Transition Shipston

December 2011 Newsletter

2012-01-03T15:16:00.003Z

Beware developers with big budgets...

Ainscough Strategic Land the developer who has an option on the fields along the Campden Road between Norgren and Shipston are holding a public exhibition, at the Townsend Hall in Shipston on Wednesday 30 November (from 9 am to 4 pm) and Thursday 1 December (from 1 pm to 7.30 pm) to show their latest proposals for the land.

Ainscough are good at counting and publicising the numbers in favour of their proposals but have been totally silent about the resounding NO vote from those present at their “consultation” meeting earlier this year. Beware developers with big PR budgets..........

Here are some points to help you as you make your mind up about the development:

1. In other market towns, a supermarket development out-of town has led to independent food shops in the centre of town closing, with a knock-on effect on other local businesses. Shipston’s town centre shops have adapted to local needs, the Co-ops have lowered their prices, and the result is a wide choice of shops with excellent customer service. They are all at risk from this proposed development.

2.There is a proposal to use the land at Pettipher’s garage, Church St for a supermarket and homes. A supermarket in the centre of town would enable Shipston’s local shops and community feeling to survive unthreatened by this out-of-town retail development.

3.The Transition Shipston shopping survey showed it need be no more expensive to shop in the Shipston shops than in Tesco’s in Stratford, even before allowing for the cost of petrol and car use. If we lose these green fields in the hope of more shopping opportunities or lower prices, we can never regain them.

4. Ainscough talk about creating jobs. But the local retailers reckon they employ about 230 people. These shops have supply chains and estimate another 100+ jobs could be at risk. So there could actually be a net loss of local jobs.

5. 50 more houses will need more places in schools, surgery etc. After doubling in size, Shipston’s facilities are already overstretched.

6. There will be increased traffic in and around the town and along the dangerous Campden Road and its crossroads at the Fosseway A 429.

7. The Shipston Medical Centre has its own proposal to build a hospital, surgery and care home together on a different site. The Ainscough proposal for a care home could make this more difficult.

Contact: Helen Winnifrith helenwin@tiscali.co.uk

Solar Power Comes to Stratford Hospital

The government recently announced that they propose to cut the feed-in-tariff for solar power by around 50%. Despite this, Community Energy Warwickshire (CEW) decided to press on with a share offer with the aim of raising at least £100,000 by 21 November to enable them to install as many solar panels as possible before the tariff deadline. CEW has now raised over £90,000 and work will start shortly to install solar panels at Stratford Hospital.

CEW has now received firm prices for the installation of solar panels after 12 December which are substantially lower than current prices. This means that – despite reductions in Feed-in Tariff rates - the original project to install panels on Warwick Hospital is still financially viable. Barbara Cooper of CEW says, “we intend to go ahead with the installation of solar panels at Warwick Hospital as soon as possible and need just £25,000 more to enable us to install the maximum capacity of 50 kilowatts. So if you or someone you know have been thinking about investing but haven’t quite got round to it - now is the time!”

A share purchase application form can be found on the CEW website www.cew.coop.

For more information contact info@cew.coop or by contacting Barbara Cooper on 01789 290736.

Shipston Energy Study

At the beginning of November Transition Shipston presented the completed Shipston Energy Study, that we have been working on for 9 months, to the Town Council. The Town Council had given a grant of £300 to pay for energy consultant Bernard Perkins to verify the finished study. After discussion it was decided that a committee made up of Town Council members ,local businesses and the Transition Shipston group should be set up initially to hold a energy workshop which would discuss further community initiatives to improve energy efficiency and investigate alternative forms of sustainable energy. Tim Lunel from Low Carbon Hook Norton, who is also chief Executive of e National Energy Foundation, has already offered to speak at such a workshop. Hook Norton won a £450000 grant in 2010 to reduce their carbon emissions as a community... hopefully Shipston will be able to learn from their experiences.
Here are some of the conclusions of the Study:
Energy demand will grow 43% by 2050 with current trends if we do not become more energy efficient. Approximately 60% of the energy used by Shipston is in the form of petroleum based fuel, i.e. petrol and diesel. Any emissions reduction strategy must address transport. If Shipston is to become less reliant on external supplies of energy it will need to reduce the energy demand by at least a half and take all the sustainable energy opportunities available.`
The home energy requirement could be easily reduced by 50% as the housing stock still has much potential for energy efficiency measures. Most of this can be achieved with low cost energy efficiency measures and a certain amount of behaviour change. Similarly, industrial and commercial properties have the potential to halve their energy demand with low cost measures.
The most difficult area for reductions is in transport which consumes 53% of the total energy.
In order for this to be reduced not only will cars have to become more efficient but the need to travel long distances for employment, services and shopping needs to be reduced.
Currently less than 1% of Shipston’s energy comes from renewable sources but it is calculated that if only one tenth of the wind energy could be utilised with all the other renewable resources, such as solar, hydro and biomass energy, Shipston could move a long way to meeting its emissions reduction targets. Detailed estimates of the resources are included in the study.
Contact Dave Passingham, davepassingham@hotmail.com for more information

Permaculture Courses

“Design a Sustainable Future”

The word Permaculture comes from “permanent”, “agriculture” and “culture”. It is about living lightly on the planet, in harmony with nature and making sure that we can sustain human activities for many generations to come.
Transition Town Leamington's Permaculture courses in the East Lodge, Jephson Gardens:
The weekend introduction course will be run twice, the first session starting in January, the second in February. The full design course will be one weekend a month for 6 months starting in March.
Please contact Juliet Carter on juliet@buildingarts.co.uk or 01926 421467 to reserve your place and for more details.

Transition Film Night

7.30Wednesday 7thDecember, Function Room, White Bear Pub, Shipston

“BANANAS”

A third of the production price of the average banana is used simply to cover the cost of pesticides. In this film, personal injury lawyer Juan Dominguez represents over 10,000 Nicaraguan plantation workers affected by a pesticide called Nemagon. Dole Food and Dow Chemicals are on trial - and both have tried to use the law to stop screenings.

October 2011 Newsletter

2011-11-02T18:06:00.000Z

Transition Diary

Craft Making for the Victorian Evening

at 7.30pm Tuesday Oct 25^th , Geri’s House, Stretton-on-Fosse

With a ‘Bring and Share’ meal and brain-storming session.

Transition Film Night

Monday 7^th November at 7.30, Function Room, White Bear Pub, Shipston

Transition Shipston Open Meeting

7.30 Monday 21^st November, White Bear Pub, Shipston

Fairtrade - fair enough!

Locally sourced goods are great – but what about products that we can’t get locally? Bananas and other fruit, coffee and coco beans for chocolate are in short supply locally – but give an opportunity for responsible purchasing. By purchasing a Fairtrade Product, you help to hard working individuals to make a decent and dignified livelihood – and develop their full potential. This is achieved through ensuring those who actually produce the crops get a fair and reasonable price in return for their hard work. In most cases, this means that the profits go direct to the producers rather than some one in the supply chain getting an unfair share.

A small group in Shipston have been working towards achieving Fairtrade Status for the Town. This has involved~:

Gaining Council recognition for Fairtrade,
Having a suitable range of Fairtrade products in the Town for purchasing
Having Fairtrade products served by local employers, churches and other community organisations
Involvement with the media
A plan to grow the understanding of Fairtrade in the Town.

Mrs Piercy and the Primary School have spear-headed this initiative, with support from Cllr Phillip Vial from the Town Council and Paul Chapman from Shipston Churches Together – but there is room for more!

What can you do?

Resolve to purchase Fairtrade where possible. (That chocolate always tastes so much better when it is Fairtrade!
Why not look at http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/ - to see other great Fairtrade products that are available.
Join the Steering Group to help develop the Fairtrade message.

Paul Chapman

Shipston Churches Together –07976 688 887

Mrs Piercy can be reached at the Primary School – on 01608 661266

Cllr Vial can be reached via the details on the Town Council Website.

Green Homes Day, Hook Norton

On Sunday 18^th September 2011 Hook Norton Village held a green homes day, seven Homes in all opened their doors to the public, to show what they had done to make their homes more fuel efficient and Eco. Hook Norton village started a Low Carbon group, and last year they were one of the 22 similar groups out of 500 applicants who received a payment from a government fund. Hook Norton Low Carbon were awarded £400,000. This money is to be spent providing at least 40 homes, the local school and the village brewery with eco measures. These range from insulation to double glazing, as well as two Smart cars for villagers to use. Hook Norton Low Carbon invite villagers to apply for interest free loans. The idea behind this being that the money could go much farther lent to more people this way, then it can be lent again.

I went along on Sunday morning and saw four of the seven houses taking part, starting with Beanacre Cottage, a thatched 18^th Century cottage. As well as being well insulated and the heating provided by a Wood Pellet Boiler, the bit I was particularly interested in was that they also has a rainwater harvesting system. The guttering from the roof runs into an underground reservoir, the water from that is used for the washing machine, flush toilets and outside taps.

The Barn, Hare Cottage, was next, again they had heavily insulated this barn which is very near to the cottage, which is an office and extra accommodation for visitors. Here they had used a fairly new material called hempcrete as the insulation on the walls. The windows were mainly secondary glazed instead of double glazed as this is a listed building. Most of their hot water from May till September, is produced on the roof by solar thermal panels. The barn is heated by fan assisted radiators made by a company called Jaga, this large room can heat up in about 30 minutes, and again makes use of water heated by the thermal panels.

From there it was only a couple of doors away to the next house, Glyndwr House, although built in the 17^th century, it has 1960s and 1990s extensions.

Here insulation has again featured heavily, and photovoltaic panels, 12 of them, have been fitted to the roof of the nearby garage.

The last house I visited was 2 The Green this is a mid-terraced 18^th Century cottage that is grade 2 listed. They too had done a lot of insulating in the main part of the house, also there is a dining room extension into the garden, this area has been heavily insulated under the floor and in the walls and roof.

This visit was well worth while as it has given me new ideas of what I can do at home. As always with these projects the most cost effective place you can spend money is on insulating.

Pam Bennett

Energy Champions: Casting your minds back to the snow in December (I know we'd all rather push that to the back of our minds!), was your house one of the ones where the snow melted faster than others? If so, it could be that you are losing a lot of heat from inside. If you would like a volunteer 'Energy Champion' to come and help you consider how you might better insulate your home, please get in touch with Geri Hunting on 01608 662848.
'Energy Champions' are members of Transition Shipston who have done some training in identifying how you might improve the insulation in your home. There is no charge for a visit from us and we work alongside 'Act on Energy' who can advise on how to get grants to do any subsequent work. Again, there is no charge for the advice they give. Many people are eligible to have insulation work done free of charge so it's worth finding out!

Shipston Harvest Fayre

Market Place was packed with stalls and people on 26^th September for the Harvest Fayre. At the request of the Town's shops and traders we left High Street open for parking. This proved to be a great success as people who live outside the town were still able to pop in to do their normal shopping – and hopefully then were attracted to the Fayre. Most of the shops that were open increased their sales because of the extra visitors.

The Fayre clashed with the Stratford Food festival but it still attracted many small producers and providers from around Shipston. One great success was the Scouts and Guides stall – they had collected fruit from Armscote Manor orchard (thanks to Sarah Williams for this). David Wright the Scout Leader said “We raised £143.87, after expenses and we had very few apples or pears left at the end and we have used these as part of our program on healthy eating and also drinks. If there is a similar event next year I am sure we would like to be involved again”

Queen's Avenue Playarea Action Group had a stall to promote their ideas for a new playground and orchard. Polly Taylor the organiser said “I was SO pleased with all the visitors we had on our stand, must have had at least 150. We had 78 positive feedback forms (1 negative) and some great competition entries from the children. Everyone loved it and we even had 1 or 2 offers of committee support.”

The Stour Grown scheme was launched at the fayre, to celebrate and promote recognition of products and produce from the Sour Valley area as well as encourage residents and visitors to buy them. For more information visit www.stourgrown.co.uk

Dave Passingham

Midcounties Co-op meets the Midlands Transition Networking

On Saturday 24th , 14 Transition Town groups including Transition Shipston met at The Midcounties Co-operative offices in Warwick. The meeting was initiated by the Co-op with the aim of exploring areas of common interest and common goals

Mike Pickering, their Corporate Social Responsibility Manager welcomed everyone and said there are around 20 official Transition initiatives within the Midcounties Co-operative trading area and a similar number of mullers (in early stages of a Transition group). The Midcounties Co-operative trading presence is widespread throughout the region with over 500 sites. The majority of trading locations have a Retail presence - either as a Food Store (supermarket) or smaller Convenience store.

The morning workshops came up with many practical ideas including:

Co-op Land leasing... Awareness raising and increased communication of issues to Co-op members... On the ground support from Co-op staff... Display space near the checkouts... Funding to each of the groups in the region... Bulk purchase groups... Access to Midcounties Co-operative skills/shared costs eg marketing and insurance for events

Another session discussed possible future strategies. Some of these involved the Transition groups helping the Co-op with promotions in small ways such producing a booklets on transition aspects/themes – linked to Co-op brand. Others would be very useful to transition like accessing Co-operative Members list/ for the distribution of Transition circulars and holding a Transition session at the Co-op AGM. More longer term ideas included anaerobic digestion schemes on Co-operative Farms linked with the local communities, Co-op staff training by local Transition groups and seasonal food events with Transition. We discussed the key shared goals of Energy Descent and community resilience including community resilience as well as business resilience.

In conclusion everyone agreed that there are many synergies between the organisations and both parties could become more effective by working together. For the Midcounties Co-operative working with Transition groups is a way to differentiate itself from other supermarkets. However, there is a possible drawbacks of public perception of bias in the collaboration.

