On Saturday 27th March at 8.30pm local time people across the planet are being encouraged to turn off their lights for an hour.
Earth Hour is a very visual support for action on climate change and reducing energy usage. Individuals, organisations, companies and Governments are getting involved and it's estimated 1 billion people will turn off their lights.
Have a look at the Earth Hour website for some great videos and ideas for Earth Hour: http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/
Thoughts, news and comments from Transition Scilly
Friday, 26 March 2010
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
In Transition - film screening
On Thursday 25th March at 7.30pm Transition Scilly is showing the film In Transition. This is a film from about the theory and practice of Transition initiatives in the UK and around the world.
We'll also be showing an excellent talk that Rob Hopkins gave at the TED talks last July about the concept of Transition. He speaks very well and the production is superb.
Both are being screened at the Old Wesleyan Chapel on St Mary's. Entry is free and everyone is welcome - tea and cakes as per usual! Donations appreciated to cover costs.
If you can't make it you can watch In Transition here:
http://transitionculture.org/in-transition/
and the TED talk here:
http://blog.ted.com/2009/11/transition_to_a.php
We'll also be showing an excellent talk that Rob Hopkins gave at the TED talks last July about the concept of Transition. He speaks very well and the production is superb.Both are being screened at the Old Wesleyan Chapel on St Mary's. Entry is free and everyone is welcome - tea and cakes as per usual! Donations appreciated to cover costs.
If you can't make it you can watch In Transition here:
http://transitionculture.org/in-transition/
and the TED talk here:
http://blog.ted.com/2009/11/transition_to_a.php
Monday, 15 March 2010
Community orchard
On Sunday 7th March Transition Scilly organised a work session to plant the new Community Orchard at Trenoweth on St Mary's.
Over a dozen members, plus a dozen of the Five Island School's Green Team helped plant 58 trees, including apples, sweet chestnuts, plum, medlar, hazels and greengage. Every tree has has a mulch mat around it to stop weeds and a tree guard to stop rabbits gnawing at the bark.
It was a very productive day with lots of enthusiasm and a good basis for continued development of the orchard. At two thirds of an acre we think this is now the single largest orchard on Scilly and in five years time should be producing a significant amount of fruit. In 25 years time it should be producing tons! Those who help maintain the orchard get a share of the harvest.
Furthermore we hope this will stimulate the resurgence of a strong orchard culture on the Islands, with more people planting, maintaining trees and using the fruit from them. More on that to come later in the year.
For those who are interested, here's a list of what's been planted. All have been selected for taste and disease resistance, and many have wonderfully evocative names displaying a rich heritage.
Apples on MM106 (semi-vigorous rootstock) - mixture of eaters, cookers and cider
Over a dozen members, plus a dozen of the Five Island School's Green Team helped plant 58 trees, including apples, sweet chestnuts, plum, medlar, hazels and greengage. Every tree has has a mulch mat around it to stop weeds and a tree guard to stop rabbits gnawing at the bark.It was a very productive day with lots of enthusiasm and a good basis for continued development of the orchard. At two thirds of an acre we think this is now the single largest orchard on Scilly and in five years time should be producing a significant amount of fruit. In 25 years time it should be producing tons! Those who help maintain the orchard get a share of the harvest.
Furthermore we hope this will stimulate the resurgence of a strong orchard culture on the Islands, with more people planting, maintaining trees and using the fruit from them. More on that to come later in the year.
For those who are interested, here's a list of what's been planted. All have been selected for taste and disease resistance, and many have wonderfully evocative names displaying a rich heritage.
