Shipston Climate Challenge - Saturday 9th March

Shipston Climate Challenge
3.00 till 4.00 on Saturday 9th March
St Edmund's Church, Church Street, Shipston
Organised by Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities
To enter a team contact
Dave Passingham on 07973 846605, davepassingham@hotmail.com
The Climate Challenge is part of Climate Week. http://www.climateweek.com/
Climate Week is Britain’s biggest climate change campaign, inspiring a new wave of action to create a sustainable future. Culminating in a week of activities, it showcases practical solutions from every sector of society. Each year, half a million people attend 3,000 events in Britain’s biggest ever environmental occasion. Events are run by schools, businesses, charities, councils and many others. It is backed by celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney and organisations ranging from the NHS to the CBI.

The Climate Week Challenge is an exciting activity for teams of four to six people. It helps develop creativity, innovation and enterprise, team-working skills and experience of tackling real-life environmental issues to a deadline. The actual challenge will be given to each team on the day.

The Callenge will only take one hour of your time. The ideas from each team will be judged and the winning team for the Shipston area will be announced 4.30. The best ideas will be sent forward to the National Competition.

To enter a team contact Dave Passingham on 07973 846605, davepassingham@hotmail.com

In the next room to the challenge there will be a "SWAP SHOP" from 2.00 to 4.30 . Please bring items to swap.
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January / February 2013 Newsletter


Stop the Supermarket – Thursday 24th January 6.00

One of the main aims of Transition Towns is to help build the local economy by supporting local businesses and preserve existing small shops. This is not just nostalgia but a practical way that we can save local jobs and expertise. Experience has shown that when a supermarket moves into a town at a distance of more than 300 metres from the existing town centre the footfall in the centre falls drastically and the traditional shops start closing. This leads to the decline of a whole local supply chain involving not just food & goods suppliers but also many other suppliers (e.g. plumbers, electricians, shop fitters, printers, accountants etc.). See http://www.tescopoly.org/

Shipston is lucky in having one of the best traditional High Streets in the country. If the proposed ASL development on the Campden Road which includes a supermarket goes ahead it will inevitably lead to the decline of the town centre. The jobs that are promised by the supermarket will not make up the loss of local jobs. The jobs they offer will be low skill and low wage. With the weather we’ve been dealing with this week, it’s been noticeable that the supermarkets completely ran out of fresh produce but the local shops had an abundance of fruit and veg; meat; fish etc. Where would we have been in Shipston if we had relied on supermarkets during the snowy weather?

If you want to keep Shipston as a thriving Market Town come along and
OPPOSE THE ASL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE CAMPDEN ROAD
at the
Stratford District Council Planning Committee
6pm 24th Jan, Shipston High School



What Should We Put In The Recycling Bin?
On Friday Nov 30th a group from Transition Shipston visited the Material Recycling Facility (MRF) run by Pure Recycling in Ettington. This is where all our household recycling is taken to be sorted. It was agreed by all that it was a fascinating visit. The building is a massive hangar covered with conveyor belts and hoppers. Giant drums somehow separate the paper and magnets sort the metal. But most amazing was the optical sorting of the plastic into three different bins. Each plastic type is identified by a “magic eye” as the item passes along the conveyor, a nozzle then tracks the item and blasts a jet of air which blows it into the correct bin. This happens several times a second!
After the tour we had a very informative chat with one of the engineers in charge. We asked questions about exactly what we should be putting in our recycling bins at home. These are some of her answers:


Yes to soft plastic bottles and containers. No to Plastic bags
Yes to glass bottles and jars. No to other glass, e.g. windows, glasses
Yes to aluminium containers. No to plastic coated aluminium foil e.g. coffee packets



She said that although people put some quite inappropriate things in their recycling e.g. mattresses! Pure will find a company who will take it away for specialist recycling rather than it ending up in landfill. 85% of glass can be recycled. The remaining 15% is classed as dust and used as aggregate for roads and cement.

For more information on what happens to your material, please visit Pure Recycling's website for an in-depth look at the recycling process. Alternatively, you can watch a short film showing how the material is processed. http://www.purerecycling.com/home.html


Queen's Avenue Play Area & Orchard – Volunteers Needed
At a meeting with Wicksteed the chosen play equipment suppliers for the Queen's Avenue Park last week it was decided to go ahead with the first phase of the construction starting at the end of March. This would entail selecting the main items of play equipment that can be purchased for £35000 - which is the total amount of funding already committed.


