– Below you can read an excerpt from the Transition Chepstow September 2015 Newsletter –
Wildlife in Transition
Our survey work at Penterry Park and Piggies Hill shows that there is a great diversity of pollinator-friendly flowers and good habitat for wildlife. Rarer and more beneficial plants need poor soil with low nutrients and can be swamped out by vigorous plants such as grasses if the grass cuttings are continually left to enrich the soil. Therefore we are delighted to report that with help from Monmouthshire Meadows Group, we succeeded in getting Monmouthshire County Council to agree to collect the clippings on these sites. This will involve borrowing a specialist machine.
We also collected yellow rattle seeds at Penterry Park and will sow them back on site once the grass has been cut. This will help with the distribution of the seeds and give them a better chance of germination.
If you are interested in either of these projects, please contact Rose at wildlifeintransition@transitionchepstow.org.
Turning gardens and public spaces into more wildlife-friendly places
We are supporting the Garden City Community Group to create a sensory garden in the playing field. Plans include the planting of 5 trees, a willow tunnel, bulbs and wildflower seeds. You can contact the group through their website: http://www.gardencitygroup.org.uk.
Government measures on the renewals industry
It has been proposed to drastically cut the budget for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The changes include the end of the Green Deal energy efficiency programme designed to offer loans to households to install insulation and new boilers. It also ends tariff support for wind turbines and solar farms, including significantly reducing and ending the Feed-in Tariffs for smaller solar systems by January 2019. The FIT scheme pays people to feed electricity into the national grid from their solar panels. While its reduction is estimated to save only 1% (equivalent to £6) a year on people’s electricity bills, it will increase carbon emissions by about 1.6 million tons a year by 2020. Read the consultation on the FIT scheme online. The changes also end pre-registration schemes for community organisations that need time to raise funds for community energy projects. The announcements risk the loss of thousands of jobs in the solar industry. Read more about measures to cut renewable energy subsidies in the DECC’s press release.
Food For Thought Fortnight 31st August – 13th September 2015
Globally, one third of all food produced is wasted. There are two main reasons why we throw away good food: we cook or prepare too much or we don’t use it in time. The food currently wasted in Europe could feed 200 million people.
How to get involved:
- Join the ‘No Food Waste’ Challenge – How much can you reduce your food waste by in just a fortnight? Enter the prize draw to win a delicious hamper of local food!
- Post on the Facebook recipe exchange – How imaginative are you with using up leftovers?
- Use the tips on how to minimise your food waste, from changing your shopping habits at the supermarket to starting a home composting system.
For more details visit the Food For Thought page on our website and contact food4thought@transitionchepstow.org.uk for update emails and to register your interest.
Hanley Landshare’s bumper harvest!
We run a community food growing plot next to Hanley Farm Shop and this year has seen our best harvest ever!
We are welcoming local residents join us. You can work on the plot and take home free, fresh produce. Currently we are harvesting terrific French beans, runner beans, carrots, onions, courgettes, chard and potatoes.
To learn more about the project, visit us as part of Monmouthshire Eco Open Doors on Sunday 13th September 2015, 10am – 4pm.
More details: food@transitionchepstow.org.uk.
A sunny day at Chepstow Show!
Big thanks to Gwent Energy CIC who kindly sponsored the “Big Green Tent” at the Chepstow Show last month. It was a real pleasure to have our stand alongside other local groups that we work with on some of our projects: Chepstow Walkers are Welcome, Monmouthshire Meadows Group, Bee Friendly Monmouthshire, Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and Gwent Energy CIC. Our main focus was to promote this year’s No Food Waste and we featured displays about herbs and health, the community orchards and the town centre planters.
Town orchard fruit available!
Working with Chepstow Town Council, Transition Chepstow has planted and maintained over 150 fruit trees, mostly apple with a few pear and cherry trees.
The fruit is free for local residents to pick and many of the apples are now ready for taking. Details of the trees and locations can be found on our website.
Find out more and help with tree maintenance: food@transitionchepstow.org.uk.
Woodland and wildflower play area at Bulwark Community Centre
Keep Wales Tidy are organising volunteer days to create a woodland and wildflower play area at Bulwark Community Centre on Saturday 12th and Tuesday 15th September 2015, 10am-3pm. Equipment and training provided.
If you are interested in helping on these dates or with future events please contact Tom Ward-Jackson:
thomas.ward-jackson@keepwalestidy.org.
Wild About Gardens Week 26th October – 1st November 2015
There is a strong hedgehog theme this year and the website has some attractively designed and helpful information sheets to download. Please contact Rose if you’d like to organise something locally to link in with this: wildlifeintransition@transitionchepstow.org.uk.
Transition Network Conference 18th – 20th September 2015
The first international conference of the Transition movement will showcase some of the best and most innovative ideas and projects that have come out of the worldwide experiment in creating resilient communities.
Those who cannot attend in person can join a global webcast on Saturday 19th September 2015, 4:30pm.
Grow your own – a personal view
Nurturing home grown food gives such intense pleasure. It is a break from the everyday distraction of the ever conscious internet and mobile phone. Lately the warm evenings have allowed me time with nature using the watering can on maturing plants, observing birds nesting in the garden and accompanied by my red breasted friend. Early June saw apart from a little local chicken a home grown meal of chipped potatoes, salad of spinach, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and pak choi. Dessert of strawberries and elderflower cordial. The most satisfying meal this year for all the family. – Tim Melville
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