Shaftesbury climate action in the spotlight

Shaftesbury volunteers scored a big hit with their presentation on how the town is meeting the climate and nature emergency at the third Dorset COP, held at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on 1st November 2025. For some of the 300 or so people from across Dorset and beyond who attended the day-long event dedicated to ‘turning environmental ambition into action‘ it was the highlight of the programme.

Event organiser Jenny Morisetti thanked volunteers Amber Harrison, Jen Hirsch, Joe Hashman and Richard Thomas for what she called an ‘excellent session‘. Feedback from attendees called the Shaftesbury presentation on ‘Nature Recovery‘ as ‘the highlight of the day‘.

“I know how much work you put into it and I hope you were pleased to have the opportunity to showcase the work of SuSAC,’ said Jenny Morisetti. “I’m sure you’ve inspired other towns, communities and councils to create something similar.”

Sustainable Shaftesbury leads local climate action

The volunteers are all members of Sustainable Shaftesbury Advisory Committee (SuSAC), a formal committee of Shaftesbury Town Council that advises the council on how best to meet the rising challenge from climate change and nature loss. Shaftesbury Town Council is unique among Dorset’s town and village councils in having a series of volunteer-run expert advisory committees to advise it on a variety of issues.

Nature recovery and the Green Wheel vision

During the Dorset COP session, SuSAC members outlined several key initiatives driving nature recovery in Shaftesbury. Jen Hirsch and Amber Harrison introduced Shaftesbury’s original Nature Friendly Town framework. Joe Hashman presented Shaftesbury’s growing reputation as an Orchard Town. Richard Thomas concluded with SuSAC’s pioneering vision for a nature friendly ‘Green Wheel’ around Shaftesbury. The idea behind the Green Wheel concept, subtitled ‘a turning point for nature‘, is that every town and village could have its own network of ‘green wheels’ and ‘spokes’- wildlife corridors linking the countryside with community centres and neighbourhoods.

Inspiring change across Dorset

By sharing local success stories and clear frameworks for action, Sustainable Shaftesbury continues to demonstrate how small towns can make a big difference in tackling global environmental challenges.

For more details about SuSAC and Shaftesbury’s ongoing environmental projects, visit the Sustainable Shaftesbury page on this website. Further information about Dorset COP 25 can be found at https://dorsetcop.info/2025-programme.

Thanks to Richard Thomas, chair of Sustainable Shaftesbury Advisory Committee, for his report from Dorset COP 2025.

Photos are courtesy of SuSAC member Lucy Young.