We are an active group campaigning against proposed development on greenfield sites including housing and commerce and campaigning to conserve Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSIs) and other unspoilt areas. Our main campaign for the past year has been to stop the Farnborough Airfield from being developed by TAG Aviation into a commercial business aircraft operation. We are also encouraging local councils in our area to control the increase in traffic on the roads by encouraging the use of public transport and alternative methods to car use.

Visit our website for further information on the group and our activities.

Contact details for Contact details for Blackwater Valley.

Alton FoE is pursuing a programme of campaigning, attending meetings and keeping a watchful eye on local benevolent and threatening activities.

In the year 2002, Alton FoE will focus on waste management and recycling. If you have any views or ideas on this that could be usefully addressed in the community by Alton Foe, please let us know.

An application has been made by a company called Grundons to create a dump for household, industrial and commercial waste alongside the A325 at Grooms Farm, Frith End, Hampshire. The plan is to build on greenfield farmland close to Alice Holt Forest, and to use the site for the disposal of toxic waste, principally Air Pollution Control residues (APC's). APC residues come from waste incinerators, which burn much of our rubbish. This reduces its bulk, but it releases a cocktail of cancer-causing pollutants. To conform to "Air Pollution Control" regulations, a fine lime powder in the incinerator chimney absorbs these pollutants before they escape into the atmosphere. The APC lime-powder residue that remains after burning is known as fly-ash, and it is a highly concentrated mass of lethal toxins. It is removed for disposal. So how toxic is fly-ash, and how much of it will be dumped at Grooms Farm? Fly-ash contains three main types of toxin: heavy metals, dioxin, and furans, all of which are poisonous, even at low concentrations. The US Environmental Protection Agency understands how toxic dioxin is; they classify the substance as a human carcinogen with no safe lower limit.

We are also actively campaigning for National Park status for the South Downs - if you would further information, or perhaps help out in this campaign, then please contact Chris Todd, Campaign Officer at southdowns@zoom.co.uk.

Contact details for Alton Friends of the Earth

Our main campaign currently revolves around the proposed development of Dibden Bay. For further details take a look at our website.

Visit our website for further information on what is going on in the Southampton area.

Contact details for Southampton Friends of the Earth

The New Forest Friends of the Earth campaigns on both local and global issues.

There are over 200 local groups in the UK. The New Forest group covers the area of the New forest District Council and new members are always welcome.

Visit our website for further information on what is going on in the New Forest area.

Contact details for New Forest Friends of the Earth

We are always delighted to welcome new members. Here is an outline of the activities of Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth.

Waste & Resources
Important issues are waste minimisation, recycling and anti-incineration. In partnership with Fareham Borough Council, we have conducted a Shopping Survey, Recycling and Composting Roadshows. With FBC, we have helped spread information about Energy Conservation. We are very enthusiastic about the development of Green Energy.

Transport & Planning
We have completed surveys on cycling and buses. We are keen to see the development of public transport, and we support the LRT as part of an integrated transport system in Portsmouth and on the Gosport peninsular. We are also concerned about making it easier for people without access to a car to travel in the area. We are keen to support all types of cycling and are encouraging the extension of cycle paths throughout the area, including a safe route through Fareham centre. We campaign against inappropriate road building and major development.

Living World
This team is part of a FOE group covering the Solent region with issues related to coastal climate change and the effect on wildlife habitats in Hampshire. At present we are campaigning against GM crops and the use of peat in garden compost. Previous successes include stopping the development of a major freight terminal at Dibden Bay and keeping Hampshire GM free. On a national level, we help campaign to stop multi-nationals damaging biodiversity.

Co-ordination, Development & Resources
This is where we plan ahead and decide what our main activities should be in the coming months. All members are welcome to the meetings, held at The Well in West Street, Fareham on the first Saturday of the month.

Whole-Group Monthly Meetings
The aim here is a mix of informing, inspiring and being sociable, regularly featuring guest speakers. Meetings alternate monthly between St Vincent College in Mill Lane, Gosport, and Fareham Community Action at 5 Osborn Road South, Fareham. All meetings start at 7.30pm and newcomers are very welcome.

Take a look at our website for further information on our current activities.

We are always delighted to welcome new members, so please drop us a line!

We work to advance the education of the public in ecology, natural history, resource conservation and environmental studies, together with the conservation, protection and restoration for the public benefit of natural resources, natural beauty and animal and plant life of the world and lands and buildings of historical interest or of ecological or scientific importance. Basically, we are here to protect our environment and work on a local and national basis.

Portsmouth FOE is continuing its battle against the incinerator despite the inspectors decision. We have started a Waste sub group to look at wider issues such as composting and recycling and hope that we can push for doorstep recycling for all.

Work is currently ongoing at our allotment site and we now have a few
crops planted. We're hoping the allotment will encourage members of the group to develop their skills and knowledge in growing organic as well as considering our own composting experiment! So if you would like to join us, then please contact us!

Take a look at our website for further information on our group.

Contact details for Portsmouth Friends of the Earth

The group was re-launched in 2002 after being part of Portsmouth. It has 50 members from all parts of the Borough of Havant, East Hampshire and a part of West Sussex. We actively support FOE national and regional campaigns as well as local issues through networking with other FOE groups, Resident Assocations, Conservation Groups. Local Authorities and NGO's with local branches.

For further information see our WEBSITE    For current activitis see the Latest Newsletter.

Group Coordinator, Sue Holt: Tel 023 9278 0943 Email via website for further information.

Did you know that the IOW is now a GM Free zone??
A resolution submitted by Councillor Terry Butchers called for the Council to resist attempts to grow GM crops locally. She supported her case with IWFOE’s "Keep the Island GM Free" petition which she duly presented to the Chairman, so if you helped get signatures for that, or signed yourself, well done! You helped! The Council has already shown its concern about food containing GM products. It is Council policy that where possible food served on its behalf, such as school dinners, is GM free. The Policy Committee actually voted to beef up the new resolution, which had been worded cautiously to avert opposition. In the event only Councillor Tony Mundy (Gatcombe, Godshill & Rookley) voted against it, on the grounds that it had not been proved that GM organisms were dangerous. Obviously he does not believe in shutting the stable door until the horse has actually bolted. The Council cannot ban field trials itself, but can object to the licence appellations would-be growers have to make, and this move strengthens its position. It is in the interest of the Island farmers anyway, as the Island is one of the few locations where it is physically possible to be GM free, and NFU, while cautious, has not opposed it. It could be a strong selling point for local producers, especially if they are organic.

Sandown Bay
You no doubt joined in the celebrations on hearing that Southern Water would be obliged to provide secondary sewage treatment at Sandown. This is a result of the Government’s decision to revoke all designations of High Natural Dispersion Areas in England and Wales, including of course, Sandown Bay. According to European Legislation that should come into effect by December 31, 2000.

Contact details for Isle of Wight Friends of the Earth

We work for the environment and the communities of Test Valley Borough through campaigning for sustainable solutions to environmental issues. We hold events and meetings on a regular basis - please contact the group for further details.

Take a look at our website for further information on our group.

Contact details for Test Valley Friends of the Earth