Dave Passingham

Update - Already Mid-Counties are including a stand at their member half yearly meetings taking place this month promoting Transition and in their bi-annual share of profits mailer which goes out towards the end of November to all members who have earned member dividend (this is around 100,000 members), Co-op members will receive a short note promoting Transition and sign posting members to the Transition network website

Shape the future development of our community?

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is preparing its Core Strategy – the planning document which will guide the development of the district for the next 15-20 years. Final public consultation on the latest draft of the Core Strategy is expected to take place early in 2012. The consultation period is likely to be quite short – just six weeks – so we need to be prepared if we are to respond to the draft proposals.

The Transition Stratford Steering Group would like to organise a group of supporters to prepare a response to the Core Strategy consultation and have invited Transition Shipston to join them. We envisage a couple of meetings before Christmas, when members of the consultation group will familiarise themselves with the proposals made during Core Strategy process to date and will discuss the principles on which a low-carbon and resilient district might be based. The group would then meet a couple of times when the draft Core Strategy had been published in order to prepare a draft response.

The Steering Group expects the work of preparing a response to the Core Strategy consultation to be finished by next April.

So if you are interested in or knowledgeable about planning, or you are interested in how Stratford-on-Avon District might be made more sustainable, then get in touch with Roger Matthews at roger.matthews@phonecoop.coop in the first instance. The Steering Group is looking for a volunteer to lead the group working on the Core Strategy, so let Roger know if you would interested in taking on that role.

Transition Shipston Film Night

to 9.30 Monday 7^th November, White Bear Pub, Shipston

Free Entry - but a small donation welcome

FEVER:

1. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
Indigenous communities discuss the climate crisis from their unique perspectives. These two shorts explore the organisational tools and strategies they are employing to protect their cultures, territories and rights, and how indigenous people are increasing their resilience to climate change by strengthening their traditional knowledge and systems...Indonesia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Philippines. Dir. Serge Marti and Gemma Sethsmith / 45min /
http://www.lifemosaic.net/en/home.php

2. AMADOR HERNÁNDEZ, CHIAPAS - STARVED OF MEDICAL SERVICES FOR REDD+

The region of Amador Hernández is threatened by plans to implement REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Villagers are concerned by the threat of displacement justified by the supposed protection of the jungle. A Global Justice Ecology Project production. Dir. Jeff Conant / 10min / Tzeltal / Mexico/USA

http://climate-connections.org/2011/07/26/action-alert-and-video-amador-hernandez-chiapas-%e2%80%93-starved-of-medical-services-for-redd/

September Newsletter

2011-10-15T20:55:00.007+01:00

Shipston Eco Tower & Shipston’s Harvest Fayre
Shipston is celebrating in a spectacular way this harvest. Transition Shipston is putting on a big Harvest Fayre on September 25^th. The old centre of the town will be closed to traffic for a bonanza day celebrating local food and produce, with live music from three local groups of musicians. There will be stalls of organic meat and vegetables, honey, special chocolates and soap, local milk, nuts, free recycled daffodil bulbs, caricature drawing, a place to offload or collect glass jars for making jams and chutneys, and local charities will be raising money at their own stalls. Many of Shipston’s independent shops will be open for their usual range of excellent, often locally sourced produce, and the cafes and pubs will be open for their usual delicious refreshments.

One of the star attractions will be a smoothie-bike. Pam Bennett explains: “We’ve converted an old bike plus a liquidizer, so that you can put in your fruit (locally grown of course!) and pedal away to make your own zero-energy smoothie - fun for energetic kids as well as adults.' An even more unusual creation will be the unveiling of Shipston’s Eco Tower. This has been made for the Transition Group with funding from APE UK, the Brailes-based charity. The Eco Tower is made from recycled oil drums and illustrates our society’s dependence on oil-based products but as the tower spirals upwards more sustainable objects are attached to the tower until at the top is placed a solar panel . Dave Passingham, of the Transition group, said... “The Eco Tower will be the centre piece of the Harvest Fayre. People attending the Fayre will be invited to hang objects which symbolise a more sustainable future on the tower. After this the tower will be based at Shipston High School for the children in the Eco-club to base their activities around.

Apple Competition for under 10s:

Transition Shipston is organising a window display competition as a special activity for children under 10 during the Harvest Fayre. The idea is to ask Shipston’s independent shops to place somewhere in their window display an apple with a number on it. The children will be given a list of the shops taking part and will be asked to write the number of the apple next to the name of the shop. For example, if Clarke’s Electrical Shop has an apple marked 11, they would write 11 next to the name Clarke’s Electrical shop.
These are the prizes:
A voucher for £10 donated by Toffee Apple, to be spent in that shop
A basket of sweets donated by Lavender Basket
A child’s dinosaur tapestry kit donated by Shipston Needlecraft
...with thanks to all three shops who have given prizes, thanks to Taylors for donating all the apples, and to all the shops who have taken part.
Shipston’s Harvest day celebrations begin at 10 am on Sunday 25^th with Harvest Festival in St Edmund’s Church, to which everyone is very welcome. The church will be raising funds during the day to support CORD’s project to provide solar cookers for refugee camps in Burundi, where shortages of firewood make it very difficult for families to cook what little food they have. Helen Winnifrith said “St Edmund’s church is very much part of Shipston’s daily life and we want to show our gratitude for God’s generous harvest to us locally, by doing something to help support sustainable life for those far away who have so little. It’s great that we can join with the Transition group like this” The Harvest Fayre starts at 11 and continues till 4pm.

Help Needed:

If anyone can help for an hour or two on the day helping to press apples, supervise the bicycle smoothie maker or help with marshalling contact Dave Passingham on 07973 846605
We are also collecting jam jars with lids to give away at the Fayre for making jams and chutneys. Contact Pam Roebuck - pamroebuck@roebar.wanadoo.co.uk
We are collecting unwanted apples to be sold at the Harvest Fayre by the Scouts and Guides. If anyone has spare apples and need the Scouts to help pick them contact Dave Passingham on 07973 846605

Shipston now boasts its own loyalty card scheme

The Shipston Card was launched at the end of August. It works in a similar way to other loyalty cards, except that this one card allows you to collect points in any participating shop, pub, restaurant or business in the town. As soon as you have collected and registered your Shipston Card you can start collecting points. If you present your Shipston Card when you pay for your goods, the points you have earned at each purchase will be added onto your card. Once you have earned enough points, you will be able to redeem them in the business in which they were collected. You don’t have to remember where the different points were earned – the card does all that for you. Kate King, owner of Ivyheart and one of the organisers of the scheme said “All retailers understand that most people can choose where they shop. This is our way of saying thank you for shopping in Shipston and supporting local businesses.” To find out more about the scheme or to collect a card, please visit one of the following participating businesses: Ivy Heart, Lucy Walker Flowers, Taste of the Country, Shipston Therapy Centre, Cookies Mini Mart, The George Hotel, Niche, The Bakery , Rightons, Shipston Leisure Centre, Sheldon's wine cellars.

Ground Source Heat Pumps - Worth Considering!

Ground source heat pumps are helping to cut CO2 and other nasty emissions and help to delay the arrival of Peak Oil.

Typically a 70 - 120 metre length ground loop put down a 5 -6 inch diameter borehole will collect enough heat from the ground for a four bedroom house. Alternatively where there is sufficient land a long collector loop can be buried in a trench of a metre depth or more. The collected heat is used to warm a refrigerant in the heat pump machine until it becomes a vapour. The machine compresses this vapour which makes its temperature increase. The hot vapour is then used to heat the water going to the radiators or underfloor pipework. If properly designed and installed a heat pump system will warm a house throughout even a long severe winter. It will also give all the hot water for washing up, baths and hand washing. In many cases heat pumps are becoming the preferred choice for heating new homes or replacing old boilers. This is because you get about 1kilowatt-hour of heat for every quarter of a kilowatt hour of electricity supplied to the machine.

Energy Saving Trust field trials at 54 sites of operational systems have shown proper sizing, careful design, rigorous attention to all aspects during installation and commissioning are essential to achievement of high performance. There have been cases where this has not happened. The industry is responding by tightening standards and enhancing training. It is also important end-users understand the differences between running a boiler and using a heat pump to heat a property at maximum efficiency. This includes grasping the concepts of thermal mass, response times and minimum cycling and their effects.

Heat pumps are spread throughout the UK from Cornwall to Scotland and can be found in properties ranging from bungalows to accommodate the elderly, hard-to–heat homes, and stately homes, to schools, offices and public buildings. Ideally they are specified in the initial proposals for a new build but frequently they are becoming the preferred option for retrofits.

In all cases the priority should be getting the thermal characteristics of the building itself as high possible mainly by super-insulation, stringent minimalisation of air leakage and correct provision of, (and subsequent use of,) ventilation whether natural or other. Then it is appropriate to choose the heat source.

The Renewable Heat Incentive, about to start for ground source heat pumps, with air source to follow next year, makes a heat pump system financially attractive. Drafted to give an 11% or 12% annual return on the difference between the capital cost of a boiler and the ground source heat pump system, it is to be confirmed possibly this month.

Is it any wonder the government says there could be 2.5 million installations in the UK by 2030?

Paul Brown hearleandbrown@fsmail.net

(Paul is an independent renewable energy consultant)

Other Events:

22nd September (8 am to 12 noon) - Electrical and electronic appliance recycling

Shipston High School is hosting a special skip, on 22nd September (8 am to 12 noon), for electrical and electronic appliance recycling arranged by Stratford District Council with the help of DHL. The event is advertised in local newspapers as well. I hope you will support us by informing your contacts - maybe using your mail list for Transition Shipston.

MADE IN ILMINGTON MARKET

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

VILLAGE HALL 10AM-3PM

Come and enjoy the talents, tastes and skills of the country!

Home grown goodies, arts and crafts, apple pressing,

Cheese scone bites with coffee/tea

Early bird rates for stall holders: £10 before 10 Sept, £15 thereafter

To book call 01608 682542

ADMISSION FREE!

Supporting the Village Hall Jubilee Kitchen Appeal

1st/2nd October - 'Training for Transition' - a U.N. accredited course for anyone committed to a peaceful transition to a post-peak oil, sustainable society. It's being run at the new East Lodge Sustainability Centre in Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa, and is the only Training for Transition scheduled in the Midlands until 2012. The course (which is taught all over the world) doesn't just look at the issues of oil, climate change, and waste, but also our emotional responses to the challenges, and our vision for a better future. It includes plenty of practical exercises, including how to present and how to run exciting events - and is great fun!
Further details on the Transition Network website: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/training/courses/launch
£100-£110 for the two days
To go please contact Ruth Wallsgrove: ruth.wallsgrove@tkjpartners.com

2011-08-17T22:40:00.002+01:00

SHIPSTON HARVEST FAYRE

a localcelebration of local food and local produce

Sunday 25th September 2011

Town Centre, Shipston On Stour

11am till 4pm

Local Produce Stalls

+ music, crafts & eco ideas

... and the new "Transition Tower"

Organised by Transition Shipston & Surrounding Areas

Contact Pam Bennett, 01608 685606 pam@pambennett.com

August 2011 Newsletter

2011-08-17T22:38:00.000+01:00

Shopping in Shipston – Even Better News

You may remember that in March Transition Shipston members carried out a shopping survey, comparing prices in Stratford Tesco's with prices at Shipston's independent shops and Co-ops. The analysis showed, based on an Internet shopping basket selection, that it need cost no more to shop in Shipston, even before you take into account the high petrol costs of driving to Stratford or Stow or Banbury.

Now there is even better news about shopping in Shipston. Following pressure from local residents, the larger Co-op (previously Somerfields) has lowered its prices to match the price band of the Stratford Tesco's, resulting in 1000s of price cuts over a variety of goods. They now have a shelf sticker saying ‘Family Value’ for all items which have been reduced by 10% or more to help shoppers identify the best value as a result of the reductions. The smaller Co-op is exploring whether it can match these price reductions, and we hope all this will lead to more people shopping locally. This will help keep all the independent shops thriving too, and they offer an amazing variety of food, clothes, hardware, flowers, gifts, craft products which people who live far away often seem to appreciate more than those of us who actually live in this very special market town.

Helen Winnifrith

Stretton Goes Solar

Stretton-on-Fosse Village Hall has installed solar pv panels with the help of village residents. The panels are expected to earning £1400 per year in“Feed in Tariff” - this is the government scheme by which the hall will be paid 43.3 pence per unit of electricity generated. The village hall can also save around £500 per year in electricity bills if it can use the electricity as it is generated.

The 21 Sharp solar panels, which are manufactured in Wrexham, should produce around 3339kW hours of electricity a year and save nearly 2 tonnes of carbon emissions. The system which is rated at 3.89kWp was installed by locally based company The Green Electrician who have an office in Brailes. The surrounding trees could be left untouched because they do not shade the panels from the sun.

The Village Hall was able to raise the £12500 for the panels with an innovative loan scheme. Local residents were invited to loan the Village Hall the money at 2% above inflation. Fifteen residents took up the offer and signed a loan agreement which lasts for the 25 years- that is the period that the government guarantees to pay the Feed-in-Tariff. The investors can however withdraw their money after 5 years if they wish. The Village Hall is still expected to make over£1000 per year on the deal after paying out the interest.

The secretary of the Village Hall Izzi Hazelwood said “We are very pleased to go green with this community scheme. The money raised will be used to make improvements to the facilities of the Hall.”

Healthy Food

Pam Bennett has been doing some publishing work for the The International Raw Food Restaurant Directory, she says: “This is a listing of over 600 restaurants in over 45 countries world wide, who offer a raw food menu. If you are new to raw food, this is a vibrantly new way of eating that consists of mainly, or totally raw foods. It can have amazing health-giving effects, which have been documented. Candida, cancer, diabetes and lupus are amongst those which can be helped.

