|
Ricky Knight, the Green party lead Euro candidate for the south-west, has been a three day visit to Cornwall. Having spent Monday in Penzance visiting local activists and members of the public, he moved on to Truro/Falmouth on Tuesday.
In the morning he and his wife, L'Anne, visited Woodland Valley Farm in Ladock. Woodland Valley is an organic farm and environmental education centre run by Chris Jones and his family. Ricky was shown the recently constructed straw-bale building, the organic vegetables growing in sacks, old tyres and raised beds and learned of the work being done to strengthen local sustainability and community cohesion. "I am totally blown away by this project" said Ricky, a teacher by profession. "It is an example of truly sustainable innovation that promotes not only low carbon living but, also, social inclusion and imaginative education. It is also in such a beautiful and peaceful setting 
at Woodland Valley Farm
Left to Right - Bob Egerton, Chris Jones, Oliver Baines, Lindsay Southcombe, Ricky Knight, Howard Newlove
Whilst at the farm Ricky was able to meet Green Party candidates for the local Cornwall Council elections - Howard Newlove and Lindsay Southcombe, both standing in Truro and both involved in local environmental projects. He also met Oliver Baines and Bob Egerton, both standing in the One Cornwall elections under the One Cornwall : One Planet banner - Oliver in Ladock, St Clement and St Erme and Bob in Probus. With the alliance of the Green Party and green-minded independents, it is hoped to give the people of Cornwall a real choice to elect councillors who will be accountable to the public and prioritise environmental and social issues.
The local elections are on the same day as the Euro elections - 4th June. The Green Party in Cornwall and Devon are very happy to have local members as their lead and second candidates. Ricky is from Barnstaple in North Devon and Roger Creagh-Osborne, the second candidate, is from East Cornwall. In a region that extends as far as Salisbury and Tewksbury, it is good that the far south-west is represented by people with local insight, not by people in the more urban areas, however well meaning they may be.
Ricky's visit co-incides with the launch of the Cornwall Green Party manifesto ' A Fresh Start for Cornwall' - an outline of the vision and policies the Green Party has for Cornwall. It aims to return power to local communities and pursue a low carbon agenda with an emphasis on local transport, thriving neighbourhoods and a robust local economy, based upon local food, energy and innovation.(www.cornishgreenparty.org.uk)
After the farm visit, Ricky met some local shoppers in Pydar Street, to the soothing background sounds of a pan piper in High Cross. "I have had an excellent morning in Truro and it has been great to talk to the people about their concerns and hopes" added Ricky. "I look forward to visiting again in the near future and it would be a privilege to serve this community as their representative in Europe". Ricky and L'Anne then went on to Falmouth and will go to Newquay and Liskeard tomorrow.
|
