Transition Newent

Transition Newent newsletter 31st January 2012

2012-02-01T16:30:29Z

FEBRUARY:
- TN Coordinating Group meeting - Thursday 2nd February (7.30pm, Red Lion, upper room)
- TN Food Group meeting - Thursday 16th February (7.30pm, Chill Out Zone, Newent)

- 'GASLAND' - our February Film - Wednesday 22nd February (7.30pm, Library Classroom, Sixth Form Centre, Newent Community School)

MARCH:
- An evening with Molly Scott Cato - Friday 9th March (7pm, Newent Community School Hall)

AND
- Are you /do you know a young cyclist? Do you want to part of this year's Otesha Cycle Tours?? See below.....
]]> "GASLAND"

Wednesday 22nd February 2012 7.30pm,

Library Classroom, Sixth Form Centre, Newent Community School

FREE and open to all

An open invitation to join us to see the film, then discuss its implications for us all, here in the UK

GASLAND is a 2010 American documentary film written and directed by Josh Fox.

The film focuses on communities in the United States impacted by natural gas drilling and, specifically, a stimulation method known as hydraulic fracturing

It is supported by the Co-operative as part of its Toxic Fuels campaign, which aims to highlight the global trend of extracting oil and gas from unconventional sources, such as tar sands and gas shales.

Such exploitation threatens global efforts to avoid dangerous levels of climate change and risks local ecological disaster.

"A brave & fearless film - everyone should see it"

An evening with Molly Scott Cato

Professor of Strategy and Sustainability at Roehampton University.

Molly is a green economist and expert in social economies

with themes of local resources, trade, work, and money.

These come together for her under the heading of bioregionalism,

which has at its heart two of the central principles of green economics: balance and cycles.

She says that "ecology demands that we recognize our part in a complex web of natural systems

and this should reflect the places we choose to live and how and where we choose to access our resources.

This is what we mean by living in balance with nature."

With Molly's help, during the evening we shall explore the features, qualities, potential, and limits of our own local bioregions. Join us on...

FRIDAY 9TH MARCH,

7 for 7.30pm

Library Classroom, Sixth Form Centre,

Newent Community School.

TN Coordinating Group invites you to join their first meeting of 2012 to discuss our Transition Newent programme for this year.
You would be welcome to come along to the upper room of the Red Lion THIS THURSDAY 2nd February, 7.30pm.
For the agenda or more details on the meeting contact Chris Wooldridge on 01531-820594 or email <chris.wooldridge@hotmail.co.uk>

TN Food Group meeting will be holding it's meeting at The Chill Out Zone on Thursday 16th February (7.30pm).
All welcome to come along to plan this year's visits, activities and the planned Newent Local Food Festival on 2nd June.
Agenda will be out shortly. For more information contact Mo Braham

Otesha is a youth led charity working with young people to create and inspire a more sustainable future.
In July 2010 we welcomed them to Transition Newent. We were offered and enjoyed bicycle maintenance workshops and two FREE plays.
Here are details of their Summer 2012 tours and opportunities...

Hello Transition Friends,

I'm writing to you from a youth-led charity called Otesha - we work with young people to create and inspire a more sustainable future. Every year teams of young people pedal across the UK, stopping at schools and youth clubs to perform a play and deliver workshops all about environmental and social sustainability.

Last year many of you spread information about the cycle tours through your networks. Our second cycle tour of the summer had three active transition members; many of you were very helpful pointing us to interesting places to visit and stay, and even sourced funding for some of our school visits; and we met up with transition groups in Carlisle and Dundee!

This year we'd like to continue the tradition of working closely with transition towns across the UK. I've copied a bit of information about the cycle tours below, and we'd really appreciate it if you are able to distribute it through your networks. This year there are two six-week tours for 18-28 year olds, plus an exciting new three-week format which is open to anyone over 18.

We'll be visiting the south-east, south-west and Scotland, so we'll be in touch shortly with those of you in the areas we'll be visiting, to see if you'd be interested in arranging a meet-up or anything else!

Many thanks and best wishes, Iona Collins, Otesha Cycle Tours
P.S. If there is someone else I should contact regarding transition in your area please let me know - many thanks!

Do you want to make the world a better place next summer? Silly question, here's your chance to become part of a sustainable mobile community. Pedal across the UK visiting schools and youth clubs, organic farms, fascinating sustainability projects and plenty more. Join an inspirational team of other volunteers, excited to share and learn all about environmental and social sustainability. Get skilled up in everything from bike maintenance to consensus decision making and learn lots about sustainable and group living.
This year we've got three thrilling tours including Tastetastic! - a three week food-themed extravaganza open to anyone over 18. Totally Coastal and Western Quest will spend six weeks on the road in the classic performing,
workshop facilitating and cycling Otesha style (age 18-28). Find out the what, when, where, why, who and how - and apply here. It's first come, first served for these tours, so get your application in soon to avoid disappointment!

Tour Liaison Internships
We're also on the look out for six dedicated, organised, fun-loving tour liaisons. These fabulous folk will have some extra responsibilities, for things like team dynamics, ensuring performances and workshops are as good as possible, and health and safety. They'll also get a couple of weeks' office experience, helping with some last minute tour planning. The deadline for this internship is 27th January at 5pm. Find out more by downloading the Tour Liaison internship description and application form which you can return
via email to cycletours@otesha.org.uk.

Iona Collins, Unit 4 Huguenot Place, 17a Heneage Street, London E1 5LN
(+44) 0207 377 2109 <www.otesha.org.uk

> Twitter: @oteshauk Facebook: http://is.gd/8FDr4

----------------------------------------------------------------
Summer 2012 Cycle Tours are go! Apply now for a Western Quest, Totally Coastal adventure, or our all new three week food-themed cycle tour open to anyone over 18, Tastetastic!
The Otesha Project UK is a registered charity (no. 1122181) and a company registered in England (no. 06111803)

Just to let you know, I have recently reconfigured my Transition Newent email database - and may have added your name more than once. If this is so (or any other glitch!), please let me know and I will make the changes. I have also moved to Apple 'Mail' which may have changed the format a little. As always, feedback is very welcome!

Do hope to see you at the Gasland film.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
019809-720646
<transitionnewent.org.uk

Save Ledbury's local shops

2012-01-12T13:34:07Z

Now is the time to write and object to Sainsbury's proposal for an out of town superstore in Ledbury.
If you felt strongly about Tesco, you must act now and stop Sainsbury's stealing in by the back door and ruining Ledbury's High Street. If they succeed at Planning Committee, Ledbury will go the way of Llandrindod Wells, Leominster, Alnwick, Helston, Cullington and scores of other towns up and down the country that have been ruined by out of town superstores. ]]> Trade: By their own reckoning, an incredible 46% of Sainsbury's trade - that's over £15 million - at the massive new superstore will come from existing business in Ledbury town centre. That means many independent shops - and probably the Coop supermarket - will close in town - opening the way for more chain stores, charity shops, fast food joints and the rest - take a look at Malvern to see what happens to a once-beautiful town which has been ravaged by an out of town retail park.

Jobs: far from creating employment in town (less than 40 full time positions - most of those management relocations), the superstore will destroy hundreds of others in the wider economy. Did you know that over 500 jobs and £30million of trade is focused on Ledbury High Street? Sainsbury's doesn't source locally. All of its profits go to shareholders via the City of London. Sainsbury's will ruin our local rural economy.

Linked Trips: Sainsbury's goes to considerable lengths to prove that there will be no loss of 'linked trips' associated with the out of town superstore in Ledbury. Yet - in its PR pitch for a new store in Thame Oxfordshire, Sainsbury's spells it out: '[The site] is well located for a new food store as it is close to the town centre, in line with national planning policy, and is Sainsbury's preferred choice rather than pursuing an out of town location. An out of centre store is less likely to encourage shoppers to visit the town centre as part of a 'linked' shopping trip'. The out of town superstore (15 minutes' walk) will mean no linked trips. Take a look at Leominster to see what happens in the long term. Desolation.

Demand: Is Ledbury lacking? Sainsbury's says so. It continually denigrates Ledbury's food offer in the town centre as 'limited', 'lacking choice', not 'providing a wide range of goods'. Most outlandishly, they claim that in terms of 'foodstore provision... Ledbury does not rival that of the other market towns in Herefordshire'. On the contrary, Sainsbury's own market research shows that 60% 'dislike nothing' about their current food shopping experience with only 10% of people pointing to lack of stock and limited range, almost exclusively focused on the currently badly-run Tesco supermarket.

One thing is certain, Sainsbury's retail consultants are good at giving themselves the benefit of the doubt, twisting the facts to suit their own arguments and trumping up dodgy statistics. We're currently combing through the documents and will be issuing a comprehensive and detailed objection very soon. Meantime...

Act Now! It's time for everyone who cares about Ledbury to write to Herefordshire County Council Planning Department, and all the councillors on the Planning Committee - since they'll be the ones who are ultimately making the decision. Sainsbury's PR people are already orchestrating a campaign of support for their plans and getting people to email councillors, officers - and even Ledbury Town Council. They want to create the impression that this plan has majority support in the town. It doesn't!

Please forward this email to any friends, colleagues or neighbours - and convince them to object, if only by email. Please also talk to friends, colleagues and neighbours about our campaign. We are finding that many local people are still are unaware of Sainsbury's planning application and the damage it could inflict on our town.

