March & April News



Diary:
Friday 14th March 7.00 – Live & Local
Stretton-on-Fosse Village hall
Sunday 16th March 9.30 Queen's Avenue Orchard Planting
Queen's Avenue Play Area
Monday 17th March 7.30 Permaculture Group Pub Meet
Red Lion, Long Compton
Monday 24th March 7.30 – Transition Shipston Energy Group
Black Horse Pub, Station Road
Wednesday 26th March 6.45 - Queen's Avenue Play Area Group
Black Horse Pub, Station Road
Wednesday 2nd April, 7.30 – Transition Shipston
Black Horse Pub, Station Road

Live & Local Show - ‘MuHa’ in concert

March 14th at 8pm, Stretton-on-Fosse Village Hall

MuHa are an international band with Eastern European roots who bring together an original repertoire of contemporary folk songs with Russian lyrics and flavours from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

You’ve seen the flyers but want to know more? Visit the band’s website: www.muha.co.uk then phone me to book your tickets: Geri Hunting on 01608 662848. What better way to spend a Friday night – have a drink and share an evening of original music and fun with your local friends? Tickets still available!


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 of 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. We can all, however, play our part in supporting the honeybee and other pollinating insects by planting bulbs, shrubs and trees in our gardens - especially varieties that flower early in the year.
Introduction to Beekeeping
Shipston Beekeepers are holding an “Introduction to Beekeeping” day on Saturday 29th March at Oxhill Village Hall, Main Street, Oxhill CV35 0QU.  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 £45.  The event is scheduled to finish at 15.30 approx.
Contact Douglas Nethercleft on 07850 352905 or djn0001@aol.com to book your place. Places still available!

Community Energy Companies

Investing in community energy companies is an ethical option to saving in banks. There are now over 160 community energy companies in the country. Our own Community Energy Warwickshire has no projects ready for investment at the moment but here are some websites that list some other community energy projects that are open for investment from around the country:

1. Community Shares:
The Community Shares Directory contains all the key information for all enterprises considering or launching a community share offer.


2. Abundance

Abundance lets you take control of where your money is invested, by allowing you to put it directly into UK ethical and sustainable energy projects

Anyone can invest from just £5 and get regular returns of 6-9% IRR.


3. Sharenergy
Sharenergy is a not-for-profit organisation which helps communities find, build and own renewable energy generation throughout the UK.
You could:
  • Get involved in running your local green electricity generation plant
  • Invest some money and get a decent return
  • Provide an energy generation site and earn rent


4. Trillion Fund

Is a group of project developers, asset managers, energy boffins, tech geeks, journalists and campaigners who are all motivated by two things: helping people to do something important with their money and generating more clean energy for us to use.
They are called Trillion Fund because this name represents the scale of investment needed worldwide to prevent climate change reaching damaging levels. It's a huge number, but crowd investing in renewable energy projects is one answer.
They offer a portal to investments in renewable energy projects, whether they are crowdfunds, bonds or shares in a local co-operative or PLC.


5. Community Energy Warwickshire
Our local energy company has installed solar panels on Warwick and Stratford Hospitals but has no projects to invest in at the moment. Watch their website for future opportunities: http://www.cew.coop/


Queen's Avenue Community Orchard Planting

The next planting at the orchard is on Sunday 19th March when Shipston Cubs & Scouts will plant a hedge using the a free Wild Harvest tree pack awarded to them by the Woodland Trust. This includes 30 hazel, 30 blackthorn, 5 crab apple, 15 dog rose, 15 elder.

We are planning to plant herbs around flowers around the fruit tree and build a “log garden”. Anyone interested in helping contact Polly pollytaylor3@googlemail.com



Permaculture Orchard

The Permaculture Group are planning to convert an existing orchard into a permaculture orchard with pigs, chickens and bees. One of the key permaculture ideas being used is the “tree guild”. Here is a link to an example of how to build an apple tree centred guild http://www.scribd.com/doc/38483043/An-Apple-Centered-Guild-An-Excerpt-from-Gaia-s-Garden

The next pub meeting of the group will be at the Red Lion in Long Compton at 7.30 Monday 17th March. For more information contact Jenny Lanham – photojourno2003@yahoo.co.uk or join the 3 Counties permaculture group http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/3CP/info



Energy From Waste Visit

The Transition Shipston visit to the Northwick Biogas near Chipping Campden has now been arranged for Tuesday 29th April at 5pm. More information to follow.

For more information about biogas processing see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digester

If you would like to join the visit contact: Dave Passingham davepassingham@hotmail.com 01608 661816



20's Plenty
At the recent meeting of the Stratford Cycle Forum
it was agreed that the Forum should support and encourage the adoption of 20 mph speed limits in town centres across Stratford District rather than piecemeal. This would encourage walking and cycling and hence reduce congestion in Stratford and other towns across the District. This follows the recent adoption of a 20mph speed limit in Alcester High Street which was warmly welcomed by those present. It was also agreed that the Forum should join forces with Stratford Society in promoting traffic free areas within Stratford town centre.

The Cycling Forum consists of cyclists from across Stratford District. Cycling issues are discussed and suggested improvements to the cycling network are made. The Forum meetings are often attended by District and County Council officers and Councillors who take any matters forward. A recurring issue for cyclists is the number of potholes and the length of time taken to repair them. The meeting heard that in January Warwickshire CC had fixed only 24% of the potholes reported and that it ranks 99th in the list of UK highways authorities in this respect. Members of the Forum are planning to carry out surveys of the major roads in the town and provide WCC with suggestions for improvements.

For more information about the Cycling Forum contact andy.list@btinternet.com