Please see this link for morehttp://video214.com/play/gT9VoSWgibD4XNdeEObIHQ/s/dark

Do please pass this on to anyone you think could be interested.”

Tree Planting packs

In celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee the Woodland Trust is offering free tree packs of 105 or 420 trees. Transition Shipston and Surrounding Communities is applying for a tree pack and would love to hear from transition members as to possible places to plant them.

Packs we can apply for comprise of Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel Birch, Rowan, Oak, Cherry, Dogwood, Ash, Hornbeam, Hazel, Crab Apple, Elder and Dog Rose. We will apply for 105 trees, but if there is enough response, we will try for 420.

Please get in contact ASAP with your location ideas!

Jenny Lanham, photojourno2003@yahoo.co.uk, Phone: 07855 374471

Fruit Picking

For the last two years Transition Shipston has picked unwanted apples and other fruit from orchards around Shipston then shared them with the High School and others who have pressed them for apple juice and made fruit pies. This year we will be collecting and distributing fruit again. If you can help with picking, or have unwanted fruit please contact us.

Dave Passingham 01608 661816

Request:

‘I was unable to attend the workshop last year on how to prune apple trees. I wonder if anyone in the group knows how to do this and would be interested in passing on their knowledge & assisting me later in the year in exchange for a share in our apples. Sharing in picking the apples during the coming month is also a welcome option – we have one Discovery and one Bramley tree.

Please contact Geri on 01608 662848 if interested.

May 2011 Newsletter

2011-08-17T22:34:00.000+01:00

Shipston Transition Tower

Transition Shipston has just won a £2000 grant to build a “transition tower” from the environmental charity Artists Planet Earth. This is what we propose:

The “Transition Tower” will display everyday items that are made entirely or partly from oil based materials and highlight the impact these will have in terms of climate change. It will also display sustainable alternatives that can substitute for these in the future. It will be 3.5 metres tall with fixing points to hang objects on and artwork to highlighting aspects of “peak oil” and climate change.

The design of the tower will be carried out with the help of schoolchildren but the project will also need professional engineering and artwork.

The tower will be the centre-piece at events in Shipston where the public will be invited to choose objects for display as well as pin their ideas for the future on to the tower.

Queen's Avenue Play Area / Orchard

About 10 of us met at the play area and agreed a rough plan, with the football pitch going parallel to Camden Rd, not as thought earlier. Trees, play equipment, fruit bushes, picnic area with wild flowers, benches, litter bins etc all as outlined before. Favoured play equipment, as well as 2 football goals, was a climbing frame in imaginative design + play house + lots more depending on quotes. High wire netting fencing needed specially round the football area, to be planted over with hedging and trees to look better.

We learned that the play equipment for Libbylous in Mayo Road cost about £130,000, but there could be funding from WREN through the Landfill Trust, as well as possibly Orbit and the Town Council, and that grant funding can be checked through the website J2B.

Contact Helen on 661244 for further information

Events:
Wool Fair – Monday 30^th May

Following the success of the last year's stall at the Wool Fair Transition Shipston we are again having a stall. We will be selling plants as well as wool related items. If you can help or if you would like more information please contact Pam Bennett, 01608 685606 pam@pambennett.com

Harvest Fair – Sunday 25^th September,

Transition Shipston with the support of the Town Council will be running a Harvest Fair on Sunday 25^th September; the High Street will be closed from 5.30am until 7.30pm.

We will be marketing the fair in the local press and we hope it should bring a good number of potential customers to the town, should you decide to open your business.

If you have any ideas that might help with running the fair or would like to be involved with organising, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact Pam Bennett, 01608 685606 pam@pambennett.com

Monday 16th May

Transition Steering Group

6.00, White Bear Pub, Shipston

Designs for the “Shipston Tower”

Footpath Walks - Update

Here is an updated list of the walks:

Saturday May 14. Meet outside St Edmund’s at 10 am to walk to Stretton and back. 7 miles

Saturday June 18. Meet outside St Edmund’s at 10 am to walk to Todenham and back. 6 miles

Saturday July 16. Meet outside St Edmund’s at 10 am to walk to Honington and back. 3 miles

We hope to arrange two more walks , catching the bus to Brailes with two different routes back

We’re also arranging a public meeting for people interested in using and improving Shipston’s footpaths, to be publicised in the Forum and through Transition Shipston. This will be in the White Bear at 7pm on May 16th

You are welcome to join us if you are up for mud, stiles, carrying a drink/ snack and being responsible for your own safety ! Ring Val on 666046 or Helen on 661244 for further information.

Natural History Walks

A series of walks led by Keeper of Natural History, Steven Falk, featuring wildflowers, trees and medicinal plants.

All walks start at 10.00am and finish approximately 12.30pm.

Tickets £6.00 each. Concessions £5.00

Booking is essential, please telephone Heritage Education on 01926 412069 to book a place.

These are walking tours and we cannot guarantee any seating will be available at any point during the walks. Please wear footwear suitable for walking and clothing suited to the weather.

Wednesday 15^th June

Nebsworth Downs, near Ilmington (Grid Ref. SP17714303), meet in the car park of the National Trust Hidcote Gardens. The highest point in Warwickshire with stunning views, and also one of the best places to see unusual arable weeds and poppy blooms.

Wednesday 10^th August

Edge Hill Woodlands, Edge Hill Village, OX15 6DJ (Grid Ref. SP37364739). Meet at the Castle Inn. Please park along road and not in the Castle Inn car park.

A walk through one of our most stunning woods, and hopefully also some of the adjacent meadows. Also a chance to learn a little of the great 18^th century Gothic architect Sanderson Millar who lived at nearby Radway Grange and planted the trees around the Edge Hill obelisk.

Transition Network Conference 2011, 8th - 11th July, Hope University, Liverpool, The conference is a perfect opportunity to meet with other Transitioners taking this challenging journey, to delve deeper into the areas that interest you most, and to gain new skills that will serve you and your initiative well over the coming years.

Eco-Insurance

Geri found the Naturesave insurance company for Transition Shipston and as you can see below they have won an ethical award. If any other groups need insurance we can recommend them

Naturesave has been awarded the Queens Award For Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category for 2011.

The citation provided by the Queens Award office reads as follows:

Naturesave Policies Ltd t/a Naturesave Insurance is an exemplar ethical insurance cover provider for individuals, companies and the voluntary sector throughout the UK, which has set a clear benchmark for others within the insurance industry. Sustainability and ethical business practices are at the core of the company’s commercial activities, with preferential treatment given to charity or not-for-profit organisations. Naturesave Insurance has taken an innovative approach to promoting sustainability through its wider operations, including thorough commitments to make all business journeys via public transport, and incentivising staff to avoid air travel for holidays. The company effectively engages with the wider sustainability agenda, delivering benefits within the wider community through the Naturesave Trust, a charitable trust funded through the company’s premiums, which gives grants to environmental, conservation and community renewable energy projects throughout the UK.

Managing the Small Pig Herd”

For Maximum Health and Optimum Production

ADAS invites you to the first in a series of four workshops aimed at small-scale pig keepers. Along with guest speakers and demonstrations where possible, we will discuss the problems that can arise when dealing with either a few pet finishers for personal use or a breeding group to fill a niche market.

Growers Needed for Garden Share

2011-03-10T12:03:00.002Z

The Garden Share scheme works by introducing people with unused or unmanageable gardens to would-be gardeners who would love to grow their own food, but don’t have access to land.

Two garden owners just off the Campden Road in Shipston are offering their small gardens for growers to look after. Before starting the scheme the owner and the grower have to sign an agreement stating what each of them will get out of the scheme (e.g. the grower gives approx 25% of the produce to the owner).

Any interested growers contact:

Dave Passingham 07973 846605

Seeds to Grow

2011-03-10T12:02:00.002Z

Seeds to Grow

Transition Shipston has bought a selection of seeds to grow on and plant in the community garden in a few weeks’ time. Anyone interested in helping contact: Becky Stewart-Harris 07770 948124
Summer Seed & Plant Swap 10.30 Saturday 2nd April, Community Garden, Darlingscote Rd.

Building Resilience

2011-03-10T12:01:00.002Z

One of the principles of the Transition Network is “resilience”. Here is an extract from the website:

The capacity of our businesses, communities and settlements to deal as well as possible with shock.

Transition initiatives commit to building resilience across a wide range of areas (food, economics, energy etc) and also on a range of scales (from the local to the national) as seems appropriate - and to setting them within an overall context of the need to do all we can to ensure general environmental resilience.

Most communities in the past had – a generation or two ago – the basic skills needed for life such as growing and preserving food, making clothes, and building with local materials.

www.transitionnetwork.org/about/principles

Country Markets

2011-03-10T12:00:00.002Z

Yvonne Keevans who helps run the Country Market in Chipping Norton is hoping we can start one in Shipston. She says:

“I have been looking into developing a Country Market in Shipston, and have four confirmed producers, one for veg and eggs the others for baking. With regard to venue, it could be returning to the Townsend Hall or looking at the scout hut option. I am hoping the Transition Group would be able to research this further and co-ordinate the forming of a core group, by advertising in the town for support etc.

We need a minimum of ten producers. The market would need to be on a regular basis, whether better to start monthly at first, or jump in with weekly, it would depend on what the core group of producers thought.

There would be some money for start up from H.Q. I am sure.”

For more information see www.country-markets.co.uk/

The Rural Living Group (Prior to 1990 -The Shipston Self Sufficiency Group)

2011-03-10T11:59:00.002Z

The group started in 1974, members comprised of a mixed range and of widely different backgrounds, situations and ages, living in an approximate range of 25 miles from Shipston. All came together with the aims of a self sufficient and sustainable way of life.
Some were small farmers, others with a small garden, most kept animals or poultry, some were brought up to the lifestyle, others completely new to the dreams of Self Sufficiency. It was a great Swap Shop - Ideas, know how, skills, recipes, animals, poultry, plants, seeds, fruit vegetables and much else. Meetings regularly went on past midnight, much home produced food and wine was consumed.

Doreen Hillier from the Rural Living Group giving pruning advice to Becky and Rachael at the recent pruning day

Regular workdays were held on each other's holdings, which helped everyone with new skills and experience. Demonstrations of the group's rural skills at local shows were a regular occurrence and a great day out for all.
In 1990 the group held it's own show at Knollands Farm, this was extremely hard work but a great success, all friends and family were co-opted into helping; it was a show like no other, (no cola or burger vans in sight !)
Members have come and gone over the years and the group is now smaller, and members much older, but the aims are still the same. It is a wonderful support network for like-minded people.

Yvonne Keevins

For more information contact:

Betty Bryan, 01608 674255

Ancient Building Energy Study in Brailes

2011-03-10T11:58:00.000Z

Pam Bennett has recently taken part in the study...
The study was carried out by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (which was started by William Morris) who have been commissioned to gather information on solid stone buildings for insulation purposes. Apparently there is little information on this.

They had been looking for people who were going to have their house renovated over the summer. This would mean that they could come and take readings of various things such as air tightness, and thermal imaging to get an idea of how the building is performing now. Then they will come back and do the same tests when the building is finished.

The first person came and stuck sensors on the inside of an outside wall, and one on the outside to monitor weather conditions, this will measure temperature of the walls as well as moisture content.

Then another person came to do thermal imaging and air tightness tests, or, correct term, air permeability tests – this took nearly all day. With the thermal imaging, there is a special camera, which picks out areas that are hot or cold, this is done both inside and outside the building, it can really show up places heat is being lost, for example my front door. Lastly she did air tightness tests. For this we had to tape up all the known gaps, like doorways and all the air is then taken out by a big fan, which is placed in the replacement front door.
From this you can go round the house identifying any gaps you didn’t know about. In my case, there was a howling gale from under a wash hand basin – this was from gaps round a pipe that you could hardly see! So this shows the importance of sealing gaps. The other interesting thing that happened, the carpets in two of the bedrooms rose up off the floorboards, this is again due to gaps then draughts are created. It is not only draughts that are a problem, there can also be a problem with convection, this is a bit complicated, but as I understand it is to do with the movement of air that is hot or cold or damp, anyway, it can make terrible draughts without a clear reason. The air tightness tests are now part of the building regulations for every new build house, but there is no required test for existing houses.

Apparently they have done tests and human beings are uncomfortable if their body is at different temperatures. For example, most people have been to bonfire parties where you are too hot at the front and very cold on your back. This is why under-floor heating works so well for us, this is heat rising from the floor, rather than a very hot radiator when you are near it, but the rest of the room being colder.

Pam Bennett

pam@pambennett.com

01608 685 606

07887 661 253

Fruit Tree Planting at High School

2011-02-13T22:04:00.000Z

Transition Shipston helped organise the planting of 10 fruit trees to start the new orchard at the High School.

Pictured planting the first tree is Holly Thomas. Also pictured the headmaster Mr Baker, Jo Thomas and Dave Passingham.