So this is what we must all do urgently:
1. Write to Herefordshire Council Planning Department and quote this reference number: DMN/113052/F
Andrew Ashcroft, Head of Planning, Planning Services, PO BOX 230, Blueschool House, Blueschool Street, Hereford HR1 2ZB

2. Email your objection to: planning_enquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk

3. Copy your letter to every councillor on the planning committee - if you don't, they won't see your objection, simply the planning officers report.
We have attached the mailing list of the full committee (with emails if you can't manage post). And if you're good with Word, the mail merge file (quite easy actually!) is attached too.

4. Send your objection to Ledbury Town Council and request that this be circulated to all Town Councillors as a matter of urgency:
admin@ledburytowncouncil.gov.uk

One Final thing: we can double the number of objection letters if each person in a couple writes, rather than just one per household. So please, if you are able, try to send a letter from each household member in their own right.
If you need some pointers, here are the main points to mention in your letters/emails: (and in the attachments is a fuller written explanation)
Ten key issues to focus on are:
1. Damage to High Street due to loss of 'linked trips' leading to...
2. Damage to economy - loss of 100s of jobs among shops, producers, suppliers and services;
3. Bogus jobs claims by Sainsbury's - not 220 jobs created, only 40 FT, most a few hours per week
4. Loss of revenue to the local economy - multiple retailers siphon over 80% of revenue into corporate HQ, local traders recycle about the same amount locally
5. Sainsbury's planning application is dishonest - overestimating retail growth prospects and minimising adverse impact on town centre and linked trips. The figures don't stack up.
6. Sainsbury's want to build on precious land designated for industry and business - not retail
7. Sainsbury's won't be offering anything in their store that is not well catered for in Ledbury already - they simply want to grab a big slice of the food retail cake to the detriment of our other valued shops and supermarkets
8. The Sainsbury's plan is worse if anything than Tesco's: it represents an additional 30 thousand square feet of supermarket space on top of what we have already and will swamp Ledbury.
Ledbury cannot cope with an extra 30k sq feet of food retail space - even by 2026, this will represent a huge oversupply (according to the council's own figures).
9. A large majority (60%) of local people have no complaints about current provision (see Sainsbury's own market research)
10. Contrary to Sainsbury's contention that Ledbury's food shopping offer doesn't compare to other market towns in Herefordshire - ours is the absolute best! Voted in top 4 favourite High Streets in Britain (BBC Radio 4 Today) and held up by CPRE (Campaign for Rural England) as a model of excellence in local food producing and retailing.
Do have a look regularly at our web site www.saveledbury.com

<http://www.saveledbury.com/

> for news, articles and resources.

Thank you so much for your support. If you get a moment to send us through a copy of your objections that would be really appreciated.
We will win - so long as enough people step forward and write!
best wishes - and good luck. Rich Hadley (Chair - Save Ledbury / LOTS)

Planning Web Site Object.doc

mailing list1.doc

Cllr mailing list.doc

Transition Newent newsletter of 6th January 2012

2012-01-06T09:38:35Z

JAN:

TN Energy Meeting - "Insulation - Why it matters most" Weds 18th Jan (7.30pm Red Lion - upper room, Newent)
Celebration Pot Luck Supper, Sat 21st January (7.30pm, Memorial Hall, Newent) All welcome

FEB:

TN Coordinating Group meeting - Thursday 2nd February (7.30pm, Red Lion, upper room)
TN Food Group meeting - Thursday 16th February (7.30pm, Chill Out Zone, Newent)
February Film - 22nd or 23rd February (date to be confirmed) 7.30pm, Newent Community School

MAR:

An evening with Molly Scott Cato - Friday 9th March (7.30pm, Newent Community School Hall)

PLUS
From Transition Forest of Dean newsletter:

Forming a local Transition Education Group - are you interested?

AND

Transition Network newsletter - out today (see contents below - plus links to read more)

AND

Kempley Produce Market, Sat 14th January (9.30-11.30am), Kempley Village Hall
Global Problems : Global Solutions - A course of 8 Evening Classes, starting 24th January 2012 in Ledbury

]]> "INSULATION - WHY IT MATTERS MOST"
Wednesday 18th January, 7.30pm, Red Lion (upper room)
An open invitation to learn about / discuss / share experiences on Insulation and why it matters most".

Your technical questions will be answered by Vilnis Vesma, our local practitioner of Energy Saving. This will start at 7.30pm until 8.30pm
It will be followed by the TN Energy Group meeting to discuss events for 2012 including the selection of a new chairperson.
For more information please contact Paul Kinnaird <paul@barrscourt.com

Celebration Pot Luck Supper
Transition Newent's 4th Birthday Party
Saturday 21st January 2012
Come at 7pm to eat at 7.30pm
Newent Memorial Hall

This is your personal invitation to bring your family and friends.
It is also an opportunity for you to bring someone new, who has not been to a Transition Newent event.

Please bring a pot luck supper dish - savoury or sweet - to share - and a drink too. There will be a welcome drink on your arrival. Come at 7pm to start eating at 7.30pm

Help would be most welcome - it's fun doing things together! Can you help?

set up - decorations, table decorations, lay tables & set out chairs etc (4pm on Saturday afternoon, for about an hour).
to plan fun & games/entertainment
to clear up (at the finish of party, 10.30-11pm ish).

Call or email me (Ann) on 01989-720646 with your ideas and suggestions and offers of help.

RSVP - Please let me know if you are planning to come (and how many you might be) so we can set up the tables accordingly.

Come along ....it would be good to see you again!

From the recent Transition Forest of Dean newsletter:

FORMING A LOCAL TRANSITION EDUCATION GROUP
Sarah Mclellan is hoping to form a local Transition Education Group and would welcome support from anyone interested. She has sent the information below:

My name is Sarah Mclellan, I want to form a Forest of Dean Transition Education Group and am looking for people who would like to join the group. We need:
·      Parents
·      Young adults who have recently completed formal education or who are undertaking further education
·      Educators
·      Policy makers
·      People who are passionate about education and transition.

The aim of the group is initially:

To gather information from peoples varying experience of what is happening in schools currently which supports a transition vision.
To link in with the work of Totnes Transition Education Group who are looking at different models of education for secondary aged children. They are working on both influencing main stream schools and at the same time exploring the idea of setting up an alternative secondary school providing a transition curriculum.

In addition

to link in with the work of Seed, 'Sustainability and Environmental Education Development' an organization who are working throughout the UK to develop an alternative curriculum which embraces the reality of climate change and resource depletion to support children and young people to be educated with relevant skills. Their web site is www.se-ed.co.uk

<http://www.se-ed.co.uk/

> .

In the medium term to work with local schools in whatever way seems helpful to them and to us around a transition agenda and to also explore at the same time the possibility of an alternative school or base to offer a transition relevant curriculum, maybe in conjunction with main stream schooling or with the home school movement.

If you are interested please get in touch with me and when I have a few people, I will organise an initial meeting to get things rolling.
Sarah Mclellan 01291 680092; 07783943298; sarah.mclellan2@virgin.net
<mailto:sarah.mclellan2@virgin.net>

Out today - Transition Network Newsletter - January 2012

CONTENTS

December Round-up of What's Happening out in the World of Transition
US Edition December Round-up
Transition Podcast
Stories From Our Social Reporters
Arts and Creativity
Land Rights
A Celebration of the Social Reporting Pilot
Highlights from last year and visioning for this
FILMS - In Transition 2.0 Update
BOOK review
TRAINING
PRACTICAL
FORUM
QUOTE OF THE MONTH

If you want to read more follow these links......

Follow Transition Network on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/transitiontowns

Be a Friend on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/transitionnetwor

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Find previous editions of the newsletter here
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/tags/transition-network-newslett

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Read this newsletter online
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/news/2012-01-05/january-2012-transition-network-newslet

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Subscribe to Transition newsletter:
http://tinyurl.com/transitionregi

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This newsletter is published on the first Friday of each month.

Global Problems : Global Solutions
A course of 8 Evening Classes, starting 24th January 2012
Ledbury, Tuesdays at Trinity Parish Room (and two other venues in Herefordshire)
A vision of an ecologically sustainable and socially just world
Richard Priestley, e-mail richardjpriestley@hotmail.com

<richardjpriestley@hotmail.com

> phone 01432 358104

From Richard: "This is a very positive, solution focused course. However first, and briefly, we must acknowledge the mess we are in. Humanity faces a complex network of interlinked problems and challenges: climate change, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, resource depletion, hunger, poverty, global financial instability, unemployment, population growth, myriad forms of pollution, inequality and injustice. The list is long. Deep concern and worry are very human reactions.

There is also much to feel very positive about. A tremendous diversity of grassroots groups are emerging in every country on Earth, demanding and working to create a better, more ecologically sustainable, fairer and more just world. Simultaneously a clean tech revolution is unfolding that shows the possibilities for our species making the transition from 'The Fossil Fuel Age' to 'The Solar Age'.

My work focuses on studying and presenting the people, places and projects at the cutting edge of this change. Some towns and villages are now in the 'post transition' phase. Their dependence of fossil fuels is reduced to zero as they now generate all their energy needs, for heat, transport and electricity, for domestic, commercial and industrial uses, all from locally sourced, owned and controlled renewable energy resources. The business case for going radically green is becoming clearer by the day.

By studying the most ecologically sustainable and socially just examples of best practice across sectors as diverse as energy generation, governance, building, transport and farming, we learn important lessons for how we might better manage our own towns, cities and countryside. The opportunities to create sustainable forms of prosperity for all humanity are almost limitless. Radical and systemic change is necessary, possible and desirable."

For more information please see attached document Global solutions Jan 2012.doc or contact Richard

Look forward to seeing you at our Celebration Pot Luck Supper - let me know if you can help.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk

Transition Newent newsletter 21st December 2011

2011-12-21T09:28:41Z

An opportunity to go along & support the Newent Youth Club Christmas Fayre on Thursday 22nd December (1.30 to 6.30pm).

