SUSTAINABLE WANTAGE

Sustainable Wantage is a Community Benefit Society, run by volunteers interested in lifestyles that have a lower impact on the environment and increase our resourceful and resilience as a local community. Our meetings are held at The Mix, contact Jo for more information: wantagemix@gmail.com

We have several ongoing projects:

+ The Mix Community Space: The Mix offers upcycling workshops and activities, resource swaps, skill shares, and has a community fridge and refill station. The space can also be hired for meetings and small group events. Its aim is to provide practical ways to live more sustainably, and to bring our local community together.

+ Pewit woodland which we manage on behalf of the Woodland Trust and according to their principles – only using native species, retaining public access, managing without artificial herbicides and pesticides. Cubs and scouts groups meet up there, and local schools use it for Forest Schools sessions.

+The Market Garden in Charlton is a partnership with Style Acre and Oxfordshire County Council. Style Acre and OCC at provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to develop skills and enjoy gardening; Sustainable Wantage provides manual help and encourages community participation in the gardening activities. The garden has been brought back to full use and grows fruit, vegetables and flowers. We have volunteer work parties on Sunday afternoons 2-4pm, and also use the space for community activities and plant sales.

+ We manage some local green spaces with volunteer support, including the Top Lock wildflower meadow, the Millbrook community plot and some town centre flower beds.

+ The Wild Wantage project runs biodiversity projects to support wildlife in the area and aims to increase the number of green spaces available locally. Activities have included scything workshops, bird and bat box installations and collaboration with local authorities and landowners.