Shipston Bees are Buzzing

2011-02-13T22:01:00.001Z

A new apiary has been moved to its home near Shipston. Three beehives were purchased last year by Shipston Beekeepers with the support of Transition Shipston with a grant from the Council. The hives are to form an apiary which is to be used for demonstration purposes for new beekeepers. The hives were populated with colonies of bees last year by Douglas Nethercleft (pictured) and kept at Oxhill. The Beehives and Douglas at Rowborough Having survived (so far!) a really harsh winter, all three colonies have been flying in the recent unseasonably warm weather, so it was decided that now was the time to move them to heir permanent home at Rowborough Farm (between Shipston and Stretton). So earlier this month ten members of Transition Shipston and/or Shipston Beekeepers -plus three children and two dogs - attended a work party at the Apiary. Invading undergrowth was cut back, grass was mown and everyone enjoyed the bonfire! Then, with the brief cold snap earlier in the week we were able to carry out the move from Oxhill
to Rowborough. the hive entrances were sealed with tape in case any bees escaped into Douglas‟s Land Rover during the journey. By the time we got the hives to their new home the sun was shining brightly and the temperature was high enough for a few bees to emerge and investigate the new environment. Everything looks set for an interesting and hopefully sting- free year with a good harvest of honey! Anyone interested in learning more about beekeeping or helping with the apiary can contact Douglas on: djn0001@aol.com
07850 352905

Plastic Free Week

2011-02-13T21:55:00.000Z

The Plastic Free Week organised by Jenny Lanham was a great success with from 67 people from transition Shipston and all around the world participating including Roz Savage (solo ocean rower and environmental campaigner) and her team signed up for the challenge as well. Jenny says:

Overall everyone found the challenge difficult, but fun and thought provoking. It opened our eyes to just how much of what were consume is wrapped in plastic - and were inspired by each others creative solutions to getting around it! I used the butcher and, (funny look aside) enjoyed the experience of getting my meat wrapped in paper and then put in my own container for transport home. Plastic wrapped ready made meals and convenience foods were OUT, meals using fresh produce were IN. Every morning was started with porridge instead of cold cereal. I don't think I was alone in eating healthier meals. Oddly enough it seems that the more packaging, the more preservatives, e numbers, etc.

The challenge made us reflect on our purchasing habits. We rarely consider that the plastic products we use to transport our food is used for a matter of minutes, but will be in the environment for hundreds of years. Most of this wrap is not currently recyclable, but even that which is uses considerable resources to re-invent for other uses. I was shocked to read this week that disposable nappies take 400-500 years to breakdown (releasing noxious methane gas in the process) and that there are an estimated 9 million nappies disposed of EACH DAY in the UK alone. In our desire for speed and convenience we are creating a HUGE problem for our children and grandchildren. Why not make a lifestyle change to eliminate plastic in the first place?
Sadly, not one person reported back having been successful at not buying any plastic. Personally I got caught when buying a set of cake and biscuit tins - the one inside was wrapped in plastic, and also a Sunday paper which had mags inside wrapped in plastic. However, I certainly have learned a lot - I'm sticking with my new milk man and shopping smart to reduce my plastic consumption.

Comments from others:
So I have been thinking about plastic consumption for the past few days and realized that most of what we consume is encased in plastic. I have to provide refreshments for a large event tomorrow and just bought a number of things in plastic. Agh. So basically I am incapable of buying plastic free. I honestly had never realized before just how much everything around here is packaged in that shiny stuff. Thanks for making me more aware. I will definitely look at my shopping a little differently now. I will continue to try to purchase plastic free this week.

Keri Utah, USA

We dont have plastic water bottles in the house anymore and only use metal refillable ones. We recycle our plastic bags, usually they are biodegradable ones. Always use the reusable bags for other stuff and cardboard for wine and beer etc. But so difficult to buy certain things such as cleaning stuff and cordial unless it is in plastic although I get the eco friendly stuff when I can. Kids lunches are in brown paper bags or foil. If there were more options in the shops we would buy without plastic. Also tends to be difficult when you are trying to spend less as the cheaper items are packaged appart from vegies. Teenage kids don't help as shiny plastic seems to cover everything they want. Also it was back to school last week so had to buy all their school stuff which is of course half in plastic and the other half cardboard. Also shampoo etc non of it comes eco friendly. Hope this helps. Sorry I couldn't do any better. When you think about it it stinks really. In WA all things should be solar with so much sun but alas its not.

Sarah
Australia

Major fail here. The first week of the month is when I do my big supermarket shop for the whole of the month, could have put it off I guess till the next week (though I will fess-up that I was distracted by a sick kid and forgot about plastic-free). It's made me focus my mind on plastic consumption but, even as a Mom who doesn't work outside the home, I would struggle to get my shopping needs without plastic in terms of time, availability and money, I reckon
.Deb

Chipping Norton

It was fun - and educational! I decided I really wanted cheese, and bought some even though it was plastic-wrapped. And chips - but I bought the bag with the least amount of plastic. I do want to replenish my frozen veggie supply now though.
Julie

Buses to Oxford.

2011-02-13T21:50:00.002Z

I travel to Oxford most weeks, which would be about 50X 60 miles a year = 3000 car miles- so I try to go by bus, specially since getting my bus pass. I chill out happily on the front seat of the top deck. There used to be a direct Stratford-Shipston-Oxford bus, but now you have to catch the 50 bus and change in Chippy onto the S3- except on Sundays, when the bus goes straight through. Theoretically there are connections in Chippy 4 times each weekday, and I often catch the 9.32 from Shipston, change and arrive in Oxford at 11. Coming back you can connect on the !3.55 or 17. 15 from Oxford.
Oxford-Stratford seems an ideal route to attract tourists, who could effectively subsidise the service for us locals. But at present these changes in Chipping Norton are very confusing. Sometimes you cross the road, sometimes you stay the same side. The service is not well publicised, there is no information on the bus either on screens or from the driver to let you know where you are. I have met very baffled Japanese tourists bravely trying to get from Oxford to Woodstock to visit Blenheim, which the bus service does try to promote.. If you look on line for information on buses from Oxford to Stratford, or ask in the Oxford Tourist Information office, the existence of the route through Shipston is a well-kept secret. I’ve been trying to encourage Stagecoach to see the potential from an improved, well-publicised, well-marketed regular service and shall continue to battle for that.

If you want to travel on to London by bus, you can catch the Oxford Tube or the X90 from Gloucester Green, both costing £16 for a day return or £8 over 60. But whatever your age, you can reduce the cost further by going to www.megabus.com , booking a nominated Oxford Tube bus in advance and paying only £1 each way.

Happy bus journeys!

Helen Winnifrith

Victorian Evening

2011-02-13T21:49:00.000Z

Thanks to everyone who helped make the stall at the Victorian Evening such a success. £300 was collected

for Transition Shipston funds! The stall at the Victorian evening Future stalls are planned at the Wool Fair and the Harvest Fair which Transition Shipston has been granted £500 by the Town Council to run in September. Anyone interested in helping contact: Pam Bennett or Geri Hunting.

Plastic Free 2011 Challenge - Jan 31st to 6th Feb

2011-02-13T21:45:00.000Z

Plastic products are deeply intertwined with our everyday life. Plastic wrapped cheese, bottled milk, even the insides of soda cans is sprayed with a plastic lining to prevent the metal from corroding. Many of these plastics are not recyclable and go directly into landfill or are incinerated. From Jan 31st - 6th Feb Transition
Shipston would like to challenge it's supporters to explore the difficulty of avoiding plastic for an entire week.
The exercise is simple. From Jan 31st- 6th Feb do not buy anything with plastic on it or in it. The point is to make us stop and think about our purchases. A couple tips, :
 Bring in your own bags to shops

 Buy milk from the local milkman

 Bring in washable containers to the butcher.

These websites have more useful tips suggestions, and interesting articles:

Life Less Plastic http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/

My Plastic-free Lifehttp://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/

Month Without Plastic http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/monthwithoutplastic/

Is it Possible to Go Plasticfree?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/23/plastic.free.climate.change

Let us know for the next newsletter how our challenge goes - email David. We'd love to know if anyone is successful and how local shops respond to our plastic free requests. Maybe the challenge will change the way you shop for 2011. Best of Luck!

Jenny Lanham
photojourno2003@yahoo.co.uk

Heritage for the Future

2010-12-09T10:43:00.000Z

Transition Shipston supporters have been working with Transition Stratford on a district wide initia-tive for ―Sustainable Energy for Historic Buildings‖.
The aim of the initiative is to re-duce the energy use and carbon emissions of older buildings. The scope of the initiative will be older buildings - those which were con-structed before the Second World War – recognising the special challenges faced for buildings of historic character which are listed or within conservation areas. The initiative will seek to preserve older buildings so that they can continue to be used in a low car-bon, low energy future affected by climate change and avoid the waste of the energy already used in their construction. Plus learn from older building techniques how to maintain them in a sustain-able way.
The group aims to produce a checklist to help people get started with case studies showing how buildings have been sustain-ably refurbished with links to the wide range of technical informa-tion already available and a direc-tory of local businesses.
The initiative will be promoted through a variety of means includ-ing:
recruiting a range of local busi-nesses to support the initiative: for example, estate agents, ar-chitects, organising bespoke training for different groups of professionals
Arranging for simple advice and checklists to be made available to property owners: for example, through planning officers, estate agents etc
Promoting the initiative through local and other media.
It will be important to consult rele-vant businesses and other organi-sations about proposals in order to secure their support for the ini-tiative.
Contact Pam Bennett pam@pambennett.com

The Big Society

2010-12-09T10:42:00.000Z

On Friday 5th November, Voluntary Action Stratford on Avon (VASA) hosted an event at the Shakespeare Hotel attended by well over a hundred people and at which various speakers gave their reaction to, and assessment of, David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’. Of particular note were inspiring talks by Chris Grimes on the setting up of the community run Blockley Village Shop and by Priscilla Groenveld on The Parenting Project that provides an all encompassing, largely voluntary, service for parents and children.
The guest speaker was Nadhim Zahawi MP who expounded on the Government’s ambitions and plans to bring about a fundamental shift from control by Whitehall at every level in order to create more vibrant and sustainable communities. The key was to be local action and accountability – giving people more control over their lives.
It is now very apparent that society’s ills cannot be cured by the application of yet more public money through the State; neither should people be treated by big business as economic assets in a game of seeking profit and avoiding loss. Britain was once known for the vibrancy of its charitable institutions which gave us the highest standard of living in the world, the highest levels of literacy in the world and the lowest levels of poverty. What charities can do to support and mobilise people is at the heart of the Prime Minister’s vision. It is likely in future that very local institutions, many of them run by volunteers, will be at the centre of our lives and have the potential to make a real difference in every community. The challenge today is to help them flourish and succeed. Could Transition Towns with their green credentials and ethos of caring and sharing and local resilience be a foundation upon which to build the Big Society?
Douglas Nethercleft

Special Shipston

2010-12-09T10:40:00.000Z

With another developer about to make proposals to develop land at the Campden Rd including a supermarket that threatens the existence of our unique shops Helen and Tom Winnifrith remind us what makes it so special:
“Do we give Shipston enough credit as a fantastic place for shopping of all sorts? Here are some of the things we buy in Shipston, always with friendly, helpful service and often with happy encounters with friends :
Practically all our food and drink, including fish, meat, fresh local veg, groceries, a dressed salmon for special events, pheasants, free range turkey and chicken, champagne, grand sherry and wine, cheap plonk, Fairtrade tea and coffee, good cheese, special bread (or flour and yeast to make our own), organic groceries, coriander, root ginger, Seville oranges, too much chocolate. Perhaps too many pints of beer, mainly Horseshoe, White Bear, Black Horse). Clothes, often thanks to all four charity shops, also new large men‟s clothes and larger shoes, shoes for toddlers expertly fitted. Three separate sets of grandchildren regularly have their shoes bought in Shipston because their harassed mums find it such a pleasant experience compared with elsewhere- and not more expensive. Meals out and Indian and Chinese takeaways. Petrol, oil, a new bulb for the car‟s headlight (bought in the car parts shop, which we failed to fit but were rescued by the garage which services the car) Printer cartridges. Masses of haberdashery, cut to measure, for knitting and sewing projects- and wool from both wool shops. A clock radio (same price as online with much friendlier service). A vacuum cleaner which works, (unlike the disastrous Argos purchase). New bags for the vacuum cleaner. A walking stick. A WC, with far more help about the complicated choices than we would have got in a huge retail warehouse. A replacement contact lens. Stamps and stationery. A lovely soft doll from the toy shop. 2 rocking horses- both from the dump. Euros, dollars, dinars, kruna, shekels (bank). A hat. Babyclothes and toys. A beautiful old watering- can from the antique shop. A fireguard for a daughter (charity shop). Flowers. Seeds. A suitcase (charity shop again). Dowelling, paint, picture hooks and nails- with lots of help about what was needed. Haircuts. A new watch strap, fitted free. Photos developed, a gold chain mended, photocopying. Free Internet access (library) when our computer was unwell. Books (charity shops). A daily paper delivered. Prescriptions, pills and potions. Christmas and birthday cards (often recycled ones from St Edmund‟s)”
Tom and Helen Winnifrith

Energy Saving Initiatives

2010-09-01T18:33:00.000+01:00

In an initiative to see how much energy is wasted in Shipston as a whole and propose ways of becoming more energy efficient the Town Council is backing a bid by Transition Shipston for grant money to pay for a “Shipston Area Energy Study”.
The aim of the study is to find out what can be done to reduce the energy use of both commercial and domestic properties in the town and to suggest what renewable technologies, such as solar power, can be used to lessen our reliance on imported sources of fuel. Once the study is complete it is hoped that homes and businesses will be able to get more grants to carry out some of the measures suggested in the study.

If you would like help with saving energy in your home the new Shipston “Energy Champions” may be able to help. Six Transition Shipston supporters have recently been trained as “Energy Champion” volunteers to give free advice to householders.

The home energy check carried out by the Energy Champions only takes around half an hour. During this time they will ask the householder a checklist of questions about insulation levels and energy use in the home and give initial advice on how to save energy and cut fuel bills.

For more information about how to book a home energy check contact: Dave Passingham on 01608 661816 or 07973 846605.

For further more technical information and advice the Energy Champions will refer householders to Act on Energy's free advice line on 0800 988 2881. It's worth getting their advice if you think you might qualify for free or subsidised help, as grant systems can change from time to time.