AND, in the New Year, a reminder of Transition Newent's 4th Birthday Celebrations

Celebration Pot Luck Supper, Saturday 21st January 2012 - All welcome

]]> Christmas Fayre
from the people who brought you live@thelake

Come on down to Newent Youth & Community Centre on Thursday 22nd December from 1:30-6:30 pm for an afternoon of live music, craft and food stalls, mulled wine & mince pies, children's activities, including: Santa's Grotto; arts & craft activities; cookery; music workshops; face painting and more!

Admission by donation.
Come and support the Young People of Newent

.
Here is a message from Rosie Lovell, Youth Leader.....

"The Youth Club at Newent Community Centre are putting on a Christmas Fayre on Thursday 22nd December between 1:30-6:30pm. If you are around on that day it would be so lovely to see you there! We are trying to raise money for the continued provision of Youth Club activities in Newent so your support would be greatly appreciated! :)

The Fayre will include stalls, live music, Children's activities and, of course, an abundance of mulled wine and minced pies! :)

Last year the Young People worked so hard on the Fayre (I'm talking several weekends in advance of the day and at least two evenings a week for a good few weeks running up to the Fayre) planning, designing, practising, making and baking, but unfortunately the snow meant that it was poorly attended and they were very disappointed. So I'd really like to get as many people as possible to attend this year. Please tell friends and family! :)"

Please support, if you can, the Young People that have put so much work into this event.

A date for your diary...

Celebration Pot Luck Supper
Transition Newent's 4th Birthday Party
Saturday 21st January 2012
Newent Memorial Hall

In celebration of Transition Newent's 4th birthday and it's progress, this is an opportunity to gather together with like-minded people, share food & drink in a convivial atmosphere. Impromptu entertainment is welcome - bring your music, poetry, songs or even suitable funny stories!

This is your personal invitation to bring your family and friends. Bring a pot luck supper dish to share - and a drink too. There will be a welcome drink on your arrival.

More details in the New Year - but help to prepare all aspects - decorations and fun & games - would always be appreciated. Call or email me (Ann) on 01989-720646 with your ideas and suggestions.

Transition Newent news 8th December 2011

2011-12-08T17:46:46Z

Kempley Produce Market - this Saturday (10th Dec) 9.30-11.30am

DATES FOR 2012

Celebration Pot Luck Supper, Saturday 21st January 2012 - All welcome
February Film - possibly 22nd or 23rd February
An evening with Molly Scott Cato - Friday 9th March 2012

]]> Kempley Produce Market
Don't miss the licensed Xmas market THIS SATURDAY
10th December, Kempley Village Hall, between 9.30 and 11.30
Make this a local and scrumptious Christmas
by getting all you need the Kempley Village Market.

Our licensed market will be selling all the usual produce and much more. Our producers are excelling themselves in creating luxuries for you, including:

Orders taken by Cornwall's for delivery in Xmas week including free range turkeys. Turkey breast boned and rolled, honey roast hams, game pie, pigs in blankets, sausage meat stuffing
Christmas pudding ice cream as well as other festive combinations
Christmas chocolates
'Tipsy gins' & wines from St Anne's Vineyard
Cider and Perry from Newmans of Kempley
Cheeses from Charles Martell
Marzipan fruits, chutneys, jams and preserves
Plants
There will of course be veg & cheeses from Ian & Liz, and veg and honey from Ruby
(Unfortunately our bread maker won't be here this Saturday).

Cafe
Come and enjoy a bacon or sausage buttie, piece of cake and hot drink while you catch up with friends and neighbours. All proceeds will be going to Oxfam Unwrapped.

Open to buyers from 9.30, but anyone with Produce and Goods to contribute, the hall will open at 9am. For more information contact: Market Maggie 01531 890332

Be part of a new community bakery & shop

2011-11-29T12:58:20Z

The owners of The Daffodil Cake Shop in Newent, Terry and Chris, wish to retire soon, and would support it becoming a community owned enterprise as an alternative to a change of use or even closing. This is our only local bakery and shop which makes and sells quality fresh bread and cakes, and it has overwhelming support from customers for it to continue.

Please complete the questionnaire.

]]> YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ...... join other people in buying a share in the bakery and the shop and be part of a new community owned enterprise here. In the UK there are already over 250 community owned shops up and running, and over 100 more being established.

INTERESTED? Then find out more at our website <newentcommunitybakery.org> where you can.....

fill in our questionnaire,
ask questions,
let us know your views, and express your interest in becoming part of this community enterprise bakery and shop.

Progress with the project is very positive and feedback from our pilot survey of customers has led to this wider publicity.
You can help support the Daffodil's continued success, as shareholders, as customers, and with opportunities to contribute in a number of ways. For more information go to http://newentcommunitybakery.org

<http://newentcommunitybakery.org/

>

You can also read press articles about the proposals (see .jpegs attached above)

Please forward this information to your friends and family
- anyone who might be interested in this exciting project...

Transition Newent newsletter 29th November 2011

2011-11-29T12:56:00Z

Is Your Energy Costing the Earth? - Open Meeting at Much Marcle (Village Hall. 7.30pm)

30th Nov ALL WELCOME TO COME ALONG

TN Food Group meeting - Thurs 1st December (7.30pm Chill Out Zone, Newent)

AND

NEW- Make Your Own Christmas Decorations - ON SATURDAY 3rd Dec (1-5pm, Castle Fruit Farm)

AND

DO YOU HAVE ANY TOOLS TO SPARE? - a plea from Potty Planters, a Newent Toddler Gardening Group
'Community resilience, Transition, and why government thinking needs both' - Rob's recent blog
Vote for Transition projects in the Energyshare funding competition (see more below)

]]> All are welcome to come along tomorrow to...
IS YOUR ENERGY COSTING YOU THE EARTH?
WEDNESDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2011
at Much Marcle Memorial Hall, 7.30-10pm (free refreshments)
There is a bewildering array of options to help reduce energy bills. These options range from simple and inexpensive life style choices to investments which the Government are encouraging you to take up to help develop new sources of energy. This meeting will use the developing pool of experience held by the local community & to share experiences of different measures which can be taken to address personal & home energy issues. For more information contact Bob Earll on bob.earll@coastms.co.uk

, 01531 890415 Transition (Energy Group) or Cathy Monkley on cathy@monkley.co.uk

- 01531 660302

Background Fact Sheets can be found on our Transition Newent website. Go to....
http://www.transitionnewent.org.uk/2011/11/newent-transition-energy-meeti.html

ALL WELCOME to join the...
Transition Newent Food Group meeting
on THURSDAY 1ST DECMBER (7.30pm at the Chill Out Zone, Newent)
Draft Agenda:
1. Food stall 29th Oct

feedback
insurance
shoppers survey - Tish
next - format, dates, change name - market?

2. Bakery update - John T/Ken
3. Visits feedback

Canon Frome Court
Michael & Jean's woods

4. Review of year and future plans

Membership - over 100
Sow 'n grow, visits, food stall
Local Food Festival 2nd June - John Celino (councillor) / Ann
Edible Gardens?

5. New Chairperson
6. AOB
7. Date of next meeting

You would be very welcome to join this lovely opportunity to make your own Christmas Decorations with locally gathered materials. Dress warmly and bring your own secateurs, ribbons etc.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TOOLS TO SPARE??
from Hester Feld, Potty Planters - a toddler gardening group, Newent

Dear Transitioners,
I'm one of the Mums involved in Potty Planters, a toddler gardening group.

We grow all sorts of veg and fruit with the help of our toddlers, we harvest and take our pickings home each week or just eat it there and then! The group is for children from 0-5 years and parents/carers who are happy to get stuck in. No gardening experience is necessary. We meet on a Monday morning 10 -12 from about March - November.

We have a vegetable plot in a private garden behind the Newent Community Centre. We are about to stop for the winter and will meet up again in spring. We are self-funded so never have spare money as it all goes on seeds/plants or compost.

The reason I am writing is because we desperately need equipment - tools mainly. We have put a notice up in the allotments asking for any old tools but have had no response.

We would like you to know that we are looking for any old tools, just in case you can spare a trowel or two. We'll take whatever we can including pots, seeds or even better - plants. I can be contacted by email <hesterfeld@yahoo.co.uk

> or call 01531 822217. Thank you
Best wishes, Hester Feld, Potty Planters, Newent

A very interesting post from Rob Hopkins (on 22nd Nov 2011) - helpful in dealings with local/parish/district councils etc.

'Community resilience, Transition, and why government thinking needs both'

After my talk in Norwich last week, I met a local authority emergency planner, who said that he had found the talk, and the Transition take on resilience, very illuminating. He pointed me in the direction of the latest 'Strategic National Framework on Community Resilience', the latest "national statement for how individual and community resilience can work", published by the Cabinet Office in March of this year. It is a fascinating document, and is indeed the first official government document on community resilience that refers explicitly to the Transition movement, and as such deserves a post reflecting on it. It also offers a tantalising glimpse into what a government response to peak oil, climate change and economic contraction might look like if anyone had the imagination to create one.

You can read the full post and leave comments at
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/22/community-resilience-transition-and-wh

y-government-thinking-needs-both/
Best wishes from KEN ALLEN

Hello fellow Transitioner
I am contacting you on behalf of Transition Tynedale based in Northumberland, UK.

Would your Transition Community be able to help publicise other Transition projects competing in the 'Energyshare' (www.energyshare.com

) funding competition?

Transition Tynedale is hoping to secure £100,000 which will be vital in getting a hyro-power scheme installed on the River Tyne at Hexham. We hope to fund development and community events for years to come and more importantly the scheme would act as a model and incentive to other areas throughout the country.