In order to save some money it was agreed that the works listed below could be undertaken by local contractors and/or a volunteer group.


Volunteer Group Tasks
  • Removing rubber tiles and recycling.
  • Removing concrete bases and re locating swing A frames.
  • Re-filling the hole with top soil, rolling out and adding grass seed/turf.
  • 3 metre high kick fence can be erected any time before or after project. Can we source and install – Mike?
  • Pathway. Needs re edging with timber edging and re surfacing – to be completed after all construction work.
  • Orchard tree planting... Wicksteed will provide a grid drawing for location of trees so that they will not obstruct the installation of the play equipment at a later date..


The first volunteer day (date to be arrange) will need to to removal of rubber tiles/concrete swing bases. Could anyone volunteering please contact: Polly Taylor tinkers@btinternet.com or davepassingham@hotmail.com


WOULD YOU LIKE TO KEEP BEES?
A lot of people keep bees because they produce honey, one of the healthiest and most natural foods and one which has been valued by man since prehistory as a sweetener. Others keep bees because they are interested in the study of bees and of their habits; bees are fascinating creatures and there is always something new to learn about them. With no means of dealing with the varroa mite that is now present in all UK honey bee colonies, a feral honey bee nest is unlikely to remain viable for more than a couple of seasons. With the help of beekeepers it is only managed colonies that can survive to carry out the essential pollination our food crops. Beekeeping is an enjoyable open air hobby bringing you in contact with people from all walks of life. Bees can be kept by almost everyone except a very small minority who are allergic to bee stings.
Shipston Beekeepers are holding an “Introduction to Beekeeping” day on Saturday 9th March at the Old Free School, Brailes OX15 5HT.  The day will deal with the basics of beekeeping for the complete beginner or those with very limited experience of this craft.
Arrive at 09.30 for coffee prior to a prompt 10.00 start.  Refreshments, a light lunch and a practical beekeeping reference manual are included in the day’s price of £40.  The event is scheduled to finish at 15.30 approx.
Contact Douglas Nethercleft on 07850 352905 or djn0001@aol.com to book your place. Numbers are limited.



Local Portland Sheep Wool
This year I have produced wool from our flock of Portland Sheep , the oldest registered rare breed in England and our Black Welsh Mountain Sheep. I wondered if this locally produced, British Rare Breed, undyed wool, may be of interest to members of Transition Shipston. The wool is sold at the Shipston Needlecraft shop. See http://www.armscotemanor.co.uk/Armscote%20Manor%20-%20Portland%20Sheep%20Wool%20-%20Order%20Form.pdf
With best wishes
Deborah Williams

Brailes Gardening Club Talks

Brailes Gardening Club meets once a month at the Free School, Lower Brailes. Visitors and new members are very welcome. Talks start at 7.30 pm.

Future talks include:

21st February 2013
Rosemary Collier – ‘Controlling pests of vegetables’
21st March 2013
Neil Cook - 'The recreation of the gardens at Hanbury Hall'.
18th April 2013
David Willatts – ‘Twenty five years in Brailes - organic fruit and vegetables from my cottage garden’

To join the club, or for further information, please call Rosemary Collier on 01295 680127.
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November / December 2012 Newsletter

Contents:

