The Green Mole Forum was established in Spring 2008 to bring together individuals and groups interested in sustainability and concerned with environmental issues in Mole Valley. We aim to be a hub connecting people and groups together for the benefit of all.

We have had a busy and successful first year. We meet monthly, alternating between various locations within Mole Valley, and we regularly invite local groups to the meetings to tell us about their activities.

During the year we have set up our website with many useful links and the chance to blog and comment. We have held a public meeting about environmentally friendly building projects which was well attended and led to a follow up visit to a house illustrating the various energy saving methods. We've been to local Village Days with a stall offering eco-friendly games and informative quizzes. Members have helped local Chambers of Commerce with a survey on plastic bag use - which is now very much reduced.

Some members have decided to take part in a CRAG for 2009. This is a Carbon Rationing scheme in which we monitor our energy use at home and in personal travel and see whether we can live within a set allowance for the year. This exercise is designed to help us discover our individual energy "weaknesses" and where we can reduce them.

Most recently there has been a growing interest in the Transition Towns movement within the group and some members, joining with others from the local community, have already formed Transition Dorking. Transition Ashtead is also under way.

Come and join us - you will be most welcome! Our next meeting will be at the end of April in Dorking - contact us for details.

Margaret Hibbert