Three projects from our Transition network have made it to the Finals of the Energyshare funding competition. They are 3 of just 19 projects left in the running and they have been selected from over 900 community energy groups, which is already an amazing achievement. Even better news: These projects are not competing against each other! There are three categories of projects (Large, Medium, Small) and there is one Transition project in each category. Anyone over 13 years of age with an email address can vote (please get parent/guardian permission if you are under 18).

So if you wish to make your vote count, please go to http://www.energyshare.com/voting

  and vote.
The Transition projects are:

   in the 'Large' category - Hexham River Hydro (Transition Tynedale)
    http://www.energyshare.com/hrh/

   in the 'Medium' category - Portobello & Leith Community Wind Energy Project (PEDAL (Portobello Transition Town))
    http://www.energyshare.com/portobello-leith-community-wind-energy-project/

    in the 'Small' category - Shrewsbury Hydro (Transition Town Shrewsbury)
    http://www.energyshare.com/shrewsbury-hydro/

Could you send this information on to your Transition community and ask them to support us by casting their votes on the Energyshare website?

The deadline for votes is Saturday 3rd December at 5pm.

Many thanks,Catriona Mulligan
Transition Tyendale Northumberland

Thanks to Catherine Mason for passing this on...

That's it for now.
Hope to see you at one of the Transition events this week.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk

Newent Transition energy meeting 30 Nov 2011 - factsheets

2011-11-28T19:59:52Z

WEDNESDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2011 7.30
Where: MUCH MARCLE MEMORIAL HALL

Reasons for attending -Marcle version.doc / Reasons for attending -Marcle version.pdf

Life style change - FULL Marcle Version.doc / Life style change - FULL Marcle Version.pdf

Investment in energy measures - ONE PAGE.doc / Investment in energy measures - ONE PAGE.pdf

Transition Newent newsletter at 22nd November 2011

2011-11-22T19:11:05Z

Open Meeting "Is your energy costing the Earth?" Weds 30th Nov, Much Marcle
TN Food Group: Thurs 1st Dec, 7.30pm, Chill Out Zone, Newent

AND

Planning a great Vegetable Garden for 2012 - TOMORROW (Weds 23rd Nov) 7.30pm, Oxenhall Village Hall
Cheltenham Transition Town Festival 23rd to 29th November (10am to 7pm)
It's not too late to be part of Transition Newent's bulk seed order and save 20%.

NEW TRANSITION NEWENT DATES FOR 2012

Celebration Pot Luck Supper, Saturday 21st January 2012 - All welcome
February Film - possibly 22nd or 23rd February
An evening with Molly Scott Cato - Friday 9th March 2012

]]> Details in date order......

Teas & Coffees available

And if you're in Cheltenham -
Cheltenham Transition Town Festival - 23rd - 29th November (10am - 7pm) Free Entry
Gardens Gallery, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham
Exhibitions and events celebrating a year of community, environmental and creative activities in Cheltenham.
More info <www.transitiontowncheltenham.org.uk

You are all welcome to come along to this Open meeting to share your own experiences, to find out more and to learn from others. From past open meetings, this is a very rewarding and useful event. Bring along anyone who you think might be interested (and please feel free to circulate this information).

IS YOUR ENERGY COSTING YOU THE EARTH?

CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING SIZE OF YOUR ENERGY BILLS?
WORRIED ABOUT YOUR LACK OF OPTIONS (NO MAINS GAS)?
WONDERING ABOUT THE INCREASED COSTS OF GETTING FROM A TO B?

If you answered 'Yes' to any of the above, then join us:

When: WEDNESDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2011
Where: MUCH MARCLE MEMORIAL HALL
Time: 7.30-10pm (free refreshments)
There is a bewildering array of options to help reduce energy bills - whilst at the same time helping to protect the environment. These options range from simple and inexpensive life style choices to investments which the Government are encouraging you to take up to help develop new sources of energy. This meeting will use the developing pool of experience held by the local community to share experiences of different measures which can be taken to address personal & home energy issues. For more information contact Bob Earll on bob.earll@coastms.co.uk

, 01531 890415 Transition (Energy Group) or Cathy Monkley on cathy@monkley.co.uk

- 01531 660302

If you can, please put a poster up in your area (see attached)

Transition Newent Food Group meeting will be held on Thursday 1st December at the Chill Out Zone, Newent. All are welcome to come along to share the highlights of this year and to discuss what we might do in 2012. Agenda to follow soon.

And it's not too late to.........be part of Transition Newent's bulk seed order from Organic Gardening catalogue and save 20%.

Following the success of last year's Transition Newent Food Group's bulk seed order with the Organic Gardening catalogue, we would like to extend the offer across all the Transition Newent groups and invite you to join our bulk order which will be for PACKETED SEEDS ONLY.

Organic Gardening offer a discount on group orders worth £200 or more, plus free postage to a central address. The discount offered by Organic Gardening is 30%, but, having discussed last year's trial with the TN Food Group participants, it was felt that to cover the costs of administration some of the saving should be passed onto Transition Newent.

The plan therefore is to offer a 20% saving to anyone taking up this offer with the other 10% being used to cover administration costs and any remaining balance to be donated to Transition Newent funds. For example, if you were to order £30 of seeds it will cost you £24, with £3 going to TN.

Organic Gardening offer a wide range of vegetable and flower seeds. Although they offer other goods through their catalogue and website we are ONLY ABLE TO OFFER THIS FOR SEED PACKETS. All other items in the catalogue can be ordered directly from Organic Gardening and if you become a Garden Organic member, you can get a 10% discount off most things (including seed potatoes, onion sets, fertilisers etc) You can view their products online at www.organiccatalogue.com

<http://www.organiccatalogue.com

>

To participate you will need to :
- email Claire Price on cl_price@yahoo.co.uk

, please put Organic Gardening in the subject line AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
- collect your catalogue, and later on your order, from Culver Street in Newent
- email the details of your order using an Excel spreadsheet which will be sent to you with full instructions

You will be sent further details including an order form, where to collect your catalogue from, how to pay for your order etc.
Best wishes CLAIRE PRICE Transition Newent Food Group

That's it for now.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN on behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646 <www.transitionnewent.org.uk

Transition Newent newsletter of 8th November 2011 - come along on Thursday!

2011-11-08T12:14:38Z

SUMMARY:

TN Visioning Group - "Economic Uncertainty" Thurs 10th Nov, (7.30pm) Red Lion, upper room, Newent
TN Coordinating Group - Thurs 17th Nov, (7.30pm) Red Lion (upper room), Newent
Open Meeting "Is your energy costing the Earth?" Weds 30th Nov, Much Marcle
TN Food Group: Thurs 1st Dec, 7.30pm, Chill Out Zone, Newent

AND

Kempley Produce Market - THIS SATURDAY 9.30 - 11.30pm
Meet the Installer, Tues 15th November, 10am to 3pm, Speech House, Forest of Dean

AND

A recent link to Rob Hopkins blog from Ken Allen

]]> Economic Uncertainty
A Transition Newent Visioning Group meeting
Thursday 10th November 2011, 7.30pm
Upper room, Red Lion, Newent (buy a drink on your way upstairs)
If you are doubtful about the "economy",
just how possible is it to transfer our assets as individuals and as a community
to local initiatives that we can plan for ourselves
- Cooperatives, Community Energy Schemes, local currencies, car share?

Just how economically resilient can we be?
Practical steps need to be prepared.
Bring your thoughts & ideas to the Visioning Group meeting - all are welcome to join this evening.

Footnote: 'Visioning' is a Transition word for gathering informally and discussing/chatting about a subject, usually looking into the future, and bearing in mind the end of cheap oil and the impact of climate change. It is an understanding that we can only move towards something if we can imagine what it will be like when we get there. The vision we have in our mind when we set out on this journey will go a long way to determining where we end up.

Kempley Produce Market - Saturday 12th November, 9.30-11.30am
**Place your Christmas orders** Christmas shopping without the hassle!

You can place your orders for the following at the November Christmas market for...
·      Turkeys and more from April Cornwall (to be delivered to Kempley just before Christmas)
·      Christmas cakes and chocolates from Catherine Mason, to be collected at the December market.
·      Christmas Pudding Ice cream, from Sue Jones of Hillbrooks Ice cream, to be collected at the December market
·      Kempley Vale cheese, from Ian and Liz, to be collected at the December market.

This month there will also be:
·      Amy's free range eggs
·      Mushrooms from Melkerts at Tibberton
·      Ian & Liz's fruit and veg, goats cheese and preserves
·      Honey and garden produce from Ruby and Roger
·      Ice cream from Hillbrooks
·      Chutneys, preserves and cakes from Vicky
·      Three Counties mustards, oils and pickles
·      Fruit juice from Bentley's at Castle Fruit farm
·      Cakes, chutneys and preserves from a range of other local producers
·      John's bread
·      Chocolates and confectionery from Catherine
·      Meat and meat products from Cornwall's

**Please note that at the December market you will be able to buy Charles Martell cheeses at a good price.

Also KPM Cafe will be providing fair trade tea, coffee and homemade cakes. You will be able to have a bacon/sausage buttie as well. So come along and meet up with friends and neighbours, plan your shopping. KPM sell, swap or donate produce Don't forget to bring along any surplus produce to sell, swap or donate.Book Swap & Haves and Wants board  Browse through our ever expanding library, off load any books you have finished with. Got something you want to sell, or would like to borrow/acquire? Pop it on the board.

