October 2012 Newsletter

Things we do in Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities...
Community Garden on Darlingscote Rd
Provide small individual vegetable plots – (there are plots available)
Jointly grow food in communal areas and share produce
We hope to keep chickens next year
Film nights (with bring and share meals)
Films on environmental, self sufficiency and other topics
Bring and share food – cooking theme chosen by host
Next film: “Blues Brothers”, Friday 12th October
Skill Swaps
e.g. wreath making for Christmas, wild food foraging, apple pressing / cider making etc
Shipston High School Gardening & Eco-School Club
Helping to run the gardening club on Tuesday lunchtimes
Tending the garden during holidays
Providing equipment and help for the Eco-School Club
Energy Champions
A number of supporters have been trained by Act On Energy (the local energy efficiency advisors) to carry out initial energy assessments on houses. We give basic advice and refer on to Act on Energy for more technical information.
Fairs and Shows
We run stalls at the Victorian Evening, the Wool Fair and other events around the area.
For the last two years we have run the Harvest Fayre to promote more local food and local businesses.
Public Meetings
We hold public meetings on Environmental and Community issues
If you would like to be involved or help in any way contact Dave Passingham on 01608 661816 or davepassingham@hotmail.com


Shipston Harvest Fayre – fine weather and good stalls
The weather for the Harvest Fayre last Sunday turned out to be fine (despite the forecasts) and for most of the morning the stalls were buzzing with people. There was a wide variety of produce for sale on the 28 stalls ranging from local vegetables and meats to specialist herbs and honey as well as household goods, pottery, rugs... and more (see below for full list of stall holders with contacts). In addition the traditional craft of pole lathe wood turning was demonstrated by our very own Mike Ashton – this attracted much attention from adults and children alike. Once again local artist Howard Watson's pencil face sketches made plenty of money for Shipston Home Nursing and the Queen's Avenue Play area group ran the tombola to raise money to buy fruit trees to plant around their play equipment.

YOUR VIEWS ARE IMPORTANT - Supermarket/Housing Development
Shipston Town Council called a public meeting on Monday 24th September to consult the whole community about their ideas for the future of Shipston. About 100 people turned up including Transition Shipston supporters and the Shipston Heart Alive Campaign who have been campaigning to stop the out-of-town supermarket and housing development because of the threat it would pose to the existing shops and businesses. There was also supporters of the Shipston Needs a Supermarket group who are in favour of the ASL development on the edge of town. The meeting was run by an independent facilitator who started by asking people whether they wanted Shipston to stay as it is or should it have more facilities. Everyone was asked to mark how strongly they felt about these two options on a chart. The facilitator broke the meeting up into groups to come up with ideas for the future. There was a consensus that it will be very important that any changes should be community led and not developer led. At the end of some deep discussions several ideas were suggested and these were voted upon by the whole of the meeting. The highest vote was for preserving the character of Shipston. This was followed by the need for more employment and then better health facilities. A supermarket came only sixth in popularity and many people who voted for this were in favour of a supermarket in the town centre - not out of town. Ideas from the meeting will feed in to the Shipston Neighbourhood plan.

Stalls at the Harvest Fayre:
Little Bird Soaps - Natural handmade soaps
www.littlebirdsoaps.com/
Mabel's Dairy - "Mabel's Marvellous Milk", from Ilmington
www.mabelsfarm.co.uk
Nicky Vickery Animal Artist
Old Farm – award winning home produced meats
www.oldfarmdorn.co.uk/
Lakeside Ethical Treats - chocolate, sweets and snacks.
www.ethical-treats.co.uk/
Shipston Scouts, Guides, Cubs
Contact: d.wright61@btinternet.com
Country Markets - local home grown produce, home made and hand-crafted goods
/www.country-markets.co.uk/moreton-in-marsh-gloucestershire-gl56-0as-i132.html
Shipston Community Arts
www.shipstoncommunityarts.org.uk/
Skylark - Organic Vegetables box scheme – deliveries to your door
www.skylarkorganics.co.uk/
Heath Farm Nuts - hazelnuts/cobnuts, walnuts, hazelnut oil and walnut oil.
db@swerfordheath.com

Alain Rouveure Galleries - Arts & crafts from Nepal
Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities – Sustainable community food growing, energy efficiency initiatives. Promoting a resilient local economy.
Olive Stall - olives and antipasti from Italy and Sicily
Queen's Ave Play Area action group - promoting the new design for the play area and orchard. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Queens-Avenue-Park-Action-Group/246427545399529
Snuggle Rugs – hand-knitted multi coloured mohair knee rugs
Contact: 664003
Hook Norton Honey - English honey including raw honey plus European speciality honey
Contact: morti@tesco.net
Liz Teall Pottery – hand made slip decorated earthenware pottery.
Cookies – mix of household goods, DIY, stationary, gardening & miscellaneous items.
Visit Cookies shop in Church Street, Shipston
Ridgeway Ice Cream – locally made ice cream
Shipston Heart Alive! Campaign – preservation of Shipston Town 
Holycombe holistic retreat centre – therapies, weekday classes and venue for weekend residential course. http://www.holycombe.com/ 
biss’/’bella due’ - Hand crafted jewellery + Dress agency/’recycled clothes’
Herbal Pantry - unusual herbs and spices alongside the traditional herbs.www.herbalpantry.co.uk
Eco Mum & Baby - Eco friendly & natural products
Avon Cat Rescue – handcrafts
    Contact :662553
Fibromyalgia Association - Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. Contact: gudrunberry@hotmail.com

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