" We need a sustainability ascent action plan rather than an energy descent action plan "
Transition Conference Delegate 2012
Transition Conference Delegate 2012
Cycle the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal - Saturday 29th September
Come and help Sustrans celebrate the opening this year of a new section of cycle path by taking part in a family-friendly ride along the beautiful and tranquil Bridgwater and Taunton Canal on Saturday 29 September.
These escorted rides will begin from both ends of the canal and converge for a picnic along the route (please bring your own picnic!). All riders will then cycle together along the new section of path. From there, you can choose to return to your starting point or ride on to the opposite end of the canal. Depending on the demand there may even be the option of a longer circular ride.
Meet:
Taunton - meet outside the Brewhouse Theatre at 11am
Bridgwater - meet by the Admiral Blake statue, Cornhill at 11 am
The ride will return you to your starting point at about 3.30pm. If you choose to ride the whole length of the canal there is a good rail service between Taunton and Bridgwater.
Contact information is available on the Sustrans website.
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sustrans-near-you/events/fresh-air-miles/bridgwater-and-taunton-canal-cycle
DVD Showing - Wednesday 3rd October
The Quakers have for years been supportive of the Transition movement and are leading the way in thoughts towards a sustainable community. This DVD showing of Pam Lunn's inspiring lecture from the Quaker Yearly Meeting in 2011 provides an opportunity to reflect and imagine how the world might be. Out of this Quakers have resolved to become a low carbon sustainable community.
- ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE FRAGILE STATE OF THE EARTH?
- ARE YOU MOVED TO TAKE ACTION
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR MORE AND SHARE YOUR CONCERNS AND IDEAS?
Out of this Quakers have resolved to become a low carbon sustainable community.
Come to watch the DVD of the talk – not just words but wonderful images- with an opportunity to share your thoughts afterwards
Date/Time:Wednesday 3rd October at 7 p.m.
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, Bath Place,Taunton.
Tea and Light refreshments provided.
No need to book but if you want more information phone John Ainsworth on 01823 275424 or Fran Hicks on 01823 333846 or email ainsworth.john@yahoo.com
Guerilla Gardening - Saturday 6th October
Meet up at the Brewhouse at 10.30 for a session of guerilla gardening and beautifying of the area along the Tone (wherever feasible). We will be:
- Picking up litter
- Improving neglected borders (if you know anywhere please let us know)
- Planting edibles and improving the Childrens' Wood area
Getting Close to Nature - Saturday 6th Oct
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| Daylight contact prints from Dave Green's website |
The workshop is open to anyone with an interest in photography and wildlife and will focus on the wildlife surrounding the River Tone. You will get to know your camera better, learn more about technical aspects of digital photography such as quality and file size and pick up tips on composition and the use of macro-photography.
There will be an opportunity for you to show your work on the big screen outside The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts centre.
Meeting Place: The timber frame barn on Longrun Meadow
Date: Saturday 6 October
- Session 1 _ 10.30am - 1pm (15 places)
- Session 2 – 2pm – 4.30pm (15 places)
Places are FREE but booking is recommended
Contact: simon@simonleedicker.co.uk
or Phone/text 07967 756320
Please leave your name contact details and which session you would like to attend. You will need to bring your own digital camera and if you have a tripod please bring it along (there will be some available). Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
This workshop is being run on behalf of Somerset Wildlife Trust as part of the Routes to the River Tone project – connecting people with nature.
Chutfest 2012 @ Barrington Court - Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th Oct
Chutfest gives any producer of home-made chutneys the opportunity to bring their surplus produce to a central point and exchange them for others. If you have lots to spare why not book a table-top pitch and sell your wares.
If you haven't got chutney to sell or swap come along to browse and buy from the fantastic range of top quality local stallholders at the food fair.
The highlight of Chutfest is the chutney making competition. This is open to everyone and is judged by food writer and preserver Vivien Lloyd.
More info on the website - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court/things-to-see-and-do/events/
Comeytrowe Neighbourhood Park Guerilla Gardening - Thursday 11th Oct
In October, the team will be meeting from 10.30am on Thursday 11th October, from 10.30 till late afternoon. Jean Watson, who set up this team, is keen to get a Friends of Comeytrowe Park group started, and find out how people might like to see this lovely (and quite secret!) bit of land cared for. Might it benefit from some fruit trees? Could there be a regular veg bed? What about herbs for local people to pick and enjoy?