Clay Oven at the Community Garden

2010-09-01T18:31:00.000+01:00

I had seen clay ovens at various sites I’d visited over the years and always liked the mixture of sculpture and practicality. We decided that we could build one at the community garden in time for the Transition Shipston Garden Party at the beginning of August so work commenced.
Several of us levelled the ground, dug out a circular foundation and started to build the stone plinth that the oven would sit on. The base of the oven was fire bricks laid on a bed of sand giving a smooth and heat resistant cooking surface.

Next, we needed clay for the oven walls. Simon had been working on a building site in Stratford that had already donated all sorts of timber for our use. He noticed that the material coming out of a hole being bored for a heating system seemed to be pure clay. I went along and took a sample and the clay seemed perfect as a base for the walls being slightly sandy, not just pure clay that would be too brittle. The guys on site scooped the clay into my trailer and I dripped my way back to the Shipston. Firstly, a sand dome was built to support the clay. The walls were then built up in layers being careful not to push against the sand former and risk the whole lot collapsing. I finished the walls just in time to go away for a long weekend and had to wait until I got back to see if it was still standing! Luckily, it was and a door was cut out of the clay to get the food in and out and to remove all the sand leaving the clay dome to dry.

We lit a small fire to help dry out the walls a bit and a few cracks started to appear which I had expected but were still worrying. The day of the party arrived, the cracks hadn’t expanded and the whole oven was still standing. We lit the fire to heat it up and kept stoking it, the internal temperature cooks pizzas in less than 10 minutes!. Many years ago I had salvaged a piece of marble that was now set up to make the dough on for the pizzas and we were soon cooking. Pizzas came out beautifully cooked and enjoyed by all. The cracks re-appeared in the fierce heat but a few days later, I filled them and the whole structure seems very stable. We now need more clay to mix with straw to add a second layer that forms insulation helping to retain the cooking heat and this is the point at which we can make a fancy shape if needed. I have seen several shaped as snails, dragons and various creatures so if you’re feeling artistic and would like to help with this next part of the build, let me know. Now when’s the next party…?

Mike Ashton

Beekeeping Day

2010-09-01T18:26:00.000+01:00

On Saturday 7th August a joint meeting was held with Shipston Beekeepers – many of those attending being members of both organisations.
The day was held as a Food Group Skill Share event and also as a follow-up to the Introduction to Beekeeping course held last March.

Part of the morning’s programme was based on Products of the Hive and included a tasting and evaluation of the three different types of multi-floral Honey – runny (with 80%-+ sugar content, just as extracted from the comb), granulated (all honey will eventually crystallise) and creamed (a ‘fine crystal’ honey whipped to an ‘easily spreadable’ consistency). There was a demonstration of ‘uncapping’ frames of honey comb and extracting the honey using a centrifuge. The wax cappings and some comb still containing honey was placed in the warming cupboard of an oven to show how wax and honey (both ‘made’ by the bees from nectar!) can be separated using a gentle heating process. The making of Beeswax candles was discussed with a variety of the moulded variety on display. Propolis (a resin ‘glue’ collected from sticky buds and tree sap) is used by the bees as an ‘anti-bacterial’ agent and to fill small (less than 8mm) spaces within the hive. Pollen is fed to larvae and young bees for its protein and mineral content. All of these products of the hive are ingested or otherwise used by mankind for their proven medicinal properties.

After a ‘bring and share’ lunch the group moved on to the Barn Apiary where a morning’s theory session on Preparing for Winter was put into practice – full ‘supers’ (boxes of frames of honeycomb) were removed from on top of the hives - ‘clearer’ boards containing one way ‘valves’ to remove the bees had been inserted 48hrs previously. Each hive had a thymol vapour treatment to help control the numbers therein of the parasitic Varroa mite that is causing the demise of honey bee colonies in the wild. 2:1 sugar syrup feeders were placed on each of the hives so as to eventually bring the total weight of ‘stores’ to some 40 lbs – the amount necessary to see an individual colony safely through the winter. Those attending the very full day’s event took away a jar of the honey that they had helped extract in the morning together with a wooden dipper to drizzle this wonderful ‘nectar’ on their toast!

Douglas Nethercleft

“Garden Share” Success

2010-09-01T18:22:00.000+01:00

Pat Harris writes about the first Transition Shipston Garden Share...
With a patio the size of a double bed and a yearning to grow vegetables, my meeting up with Sharyn Singer was very fortunate. Sharyn has a large garden and has been growing vegetables successfully for many years but has more commitments than you can shake a pea-stick at and so she was looking for an extra pair of hands.

We spent a glorious spring day at Ryton Gardens in the coffee shop, planning and selecting seeds and then we started on the garden. I had just been on a short permaculture course, which had fired me up with ideas, some of which we hoped to carry out in Sharyn’s already well-established vegetable plot.

We started by clearing out a three-sided garage, which would make an excellent wet-, and hot-, weather tool shed. We scoured the local tip for sides to mark the existing vegetable beds. We wanted to make raised beds but there were already some plants over-wintering from the previous year so we did not want to disturb them. Sharyn, by years of hard effort and bags of manure and compost had already transformed the heavy clay soil into a good growing medium. As we started in February we used the permaculture method of warming and nourishing the soil by putting compost from Sharyn’s compost bins, manure and then cardboard on the bare beds and then covering with black plastic. Through the wind and rain we happily planted seeds in small containers, weeded and piled up degradable matter in the compost bins. Coffee was drunk and dreams dreamed. In this garden share we tended to work together, getting twice as much done for a single outing than if Sharyn was on her own. There are many other ways of garden sharing but this was a friendship exercise and working together in the coiling, sprouting greenery that is our natural habitat, is priceless.

As the season has progressed plants have grown and produced and we have had successes and failures, but the garden has given lots of pleasure and there are always ideas for the next time.

For more information about the Transition Shipston Garden Share Scheme contact Becky Stuart-Harris, becssh@googlemail.com

Mobile: 07770948124

Photos from Shipston Mid-Summer Festival

2010-09-01T13:31:00.000+01:00

“Transition “Garden Party”

2010-07-19T15:20:00.002+01:00

6pm till late, Sunday 1st August, Darlingscote Rd, Community Garden. Bring food & drink to share…

Come and see the fantastic progress made on the garden in just a few months.

Community Garden Update

2010-07-19T15:16:00.002+01:00

The community garden has really benefited from all the sunshine but it’s a hard task keeping up with the watering!

Work in Progress at the Community Garden
Dare I say we’re hoping for rain? No, OK I won’t! Harvesting has already begun of salad leaves, turnips, and the courgettes are coming thick and fast. The peas will shortly be ready for picking – I have been testing a few of the pods and they’re delicious. The clay oven is under construction and we’re hoping it will be ready for the Transition Party here on 1st August. New helpers Simon and Karen have been a real asset – Simon has helped source all manner of useful items from a building site which have been given a new lease of life in the community garden. Sturdy packing crates (rather than being burnt) are enclosing the outside seating area and are being used as giant planters.

Work in Progress at the Community Garden

A builders' sack fits perfectly as a liner and was filled with the earth being dug out from the shelter floor to level it and one has already been planted with yet more beans and courgettes. Anyone who is short of courgettes please come to the community garden to stock up!

“Master Gardeners” at Midsummer Festival

2010-07-19T15:11:00.000+01:00

Some of our Transition Shipston members who completed their Garden Organic Master Gardener training in June shared the Transition stand at the Midsummer Festival.

Becky, a Master Gardener talking to Sophie Grigson

If you don’t have green fingers but would like to start growing your own then you can sign up for a Master Gardener, to advise you in your own garden with on-going help for up to 12 months completely free! Alternatively visit the website at: www.mastergardeners.org.uk and search for a Warwickshire master gardener near you – you can contact us through the website or email Becky: becssh@googlemail.com

Sophie Grigson Supports Transition Shipston

2010-07-19T15:07:00.001+01:00

Opening Shipston Mid-Summer Festival on 4th July the celebrity chef Sophie Grigson
urged residents to support Transition Shipston in our efforts to improve the town's self-sufficiency and reduce energy consumption. She praised Shipston for having shops “that are individual and not chains” and said that “part of being sustainable is to hold on to individuality and Shipston is certainly doing that

Shuvani – Gypsy style Dancing in the High Street at the festival

The festival which was the biggest event so far organised by Transition Shipston attracted an estimated 1000 people during the day. 20 stalls displaying local food and goods lined the High St and music and entertainment continued throughout the day

Elderflower Skills Swap

2010-07-19T15:01:00.000+01:00

Another beautiful summer day, another Transition Skill Swap.
It’s the 19th of June and the elderflowers are at their peak. Plenty to collect and a keen group listened to Mike Ashton who demonstrated how to make elderflower cordial and champagne. While the elderflowers were being prepared to soak in their lemon and orange bath overnight, or for a few days depending on their final destination, we sampled elderflower fritters... a first for most of us, they were quite tasty, esp. with a dusting of icing sugar. The dandelion flower fritters - well, mixed reviews.

Then, work done – we tucked into another delicious shared lunch, enjoyed each other’s company and helped each other get elderflowers ready for their chosen tipple.

We do have such a wealth of skills available in the group. Please let us know if you have a skill to share. We plan to do another skill swap in late summer, all about preserving food. Sharyn Singer

Solar Panels for Local Hospital Roofs?

2010-07-19T14:59:00.000+01:00

The Community Ownership ofRenewable Energy Conference on 26th June
organised by local Transition Town groups, brought together renewable energy experts from around the country. At the end of the day 40 of those attending the conference decided to form a group to set up a “community energy company” for South Warwickshire. One of the initial proposals for the company is to install solar panels on the roofs of Stratford and Warwick Hospitals. The idea was put forward by the Energy Manager for Warwick NHS Trust who had already costed the project at over £500,000. This money would be raised by selling shares in the company to local people who would expect to earn a good rate of interest. The income for the company would be generated by selling electricity from the solar panels under the government's new “feed-in tariff”, which is guaranteed for the next 25 years. The NHS Trust would also benefit by getting free electricity directly from the panels.

Earlier in the day speakers from

Energy4All had spoken about their experience in setting up “energy co-ops”; Wessex Community Assets talked about setting up “community benefit societies” for such projects and Encraft Ltd talked about the potential for solar, hydro, wood-fuel and wind energy in the area.

WORLD IN TRANSITION

2010-07-19T14:55:00.001+01:00

Poem written for the Shipston Mid-Summer Festival
by Judge the Poet:You are witnessing the birth of a most important mission:

How do we successfully deal with a world in transition?

Our fossil fuel use cannot go on. It cannot last forever.

We must adapt – by being sharp, imaginative and clever.

After all, our innovation and invention brought us here;

But now our lives are beset by many problems and fear.

Peak oil, poverty, climate change… to name just a few.

Our lives have to change. So what on earth can we do?

This is our mission. Really, we have the simplest plan -

To rescue tomorrow by going back to where we began:

Working together, locally, with our neighbours all around;

We can secure the future right here on solid home ground.

We must start to act now. We must unite to work faster.

Any other route will surely just deliver yet more disaster.

Let’s consider energy independence, transport and health;

For safe happiness is the truest measure of human wealth.

If our food comes from here and hasn’t travelled for miles,

We can support local workers and share in their smiles.

Our needs will still be met. And our bellies will still fill.

And the best local result will be the positive goodwill.

By connecting existing groups, business and each politician,

We’ll help them understand and join us in this great mission.

And many transition projects can unite - to share their ideas

And become a more powerful voice in government’s ears.

For these are crucial times. And, truly, ours is a vital goal.

The benefits of it all could enhance every heart and soul.

So let’s think and mobilise. Let’s become active and vocal.

For the whole world’s sake, let’s make it Green And Local!

Shipston Midsummer Festival - Programme of Events

2010-06-21T12:44:00.000+01:00

10.55 Town Crier - Marion Ladd will ‘cry in’ the Festival in the High Street

11.00 Philip Vial will introduce Sophie Grigson

11.05 Official opening by Sophie Grigson. Sophie is a passionate supporter of healthy eating and living and has written a number of books encouraging us all to live healthier lives! We are delighted that she has agreed to open our first ‘Green and Local’ Festival in Shipston

11.10 Silver Bough Band - Well-known local folk band who play at ceilidhs and other events. They will be playing for various other events during the day so you’ll get a flavour of their versatility!

12.15 Shuvani - Gypsy style Belly Dancers. Some of you might have seen this local dance troupe at the Wool Fair and even joined in. The dancers will perform a colourful and exciting mix of dances.

12.45 Lunch - Enjoy a delicious Pig Roast meal from Taylor’s; an unbeatable cottage pie from Righton’s stall or a meal at one of the other local eateries in town (See map overleaf)

1.15 ‘Judge the Poet’ (aka Dave Raeburn) has written a performance piece especially for this occasion. To be performed by Lee Figures

1.30 Caramba - What do you know about Shipston’s local history? Find out some more in a fun and interactive way with this well-known semi-professional drama group, with help from Mike Ashley, Shipston’s museum curator.

2.00 Shipston High School students will be entertaining us with live music and a recycled fashion show.

3.00 Traditional celebratory circle dancing led by Tracy Lean with live music from the Silver Bough Band. Join in with the circle –all dances taught by this experienced teacher. No experience or partner required!

3.30 Clog Dancing - This local group of dancers will entertain us with their energy and enthusiasm for this traditional style of dancing.

3.45 Raffle Prize Draw

4.00 Laurence Jones Band - Laurence is a versatile musician who plays in various bands. Today he will be performing rock hits with bass player and drummer

5.00 RockPool - Our final event of the day will be a rousing rock band. Great sounds for all age groups.

Additional Activities all day Transition Towns and Climate Change Films at The White Bear – see board outside pub;

Pottery demonstration & interaction in the Yurt;

‘Eat a Rainbow’ workshop for children in the Gazebo next to the yurt;

Pavement Art in various places around the town.

