Saturday 30 July 2011

July Newsletter




Get sustainable this summer by visiting an allotment or cycling to see a movie! We at Taunton Transition are taking a little break so there will be no Transition Cafe or newsletter in August but we will be back in September.  The newsletter will be published at the usual mid-month time in September.

Events

Priorswood Allotment Opening - Saturday 13th August

As part of National Allotment Week come and have a tour of Priorswood Allotments!



Tours of the allotments start at 10am, 11am and 12.

Chat to experienced gardeners and those new to allotment gardening

Entrance at the big green gate on Obridge Road, just before the railway bridge.

French Weir Family Fun Day - Sunday 14th August

12 till 4pm. 
This event is now in its sixth year, and has become a hugely popular fixture in the Taunton events calendar, with visitors coming from all over the county. There is no admission fee to the event and there are loads of free activities and entertainment for all ages and abilities, organised by Friends of French Weir Park and funded by TDBC.   
Taunton Transition Town will have a stand there - look out for Paul's amazing maze and assortment of home made puzzles to mystify, delight or totally frustrate you!  Be inspired by our veg table bearing the latest gleanings from our various allotments, gardens and windowsills and enter our seasonal recipe competition.  Or just come up for a chat! 
This year, you can also expect archery, fencing, circus skills, spinning & felting, bouncy castle, woodland play, recycled art, messy crafts, longswords, theatrical dressing up, planting, orienteering, skate ramp, football and more.
 
Do make sure you bring a few pennies, as there will be some activities that have a small charge, such as face painting, climbing wall and boat rides. Delicious BBQ food and drinks are provided by West Hatch & Wivey scouts, and you can cool down with either a traditional or soft serve ice cream. We’re also hoping to have a vegan food stall and a “proper coffee” van. The Friends group always search out excellent prizes for their raffle – last year this included haircuts, beauty treatments, meal for 2, a microlight flight, and beautiful gifts donated by local businesses. All proceeds go towards improving the park facilities and funding community events like this one.
 

 
Cycle-Powered Cinema – Friday 19th August

Join Somerset’s first free pedal-powered cinema screening

Cycle Powered Cinema Event
Photo: mike ambs (Flickr Creative Commons)
On Friday 19th August*, community cycling forum Cycling Somerset will be hosting Taunton’s first ever bicycle-powered cinema screening.
Once darkness falls, members of the audience can take turns to pedal 12 bicycles to power the 8’ by 12’ screen, or simply relax with picnics and ice creams.
The screening is completely free – just meet at Vivary Park bandstand with your bicycle, something to sit on and refreshments of your choice at 8pm. There will then be a short guided cycle ride to the cinema location.

Until Monday 8th August, you can also vote for the film you would most like to see by visiting the Cycling Somerset Facebook group on www.facebook.com/cyclingsomerset. Help them to  choose from one of these fantastic film favourites:
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • Back to the Future
  • ET
  • Toy Story 3
  • Time Bandits
  • Austin Powers
  • Terminator 2
More information is available on the Facebook link above, or by contacting Hannah on cyclingsomerset@gmail.com or 07824 460576.
Anyone considering bringing young children should check the final choice of film after 8th August to make sure it is suitable for them.

*Please note that the screening will be outdoors. If it rains heavily, they will either postpone the screening to Saturday 20th August, or cancel completely. Please check in advance.


Transition Drop-in CafĂ© 

There will be no Transition Drop-In Cafe this month.... we are having a month off.  We will resume the meetings in September.

In the meantime please follow any events on http://tauntontransition.wordpress.com









Future Events

Remember to keep Saturday 1st October free for the another Abundant Taunton event at the Brewhouse.  We will be apple pressing as usual and giving demonstrations and advice on all things sustainable. 

If you want some freshly pressed apple juice start collecting and storing your apples now and bring along on the day!


News


Win Free Tickets for Off-Grid Festival

Are you interested in a pair of free tickets to the fantastic Off Grid festival, celebrating all things sustainable and musical? Online cycling community, Cycling Somerset, are running a competition to win a pair of tickets to Off Grid. You just have to describe your favourite cycle route in Somerset to be take part. The catch is that you must be willing to cycle to the festival (near Cheddar) and write a little bit about your experience afterwards! It’s just over 30 miles from Taunton, so should be do-able for most people if you take it steadily…. though it is on the top of a rather nasty hill!

To enter, visit www.facebook.com/cyclingsomerset and click on “contests” on the left hand side. Be quick though – the closing date is 4th August.


Family Cycle Training for the Summer Holidays

If you’re keen to get out and about on your bikes this summer, but think you or your children need a bit of extra training to cycle on the roads, Somerset County Council are currently offering family cycle training for the bargain (subsidised) price of just £5 per person. A qualified instructor will arrange a training session at a time to suit you and will come and do it near your home, so will be on the roads you are most likely to actually cycle on.Adults and children must participate together and the minimum age for children is 8 years old.
They are also doing separate training sessions for adult and adult beginners as well.
More information is on www.movingsomersetforward.co.uk/cycletraining or call 01823 357016.
The funding for this training is likely to run out quite soon, so we recommend you contact them soon if you are interested.