed the council to get a new pedestrian crossing installed, potholes filled and street lighting repaired.

For further information, please contact:

Anne Gayfer, info@southlincolnshire.greenparty.org.uk  Tel. 07443 492726

Martin Blake, coordinator@southlincolnshire.greenparty.org.uk  Tel. 07986 239688

The post Grantham and Stamford Parliamentary Constituency – Green Party Announce Candidate appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

The post Green Party Candidate Reflects on By-Election Results appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

South Lincolnshire Green Party has selected local activist Mike Turner to represent them in the forthcoming by-elections for Isaac Newton ward and the Colsterworth Rural division.

Mike is well known in his community and he works hard to raise money for the local church, keep the village tidy with regular litter picking and has also started to make use of vacant land for wildlife projects and allotments.

Mike is well aware that people are becoming exasperated with the lack of action on environmental issues.  He believes that all houses built in the area should be built to zero carbon standards and that residents should be helped to better insulate their homes to keep down energy costs.  It’s not good enough to build new homes that then need to be retrofitted with insulation!

Further to a Green Party campaign against a government plan to cut down the 67000 trees at Grantham Barracks, he is pleased that these plans have now been put on hold.  Mike will continue to fight these plans.

Speeding is a problem throughout Lincolnshire but it is a particular danger in our villages. Mike supports the “20 is Plenty” campaign and would work to get lower speeds put in around schools and other places were road users are vulnerable.

Mike is originally from the North West, but now lives in Little Ponton.  After a decade working in finance, he now works in the wine industry and support producers across the globe, promoting organic and biodynamic systems for producing wines and paying suppliers a fair price for their products.

The post South Lincolnshire Green Party announces candidate for Isaac Newton and Colsterworth Rural by-elections appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

Local Green Party candidate Mike Turner thanks EnvironmentSK, the council’s contractors for replacing the trees they had cut down.

Members of the Wyndham Park Forum, supported by several members of the South Lincolnshire Green Party have planted over 700 trees to restore the double hedgerow that has been lost over the years and create a wild area for nature in the park.  The area is also used as a Forest School.

The Green Party’s Mike Turner said, “After three rounds of applications for trees and funding, which saw over 700 trees planted in and around the Forest School area of Wyndham Park, volunteers were dismayed that contractors on several occasions either strimmed or mowed off saplings.

“Some of the original saplings are now over 2m tall, so we are please that EnvironmentSK was able to replace the lost trees by ones of equivalent size.”.

The post Green Party thanks Council contractors on replacing trees they cut down appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.

With Boris Johnson being accused of lying to Parliament over parties held in No.10 Downing Street while the country was in lockdown, the Green Party has said that it is past time for the Prime Minister to resign.

The Green Party’s Mike Turner said, “Boris Johnson’s desperate attempts to cling onto power are making a mockery of our democracy. What was left of his disintegrating integrity has now gone. The vast majority of people now think he should resign because of his shameful behaviour. It is hugely unfortunate that our local MP, Gareth Davies, has decided to remain silent.

“No matter what has been said by his Conservative colleagues in the recent days, I think the people of Grantham and Stamford, and Britain as a whole, do care deeply about this issue. Those of us who obeyed the rules, with many heart-breaking stories of what that isolation meant for millions of Brits, are justifiably outraged. The least Mr Davies can do is tell us where he stands on the matter.

“Boris Johnson’s failure of leadership is not only damaging trust in public health measures, but he is also allowing other very urgent issues that are spiralling out of control including the cost of living, international diplomacy, and the climate crisis.

But the Green Party also warned that replacing Boris Johnson with another untrustworthy MP as Prime Minister would not solve the problem. He said,

“We should be under no illusion that just getting rid of Boris Johnson will fix the culture of hypocrisy and entitlement that has taken hold in our political system. I am worried that we will end up with one bad apple replacing another.

“Whoever is our next Prime Minister should be subject to rigorous scrutiny. They should not, like Boris Johnson and his colleagues, apparently see no problem in lying to the public and to other MPs.”

The post South Lincolnshire Green Party calls on local MP to do the right thing over Partygate appeared first on South Lincolnshire Green Party.