KPM open to buyers from 9.30, producers from 9am. For more information contact: Maggie Bligh 01531890332

AGM our Annual General Meeting will be on
Wednesday 23rd November, 8pm
Kempley Village Hall. All welcome

And from Transition Forest of Dean's newsletter.....
It's nearly winter- though you would hardly believe it from the temperature just now! -and time to put the heating on. You are probably thinking about making your home and more energy efficient, maybe inspired by some of the Open Homes. If you are, come along to a Meet the Installer event on Tuesday 15th November in the marquee at Speech House. Its organised by Severn Wye Energy Agency, who will have advisors on hand to answer questions about planning permission, costs etc. Turn up at any time between 10am and 3pm; throughout the day there will be Q&A sessions, led by the expert installers themselves - FREE refreshments will be available, so settle down with a cuppa and find out what you need to know.

Question and Answer Sessions will be held at the following times:

10.30am - PV & solar thermal
11.30am - biomass heating
1.00pm - PV & solar thermal
2.00pm - wind power (may be substituted)

The organisers would like some idea of numbers, so please let them know if you plan to go: either email jackie@swea.co.uk

, or comple the form at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RPXDGJS

. <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RPXDGJS

Transition Newent Coordinating Group meeting will be on Thursday 17th November (7.30pm, Red Lion, upper room) Our agenda will include discussions on our next event - Is your energy costing the Earth? to be held on 30th November as well as a possible films programme. We shall also be looking at 2012 with a JanuaryCelebratory Pot Luck supper (we are 4 years old in January!!)

And a new event for early 2012 - an Open meeting to discuss Top Tips for saving money AND energy.

We shall also be hearing from our Transition Newent Groups - Visioning, Energy, Food, Cycling and Adminon how things are going.

All are welcome to come along and join in the discussions

IS YOUR ENERGY COSTING YOU THE EARTH?

CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING SIZE OF YOUR ENERGY BILLS?
WORRIED ABOUT YOUR LACK OF OPTIONS (NO MAINS GAS)?
WONDERING ABOUT THE INCREASED COSTS OF GETTING FROM A TO B?

If you answered 'Yes' to any of the above, then join us:

When: WEDNESDAY 30th NOVEMBER 2011
Where: MUCH MARCLE MEMORIAL HALL
Time: 7.30-10pm (free refreshments)

There is a bewildering array of options to help reduce energy bills - whilst at the same time helping to protect the environment. These options range from simple and inexpensive life style choices to investments which the Government are encouraging you to take up to help develop new sources of energy. This meeting will use the developing pool of experience held by the local community to share experiences of different measures which can be taken to address personal & home energy issues. For more information contact Bob Earll on bob.earll@coastms.co.uk

, 01531 890415 Transition (Energy Group) or Cathy Monkley on cathy@monkley.co.uk

- 01531 660302

If you can, please put a poster up in your area (see attached) - all are welcome...

And from Ken Allen .....
Rob Hopkins, one of the founders of Transition, offers you a blog at <www.transitionculture.org

> which is a great place to keep up to date on 'Making your community more resilient in uncertain times' with loads of examples.

Here is a recent one....
'An October Round-up of What's Happening out in the World of Transition'
A bumper harvest of apples has resulted in an abundance of top Transition stories in the UK! Local fruit harvesters, now part of Transition Kensal to Kilburn (K2K) were joined by the newly- formed Transition Willesden in setting up stall with traditional apple press in tow on the Kilburn High Road to make juice from locally-picked fruit. As temperatures soared on an unusually hot autumn day, over 200 shoppers and children helped press the fruit, taste the juice and join in the fun (see above). You can read the full post and leave comments at.....
http://transitionculture.org/2011/11/02/an-october-round-up-of-what%e2%80%99s-happening-out-in-the-world-of-transition-2/

Enjoy!

That's it for now.
Do come along to the Visioning Group meeting this week - it promises to be an interesting meeting with lots of local possibilities and opportunities - what local initiatives could we can plan for ourselves? - Cooperatives? Community Energy Schemes? local currencies? car share?
Come and discuss...

With best wishes on a dark and damp November morning...
ANN ALLEN
On behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk

Transition Newent news at 1st November 2011 - Energy Group meeting & ordering your seeds for 2012

2011-11-01T09:13:12Z

a new date - Transition Newent Energy Group meeting TOMORROW (Weds 2nd Nov, Beauchamp Arms, Dymock)
a reminder about Transition Newent Seed Orders - register your interest NOW
a Vacancy for a Personal Assistant.

Please see below for more details on all of these items.

A reminder of November's events & meetings: (see the full details in the TN newsletter of 21st Oct)

Visit to Michael & Jean's woods, Sun 6th Nov (2-4pm)
Visioning Group meeting, "Economic Uncertainty" Thurs 10th Nov, (7.30pm) Red Lion (upper room), Newent
Open Meeting "Is your energy costing the Earth?" Weds 30th Nov, Much Marcle
TN Food Group meeting: Thurs 1st December, 7.30pm, Chill Out Zone, Newent

AND

THANK YOU to all those who came along on Saturday to support the TN Seasonal Food Stall & Special Reception.

]]> You are welcome to join.....

Transition Newent - Energy Group Meeting
Wednesday 2nd November, 19:30 - 21:30
The Beauchamp Arms, Dymock

From Paul Kinnaird: The main discussion will be on developing the format of the local energy meetings already held at Kempley and Dymock with the next one planned for Much Marcle on 30th November.

Another task is to compile a TOP TEN of Energy saving tips and I have added my list for a starter:
(I am sure you have others to add)

Low Cost Actions (in no particular order)
·      Natural gas cost is ~ 50% cheaper than Electricity per Kwhr
·      Avoid the dishwasher and tumble dryer as they consume huge amounts of Electricity
·      Measure your consumption of all energy sources (Gas, Oil, Electricity, Water) by reading the meters regularly and think about lowering the usage
·      Use LED lamps if possible then CFL or Florescent tubes - not incandescent or halogen bulbs
·      Switch off appliances when not in use
·      Heating the home is the biggest domestic energy cost- Insulate, reduce thermostat setting, maintain boiler efficiency, consider changing to sustainable sources of energy
·      Use gas to boil the kettle instead of the electric kettle
·      Insulate to the highest standard possible
·      Draw curtains at night to conserve heat
·      Check for draughts from cracks and seal up with silicone. Doors and window need special seals
·      Retreat and heat - live in less space and heat that area comfortably during the cold spells
·      Always use a lid when cooking in pans

High Cost Actions (in no particular order)
·      Fit triple or double glazing
·      Ground source heat pump for heating
·      PV array to generate electricity
·      Insulate to Passivhaus standard
·      Pellet or log boiler
·      Solar thermal array
·      Heat recovery system
·      Solar conservatory add on
·      External/Internal insulation
·      When buying new appliances, choose AA+ or better rated equipment

If you have any ideas /suggestions to add to these lists, please email Paul Kinnaird <paul@barrscourt.com

> - he would be very pleased to hear from you.

Don't miss this great opportunity for discount on next years seeds...

TRANSITION NEWENT - SEED ORDERS
Be part of Transition Newent's bulk seed order from Organic Gardening catalogue and save 20%.

Following the success of last year's Transition Newent Food Group's bulk seed order with the Organic Gardening catalogue, we would like to extend the offer across all the Transition Newent groups and invite you to join our bulk order which will be for PACKETED SEEDS ONLY. We shall be placing orders for seeds at the beginning of December to be able to get the orders back to you by January, when you might want to sow your first seeds.

Organic Gardening offer a discount on group orders worth £200 or more, plus free postage to a central address. The discount offered by Organic Gardening is 30%, but, having discussed last year's trial with the TN Food Group participants, it was felt that to cover the costs of administration some of the saving should be passed onto Transition Newent.

The plan therefore is to offer a 20% saving to anyone taking up this offer with the other 10% being used to cover administration costs and any remaining balance to be donated to Transition Newent funds. For example, if you were to order £30 of seeds it will cost you £24, with £3 going to TN.

Organic Gardening offer a wide range of vegetable and flower seeds. Although they offer other goods through their catalogue and website we are ONLY ABLE TO OFFER THIS FOR SEED PACKETS. All other items in the catalogue can be ordered directly from Organic Gardening and if you become a Garden Organic member, you can get a 10% discount off most things (including seed potatoes, onion sets, fertilisers etc)

You can view their products online at www.organiccatalogue.com

<http://www.organiccatalogue.com

>

To participate in this you will need to :
- Express an interest AS SOON AS POSSIBLE by emailing Claire Price on cl_price@yahoo.co.uk

, please put Organic Gardening in the subject line
- Be able to collect your catalogue, and later on your order, from Culver Street in Newent
- Be able to email the details of your order using an Excel spreadsheet which will be sent to you with full instructions

All those who express an interest will be sent further details including an order form, where to collect your catalogue from, how to pay for your order etc.

Best wishes from CLAIRE PRICE, Transition Newent Food Group

Vacancy details - Personal Assistant to the Managing Director is required for a local Heating, Ventilation, electrical & renewables company based in Ketford.

Requirements - A flexible approach and the ability to prioritise key tasks as and when required and on your own initiative. This will result in your driving forward the future business focus, assisting in planning work to the engineers and working towards a quality compliance administration. You must possess a working knowledge of Word, Excel & the internet. Hours - 5 per day, Monday - Friday on a flexible basis to suit the business needs.

Are you - Articulate? Tenacious? Interested in the environment, reducing our carbon footprint, and have a sense of humour?

If you can answer yes to the above - then please contact Estelle Cole and/or Paul Boon 01531 891685 or email <info@greenmangroup.org

> for more details. Please note: Experience is not the driving factor - the right person for the role is, your priority will be to free up enough time so that the MD can take over the world and reduce the carbon footprint!