Drop by on that Thursday to add your ideas and energy to the mix. You can contact Jean directly if you would like to be involved in making this something really special – and to check where the park is. Her email is watson.j13@btinternet.com
Apple Day - Saturday 13th Oct
Apples gathered from public land down river at Children’s Wood will be pressed using a traditional, domestic scale apple press. The fresh juice will be available for anyone passing by to sample, and those wanting to roll their sleeves up to help with the pressing are more than welcome. The group also invites anyone with windfalls of their own to bring them along and turn them into juice to take home.
This year, Taunton Transition Town are teaming up with Somerset Wildlife Trust which is doing a community consultation into how areas along the waterways in Taunton can become a wildlife corridor. Apple juice tasters will be invited to visit the public orchard at Children’s Wood, sited downriver between the Tone and the Canal, and share their own ideas on how the area might become more wildlife friendly.
To make their journey easier, a Bicycle Rickshaw will be offering free rides between The Brewhouse and Children's Wood, where visitors can contribute to an ongoing outdoor "Wildlife Draw" with artist Joff Winterhart. Joff will be making instant sketches of wildlife people have seen, or would like to see along the River Tone.
There will also be activities to highlight the importance creating habitats for bees and other pollinating insects to make sure Taunton stays fruitful, including your chance to take home some "bee friendly" wild flower seeds.
Transition Energy Event - Saturday 20th Oct
Our Energy Future From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy
Venue: The Genesis Centre, Somerset College, Wellington Road, Taunton
Date/Time: Saturday 20th October 2012, 2pm – 8pm
Part One: 2pm – 4.45pm Where are we now and where are we going?
A chance to connect with a range of renewable energy projects in our region and to develop our skills at future scenario thinking.
Presentations from: Rooftop Consulting, Brendon Energy, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Frack Free Somerset, Solar Century. Christopher Maltin of Organic Power will remind us this is not all about electricity!
Break: 4.45pm – 5.30pm Displays, Networking, Refreshments
Part Two: 5.30pm – 8pm Power Supply, Power Demand, Power Down
Three 20 min talks with Q&A & open forum:
Ian Christie from the Centre for Environmental Strategy, Green Alliance on issues we must resolve for a sustainable energy future
Peter Andrews: Bath & West Community Energy - http://www.bwce.coop/ - Breaking the Mould – Devolved Power
Tessa Munt MP: The Political Dimension – Facing the Electorate, Facing Down Vested Interests
Transition Somerset, an unincorporated association, is grateful to the Diocese of Bath & Wells, Wedmore Green Group, Transition Towns: Athelney, Langport, Taunton, Glastonbury and the Wessex Reinvestment Trust for support in making this event happen.
Cost: Part One (only): £5
Part Two (only): £5
Whole event (1 & 2): £8
Booking essential as places limited.
To book: email: s.mewes@virgin.net
(Phone enquiries: 01823 490270 text 07771 561398)
Cheques to Wedmore Green Group, Lands End Farm House, Wedmore, Somerset BS28 4QU
Exeter University Transition Project
Learning from Each Other
Transition Workshop - Saturday 20th Oct
Venue: Sidwell St Methodist Church, Exeter
Time: 10.00 - 4.00pm
What makes a Transition group effective?
What issues are Transition groups facing?
An opportunity for Transitioners from different groups to get together, and share what works and what hasn't worked.
Learn, Plan and Collaborate
The workshop is facilitated by Gill Wyatt, who has been involved with different Transition groups for over 3 years. She also runs Creating Synergies, which provides facilitation, research and coaching to communities and other groups.
Home-cooked Lunch provided!
Suggested donation £3 towards costs
Details and booking J.Pollard@exeter.ac.uk or 01647 24789
Taunton Transition Cafe - Monday 22nd Oct
"Taunton Transition - home to growing ideas"
Venue: Friends' Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton
Time: 7.00pm pot-luck supper afterwards.
Bring food, and especially ideas.
The next dates are:
Mon 10 Dec
Mon 28 Jan
Mon 11 March
Mon 22 April
Mon 10 June
News
Transition Conference
Unfortunately I was unable to go this year but if you grab hold of Chrissie, Paul or Fran they can tell you about it!
