Transition 2011

Wednesday 5th January

Greetings from Transition Taunton for 2011

"A Transition council would value contributions and initiatives from all its staff right across the board on sustainability matters. It would open to partnership, working with the community, rather than having a them-and-us mentality”.

Chrissie Godfrey, Taunton Transition Town in Communities, Councils and a Low-Carbon Future



A belated newsletter for the new year but we just had to tell you about some of the exciting events that are coming up in 2011.

I always need input, news and events to update this newletter. If you know of any events or have news about Transition please email me, Vicky Briggs on shuunyanet@gmail.com by the 19th of the month for publication on the 20th or there abouts.

There are some new ways to follow what we are doing. Join our Facebook Group , find out what we are up to on the blog, or follow us on Twitter.

This months Transition Drop-In Cafe delves into the world of diets - the 50 mile radius diet.. Patrick Holden visits Taunton next week to talk about feeding ourselves and sustaining biodiversity at the same time! And find out about some new allotments opening up in Taunton - yes, really!





Can We Feed Ourselves and Sustain Biodiversity- 11th January 2011

One date to put into your diary is the talk by Patrick Holden director of the Soil Association. Come along and listen and give your views in a discussion after.

Patrick Holden was brought up in London. He visited a dairy farm near Epping aged five and decided he wanted to milk cows. He studied biodynamic agriculture at Emerson College in 1972 and started a community farm in West Wales in 1973.

The 93 hectare mixed organic farm is now the longest established organic dairy farm in Wales, with a herd of 65 Ayrshire cows - the milk from which is being made into an unpasteurised cheese by his son Sam. Patrick still milks his cows at weekends.

He has worked for the Soil Association since 1988 and as Director since 1995. During that period income has risen from £200,000 to £10 million and sales of organic food from £50 million to £2 billion.

He is a regular broadcaster and speaker and was responsible for Tony and Pat Archer's conversion in 1985 and still advises for the Archers on matters organic. He was awarded the CBE for services to organic farming in 2005.

The evening is organised jointly by Somerset Wildlife Trust and Taunton Transition Town.

Venue: Meeting Rooms, Taunton Library, Paul Street, Taunton.

Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm

Suitable for wheelchair users/limited mobility.

Refreshments available

£3

Please help to promote this event by  telling your friends and colleagues.






Comments on Wind Turbine Proposal- 7th January

7 January 2011 is the closing date for comments on Ecotricity’s proposal for four new wind turbines on agricultural land near Highbridge - the proposed Black Ditch Wind Park. Ecotricity requests support which can be submitted at; http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/planning%20online/enl.aspx by email at Chris.Gomm@Sedgemoor.gov.uk or write a short letter to: Planning Department, Sedgemoor District Council, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater TA6 3AR


Please also encourage others to write too.

See www.ecotricity.co.uk/black-ditch for images & blog.



Solar Farm Public Consultation & Exhibition - Tuesday 11 January

Tuesday 11 January 2011 3pm - 8pm

Solar Farm Public Consultation & Exhibition
Great Bow Wharf, Bow Street, Langport, TA10 9PN


West Country based, The Green Company, is proposing to develop solar PV farms across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Gloucestershire. See plans for sites in the Langport, Long Sutton and Middlezoy areas. + Independent solar and wind energy project developer and installer + accredited under the UK DTI's wind turbine MCS scheme + UK Feed-in tariff experience.

Details from Sarah Robertson, Wind and Solar Energy Planner 0117 905 5082 The Green Company (Europe) Ltd is a UK registered company no. 5969880 www.the-green-company.com






New Allotments!- Thursday 20th January

A fantastic new opportunity for people to grown their own produce is about to be launched in Taunton – thanks to the Borough Council.

New allotments are being created at Higher Holway, not far from the state-of-the-art playground, to meet the increasing demand for grow-your-own sites in the district.

A launch meeting is being held at the Blackbrook Pavilion on Thursday January 20, starting at 6.30pm, when people keen on taking a plot can register their interest – and volunteer to join the allotments association that will be responsible for the site.

Demand is expected to be high as there is a three-year waiting list for allotments in Taunton Deane so this is a chance not to be missed.

The new plots will be slightly smaller than average to encourage people who may be daunted by a large site to get stuck in to the fun of growing your own.

The site will also be run along environmentally friendly lines with plot-holders using harvested rainwater rather than piped mains supplies.

Taunton Deane Borough Council owns 20 allotment sites in the Borough – some in Taunton, some in villages – which are leased to allotment associations to run on a day-to-day basis.

Demand is currently outstripping supply as more and more people are keen to grow and eat their own fruit and vegetables so the provision at Higher Holway is being warmly welcomed.



Taunton Transition Drop-In - 22nd January



Venue: Friends' Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton.

Time: 10.30am-12.30pm

50 Mile Radius Diet!

You might have heard of the Atkins' Diet or the Cabbage Diet but have you heard of the 50 miles Radius Diet!

What would you eat if imported food became a luxury? How would we survive without coffee, tea, chocolate, red wine, olive oil, citrus fruit etc etc. Ruth Gofton of Transition Clevedon only ate food and drink produced within a 50 mile radius for a whole month to see if Somerset could provide a balanced diet - come and find out what Ruth ate and what she learnt!

Plus all the usual catch up on all things Transition.... come along to the Friends'Meeting House, Bath Place, just off the High Street in Taunton.



Cycle Route Planning Lessons

Moving Somerset Forward are currently running some cycle route planning lessons.



They are offering one to one sessions to help people plan a route for a trip (or a few short trips) they would like to make by bike. Their instructor will find the right route for you and take you out to ride it in a one to one lesson.



Lessons can be arranged for a time that suits you and only cost five pounds! Find out more on:



http://www.movingsomersetforward.co.uk/cycling/cycling-safely/cycling-road/cycle-training/cycle-route-planning



Anybody who might be interested should contact Ryan Bunce on the details below.



Ryan Bunce

Transport Policy Officer

Environment Directorate

Somerset County Council

County Hall, Taunton

Somerset, TA1 4DY

Tel: 01823 358291



Email: rbunce@somerset.gov.uk