£25000 for Queen's Avenue Play Area & Orchard
What happens to my recycling?
Visit to Recycling Centre
Diary
Norgren Planning Application – ACTION NEEDED
£25000 for Queen's Avenue Play Area & Orchard
The Queen's Avenue Park Action Group (which Transition Shipston helped to set up) has been awarded a grant for £25,000 from the SITA trust towards the purchase of new play equipment for the park. This is mainly due to the hard work of Polly Taylor. The total amount already raised now comes to £36000. It is hoped that Orbit Housing Association will add £10000 to this which will mean that work can start on the play area and orchard in the new year. Transition Shipston has raised £750 to buy fruit trees and shrubs for the community orchard which will be integrated into the play area. SITA have stipulated that Shipston Town Council commit to the maintenance of the equipment with the support of QAPAG fund raising throughout the year. Meanwhile the children from Shipston Primary School have voted a 'brilliant' park as one of the most needed things for kids in Shipston... they should soon have one.
For more information about QAPAG contact: Polly Taylor tinkers@btinternet.com               
What happens to my recycling?
Recyclable material is collected and taken to a Material Recycling Facility (MRF) run by Pure Recycling in Ettington. The mixed material is segregated using magnets, optical sorting and other technology until the different materials are sorted into separate waste streams.
Materials are then transported to specialist reprocessing facilities in the UK where they are made into new products. For more information on what happens to your material, please visit Pure Recycling's website for an in-depth look at the recycling process. Alternatively, you can watch a short film showing how the material is processed. http://www.purerecycling.com/home.html
Visit to Recycling Centre - Leaving Shipston High Street at 10.30 am on Friday Nov 30th
If you are interested in what happens to your waste there are still a few places left on the visit to the Pure Recycling Centre in Ettington to arrive at 11am on Nov 30th. We have been asked to wear walking boots or something similar with good tread on the sole (they have some pairs of boots if people really haven’t got anything suitable). We have also been advised that there are steps so it is not a suitable trip for anyone who cannot manage stairs unaided.
Contact geri@horsejoy.comto book a place and for car sharing etc.
 
Norgren Planning Application – ACTION NEEDED
Following the rejection of the their planning application for around 125 houses on the old Norgren site by Stratford District Council, Cala Homes have lodged an appeal. Below is an email from Jane Brabyn who has been leading the campaign against the development for the Shipston Heart Alive! Campaign. Please support her by objecting before November 27 if possible. You can send in an objection by email, and help with writing the objection, if needed, is included below.
PS. The next SHA!C committee is at 7.30 Thursday day 6th December at The George. All Welcome

From: jb@brabyn.com
To: jb@brabyn.com
Subject: Re: Shipston's planning horrors Resume
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:00:49 +0000
Application(s) reference: 11/02380/OUT
Planning Inspectorate Reference Number: APP/J3720/A/12/2185727/NWF
Dear Locals and Friends
Following my recent email to you, I understand from the Planning Manager in charge of the Cala Homes appeal that local opinion will again have a crucial influence on the inspector appointed to judge the case. It is therefore very important to write again with your comments and objections against this planning application.
This is very short notice as the deadline to make comments is 27th November. Any comments made after that date will not be considered (alas, the morass of council speake is so utterly mind bogglingly confusing I missed out on the importance of that date)
Could you therefore please send your comments and objections as soon as possible, quoting the planning references at the top of this email, to the following address: teamp11@pins.gsi.gov.uk
If you are stuck for inspiration you can resend any original letter you may have sent to the council, preferably slightly changing the wording. If you have lost it, or need reminding of the relevant facts I will print some suggestions below.
Thank you in advance for taking the trouble to read this letter and act on it. With your support and actions, we have got this far. Please, please help win the next round.
The infrastructure of Shipston is already overloaded by the proliferation of new housing built all round the town over the last 20 years.
The site is very prominent, especially from the West and North of Shipston where views from Ilmington Hill and the west will be ruined by the busy development and its accompanying lights
Shipston boundaries have always been confined in a linea river valley and should remain that way.
The proposed development is separated from the boundaries of the town by agricultural land
The proposed development is out of character with local architecture
Increased danger at the two already lethal crossroads on the A429 just outside Shipston
There would be risk of increased flooding
This development would exacerbate lack of parking in the town centre
The Norgren site was originally given planning permission to be extended because Shipston needed employment. It still needs employment.
The council's survey made in 2007 suggests that there are sufficient industrial units to provide employment in the town. This survey is out of date due to the proliferation of new housing . The latest reports state that there is an under supply of industrial land to serve the district's needs for the future.
The government’s new planning policy appears to facilitates permission for developers to ruin swathes of beautiful countryside by allowing developments in inappropriate positions. Does the government want to be remembered or allowing this happen?
There is a need to build houses but surely there are more appropriate sites than this hill top surrounded on 3 sides by an ANOB.
Why build yet another large development outside Shipston whose infrastructure is already heavily overstretched and inadequate for its existing population
The site really should remain industrial. Jobs are needed in and around Shipston and sooner or later - when times improve - that site could become a thriving business premises again providing local jobs - far more beneficial to the community than this frightful plan.
If this development is allowed, it will set a precedent for countless other unwelcome developments to be hurriedly forced on rural districts in the belief that they will help kick start our ailing economy. Look what happened in Spain when similar policies were enacted.
Official speak version which goes down well in the planning world if you can mimic it:
"I object to this development because it would create an unacceptable visual impact on the views across the Stour valley from the Fosse Way, which will be harmful to this key “gateway” to the Cotswolds AONB”.
“Further to the planning appeal, my/our objections still remain, in that ……”
the “harm arising from the permission being granted for the scheme will outweigh the benefits
J Brabyn
Telephone 01608 682235
jb@brabyn.com
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October 2012 Newsletter