Face Painting in the Yurt.

St Edmunds Church where there is an Art Exhibition as part of ‘Artmix’

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OF RENEWABLE ENERGY - SATURDAY 26 JUNE

2010-05-09T11:19:00.001+01:00

This conference will bring together experts and those who want to see progress on renewables to explore ways in which communities can invest in and own renewable energy projects. Speakers from:

Energy4All

Wessex Community Assets

Encraft Ltd

Stratford-on-Avon District Council

SATURDAY 26 JUNE 2010

9.30am - 4.00pm (lunch provided)

John Turner Centre, Warwick Hospital, Lakin Road, Warwick CV34 5BW.To book, phone 01789 298503 or e-mail admin@transitionstratford.com

contribution of £5 suggested on the day towards costs.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS

2010-05-09T11:14:00.000+01:00

A free half-day workshop for everyone interested in ways of making older buildings more energy efficient and sustainable.

Speakers from:

Building Research Establishment

English Heritage

Marches Energy Agency

Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Stratford Town Hall, Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon CV37

Tuesday 18 May 2010

2.00pm – 5.00pm PHONE 01789 298503 TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Organised by Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council,

Transition Town Training - 19th / 20th June in Worcestershire

2010-05-09T11:13:00.003+01:00

The Transition Network runs a 2-day "fundamentals" course for those wishing to know how to set up, run, and maintain a successful transition initiative. It is packed with imaginative and inspiring ways to delve into both the theory and practice of Transition: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/about/training/training-transition

The next training event is on 19th / 20th June in Worcestershire. The cost is £100 but we have received a grant from the Co-op to pay for half of this.

If you are interested in the training contact: Becky Stewart-Harris

becssh@googlemail.com

Energy Champions – Free Training! - 12th June, Friends Meeting House, Maidenhead Rd, Stratford.

2010-05-09T11:12:00.001+01:00

Following on from the “energy champions” workshop at the Affordable Energy for All exhibition last month, ActOnEnergy the Wellesbourne based energy efficiency advice centre is offering a 2 hour free training session for anyone interested in helping the neighbours and / or others in the community to save energy.

The session will take place from 10.00 to 12.00 on 12th June, Friends Meeting House, Maidenhead Rd, Stratford. Contact: lizjatkinson@googlemail.com

Positive Solutions for Shipston Town Centre?

2010-05-09T11:10:00.003+01:00

Some comments on Shipston Online http://www.shipstononline.org/supermarket-threat.html#comment-35 show that there are Shipston residents who are in favour of the proposed large supermarket up the Campden Road. The main reasons they put forward are:

1.It could cost less to shop there

2.It would use less petrol than driving to the surrounding supermarkets in Stratford, Moreton, Banbury, Stow.

There are also Shipston residents, including Transition Town members (and me!), who are opposed to the proposed supermarket, mainly because supermarkets on the edge of towns lead to the closure of small independent shops in the centre, and this group values highly the local shops, and being able to shop without driving.

There may be a solution to the needs of both groups. At present the two supermarkets in the town centre, owned by two different Co-ops, duplicate basic goods and have little room for extra choice. It can be frustrating to have to visit both stores to complete shopping needs. If the two stores combined with a walkway connecting them, Shipston town centre could gain a reasonably sized supermarket stocking a wider range of goods with more choice than at present. and shoppers would still be in the right place to buy from the excellent local shops stocking local produce among all sorts of other things. Many people from outside Shipston come here because they enjoy buying quality meat, veg, toys, electrical goods, etc, and this scheme could keep them spending money in Shipston while also meeting the hopes of people who live in Shipston and want to do their regular shopping here.

It would be good if all those with differing thoughts about the proposed supermarket could meet to listen to opposing views calmly and seek possible positive solutions.

Helen Winnifrith

helenwin@tiscali.co.uk

Sophie Grigson to open Shipston Mid-Summer Festival

2010-05-09T11:09:00.000+01:00

The celebrity chef and cookery writer Sophie Grigson has agreed to open the Shipston Mid-Summer Festival on 4th July organised by Transition Shipston. She is a keen supporter of organic and local food suppliers and, is an advocate for decent children's food. She is a patron of the Children's Food Festival
For more information contact: Geri Hunting geri@horsejoy.com

Wild Food Foraging - Skills Swap and Lunch - May 15, 2010 from 12noon-2pm

2010-05-09T11:06:00.000+01:00

Do you know what wild foods are growing in your garden or the hedgerows, and better yet, some great recipes for them?

Come along for a Transition Shipston Food Group skills swap. Sharyn Singer will share the little bits she knows, and we’ll do some foraging in the wilder parts of her garden (plenty of those), pick some dandelion, wild garlic, nettles, cleavers, herbs, etc. and make some tasty, simple recipes with our discoveries.

Please bring along your expertise and any wild foods you have growing, an ingredient or two that we can use to create a soup, salad, pudding or beverage, interested friends and an open mind! Contact:

Sharyn: sharynsinger@btinternet.com

Community Gardening - at the bottom of Darlingscote Road

2010-05-09T11:04:00.000+01:00

To encourage and raise awareness about the concept of Landshare new Transition Shipston supporter Mike Ashton has generously offered to allow his land at the bottom of Darlingscote Road to be used by Transition Shipston as a community space for growing vegetables and fruit in return for keeping an eye on it whenever he is away.
He has previously kept pigs and chickens there and currently has bees but feels more could be done. He wants Transition Shipston to make as much use of the land as possible and stresses that all the produce is ‘ours’ rather than ‘his’. As well as working he also would like to see the land used as a community social space and would like to see us hold ‘Harvest’ parties during the year.

Sunday 18 April saw a group of Transition Shipston members meeting up at the land and discussing plans for it. No time was lost and everyone got stuck in - as it is heavy clay soil the first raised bed was constructed from sleepers, filled with old turf and topsoil, then sown with parsnip, beetroot, lettuce, spring onion and turnip. The bed was enclosed with chicken wire to protect from rabbits. The next row was of old tyres planted with potatoes again encircled with chicken wire. We congratulated ourselves on a job well done for the first afternoon – and enjoyed tea and delicious home made cake (thanks Jo!) as a reward, sitting, chatting and enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

The following Sunday another raised bed was constructed and sown with peas. Much soil preparation (lots of soil conditioner and grit!) went into digging the holes for a double row of autumn fruiting raspberries. Jobs for the future include improving the entrance area to use for social gatherings by extending and enclosing the shelter, creating a fire pit and seating area and building a clay oven - oh yes and of course growing more veg and keeping chickens for eggs and meat. But the social side is what’s important!

Sunday afternoons are ‘open house’ – look out for an email each week advising of times to meet up at the land for anyone who wants to come along and have a look or help out. Car share can be arranged.

See you there! Contact:

Becky Stewart-Harris

becssh@googlemail.com

Affordable Energy for All Exhibition - Saturday 17th April 2010 - 10:00 to 4:00

2010-03-30T21:34:00.001+01:00

Shipston High School Shipston-on-Stour, Free Entry
“How can I save on my energy bills?”
“Is Renewable Energy a serious solution to my needs?”
“Who can help me decide what to do?”
“Who will pay for it?”
Exhibition Stands... Seminars & Workshops... Refreshments available

Organised by: Transition Shipston and Surrounding Communities
Promoted by: Shipston Town Management Partnership
Supported and Sponsored by: Stratford District Council & Shipston Town Council

FREE SEMINAR PROGRAMME
During the “Affordable Energy for All“ Exhibition, TRANSITION SHIPSTON & SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES will be presenting a programme of seminars which reflect the broader issues of creating a sustainable environment. The Seminars are Free to Attend and Everyone is welcome.

10.30 to 11.15 Film: "In Transition"
What is the Transition Movement?
Positive, practical and fun In Transition’ is a film about communities in Great Britain and around the world respond-ing to depleting resources and climate change with creativity, imagination and humour.
It looks at how communities can become more self-sufficient with food, energy, transport and our local economy. It is moving, touching, practical and enlightening. It is positive, solutions focused, and fun.

11.30 to 12.15 “Peak Oil” - Local Responses to Global Issues
What is 'Peak Oil' and how can we make a difference in Shipston?
Speaker: Bernard Perkins a local Environmental Consultant
Securing energy supplies for the Stour Area...
What can be done to reduce energy demand locally?
What can be done to generate energy locally?

1.30 to 2.15 Energy Champions
How can we help our neighbours save money at home, school and work?
Speaker: David Jullien of Act On Energy, the local energy advice information centre
Become an energy champion in your community.
This workshop is an introduction to:
 Saving energy in your home
 Saving energy in your school or community
 Saving energy at work
 Renewable Energy Projects

2.30 to 3.15 Micro generation & Feed-in Tariffs
How you can generate electricity at home and sell it to the grid
Speaker: Edward Leddy-Owen of the Energy Saving Trust
Come along to this workshop to find out more about the technologies— Solar, Combined Heat & Power, Hydro, Wind.
Under the new "Feed-in Tariff" energy companies have to pay up to 41p a kWh for energy generated and put into the grid... find out the details.

Save Shipston Town Centre

2010-03-30T21:21:00.000+01:00

Dear Editor
Stratford District Council has included proposals for a supermarket to be built on the Norgren site in Shipston in its development strategy for the next 10 years. This can not be in the interest of local shopkeepers, local businesses or local residents.
The proposals will run contrary to two of SDCs own goals for Shipston - "Protecting and enhancing the character of the historic town centre" and "Improving local shopping facilities". Any new out of town supermarket will take much of the trade away from local shops which will lead to closures and to a severe decline in the local shopping facilities! The life and soul will be taken out of Shipston centre. It will put pressure on the roads of Shipston and will cause distress to those living close to the site.

A Transition Shipston study of an averge weekly family shopping basket (reported in your pages last year) showed that it costs virtually the same to shop in Shipston as in Stratford Supermarkets.

Why is such an important development not being given the attention it deserves? The district council has gone back on an agreement to have a public meeting in the Town about the issue and is having a "drop in session" at Clark House (the Town Council offices in Shipston) from 4-7pm on 30th March.

As a supporter of Transition Shipston which aims to help build a vibrant local economy based based on existing shops and businesses I believe that a decision as important as this deserves a full public meeting where local people can express the full weight of their concerns to the District Council.

Jo Ames-Rook

Master Gardener Training

2010-03-10T15:59:00.000Z

Training is being offered by Garden Organic for volunteers who want to help people to grow their own. Called the Master Gardener scheme, the training will consist of a two-day foundation course at Garden Organic's headquarters at Ryton (near Rugby) on either 23/24 April or 5/6 June, plus a further day or half-day in July or August. The training is funded by the Lottery and Warwickshire County Council and will be free to participants. After training, volunteers will be expected to put in 30 hours work with 10 households or growers, plus wider engagement with at least 50 people through running stalls, talking to community groups etc. Garden Organic are very excited about our Garden Share scheme and are keen to work with us, so we have a great opportunity to get in an early bid for places on the pilot training course.
Please let me know if you would be interested in taking part in the Master Gardener scheme.
Becky Stewart-Harris becssh@googlemail.com

Transition Food Co-op?

2010-03-10T15:57:00.000Z

Have you ever considered buying food in bulk? Do you prefer to eat organic food, but hate paying the high price at shops? Why not cut out the ‘middle man’ while reducing the cost of food, packaging, and transport, Transition Shipston and Surrounding Communities is considering starting up a food co-op to allow members to do exactly this!

How does it work?
Most co-ops purchase in bulk every 4-6 weeks. Members have a week to place orders from the Suma website www.sumawholesale.coop, and the items are delivered to a single location a few days later. Members take turns volunteering for dividing up the order into individual orders. Ordering is simple and the Suma site has product pictures, special offers, frozen and long-life items among other products.
Have a look at the Suma site and if you are interested please email Jennifer Lanham: photojourno2003@yahoo.co.uk

Eco Team Training - Saturday 20 March

2010-03-10T15:55:00.000Z

The Co-op is offering a Free Training Day which will provide skills for your transition town group
Date: Saturday 20 March, Time: 09:30am – 14:30pm, Place: The Birmingham & Midland Institute, Birmingham

http://ecoteams.org.uk/new-ecoteams-training-birmingham
The event will provide free training on how to set up an EcoTeam in your area. An EcoTeam is similar to a transition town group, however there is a strong emphasis on your immediate community and neighbours. The training will provide information on structuring a team and how to recruit people to your cause. It will also give the following information that you can then distribute to help enforce your green agenda:

 Save £170 a year and 1 tonne of carbon

 Make friends with your neighbours and community

 Find out which 100 actions make the most difference for your home and the environment

 Receive personal feedback on the difference you’ve made

Visit to Canalside Community Food on Saturday 20th March

2010-03-10T15:50:00.000Z

Canalside Community Food is a Community Supported Agriculture scheme http://www.canalsidecommunityfood.org.uk/ for all persons who live in and around Warwick District. The scheme is based on Leasowe Farm, a family run farm adjacent to the Grand Union Canal, just outside Radford Semele
.
Transition Shipston and Surrounding Communities has been invited to come to Canalside on Saturday 20th March to have a taste of the Community Supported Agriculture experience - help out, share in a great meal, and meet like-minded people. This is a great day to come along as Canalside will be having their Spring Equinox social, so you'll get to meet a lot of our members who'll be around for the day. The day will start at 10am for a work morning, followed by a Bring-and-Share lunch around a bonfire and a guided walk around the vegetable fields with the growers in the afternoon.
Canalside generally ask that visitors help out with a couple of hours work when they come. It’s the best way to get to know what a CSA is all about really, and a great opportunity to chat to others whilst your working. We would aim to leave from Shipston at 9:30 and return following the social lunch. Please bring a dish to share for lunch.
We will need to confirm numbers and aim to arrange for car sharing, so please email Jennifer Lanham: photojourno2003@yahoo.co.uk to register your interest by 15th March.