In the meantime read all about it on Rob Hopkins wonderful blog which brilliantly summarizes the goings on!
http://transitionculture.org/2012/09/19/a-write-up-of-the-2012-transition-network-conference-the-best-yet/
Transition Minehead and Alcombe Energy Saving Centre
On Saturday, 29th September Transition Minehead and Alcombe are opening a new energy saving centre in Minehead Co-op car park. It will be open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, staffed by trained volunteers who will give information and guidance on how to reduce energy bills. As these continue to increase we want to ensure that people have up to date knowledge of all the schemes that help us improve the energy efficiency of our homes, install renewable energy technologies that produce electricity or heat, and find cheaper sources of energy. We can let you have an energy monitor on loan and put you in touch with people who have carried out home improvements to find out how effective these are.
The
situation is changing this autumn with the introduction of new
opportunities for financial help while existing funding is coming to an
end. Anyone who has not installed loft and cavity wall insulation or
taken advantage of the free draughtproofing will find that the costs
will soon increase. The new funding will focus on properties that have
previously been seen as “hard to treat”, with lofts that need different
types of insulation, solid walls and leaky door and windows. It is
called the Green Deal and covers a bigger range of home improvements.
For some people insulation and improved heating systems will still be
free and for others there will be a new system of finance. We can
explain how this works, put you in touch with experts and arrange free
home energy surveys from our volunteers.
On Thursday 4th October,
as part of the low carbon festival, two visiting experts will be
present in the centre to give advice on all aspects of energy
efficiency. To find out more about the centre and home energy surveys
contact Virginia on 01643 703161 or Hester 01643 821768. For telephone
advice you can call the Centre for Sustainable Energy on 0800 082 2234.
Notes from the Taunton Transition "Big Thinky Day"
Taunton Transition Town are delighted to announce the projects and events that will be the focus of their energy and attention for the next 6-12 months. Anyone who would like to get involved in some way with any of these is hugely welcome to join in, whether for a couple of hours, or to help make a longer term project come to fruition.
Please contact Chrissie Godfrey in the first instance by emailing chrissie@visionjuice.com
Transition Chitchat
Firstly, we have decided to move away from our monthly Saturday morning drop-in sessions. We have so many practical projects happening on Saturdays now that we need to free them up! Instead, we will be holding a 6-weekly pot luck supper and chat on Monday evenings at Friends Meeting House, Bath Place, a 6.30 meet for 7.00pm eat. We can warm up stovetop pots and pans of food – and open any bottles that people would like to bring too. This will be a time to check in on any projects we are running, welcome new people who want to get involved, or just have an open house for anyone wanting to drop by and share their own eco news.
The first six dates for this will be:
Mon 22 Oct 2012
Mon 10 Dec 2012
Mon 28 Jan 2013
Mon 11 March 2013
Mon 22 April 2013
Mon 10 June 2013
Food Glorious Food!
We have several food projects on the bubble.
For those of you willing to spare a couple of gardening hours a month, come and join our Guerrilla Gardening teams.
Team A meet outside The Brewhouse at 10.30am on the first Saturday of the month, and help to garden and clear up various public sites along the river, including Somerset Square and Children’s Wood, and in our new herb bed in Vivary Park. To see what has been done so far, take a look at the planters by the path between The Brewhouse and Olio et Farina which this summer have included herbs, tomatoes, beans and squash. Or go to the former aviary site in Vivary Park to see our “edible bed” of herbs, fruits and medicinal plants. The more of us there are, the more corners of Taunton we can turn into little oases of edible loveliness!
Team B meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month in Comeytrowe Neighbourhood Park to give some new beds they have created their love and attention. However, for October, the team will be meeting from 10.30am on Thursday 11th October, from 10.30 till late afternoon. Jean Watson, who set up this team, is keen to get a Friends of Comeytrowe Park group started, and find out how people might like to see this lovely (and quite secret!) bit of land cared for. Might it benefit from some fruit trees? Could there be a regular veg bed? What about herbs for local people to pick and enjoy? Drop by on that Thursday to add your ideas and energy to the mix. You can contact Jean directly if you would like to be involved in making this something really special – and to check where the park is. Her email is watson.j13@btinternet.com
Another regular event, our annual Apple Pressing day, is coming up on Saturday 13th October, from 10.30am outside The Brewhouse, using apples that are publicly available in sites such as Children’s Wood. This time we team up with Somerset Wildlife Trust, to help do some community consultation into how people see and use Children’s Wood, and how it can be kept as part of a crucial Living Landscape for the benefit of wildlife and people in the heart of Taunton. We’d love to know your own ideas. You can also bring your own apples for pressing – and something to take the juice away in too!
