On Monday 24 Sep Soroptimist International St Albans and District Club held a Wildlife and Environment Themed Evening. Our Guest Speakers were Wendy Hartnell from Herts and Middlesex Wild Life Trust and Janet Bruce from FoodSmiles (pictured here are Janet on the left, Wendy on the right and Jane Slatter who chaired the evening as the happy sandwich filling!).
Wendy gave us a fascinating talk with fabulous photographs on our big screen called “Where the Wild Things Are”. She told us about all the brilliant work that the Wildlife Trus
t does in Hertfordshire to protect and enhance places for wildlife and to inspire the whole community to value the natural world. Since WW2 93% of heathland has been lost in Herts sadly along with a great many different species of wildlife. They face the challenges created by climate change and habitat loss through development. We heard about the chalk rivers including the Ver and the Mimram nearby. Chalk rivers are very rare, with only 200 in the whole world, so we must take great care of them. Please look at the website to find out more about the work they do and the wonderful places you can visit to see our local wildlife and do think about becoming a Member www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk
Janet Bruce is the Chair of FoodSmiles St Albans and talked to us about their co-operative community of food growers in Harpenden and St Albans including the “incredible edible gardens” outs
ide St Albans Civic Centre. We realised that before we had heard from Janet we really didn’t know how this worked at all. It is a fantastic initiative which was a spin-off from Transition St Albans which is now Sustainable St Albans. Please look at the website to find out more about the work they do and see how you can join in for as little as £1 www.foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk
We have a lot in common with both of these organisations – not only in our support for the environment but also in knowing that when groups come together and work for a common goal the additional benefits are the support and strength we gain from one another for our health and wellbeing.
We were delighted to welcome lots of guests along too. What an inspiring evening!