How can we work together to power our community beyond cheap oil?

2010-02-21T18:17:00.000Z

Report of Energy Open Space meeting held on Saturday 13th February 2010

Introduction
Over 30 people attended a public meeting organised by Transition Shipston on Saturday 13th February 2010 to discuss "How can we power Shipston beyond cheap oil?".
They heard presentations from
• Rachel Jones from Act on Energy about the importance of insulation and energy saving behaviour in reducing energy demand for energy and the help available for those who would looking at ways to change
• Paul Taylor, the Green Electrician, who outlined options for using solar photo-voltaic panels to generate electricity, as well as describing how he had made changes to his own home to reduce its need for energy, most of which was now met from renewable sources
• Bob Smith from Sterland and Elgar, who explained how changes to heating systems, including uses of biomass, could make energy use more sustainable
• Bernard Perkins from energy consultancy Encraft, who discussed mapping local areas to find opportunities for renewable energy – for example, identifying the sites of old water mills as potential opportunities for hydro-electric power.

The meeting then identified three topics for further discussion in small groups. The following sections set out the notes made by these three discussion groups.
Involving communities
The group identified a number of ideas for ways to involve communities and provide them with information and help with energy. It recognised that more work would be needed to develop ideas and take them forward.
1. Leaflet – do you want to save money? Come along. Emphasise that advice is non-commercial.
2. Approach has to be "trendy" – recognised as up to date
3. Where possible, take advantage of other publicity such as TV advertising
4. Engaging with school kids through schools (and other activities outside school, such as guides, youth club etc). Motivate them to take an interest in energy. Kids take ideas back to their parents, but might also be useful to approach parents as well, perhaps through a questionnaire?
5. What can the Town Council or Parish Council do? Could they buy energy meters (like the Owl meter) that could be lent to the public? Could they support exhibitions offering practical solutions that local people could visit? Could they sign up to the European-wide Covenant of Mayors (where local government bodies agree to support energy initiatives)?
6. Could an energy co-op be set up: for example, helping meet interest in products such as solar panels by bulk buying to bring down costs?
7. How could local businesses be encouraged to sell energy saving products?
8. Should a network of local Energy Champions be set up? These could talk to local groups as well as taking up invitations to visit people's homes to advise on energy options, the grants available etc?

Making more of solar PV technology
The group discussed how more use could be made of solar photo-voltaic panels – especially now the new feed-in tariff offered attractive terms for investment. Ideas put forward were as follows.
1. Housing associations which own and manage social housing locally might be able to bulk buy renewable technologies for widespread installation on their properties.
2. Community projects – for example, installing solar panels on a village hall or other community building – might offer opportunities for larger roofs – and bigger installations! Installations can be carried out sensitively on some listed buildings, such as churches.
3. Individual householders may be interested and willing to invest – but unaware of the new feed-in tariff and the return it offers on investment. Publicity to raise awareness might help increase the number of domestic installations?
4. With grant and subsidy schemes changing, it is important to plan ahead to identify the best ways to encourage local investment.

Energy from waste
The group began by discussing the amount of waste produced today and how to reduce it. Education, especially for young people, was identified as the best way forward.
The group then went on to discuss what waste is available for turning into energy through the process of anaerobic digestion – a natural process where bacteria "digest" certain types of waste, producing methane and carbon dioxide and leaving a soil improver (like compost) as the final product.
Sewage, farm slurries, and food waste were identified as possible sources of material for anaerobic digestion. The gas produced can be used to power transport, to feed into the national gas grid, or to burn to generate electricity and heat. Different types and sizes of anaerobic digester are commercially available, and the viability of a proposed plant will depend on its size, the waste used to feed it and how the gas produced can be used. For example, small-scale plants operate on farms locally, while in different parts of the country, large-scale plants dealing with food waste have proved commercially viable.
The group then discussed other ways in which waste might be turned into energy: for example, using algae to produce a petrol substitute.
The group concluded that of the various ideas it had discussed, the question of the viability of anaerobic digestion for Shipston should be investigated.

Next steps
Transition Shipston's Energy Group will meet to discuss the different ideas put forward by the meeting and to decide which might be priorities for further investigation.
The Energy Group will next meet on Wednesday 24th February at the Black Horse, Station Road, Shipston. The meeting will start at 7.30 pm, and anyone interested in sustainable energy for Shipston and surrounding communities is welcome to attend.

Wonderful Permaculture Weekend

2010-02-03T08:40:00.000Z

Letters to the editor - Dear Dave
I had to write and let you know about the wonderful Permaculture weekend I have just had at Holycombe in Whichford. I am still buzzing with the ideas that Ruth O’Brien introduced us to, and glowing from the warm, happy atmosphere we all enjoyed as we learned about gardening with nature instead of battling against it.

Permaculture has many definitions but grew from ideas begun by pioneer thinkers in Australia and Japan who observed how nature wastes nothing and that the detritus from one effect is the resource of another. A tree falls in the forest and creates a clearing. Its rotting bark gives nourishment to fungi, bugs and bacteria which remake it into soil; with the tree down, the clearing allows grass and herbs and other seedlings to catch the light and small animals graze on the new growth. Their droppings feed the soil encouraging more growth. This natural cycle is one of several that underpin the existence of the life on this planet and therefore mankind. See http://www.permaculture.org.uk/education

This can be translated into a system of gardening which our grandmothers used before the days of fertilisers and cheap fuel. The pooh from the chicken run went on the compost, along with the vegetable trimmings from a small cottage garden. The effort that went into gardening had to be balanced by what was produced, so people took only what they needed, and waste was recycled naturally to produce the following year’s crop.

This answers a simple need in all of us. (After all we hang on to things for years in case we need them!). Permaculture invites you to use everything and waste nothing, and by thoughtful observation and design, to reduce your labour and maximise your productivity. The effect of course does not stop with us, the individual. This ripples out into our attitude to our community and to the greater global community. How can we continue to take more than we need as a society knowing that we take it from others?

This is an idea that has found its time. The cost of fuel is increasing along with an awareness of how little of the earth’s surface is available for growing food for an increasing population. We need to share, we need to be more efficient and we need to detach from our oil-rich life-style and develop an alternative, or we will have to stand by and watch others fail.

Whatever you think of the timing of climate change and Peak Oil, changes are already happening. The longer we have to develop an ethical alternative to the existing system, the better, which means we should start now. The innovation and modern scientific knowledge that permaculture uses should fill us with hope, not despair.

We were a small group of 15 souls, bringing varied interests and skills. What we had in common were minds open to new ideas, a concern for the environment and a desire to do something, even on a small scale, ourselves.

Sally Birtwell had invited us to hold the two-day, introductory course at her beautiful home, Holycombe. The setting, in the folds of small hills with woodland, fields, and still and running water was perfect. Ruth made her course, stimulating, informative and great fun. We hardly noticed the hours passing and even the shyest found ourselves presenting ideas. This is the beginning. I for one can’t wait for stage two; there is more to learn!! For more information about Ruth and her courses see http://ruthobrienpermaculture.wordpress.com/

If you are interested please contact: Pat Harris paover19@aol.com

For courses held at Holycombe see http://www.holycombe.com/

ENERGY OPEN SPACE - Powering Shipston Beyond Cheap Oil

2010-01-14T10:31:00.000Z

Powering Shipston – how can we work together to power our community beyond cheap energy?
St Edmund’s Church meeting room on Saturday 13th February, 10.00 – 1.00 (doors open 9.30)
With the Earth's climate changing as a result of carbon emissions, we need to find ways to reduce the demand for energy and our reliance on fossil fuels as energy sources. Rising energy prices pose a challenge for those on low incomes, as well as for businesses which have taken low energy costs for granted.
You can help decide the key issues for group discussions when everyone will be able to contribute their ideas… no lectures, no presentations – just your ideas and planning for local energy initiatives
Refreshments available throughout the morning FREE ENTRY
Ring Helen Winnifrith 661244 or Dave Passingham 661816

Shipston Mid-Summer Festival

2010-01-14T10:27:00.000Z

Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities has won a £1900 grant to run a Mid-Summer Festival in the centre of Shipston in July on the Sunday following the Last Night of the Shipston Proms on 4th July. The festival will consist of stalls in and around the town centre, a stage for music and marquees for films & other entertainment. The stalls will be allocated to retailers & traders, food producers, businesses and community groups. The marquees will show mainly films on sustainable and environmental themes (e.g. bee-keeping, wildlife etc.). There will be local craft demonstrations (e.g. willow sculpture). Traditional music and dance will continue through the day on the stage and in the marquees. The history and culture of the town will be highlighted.
We have got support for the festival from Shipston Town Council and Shipston Town Management Partnership. The aim of the event is to strengthen the local economy and encourage sustainable living.

Anyone interested in helping with the festival should come along to the Black Horse pub at 6pm on Thursday 7th Jan or contact Geri Hunting geri@horsejoy.com

Permaculture Weekend in Whichford - Friday 29th to Sunday 31st January

2009-12-09T10:43:00.000Z

Transition Shipston are helping to organise a 2 day Introduction to Permaculture Course at Holycombe near Whichford… a perfect venue for such a course.

Holycombe – House of Healing, Whichford

PERMACULTURE INTRODUCTORY WEEKEND
Holycombe, Whichford, Friday 29th to Sunday 31st January, 2010
From 9.30am to 5pm Saturday & Sunday, please arrive Friday night 6pm onward.
Residential cost £110 / £85 / £65 on a sliding scale depending on income.
Non-residential cost £65 / £45 / £25 on a sliding scale depending on income.For more information contact:

Dave Passingham 01608 661816
davepassingham@hotmail.com

Course outline:

• Talks, discussions and workshops on the principles, practice and ethics of Permaculture.

• Slide shows exploring Permaculture around the UK.

• A short observation walk around the area to look at natural systems and useful plants.

• Practical session on the grounds.

• The course is informal and suitable for all levels of knowledge and experience. Plenty of time will be provided for breaks and networking.

• Tutor, Ruth O’Brien

”Permaculture is a design system based on ecological principles which provides the organisational framework for implementing a permanent or sustainable culture”

The course is packed full of interesting tips about how to garden in harmony with nature without wasting time & effort fighting it! There are also sessions on the principles and ethics of permaculture.

It could make a green Christmas present for someone?

See http://www.permaculture.org.uk/.

Candle Light Vigil at 5pm, Sunday (13th December).

2009-12-09T10:30:00.000Z

To do what we can for a positive outcome at the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen let's meet on Sunday for a Candle Light Vigil

St Edmunds Church, (opposite the fish & chip shop in Shipston) has invited Transition Shipston and the Surrounding Communities to a Candle Light Vigil at 5pm, for half an hour, on Sunday (13th December).
For more information contact Helen Winnifrith 01608 661244, helenwin@tiscali.co.uk
This is to support vigils that are being staged all over the world on Sunday organised by http://www.350.org/.

Here is an extract rom their website:
350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand. Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet. Our focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

"Transport Revolutions"

2009-11-27T20:49:00.001Z

"Transport Revolutions" is an episode of The Sustainable Region (Vancouver, BC) featuring interviews with Anthony Perl (Simon Fraser University) and Bryn Davidson of the Dynamic Cities. See the Post Carbon Institute website: http://www.postcarbon.org/issue/12879-transportation (recommended by Pat Harris)

Major Supermarket vs Shipston Shops

2009-11-13T10:42:00.003Z

Does it costs more to shop locally? One of the aims of Transition Towns is to encourage people to shop locally, to support the local economy and use less petrol.
In Shipston, it’s a known fact that many people drive 20 miles or more to shop in a big supermarket on the grounds that they save money. Two Transition Town members decided to investigate if this is so.
Jo Taylor drove to one of the major supermarkets in Stratford-upon-Avon to do her family weekly shop for two adults and two children. She made a shopping list after planning a weekly menu and taking into account items already in her cupboards and freezer. On a Thursday morning Jo drove to Stratford and spent 45 minutes in the Store. She kept to her list, buying 41 items including meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, pet food, cleaning materials, children’s snacks, staple groceries etc. Jo said “This was a stressful shopping experience - I spent a lot of time spent apologising to other shoppers and to members of staff who were also “shopping” on behalf of customers as the aisles in the store were so busy, although the checkout service was fast”. The cost was £61.23, and Jo spent a total of 1hr 35mins travelling from the centre of Shipston- a 20 mile round trip in the car.

The second volunteer, Helen Winnifrith, armed with the same shopping list, set off to compare the prices and shopping experience in local shops in Shipston. She said “The shopkeepers were helpful and understood that I didn’t actually want to buy all the products, but just to write down the prices. I visited both supermarkets and five independent traders. Including time to write down the prices, and allowing for paying in each shop, it took 50 minutes As usual, everyone was very friendly and helpful and I had time to chat to friends.”

Five items weren’t available, and were omitted rather than using substitutes. Prices varied across items, some cheaper in the big supermarket, some cheaper in Shipston. In some cases there were different package sizes, but cost/weight arithmetic allowed a proper comparison. Over the 41 items, the Shipston shop cost £2.75 more. Jo said, “When I take my petrol costs into account, it would actually have been cheaper and quicker to shop locally in Shipston.”

Jo and Helen realise this wasn’t a completely scientific comparison, but both tried to be impartial and were quite surprised at the result. All fruit and vegetables were cheaper in the Shipston greengrocer than in any supermarket, except for bananas, which were cheapest in one of the Shipston supermarkets. Helen said “We hope we may have done something to convince people that shopping locally can be the best value, as well as a more pleasant and less stressful experience.”