And a very BIG THANK YOU to all those who supported our TN Seasonal Food Stall - it was a very successful morning in the alternative venue - The Red Lion.
We had much interest in...

The Local Food Map (showing more than 50 producers and traders within a 5 mile radius of Newent)
the TN donations stall with lots of seasonal produce (thanks for your contributions)
ELBS stall with plants grown by students on the ELBS (Environmental Land Based Studies) course at Newent Community School ably manned by Alex & Chris - great contribution, guys!
a raffle (our main prize was kindly given by Pippins)
Shoppers questionnaires (organised by Tish)

AND thanks for all the samples of locally produced food for our reception event.....

two varieties of pork sausages from Andy Creese
a single Gloucester from Charles Martell
Three quiches from Emma at All Seasons Deli
Redmarley Tomatoes from Pippins
Homemade Chutney from Chill Out Zone
Three different breads from Christine & Terry of the Daffodil Cake shop
Two different local condiments from Fran from Shepherds Farm Shop
John Celino's Orange Cake
Two goats cheeses from Liz & Ian
Apples, pears and fruit juices from Castle Fruit Farm and Elgie's
Christmas Pudding ice cream from Hillbrooks of Kempley
Delicious chocolates from Catherine Mason

We were pleased to welcome Mark Harper, MP, Len Lawton (Newent Mayor) & his wife Jilly, two Newent Town Councillors (Jackie Bevan & Simon Barker), Julia Gooch (District Councillor) Deirdre Morley, Margaret & Graham Highton and Fred & Brenda Passant to enjoy these wonderful samples. Mmmmm....sounds like a meal, doesn't it!!!
Ann Allen & Mo Braham

Do come along to the meetings and events - all are welcome.
And don't forget to let Claire know if you want to order your 2012 seeds!!
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
On behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk

Transition Newent newsletter at 21st October 2011

2011-10-21T12:57:40Z

TN SEASONAL FOOD STALL, Sat 29th Oct, Market House, Newent, 9am-12.30pm

Visit to Michael & Jean's woods, Sun 6th Nov (2-4pm)
Visioning Group meeting, Thurs 10th Nov, (7.30pm) Red Lion (upper room), Newent
Open Meeting "Is your energy costing the Earth?" Weds 30th Nov, Much Marcle
TN Food Group meeting: Thurs 1st December, 7.30pm, Chill Out Zone, Newent

AND

A new publication 'The Transition Companion' by Rob Hopkins - place your order now.

PLUS

Forest of Dean high speed broadband survey - we need it, we want it, and we'll use it!" Have your say.
Update on Gloucestershire Community Energy Coop from Kevin Frea

]]>

GROW LOCAL - BUY LOCAL - EAT LOCAL
SEASONAL LOCAL FOOD STALL
will be held on
Saturday 29th October 2011
9am to 12.30pm
under the Market House, Newent

Transition Newent Food Group is holding its second Seasonal Food stall to promote local food - buying our food locally through our local shops from growers and producers who are based within 5 miles of Newent, and eating locally sourced food. We are currently compiling a working Local Food Map of local food retailers and producers within a 5 miles radius of Newent for you to see how many different products are grown / produced locally.
You can support with donations of fruit and vegetables, jam, pickles etc, cakes, flowers and plants. All items should be priced (suggested guideline near market prices) and brought to the Market House at 8.30am on the morning of 29th October. We are also inviting local food producers or traders to bring leaflets, promotional material and samples for tasting to promote, (not sell) their produce. Transition Newent volunteers will do this for them if they don't wish to stay.

We are also looking forward to welcoming our local MP, Mark Harper, our Mayor, Len Lawton and Newent Town council amongst other guests to visit the stall at 10.45am. Please come along as it would be good to meet as many of you as possible.

Do come and support this initiative to make local shopping worthwhile with a buzzing high street.

TN Food Group has organised a visit to Michael & Jean's woods on....

SUNDAY 6th NOVEMBER from 2pm to 4pm
(sorry - I have been publishing the incorrect date until now - thanks to Phil for pointing this out!)

A note on the visit from Michael....
We are preparing a seed bank of sweet chestnut, horse chestnut, Quercus robur, Ilex, Hornbeam, Scots Pine and anything else I can garner before then, to send visitors forth to plant. There are plenty of chestnuts to roast. It might be dark enough to mull some wine by then, for a last autumnal fling before the winter gets us!!
Michael.

For more information Michael & Jean Dunwell can be contacted on 01452-840258

Directions: (To Brierley Grange - OS ref: 776286 - from Newent)
From Newent traffic lights, take the B4215 towards Dymock. Just after the Newent fire station, take the first right towards Upleadon. Keep straight on through Upleadon and continue on this road, over the River Leadon. Ignore the next right hand turn (signed Prestberries) and take the next left hand turn on a sharp right hand bend. Continue about 1/2 mile to find Brierley Grange on the left. Parking is available through the narrow entrance, or on the roadside.

Economic Uncertainty
A Transition Newent Visioning Group meeting
Thursday 10th November 2011, 7.30pm
Upper room, Red Lion, Newent

All are welcome to join this evening when we can explore the causes and the effects of Economic Uncertainty from various perspectives, including politics, commerce, religion, as well as natural resources and the environment, and do a bit of visioning into the future about what may be to come and its effect on our societies.

Please let Paul Kinnaird know if you will be joining this discussion meeting on <paul@barrscourt.com>.

Here are some initial thoughts on Economic Uncertainty from Michael Dunwell .....
Two levels of uncertainty: 1. Intrinsic to Capitalism and 2. Beyond Capitalism.

1. Intrinsic. Historic evidence of boom and bust when capitalism is unregulated leads us to expect uncertainty; there have always been 'bubbles' that burst. Even the high priest of capitalism, Von Hayek, said that unregulated capitalism would destroy itself. Is the current crisis just due to one prolonged boom, fuelled by cheap oil, going bust? Is it really just the bankers' fault? Who de-regulated the bankers so that they could lend way beyond their securities? Are these questions simply a matter of waiting for the economy to sort itself out and recover, like the economists always say, so that we can carry on as usual?

2. Beyond. Mainstream economists and the political parties (except the Greens) all say that the economy must grow. "Peak Everything" says that resources are finite, so the economy can't grow beyond a certain point. Where is that? If the population curve follows energy supply and we succeed in reducing energy use, will the population stop rising?
Apart from growth, economic mainstream thinking currently ignores two fundamental issues: social justice and ecoservices

To read more see the document attached above.

Footnote: 'Visioning' is a Transition word for gathering informally and discussing/chatting about a subject, usually looking into the future, and bearing in mind the end of cheap oil and the impact of climate change. It is an understanding that we can only move towards something if we can imagine what it will be like when we get there. The vision we have in our mind when we set out on this journey will go a long way to determining where we end up.

There is a new Transition book published this month by Rob Hopkins. The Transition Companion picks up the story today, describing one of the most fascinating experiments now under way in the world. It shows how communities are working for a future where local enterprises are valued and nurtured; where lower energy use is seen as a benefit; and where cooperation, creativity and building of resilience are the cornerstones of a new economy.

If you would like to support Transition Newent, your local Transition initiative, buy your copy at £18 (rrp £19.95) and save £2. Place your order now by emailing Ann Allen <ann@kenandannallen.co.uk>

Forest of Dean Broadband Survey
(thanks to Louise Earll for this)
If you are a FoD resident and/or small business, make your views known NOW!
Hope you don't mind me forwarding this on to you. If you don't live in the FoD just delete please. Otherwise have your say now before it's too late.
Press Release from Forest of Dean District Council - 13 October 2011
Residents urged to take part in broadband survey
Residents and businesses are being encouraged to take part in a survey to demonstrate the need for high speed broadband in the Forest of Dean.
Areas covering most of the Forest of Dean and South Herefordshire were among the first in the UK to receive Government funding through BDUK last autumn, to bring superfast broadband to remote rural areas which will be extended throughout the two counties over the next few years.
GFirst is leading this project and is currently doing a survey of local businesses and residents to gauge the level of interest in having high speed broadband. Forest of Dean District Council is supporting them, as is the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, to encourage the community to take part.
Cllr Brian Edwards, the council's Broadband Champion said: "If we cannot show the demand for this fantastic new service we may not get it. So we need to ensure that we demonstrate there is a demand for high speed broadband here in the Forest. It's a necessity and we believe this is an important issue for local people, businesses and the local economy. "High speed broadband will benefit people of all ages whether they want to use the internet for playing games on their games system, speaking to family in Australia over the internet, for downloading music, TV or films, and to help businesses in the area.
"Please spend a few minutes to complete the survey and encourage your family and friends to get on board. This information is vital for us to demonstrate to the broadband industry that we need it, we want it, and we'll use it!"
The survey is at www.gfirst.co.uk/broadband <http://www.gfirst.co.uk/broadband> . For people in the community who do not have internet access we have paper copies of the survey available in our council offices and at leisure centres which can be handed back in at receptions.
Issued by: Rachael Orchard, communications and marketing officer, Forest of Dean District Council, 01594 812622<file://localhost/tel/01594%20812622> , Rachael.Orchard@fdean.gov.uk <mailto:Rachael.Orchard@fdean.gov.uk>

An email recently received from Kevin Frea on.....
Gloucestershire Community Energy coop
There's a new website from the Gloucestershire Community Energy coop now at http://www.gloscommunityenergy.coop
With all our preparation for a Community share issue, which we hope to issue in the second week of October with City Works and 5 community buildings from around the county, we've looked at the figures and realised that this could work for houses too.

