sustainability rules


Sustainability Rules

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These rules are a sub-section of the Collective Rules which is a set of general rules and guidelines drawn up by the collective. Collective members should know and act upon these rules. The collective will strive to make the rules consistent with the decisions recorded in the minutes of the collective. These rules change in accordance with decisions made at annual general meetings and special general meetings of the collective.

1. Any construction shall be of a low impact nature meaning:

(a) Materials will be natural and local where possible. There should be preference for material produced within the property. If this is not possible they shall be chosen to minimise the impact by taking into account:

i. persistence (materials that degrade at the end of the buildings life being preferred), excepting inert natural materials such as stone.

ii. minimising transport implications by considering where and how the materials are transported;

iii. choosing reused or recycled materials where possible. Newly manufactured materials such as plastics and quarry products are acceptable where there is no alternative and the construction cannot be carried out in a different way, then all effort will be taken to minimise amounts and chose the most sustainable option.

(b) Any construction shall be visually unobtrusive such that is virtually invisible from dwellings and highways surrounding the coop lands. No particular appearance is prescribed but it should be in keeping with its surroundings and not an eye sore, use of natural materials and individual design should go some way to ensuring it blends in and is in keeping with the desired overall aesthetic.

2. No use of chemical pesticides or herbicides as defined by soil association standards.

3. No introduction of foreign weeds or pests where they could escape and become an environmental problem.

4. Management of the land shall be such that it avoids erosion and prevents long-term degradation of the soil.

5. Waste will be dealt with appropriately composting organic waste, recycling or reusing aiming towards zero waste by minimising input. Waste will not be allowed to become a litter or pollution problem.

6. No use of electricity generated by fossil fuels .

7. Aiming towards self sufficiency in electricity and other fuels, water and waste/sewage disposal.

8. Any animals kept must enjoy the highest standards of welfare at least equal to organic standards.

9. Materials used in other aspects of managing the land will be used with the same criteria in mind as for construction.

10. The land as a whole is managed with conservation in mind whilst the plot holder is not obliged to carry out any particular conservation scheme on their plot their activities should not be to the detriment of the overall wildlife/conservation of the whole site.