Helen Winnifrith

helenwin@tiscali.co.uk 01608 661244

Visit to Vale Landscape Heritage Trust at Cleeve Prior

2009-11-13T10:42:00.000Z

Sat 28th November leaving Shipston at 10.00 return 12.30
Vale Landscape Heritage Trust, saves old orchards and flood meadows; manages them traditionally and with regard to wildlife, in the Vale of Evesham. VLHT rents Field Barn, owned by Cleeve Prior Heritage Trust.

The Trust has Community Orchards, and volunteer teams working on them. We will also visit the Field Barn with its EcoShed (heat pump, and solar panels

Beekeeping in the Community

2009-11-13T10:41:00.000Z

You will probably be aware that the UK honey bee population is in decline.
In partnership with Shipston Beekeepers and in accord with our aim to encourage and foster the successful growing of food crops by local communities for local consumption, we are seeking funding to set up an apiary of some six hives as a teaching resource and to train / support rural communities in the keeping of bees for pollination. As an added bonus, we are hoping for a honey crop too!

If you would like more information contact: Douglas Nethercleft 01295 680041, djn0001@aol.com

local food directory

2009-11-13T10:40:00.000Z

Transition Shipston is compiling a local food directory and are looking for:
• local suppliers
• producers
• growers large or small

as well as:
• pubs,
• Restaurants
• hotels and B&B’s

who provide local, ethically sourced foods that are available to the public .
There is no charge to be included in the directory which will be distributed to local households when it is launched in the spring. If you would like to be included in the directory and have not yet been asked, or would like more information, please contact:
Liz Atkinson: lizj.atkinson@googlemail.com
Pat Harris: paover19@aol.com
Sharyn Singer: sharyn.rainbow@btinternet.com

2009-11-09T15:05:00.001Z

On Saturday 5 December, ahead of the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life will flow through the streets of London to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all. If you would like to join them, a coach will be leaving from central Stratford at 8.00am on 5 December, calling at Shipston-on-Stour before proceeding to London. The coach will return via Shipston, arriving at Stratford at approximately 7.00pm. The cost will be £10 per person (children under five free). Contact: Jo Taylor 01608 685454

“Cut the wrap” - Saturday November 14th

2009-11-09T14:59:00.000Z

We are holding a Packaging Event on Saturday November 14th from 10-2 outside the Shipston Co-op. There will be a display of unnecessary packaging and information about how we can act to reduce the pile of packaging that surrounds our shopping. The Co-op is involved because of its good record for working to improve its environmental record, and is also giving away 50 Fairtrade cotton shopping bags. Shoppers will be invited to leave their excess packaging and Transition Town volunteers will take as much as possible for recycling.

For more information ring Helen Winnifrith 01608 661244 or mailto:helenwin@tiscali.co.uk

2009-10-23T10:32:00.002+01:00

Fruit harvesting and juicing at Shipston High School
We had a successful apple and pear picking trip to Portabello last Tuesday (13th october), thanks to Keith, and with the help of PC Guy Blacklock we were able to take the fruit picked to Shipston High School this afternoon. There is a blossoming Food Science after-school group there run by the Mrs Butterworth, Food Science teacher.

Win, whose husband has a small apple press, (see picture left) came to introduce the young people to apple pressing. As we didn't have any means of apple-pressing today, we took along an ordinary juicer so the children could compare the juice from different apples and pears. Mrs Butterworth is planning to use the remaining fruit in their cookery class.

The children seemed very interested and loved tasting the different flavours of apple and pear, including cider apple, which perversely was voted the best flavour!! and researched some information on the web. Next week Win and her husband will return to the after-school group to talk about proper apple-pressing and they aim to take a small press that can be hired from somewhere in Burford.

Mrs Butterworth was very interested in the suggestion that we follow up this exercise next year by arranging for a small group of interested children to take the whole process from picking to juicing. It ties in very well with other aspects of their curriculum including waste, recycling etc. PC Guy Blacklock was delighted with the result. There is a move to plant a community orchard in the grounds of the school at some point.
Both the picking and the fruit juicing were photographed for the Herald, and the article should appear either next Friday or the one after.
Pat Harris

Food Group Meeting - Monday 21st September 7.30pm Black Horse Pub

2009-09-18T21:31:00.000+01:00

For those that missed the Transition Shipston Food Open Space meeting there was great enthusiasm and ideas/suggestions. The ideas are being discussed further at the meeting on Monday when hopefully we can start some more food initiatives. Notes from the Open Space:

Orchards:

Community

Needs a project leader

Cooperative concept

One village or several?

Density – 400 trees per hectare (non-intensive)

Mapping existing orchards

Resurrecting old orchards + enriching habitats

Identify existing varieties

Products – surplus to needy & elderly. Also sell for income

£15 per tree and guard

Choose variety carefully

Food miles awareness

Involve school children (eg. Grafting)

Finding land may be difficult

Excess production sharing

Sharing knowledge

Land:

We need to find out who owns land – what is available and quality

Who wants land

How to we match the two? “Landshare”

Aquaculture – ponds & lakes

Encourage individuals vs “Community” project

Develop a community group to develop their own land / garden

Ask Keith F who is offering him land

Map unused land

Bee Keeping:

Apiaries need to be isolated (ideally)

Costs – Hive £100, Bees £50, Clothing £100, Miscellaneous £50 Total = £300

Honey sells for £3.50 a pound

If someone is interested but does not have a large enough garden the hive can be kept on someone else’s land.

Bees are important for pollination of many crops.

Bee keeping could be part of a “Permaculture” garden

There is a problem with “colony collapse disorder” so we need more beekeepers

There are 6 or 7 Bee-Keeping Associations in Warwickshire

Shipston-on-Stour Beekeepers Association Douglas Nethercleft 01295 680041 or Boylan 01608 682218

Local Meat and Fish / Production:

1st step get land. How?

There are lots of small areas – how do we coordinate

Long Compton abattoir is a hub – could be used

How do we promote the idea of a CSA?

Shares in a pig scheme

Fish farming is problematic - intensive & a huge investment + ecologically damaging

“Permaculture” pools are a sustainable alternative

Possible produce:

- North American crayfish – invasive species, but very tasty!

- Trout

- Watercress

Sally is interested in Landshare

Sorting things – need to organise a day visit

Big Green Bus in Pebworth, Sat 26th Sept - book now!

2009-09-18T21:19:00.001+01:00

The Big Green Idea (www.thebiggreenidea.org) is an environmental charity headed by Brigit Strawbridge that seeks to encourage people to move to a more sustainable living.
Their bus (aka the Big Green Bus) tours around the country offering ideas and advice on sustainable living. A course on sustainable living is being run at Lucy & Nick Holdsworth's farm (Little Meadows, Pebworth, see www.littlemeadowsfarm.co.uk for location map) on Sat 26th Sept (10-5.00) covering a variety of topics including buying local, sustainable food, ethical clothing, natural cosmetics/beauty/cleaning, & more with guest speakers from a local food expert and a lady who makes insulation from UK sourced fleece. The course costs £45 for the day and should be excellent fun.

There are a few places left for the day. Contact: Rebecca Pridham 01789 721815

Local Organic Lamb for Sale

2009-09-18T21:17:00.000+01:00

Keith & Sue Finlay have 20 lambs that are just being sent to the butcher. If anyone want to buy one (or any part of one) contact Sue Finlay: 01608 661157 or sue.finlay12@btinternet.com

Shipston High School Projects

2009-09-18T21:12:00.002+01:00

PC Guy Blacklock the Safer Schools Officer at Shipston High School has sent in this email requesting help with food growing projects at the school...
In a few weeks time I will be running the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme from Shipston Youth club, if there are any projects already running, can I ask if anyone would be willing to take on some young people so they can complete a section of their award? The relevant sections are either volunteer or skills. So they could volunteer to help with a specific project, or learn gardening skills over a set time period.
I am also working with the youth club to accredit young people for any volunteer work that they do in the community. so if there are young people who are already working on a project then we may be able to get them points towards their GCSE's for example. We are doing this with the Shipston High School gardening club members.
Talking of which...the school has a gardening club and has grown herbs and veg - some of which has already been used in the school canteen..."local sourcing of food" - all credit to them. Any help or sponsorship would I'm sure be greatly appreciated.
And one final idea that has worked successfully elsewhere:
A scheme in Sheffield was set up 10yrs ago where members of a community could trade garden tools, seeds and books at a 'library'. This allowed people who could not afford the start up costs of creating their vegatable patch to access the necessary equipement and advice for free. It also provided the gardening community with in an informal place to meet up and encourage one another.
Kind regards
Guy Blacklock

Feeding Shipston in 2030 - the first step!

2009-09-09T22:02:00.011+01:00

There were 20 people at the first Transition Shipston Open Space entitled "Feeding Shipston and the Surrounding Villages in 2030" on Tuesday 8th September.

At the beginning of the meeting several local people who had already started producing food locally told of their experiences.

* Frances Lee (see photo) from Witchford showed slides of the allotment she and others had started in the village earlier this year when they managed to get a local landowner to provide a hectare of land for a peppercorn rent. There are now 12 allotment holders who have all produced good crops in their first year.

* Keith Finlay told how they had bought their smallholding of 9 acres at Rowborough 20 years ago and are now able to feed an extended family of around 12 people for most of the year from their produce. he said that other local land owners had recently offered him land to farm and he was now looking afer an extra 6 acres along the Fosse.
* Graham Collier explained how he had the idea of a community orchard in the Tysoe area, put an advert in the local magazine and had now formed a nucleus of interested people. They are putting in for funding.
* James Pavitt from Transition Stratford told how the transition food group there had taken over allotments in a large urban garden in Stratford and how the first year had been a resounding success.
* Liz Atkinson asked for any information about existing local food production to be entered into the Local Food Directory that she and some friends are compiling.

The Open Space then formed into discussion groups based around:
- local meat and fish production
- finding land
- Bees
- Orchards
The discussions resulted in many ideas for future projects which are to be discussed further at the food group meeting in the Black Horse pub at 7.30 on Tuesday 21st September. Anyone who is interested in local food issues and activities welcome.

Got ideas? Got inspiration? Want to get involved ? Join us for a series of Open Space sessions

2009-08-23T16:24:00.006+01:00

Transition Shipston will be facilitating a number of Open Space events to allow people to share there ideas for how we can tackle the threat of Peak Oil and Climate Chaos.

Open space events are designed to allow people and communities to share ideas there ideas on how a particular problem can be tackled, from these ideas practical projects and solutions can be established.

So if you've got some good ideas? Would like to get involved? or just would like to see whats going on, please come along.

The open space sessions will be on the following 3 topics: Food, Energy and Transport. These topics were popular areas concern and interest at the Age of Stupid film screening.

The dates for the Open Space sessions are as follows:

Food: Sept 8th at 7:00pm in the Community Lounge Shipston High School
Energy: Oct 6th
Transport: Nov 10th

Please look out for further info on the events.

We look forward to seeing you there

Please contact us, if you have any inquiries

Age of Stupid screening

2009-06-02T20:11:00.000+01:00

Join us for the Shipston-on-Stour premier of:

The Age of Stupid

7.30 Tuesday July 14th

Community Lounge, Shipston High School

with Pete Postlethwaite

Running time:92 mins

A drama-documentary exploring attitudes to climate change… Possibly the most important independent British film this century

“The first successful dramatisation of climate change to reach the big screen”… The Guardian

“Anything but a good-guys-versus-bad-guys polemic. It is angry but nuanced, despairing but strangely motivating”… New Statesman

“The film makes a pretty damn scary case for us to take climate change very seriously”… News of the World

“Fantastic. Knocks spots off An Inconvenient Truth”… Ecologist

Land appeal

2009-05-25T16:34:00.000+01:00

Transition Shipston is looking for land or unused gardens that can be used for community food growing and sharing. If you have land or know of suitable land contact:

Email us

Transition Shipston – Vision for 2030

2009-05-25T16:30:00.000+01:00

The first public meeting of Transition Shipston and the Surrounding Area was addressed last month by guest speaker James Pavitt a founding member of National Association of Farmers’ markets. James talked about how the predicted increase in the price of oil and climate change will effect food production and the local economy. He said that in three short years the idea of Transition Towns has spread to over 150 communities including Stratford, Leamington and even cities such as Oxford.

The meeting which was attended by around 30 people then discussed how we can make the town and surrounding villages more self-reliant so that the community can become more resilient in the face of future food and energy “shocks”.

There were many interesting areas discussed:

Food:

One suggestion was to start a Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) scheme similar to the Canalside CSA near Leamington where a local farmer has rented out 7 acres of his land to members of the local community who all take part in the growing and share the produce. Other ideas included turning unused open space into community gardens / orchards… and a School Farm.

Local Economy:

Re-invigorating the local economy is a primary aim of Transition Towns. Places such as Totnes in Devon and Lewes in Sussex have issues the own local currencies to keep more money circulating locally and encourage local shops. The idea of a local “loyalty card” to be issued by shops also raised some interest. Some people thought that greater publicity should be given to the positives of local shopping such as more local employment & opportunities. It was suggested that local shops could become the “Town Supermarket” if it was made easier to walk between shops as it is no further to walk around Shipston shopping area than a supermarket.

Energy & Transport:

Energy & Transport could be a major issue in Shipston and the villages around if predicted oil shortages occur in the coming years. The meeting discussed ways of reducing energy consumption by encouraging more “ecological building” and it was suggested that local energy advisers are needed. Bulk shopping orders could be made by people living in the villages to cut down on travel. It was suggested that the Mill could be re-opened as a mill and more use could be made of the river. Schools are able to get grants for sustainable energy such as solar panels and wind generators to cut down on their fuel bills.