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


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

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

Stalls at the Harvest Fayre:
Little Bird Soaps - Natural handmade soaps
www.littlebirdsoaps.com/
Mabel's Dairy - "Mabel's Marvellous Milk", from Ilmington
www.mabelsfarm.co.uk
Nicky Vickery Animal Artist
Old Farm – award winning home produced meats
www.oldfarmdorn.co.uk/
Lakeside Ethical Treats - chocolate, sweets and snacks.
www.ethical-treats.co.uk/
Shipston Scouts, Guides, Cubs
Contact: d.wright61@btinternet.com
Country Markets - local home grown produce, home made and hand-crafted goods
/www.country-markets.co.uk/moreton-in-marsh-gloucestershire-gl56-0as-i132.html
Shipston Community Arts
www.shipstoncommunityarts.org.uk/
Skylark - Organic Vegetables box scheme – deliveries to your door
www.skylarkorganics.co.uk/
Heath Farm Nuts - hazelnuts/cobnuts, walnuts, hazelnut oil and walnut oil.
db@swerfordheath.com
Alain Rouveure Galleries - Arts & crafts from Nepal
Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities – Sustainable community food growing, energy efficiency initiatives. Promoting a resilient local economy.
Olive Stall - olives and antipasti from Italy and Sicily
Queen's Ave Play Area action group - promoting the new design for the play area and orchard. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Queens-Avenue-Park-Action-Group/246427545399529
Snuggle Rugs – hand-knitted multi coloured mohair knee rugs
Contact: 664003
Hook Norton Honey - English honey including raw honey plus European speciality honey
Contact: morti@tesco.net
Liz Teall Pottery – hand made slip decorated earthenware pottery.
Cookies – mix of household goods, DIY, stationary, gardening & miscellaneous items.
Visit Cookies shop in Church Street, Shipston
Ridgeway Ice Cream – locally made ice cream
Shipston Heart Alive! Campaign – preservation of Shipston Town 
Holycombe holistic retreat centre – therapies, weekday classes and venue for weekend residential course. http://www.holycombe.com/ 
‘biss’/’bella due’ - Hand crafted jewellery + Dress agency/’recycled clothes’
Herbal Pantry - unusual herbs and spices alongside the traditional herbs.www.herbalpantry.co.uk
Eco Mum & Baby - Eco friendly & natural products
Avon Cat Rescue – handcrafts
    Contact :662553
Fibromyalgia Association - Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. Contact: gudrunberry@hotmail.com
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September 2012 Newsletter

Come and join us for the second annual
Transition Shipston & Surrounding Communities
Harvest Fayre
Sunday 30th September, 10am – 2pm

The Fayre is set to be a relaxed family day, where residents and visitors can buy local produce, find out more about environmental initiatives and indulge in some additional retail therapy. The free event will also showcase traditional crafts such as apple pressing and provide information on how to get involved in local environmental schemes, including “harvest share” and children's games.
Don’t forget that many of Shipston’s retailers will also be open to help you make the most of your Sunday in the town.