Horticulturalist Nicky Gibbard has been turning some neglected land near Norton Fitzwarren into an exciting community growing project. Several acres of land, including an allotment site, polytunnels and orchards are being brought back into food production by a small group of volunteers, under Nicky’s direction. Nicky is ready to grow her team and is looking for people who would like to learn about growing vegetables, would like the benefits of having an allotment without the commitment of full upkeep, or simply fancy some company while gardening. In exchange for a morning’s work, volunteers will get the benefit of Nicky’s horticultural expertise, and a share of the produce they grow. Let us know if you have time on Wednesday or Friday mornings and would like to get involved.
We are also working with Nicky to explore how this community project can become more akin to a community supported agriculture scheme. In due course, we will be looking for people in or near Taunton who would like Nicky and her crew to “grow to order” the various vegetables, herbs and fruits they most enjoy. Better than a veg box, you get to say what you like and what you don’t! The commitment will be to pay a regular sum in exchange for a regular share of organic, low food miles goodies. If this sounds up your culinary street, do get in touch and we can keep you posted on how the scheme evolves.
Finally on the food front, we are really interested to start up events that take our seasonal produce and turn it into delicious meals. We are still mulling over whether to have a big one-off “Living Simply” cooking demo event (which could also feature skills such as bike maintenance or knitting), or whether to start with a smaller programme of cooking skill shares (e.g. sourdough bread, fresh pasta, Japanese pickles…..the list will be endless!!). If one or either of these sounds fun to you, do please let us know.
Our Energy Future
Following the work done with our Local Energy Assessment Fund grant at the start of the year, we are ready to take up the reins again to help Taunton’s householders cut their carbon.
Firstly, Transition Somerset is holding the county’s first Transition Energy event at the Genesis Centre, Somerset College, on Saturday 20th October. Featuring presentations from Brendon Energy, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Frack Free Somerset and others, this is a rare chance to come together to discuss real opportunities for powering down Somerset. More info and tickets from s.mewes@virgin.net (and see separate item in this newsletter)
In May 2012 we held our first Green Doors open homes weekend. 15 different locations were opened up for people to come and chat with householders about various eco measures they had taken to improve the energy efficiency of their house. It was brilliant – and it was our first time, so we learned lots too. We will do another one in 2013, this time benefiting from a MUCH longer lead in time! We will be looking for people who would love to share with others the dead neat things they have done in their homes to cut carbon (and their bills). We hope to involve local businesses too, the ones with something to shout about on the eco front that others could learn from. If you would like to help organise next year’s event, or want to find out more about opening up your own home, do get in touch.
There is something undeniably powerful about the capacity for a story to make a difference. In March 2012, we used some of our LEAF funding to make some extraordinary short films intended to encourage people to see their relationship to energy differently. Using a thermal imaging camera, filmmakers Stephen Clarke and Tom Stubbs worked with members of the community to create 6 “Thermalogues”, highly personal and diverse glimpses into a world of visible warmth. We hope to get these screened outdoors at The Brewhouse later this year, and our newest volunteer, Ian McClaren will be using his online skills to get them out into the blogosphere. However, we are keen to do more on the storytelling/filmmaking front. This is a real blank sheet here, but if you are a filmmaker, love storytelling, or work with a community or school group who might like to help us take this onto the next stage, please let us know.
We do in fact own this rather amazing thermal imaging camera, whose primary purpose is to take images of homes to see where the heat is leaking out. We are keen to make this available to the public, but not sure how to do this with our limited capacity! However, we hope to work with our sister group, the Deane Energy Savers, who are trained to do free home energy audits, and maybe offer a service that includes thermal imaging. If you want to greet this winter with the best (unbiased) info on how to make the most of your energy at home, now is a good time to book an appointment – just let us know.
So, plenty to be doing, and plenty to celebrate! We look forward to seeing you over the coming months.
For those of us who did not make it to the Transition Conference this year... here is just a taster!
