– Below you can read an excerpt from the Transition Chepstow December 2015 Newsletter –
Festive Social Event
Wednesday, 9th December 2015 7:30 pm
Upstairs at the Lime Tree, Chepstow
Come and meet members old and new at Transition Chepstow’s annual festive get-together! Join us in celebrating an eventful year, we look forward to seeing you!
Why do we argue about climate change?
Thursday 3rd December 2015, at 7:30 pm
Coach & Horses Inn, Welsh Street, Chepstow
To coincide with the Paris International Conference on Climate Change, the Transition Chepstow Health and Consciousness Group is holding a pub forum on the topic. The proposed talk is particularly aimed at examining the public perceptions and the politics of climate change, looking at psychological and philosophical aspects of how disagreements over the science of climate change arise, and how they can be addressed. We have expert academic speakers from the University of Cardiff Climate Change Consortium: Dr Chris Groves and Dr Katherine Steentjes. All welcome.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
30th November – 11th December 2015
All eyes will be on Paris for this much anticipated climate conference. Keep an eye on the media to see how the negotiations develop. Time is running out for a meaningful global agreement but hopes are high for progress at this event.
Bristol Climate March
Sunday, 29th November 2015
http://www.bristolclimatemarch.org.uk/
Forest Walk for Climate Action
Saturday, 28th November 2015
A celebratory walk of Forest of Dean community energy projects and showing support for the Paris Climate Change talks. Route from St Briavels, via Alvington then on to Severndale Farm, Tidenham. Total estimate distance 14km (8.5 miles), estimated total walking time 3.5-4 hours, with the choice of walking part of it. The walk will be led, but please be satisfied you are fit enough to complete whatever you chose to do. If you’d like to discuss, please call Sid on 01594 368705.
Ones to watch?
Ahead of the COP21 Climate Conference, the BBC are running a series of radio programmes called ‘Changing Climate’ available on iPlayer.
See how people are pursuing alternative, low impact lives in the UK on Channel 5’s ‘Ben Fogles’s New Lives in The UK’?
Green investment in Wales
The Welsh Government is consulting on green investment options and you can have your say via their website.
Wildlife in Transition
Working with the Dell School PTA we have now dug over and replanted the flower bed outside the school. We have planted attractive garden flowers, all of which are known to be beneficial to wildlife and in nearly all cases to pollinating insects in particular. We found a female smooth newt in a pile of leaves and gave her a safer new home near the pond in the school conservation area. The planting is designed to be robust and fairly vigorous so maintenance will be relatively low. Best of all the plants were propagated from Transition Chepstow members’ gardens and were free! There is one exception – the lavender plants were kindly donated by Bee Friendly Monmouthshire. All the plants will be listed on our website soon, in good time before the growing season.
To get involved with ongoing activities of this group, you can send an email to wildlifeintransition@transitionchepstow.org.uk.
What’s on the menu for 2016?
Transition Chepstow’s Food group’s focus is to help promote and develop local and sustainable food supplies. We have worked with others to help develop events and projects including Apple Day, Hanley Landshare, the town orchards and the Local Food Challenge. We will be meeting to plan our 2016 activities on Tuesday 19th January 2016 (7.30pm) in the Regency Room, Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow. Have you got any tasty ideas you’d like to share? For more information contact Marcus via food@transitionchepstow.org.uk or 07944 468052. All welcome.
The town orchards need your help!
Transition Chepstow has worked with Chepstow Town Council to plant over 150 fruit trees throughout the town. The fruit is free for residents to take and this year we had a bumper crop! Join us when we will be checking the trees, stakes and ties, and pruning them ready for the next season:
- Sunday, 6th December 2015 at Tenby Lane, Thornwell
- Sunday, 13th December 2015 at Fairview (Opposite the Paddocks), Bulwark
- Saturday, 16th January 2016 at Chepstow Castle Car Park
- Sunday, 17th January 2016 at Welsh Street Car Park, Chepstow
For details visit the events pages on our website.
Chepstow Apple Day
Many people enjoyed Chepstow Apple Day this year, one of the most popular events held at the Drill Hall yearly. Thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Success at Monmouthshire Eco Open Doors 2015
Over 200 visits were made over the weekend in which local homes and other properties opened their doors to show how to save energy, generate energy and save money. The event was organised by Monmouthshire Community Climate Champions. Read the full report at: www.monecoopendoors.org.uk.
Group visit to SOLCER House
Members of Transition Chepstow and Transition Monmouth visited SOLCER House in September and were impressed that by using current local technology an energy positive house has been built for £1,200/sqm. Details can be seen at http://www.solcer.org.
If you are interested in this topic and would like to find out about future events, contact Phil at energy@transitionchepstow.org.uk, or come along to one of the monthly Energy Group meetings!
The next meeting is Wednesday, 2nd December 2015, 7:30 pm at The Beaufort Hotel, Chepstow.
See Upcoming Events
If you would like to find out more about our projects or events or to get involved, please get in touch!