Fruit Picking / Harvest Share
For many years now old fruit trees and orchards have been neglected and the harvest left to rot. 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 who have pressed them for apple juice and made fruit pies. Last year the Scouts & Guides collected apples for their stall at the Shipston Harvest Fayre and made a good amount of money to boost their funds.
Despite these initiatives there is still tons of fruit in Shipston each year which goes to waste so we thought it would be useful to set up a wider "Harvest Share" group.If your group or Church would like to be involved we have an organising meeting at 7.30 on Wednesday 12th September at Verity Richardson's house, 11 Mill Street, Shipston-on-Stour, Warks. CV36 4AN . At the meeting there will be a short talk from Philip Morris who is from the very successful Stratford Harvest scheme.
If you are interested in attending please contact Helen Winnifrith at helenwin@tiscali.co.uk
or Dave Passingham 01608661816 davepassingham@hotmail.com
 
Basket-making Course
Also there will be a basket-making course at the farm on 5th October, run by Norah Kennedy. The materials are supplied and you will go home with a basket by the end on the day. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is £50 including a light lunch, drinks, etc. Places are strictly limited so book early to avoid disappointment
Details from: Sue Finlay 01608 661157 or sue.finlay12@btinternet.com
Heart of England Transition Networking‏

Meeting of Transition Town groups in and around Warwickshire

Saturday 22nd September, The Lodge, Leamington

We will be discussing how we can work together on our ‘bioregion’ towards planning for energy descent and the future. How groups can work together to look at issues and options that affect many areas – and even more so when there are many local factors in common. We hope to hold a consultation exercise to find out what the local communities want.

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August 2012 Newsletter

Proposed Supermarket: From a nation of shopkeepers to Clone Town Britain?
With the threat of a large development on Campden Road including a supermarket it is worth considering the affect that supermarkets have had on other towns. The following is from the Tescopoly website...

The UK's biggest supermarkets are grappling for ever greater market share. Small independent stores and suppliers, and ultimately consumers, are paying a direct price in the face of unfair competition. In the five years to 2002, 50 specialist stores including butchers, bakers, fishmongers and newsagents closed every week. In May 2005 the IGD revealed the loss of 2,157 unaffiliated independent convenience retailers, compared to only 1,079 the year before. Read more... http://www.tescopoly.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=176
Transition Shipston and Shipston Heart Alive” Campaign continue to work to defeat the Aiscough proposal.

Fruit Picking / Harvest Share
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 who have pressed them for apple juice and made fruit pies. Last year the Scouts & Guides collected apples for their stall at the Shipston Harvest Fayre and made a good amount of money to boost their funds. One of the main attractions at the Fayre was the apple pressing on another stall at the Fayre. This year we have a bigger apple press which will make the juicing easier and quicker.
Despite these initiatives there is still tons of fruit in Shipston each year which goes to waste so we thought it would be useful to set up a wider Harvest Share group. If you are interested in helping please contact
Dave Passingham 01608661816 davepassingham@hotmail.com

“Field Day” Raises £215
The Queen's Avenue Play Area Action Group raised a fantastic £215 at the 'Have a Field day' event on Sunday 15th July. Participants were able to run with the real Olympic Torch donated for the day by Andy Taylor who ran on day 56 of the Olympic Torch relay. Throughout the morning we saw approx 60 people visit the park - the most it's had in a long time! Polly Taylor the organiser said “It was great to see the park being used for picnics, football and kite flying! As well as our mini torch relay track. It created a wonderful atmosphere - exactly what the park should have all year round instead of a depressing, dead space.”
The group should hear soon whether their grant applications which total £60000 to provide a new play area with football pitch has been successful. Transition Shipston has already raised around £800 towards the fruit trees to be planted around the play area
Kineton Community Solar Panels
Finally and after considerable effort, Kineton has its first 'community' array of solar panels on the roof at Kineton Sports and Social Club. They went up this last week, paid for in part by an award, in larger part through loans provided by good members of the community. Mark Levene one of the organisers said “Our installer Eco2solar have been great and KSSC and ourselves at Kineton Community Energy Group (KCEG) are responding to their request to encourage a wider take-up by individual householders by holding an event in the KSSC hall in parallel with Getting Kineton Growing's and Apple Pressing day on Sunday 14 October”.
TRANSITION NETWORK UK CONFERENCE 2012

This year we are back in London, hosted once more by the wonderful Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) (where we were in 2009), and the Conference teams are in the thick of planning a weekend of events and workshops that explore the theme of "Building Resilience in Extraordinary Times".
We have an ambitious programme for this year's event, with 5 distinct elements, which can be attended as stand-alone events or in combination (dates permitting):
Main Transition Conference: Friday 14th September (6.00pm) to Sunday 16th September (4.30pm)

 
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