A group of people could get together, ideally from the same area or even street, and form a Community Coop. They could then create a community share issue, after consulting with potential investors, who might be friends or family, about the rate of interest they will offer. Even offering 7% interest the home owners will see a couple of hundred pounds a year profit after all expenses have been paid. The Solar Coop could run all the admin for them, keeping all the paperwork up to date and dealing with shareholders. So basically home owners would get free electricity AND a share of the FIT and investors would get a decent return. We would hope that they would chose panels with a good ethical/environmental pedigree rather than the cheapest, but we reckon that a sub 4 kWp system could be installed for about £10,000. The smaller the system the less cost effective but it could still work with enough installations close together. Even better to do a whole terrace at a time ;-)

So what do you think? Would you like to be pioneers and get this working in your area? Time is short because it takes about a month to register a coop and ideally the money needs to be raised before Christmas leaving enough time to install the panels before the end of March when the FIT drops.

If you'd like to explore this further go to http://www.gloscommunityenergy.coop or contact Kevin Frea <kevin.frea@thesolar.coop> mobile: 07716-246672

That's it for now. Don't forget the Seasonal Food Stall on 29th - a week tomorrow. Do bring your donations and yourselves - all are welcome. If there is any more information you require on this, please contact Mo Braham on 01531-820808 or email: <mo.braham@btinternet.com>

Best wishes from a wet and windy Isle of Mull,
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk>

Transition Newent news at 3rd October 2011

2011-10-03T17:23:55Z

In October there is....

TN Food Group meeting, 5th Oct, (7.30pm) - see agenda
TN Coordinating Group meeting, 6th Oct 7.30pm, Red Lion (upper room), Newent
Kempley Produce Market - Sat 8th Oct, 9.30am to 11.30am

followed by

Visit to Canon Frome Court farm & gardens - Sat 8th October, 11am to 2pm

AND

TN SEASONAL FOOD STALL, Sat 29th Oct, Market House, Newent, 9am-12.30pm

]]> All are welcome to come along to this TN Food Group meeting. Here is the agenda.....
Transition Newent Food Group - Agenda Wed 5th October 7.30pm  Chill-out-zone, High Street, Newent
1. Next Seasonal Food Stall ...Sat 29th Oct 9-12.30
            Reception for councillors etc at Red Lion
            Tea, coffee - Red Lion
            Letter to food producers/traders
            Donations from TN members
            Samples/tastings from local food shops
            Map of shops
            Posters for distribution
            Michael's map
            Tables, banner
2. Events feedback
            Poultry Park Environmental Fun Day
            Onion Fayre
3. Visits feedback
            Tan House Farm
            Liz and Ian's smallholding
4. Future visits
            Canon Frome Court Sat 8th Oct
            Michael and Jean's woods Sun 6th Nov
5. AOB       & 6. Date of next meeting

For more information, please contact Mo Braham on <mo.braham@btinternet.com

> or 01531-820808, mobile: 07970-619850

Transition Newent Coordinating Group will be holding it's next meeting THIS THURSDAY 6th October, 7.30pm in the upper room of the Red Lion, Newent. All are welcome to come along (buy a drink on your way up). We shall be discussing our plans for the next Transition Autumn and Winter events, feedback from a recent Transition/Midshires Cooperative meeting as well as hearing how each of our Action Groups are progressing.

You would be very welcome to come along and be part of this friendly, interactive meeting.

And on Saturday 8th October - TWO EVENTS

Visit to Canon Frome Court Farm & Gardens
Saturday 8th October 2011
11am to 2pm

This is a kind invitation to Transition Newent from Steve Glinski of Canon Frome Court, who has appreciated the support that TN has given to the Newent Community School ELBS project over the last three years. Steve works in the ELBS garden three days a week and has met several TN members over the various shared work days.

Canon Frome Court is an intentional farm and gardens established in the late 1970's. There are 19 families sharing the buildings and 40 acres of land on which there is a mixed farm where the farming and growing are done co-operatively. Starting at 11am, there will be a brief talk on the community, how it is and the carbon reduction plans followed by a tour of the farm and garden. Children would be welcome (with a tractor/trailer ride an option), but no dogs are allowed.
Lunch of soup and drinks would be provided - if you can, bring along bread and cakes to share.

For more information and directions please see <www.canonfromecourt.org.uk

>

If you wish to go, please contact Mo Braham <mo.braham@btinternet.com

> or 01531-820808, mobile: 07970-619850 so that she can let Canon Frome know how many people there will be for lunch.

And.....
Kempley Produce Market
Saturday 8th October, 9.30-11.30am
in the village hall

**Great news - we have juicing, chocolates & meat**

KPM Cafe will be providing fair trade tea, coffee and homemade cakes. You will be able to have a bacon/sausage buttie as well. So come along and meet up with friends and neighbours, plan your shopping, maybe make time for some juicing with David Price. Have some fun and make your own juice, bring your children and some apples and pears and David Price will help you make own juice to take home. If you don't have any fruit or bottles to bring, there will probably be some spare.

Chocolates and cakes, Catherine Mason is back after the summer so come and see what new delicacies she has been making for the market.

Meat & meat products, April Cornwall and her family are back to supply KPM with meat and meat products. They will be taking over the bacon butty production from Liz and Martin who have done an excellent job in their absence.

This month there will also be Amy's free range eggs, Mushrooms from Melkerts at Tibberton, Ian & Liz's fruit and veg, goats cheese and preserves, Honey and garden produce from Ruby and Roger, Ice cream from Hillbrooks, Chutneys, preserves and cakes from Vicky, Three Counties mustards, oils and pickles, Fruit juice from Bentley's at Castle Fruit farm, Cakes, chutneys and preserves from a range of other local producers, John's bread, Chocolates from Catherine and Meat and meat products from Cornwalls

KPM sell, swap or donate produce Don't forget to bring along any surplus produce to sell, swap or donate. Also Book Swap & Haves and Wants board - Browse through our ever expanding library, off load any books you have finished with. Got something you want to sell, or would like to borrow/acquire? Pop it on the board.

KPM open to buyers from 9.30, producers from 9am. For more info contact: Maggie Bligh 01531890332

And don't forget... we shall be discussing this at the Food Group meeting this week (see above)....

Come along and buy, maybe taste, and find out about some of the many foods that are produced locally, at Transition Newent's...

SEASONAL FOOD STALL
under Newent's Market House
on Saturday 29th October 2011 (9am - 12.30pm)
Transition Newent supports every initiative to make local shopping
worthwhile with a buzzing high street.

If you would like to help to promote this event, come along to the meeting on Wednesday, or please print off the poster attached and put it up in your locality - your help would be much appreciated!!

Hope you have been enjoying this warm weather (unseasonal though it is!!)
Look forward to seeing you all again.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk

Transition Newent - a new event + news at 21st Sept 2011

2011-09-22T16:33:44Z

NEW

Visit to Canon Frome Court farm & gardens - Sat 8th October, 11am to 2pm

REMINDERS

TN Food Group meeting, 5th Oct, (7.30pm) - changed venue
TN Coordinating Group meeting, 6th Oct 7.30pm, Red Lion (upper room), Newent
Kempley Produce Market - Sat 8th Oct, 9.30am to 11.30am

TN SEASONAL FOOD STALL, Sat 29th Oct, Market House, Newent, 9am-12.30pm

Visit to Michael & Jean's woods, Sun 2nd Nov (2-4pm)
NEW DATE: Visioning Group meeting, Thurs 10th Nov, (7.30pm) Hazle Farm, Dymock Road, Ledbury
Open Meeting "Is your energy costing the Earth?" Weds 30th Nov, Much Marcle

OTHER EVENTS:

Cliffords Mesne Village Market - Sat 24th Sept (10am to 12 noon)
Get Knitting Workshop - Weds 5th Oct (Wool Garden, Newent)
Begin to Spin course - Weds 19th Oct (Wool Garden, Newent)

AND

No to Tesco's in Ledbury - more information

]]> Visit to Canon Frome Court Farm & Gardens
Saturday 8th October 2011
11am to 2pm

This is a kind invitation to Transition Newent from Steve Glinski of Canon Frome Court, who has appreciated the support that TN has given to the Newent Community School ELBS project over the last three years. Steve works in the ELBS garden three days a week and has met several TN members over the various shared work days.

Canon Frome Court is an intentional farm and gardens established in the late 1970's. There are 19 families sharing the buildings and 40 acres of land on which there is a mixed farm where the farming and growing are done co-operatively. Starting at 11am, there will be a brief talk on the community, how it is and the carbon reduction plans followed by a tour of the farm and garden. Children would be welcome (with a tractor/trailer ride an option), but no dogs are allowed.
Lunch of soup and drinks would be provided - if you can, bring along bread and cakes to share.

For more information and directions please see <www.canonfromecourt.org.uk>

If you wish to go, please contact Mo Braham <mo.braham@btinternet.com> or 01531-820808, mobile: 07970-619850 so that she can let Canon Frome know how many people there will be for lunch.

Update - TN Food Group meeting on 5th October (7.30pm) will now be held in The Chill Out Zone, High Street, Newent. All welcome to come along.

TN Coordinating Group meeting, 6th Oct 7.30pm, will be held in The Red Lion (upstairs room).

Kempley Produce Market, Sat 8th October - an early reminder of this monthly market in Kempley Village Hall (9.30am to 11.30am) Full details will be in my next newsletter.
"In October we shall be featuring David Price and his juicer and also Catherine Mason is back with her chocolates and Cornwalls with their meat." (Thanks to Louise Earll)

Cliffords Mesne Village Market 24th September from 10am - 12noon. Local products including Mayhill Gotland Wool, patterns and products and White Cloud Trading, local honey and produce and of course our usual Fair Trade range of products.
Refreshments and an opportunity to catch up with local friends.

And here are a couple of courses for those who would like to try their hand at knitting or spinning....

Contact 'The Wool Garden' in High Street, Newent: Tel: 01531-820472 or email:bron@thewoolgarden.co.uk
for more information.

NO TO TESCO'S IN LEDBURY
Here is some information about the campaign opposing Tesco's expansion in Ledbury....

There is full guidance on the saveledbury.com <http://saveledbury.com> website giving planning points that need to be covered. The politicians and planning officers need public support. Even though we are out of county views from outsiders are very important and it is part of a national movement to try and halt supermarket dominance. Visitors and locals alike value Ledbury for the diversity of shops and the adequate existing supermarkets.

Transition Newent events and meetings are open to all - you would be most welcome to come along.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
<www.transitionnewent.org.uk>

Transition Newent news at 13th September 2011

2011-09-13T17:42:26Z

Visioning Group meeting on FOOD this Thurs 15th Sept (7.30pm) Winters Farm, Oxenhall
Visit to Ian & Liz's - An amazing smallholding, Sat 17th Sept (2-4pm)

TN Food Group meeting, 5th Oct, (7.30pm) Shepherds Farm Shop, Three Shires Garden Centre
TN Coordinating Group meeting, 6th Oct 7.30pm, venue to be decided.
TN SEASONAL FOOD STALL, Sat 29th Oct, Market House, Newent, 9am-12.30pm
Visit to Michael & Jean's woods, Sun 2nd Nov (2-4pm)

Open Meeting "Is your energy costing the Earth?" Weds 30th Nov, Much Marcle (more details to follow)

PLUS

Feedback on the Onion Fayre last weekend
Cider & Apple Juice in One Day, Ragman's Farm, Thurs 29th Sept
Forest Food Show Case, Sunday 2nd October, Speech House 10am to 4pm (see flyer attached)

AND

Be Part of Gloucestershire's First Community Owned Solar Power Station

]]>

'FOOD'
How it will be obtained in the future given
that oil will become more and more expensive
A Visioning Group meeting - Open to All

flyer Oct2011.pdf

Come and join the discussions on this important subject. Here are some thoughts for you....

Starting point - Most of the production, processing, packaging, and delivery of our food depends upon oil.
Assumption - Oil prices will continue to rise in real terms.
Some questions for discussion.....

How will the price and availability of food in the shops be affected by rising oil prices?
What changes could there be in the production, processing, packaging, and delivery of food?
What differences could there be for food supply in Newent, in the UK, in other countries?
How will it affect you?

This Visioning Group meeting will be be held on THURSDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2011, (7.30pm start) at Winters Farm in the barn ( grid ref: N51.940402,W2.415361, post code GL18 1RL) Please emailpaul@barrscourt.com

or john.teire@virgin.net

for more information and to confirm you are coming.

'Visioning' is a Transition word for gathering informally and discussing/chatting about a subject, usually looking into the future, bearing in mind the end of cheap oil and the impact of climate change. It is an understanding that we can only move towards something if we can imagine what it will be like when we get there. The vision we have in our mind when we set out on this journey will go a long way to determining where we end up.
As always, all are welcome to come along, but please let Paul or John know if you are coming - thanks.

AN AMAZING SMALLHOLDING
SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER, 2-4pm

A visit organised by TN Food Group to Ian & Liz's super-sized greenhouse. Come and talk to Liz and Ian, enthusiastic growers and producers. Some of the things you will see are...

Water harvesting
Growing crops for winter harvesting
Hedge foraging
Some propagation ideas
PV array

PARKING IS LIMITED so car share appreciated. Also there is additional parking nearby.
Directions: Travelling out of Newent on the Tewkesbury Road, Ford House Road is the next turning immediately after Strawberry Hill. Follow the road round bearing to the left through the camp site. 36A is the turning AFTER 36 on the right.

SEASONAL FOOD STALL,
Saturday 29th October 9am-12.30pm

Transition Newent showcasing Local Seasonal Food

This July, Transition Newent Food Group, part of the Transition Newent climate change and peak oil organisation, launched a new venture in the town - The Seasonal Food Stall. The event was such a success that the Food Group will be holding an Autumn Seasonal Food Stall on Saturday October 29thfrom 9 until 12.30pm under the Market Square, Newent.

This seasonal event showcases local food produce available within a 5 mile radius of Newent. A highlight of the display will a large map locating over 70 individual local food producers ranging from fruit growers, cheese makers in Huntley and Dymock, a vegetable producer on the outskirts of Newent, a wool producer on May Hill and the established Kempley Saturday produce market.

The Seasonal Food Stall is an opportunity for shoppers to discover the rich variety of food produce grown in and around Newent and to pick up information from established local food producers, with tastings and encouragement to shop locally and seasonally.

A colourful display of fresh seasonal garden produce donated by Transition members will also be on sale at the stall. Visitors should expect a great choice of autumn fruit and vegetables and preserves.

Coordinator, Mo Braham says: 'Food prices are going up all over the world. The solution is to grow, process and market food as close to home as possible. The Transition movement is working to promote local resilience and we support every initiative to make local shopping more worthwhile than a drive to an out-of-town supermarket. We want to see the High Street buzzing.'

Local producers wishing to take advantage of this event should contact Lynn (Memento Gifts) on 01531 822646 or Mo on 01531 820808

NEWENT ONION FAYRE - FEEDBACK & THANK YOU'S

Just wanted to say a very BIG THANK YOU to all of you who contributed in so many ways to the Transition Newent stand at the Onion Fayre this weekend. I would particularly like to thank those who gave much of the day to run the stand and make it lively and fun.

The stand looked great (thanks to the set up team) with three distinct subjects to engage the crowds with .....

the Newent Human Power Station generated lots of fun and laughter and a good deal of competition amongst the audience. All prize winners turned up to collect their prizes and have a photo taken.
300 leaflets for the Eco Open Homes weekend were given out /picked up from the Eco Homes signboard supported by Michael Dunwell's magnificent map (and I recognised several people who turned up at the Eco Open Homes event at Brook Cottage the next day). We also took the opportunity to point people in the direction of Pound House (Vilnis Vesma) in the Market Square which was open that day (as well as the Sunday).
And, of course, the promotion of Grow Local - Buy Local - Eat Local - with many cake samples and 3 recipe sheets promoting using vegetables and fruit in cakes and flans alongside with some lovely produce - mainly provided by Chris Wooldridge. These delicious samples stopped people and we were able to sell them a recipe sheet and engage them in conversation.

And thank you too to Catherine and Andrew who provided a wonderful supper on the Saturday evening - very welcome after a long day!
Well done to all!!
Ann Allen

Cider & Apple Juice in a Day
Thursday 29th September
Ragman's Lane Farm, Lower Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9PA

Ragmans are running a one day course on 'Cider and Apple Juice in a day' on Thursday 29th September at Ragmans Lane Farm in Gloucestershire. This is a 'hands on' practical day showing you how you can turn your glut of apples into beautiful fresh juice and cider, or for those interested in learning about small commercial apple juice/cider production.

The day will include:
* introduction to cider making
* harvesting apples from our orchards
* washing & pressing the fruit using both a traditional cider press and modern mill
* pasteurising and bottling
* cider tasting
* you will also have the chance to take home some fresh pressed apple juice

Matt Dunwell has been making apple juice and cider for over 12 years and has planted cider and perry trees over the last 20 years that are now coming into production, including 'Kingston Black' the king of cider apples.

Cost is £60 (refreshments provided, please bring a packed lunch).
Booking essential - for more information, Email: info@ragmans.co.uk

Tel: 01594 860244www.ragmans.co.uk

Be Part of Gloucestershire's First Community Owned Solar Power Station

A bank of 192 panels (44kw, I believe) of solar panels planned for the roof of City Works, home of Gloucestershire's Resource Centre in Gloucester, making it the second largest community owned solar plant in the UK. Subject to final planning consent and the success of the fund raising campaign, installation will start in the Autumn. For more information go to www.gloucs.solar.coop

; www.grcltd.org

; tel: 01452-348508
Here is an email I received last week....

Dear potential supporter/member,

I just wanted to bring you up to date with developments in forming the Gloucestershire Community Energy Coop. We decised to use the existing Five Valleys Energy Coop and change the name rather than register a new Co-operative. The Directors are Martin Alder, Cllr. Brian Oosthuysen, myself (Kevin Frea) from the Solar Coop and Richard Walter and Alison Crane from Transition Town Cheltenham. We hope to finalize the projects that we are going to be raising a community share issue for soon, but we have several community buildings that we are negotiating with around the county.

If you know of any building, such as a Community Centre or school that you think would be interested in having free electricity from solar panels on their roof then do contact me urgently either by email or on 07716 246672. There isn't much time to add them to our list but it may be that they have already decided that this is something that they would like to do but haven't managed to finance it any other way.

We are just setting up a new website. We are hoping to hold an energy saving and renewables exhibition at the GRC on Wednesday 21st September from 6-8pm but are just waiting for confirmation from a couple more potential exhibitors.
Cheers, Kevin Frea

'How to be green? Many people have asked us this important question. It's really very simple and requires no expert knowledge or complex skills.
Here's the answer. Consume less. Share more. Enjoy life.' Penny Kemp and Derek Wall

That's it for now. If you have any news, ideas, suggestions, please send them along - I will see if I can fit them in.
Look forward to seeing you soon.
Best wishes
ANN ALLEN
on behalf of Transition Newent
01989-720646
www.transitionnewent.org.uk