Apples on MM106 (semi-vigorous rootstock) - mixture of eaters, cookers and cider
- Adams Pearmain x 2
- Ashmeads Kernel x 2
- Egremont Russet x 3
- Fiesta x 3
- King of the Pippins x 3
- Lemon Pippin x 3
- Lucombes Pine x 2
- Newton Wonder x 2
- Plum Vite x 2
- Rosemary Russet x 3
- Scrumptious x 3
- Tom Putt x 2
- Winter King x 2
- Ashmeads Kernel x 1
- Beauty of Bath x 1
- Blenheim Orange x 1
- Cheddar Cross x 1
- Court Pendu Plat x 1
- Egremont Russet x 2
- Grenadier x 1
- John Standish x 1
- Katy x 1
- Newton Wonder x 1
- Pinova x 1
- Stirling Castle x 1
- Sunset x 1
- Taylors x 1
- Belle Epine x 2
- Bournette x 2
- Marlhac x 2
- Butler x 1
- Corabel x 1
- Opal
- Nottingham
- Oullins Golden Gage
Sunday, 7 March 2010
The Vanishing Bees
The honey bee has been the subject of much concerned and detailed scientific scrutiny over the past few years due to massive losses in bee populations. Bees not only provide us with honey, but are hugely important in pollinating crops - anything from apples and apricots to beans and strawberries.
The Vanishing of the Bees is a new film that uncovers some of the facts behind "colony collapse disorder" and unexplained bee losses.
Transition Scilly are showing the film on Thursday 11th March at 7.30pm in the Old Wesleyan Chapel on St Mary's. Entry is free and all are welcome.
If you can't make the film evening the DVD will be available in St Mary's library after the event.
Here's the trailer:
The Vanishing of the Bees is a new film that uncovers some of the facts behind "colony collapse disorder" and unexplained bee losses.Transition Scilly are showing the film on Thursday 11th March at 7.30pm in the Old Wesleyan Chapel on St Mary's. Entry is free and all are welcome.
If you can't make the film evening the DVD will be available in St Mary's library after the event.
Here's the trailer:
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Tar Sands
In Alberta, Canada lie vast reserves of bitumen, known as "Tar Sands". Essentially this is shale and sand with a high oil content that can, with a high input of energy, be refined in to liquid oil that can be refined in to petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, gas, etc.
Theoretically, this is an answer to the shortage of oil that North America faces, but it comes at a very high cost. Besides the threat of oil spills, conventional oil production is relatively unobtrusive as it's pumped from vast underground reservoirs. Tar sands however are the complete opposite.
It's like open cast mining on a vast scale. Vast tracts of pristine wilderness disappear, water courses are heavily polluted, there's severe localised air pollution and devastating effects on both wildlife and humans. The energy required to refine tar sands in to oil is immense.
A new film called "Toxic Fuels" is being released on March 15th, supported by The Co-Operative Bank. Have a look at the website here: http://toxicfuels.com/
This is a trailer for the film:
Theoretically, this is an answer to the shortage of oil that North America faces, but it comes at a very high cost. Besides the threat of oil spills, conventional oil production is relatively unobtrusive as it's pumped from vast underground reservoirs. Tar sands however are the complete opposite.
It's like open cast mining on a vast scale. Vast tracts of pristine wilderness disappear, water courses are heavily polluted, there's severe localised air pollution and devastating effects on both wildlife and humans. The energy required to refine tar sands in to oil is immense.
A new film called "Toxic Fuels" is being released on March 15th, supported by The Co-Operative Bank. Have a look at the website here: http://toxicfuels.com/
This is a trailer for the film:
Sunday, 21 February 2010
First film screening
This Thursday sees the launch of a series of film screenings from Transition Scilly. First up is a big budget film The 11th Hour, written and presented by Lenardo di Caprio.
Film starts at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th February in the Old Wesleyan Chapel on St Mary's. There will be tea and cakes, entry is free and anyone is welcome. Doors open from 7.00pm.
Rather than a description from me, judge for yourself from the trailer:
Film starts at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th February in the Old Wesleyan Chapel on St Mary's. There will be tea and cakes, entry is free and anyone is welcome. Doors open from 7.00pm.
Rather than a description from me, judge for yourself from the trailer:
Monday, 15 February 2010
Two good programmes
Two interesting series on TV at the moment that have strong connections with the principles of Transition (and a common link in Monty Don!) include:
Mastercrafts: Green Woodworking, where "Monty Don, a huge fan of traditional crafts, presents a series which celebrates six of the craft skills that built Britain and its heritage, ranging from thatching to stonemasonry."
http://bbc.co.uk/i/qsc3j/
My Dream Farm on Channel 4, where "Monty Don helps six families realise their dream of returning to the land". Watch here:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-dream-farm
Mastercrafts: Green Woodworking, where "Monty Don, a huge fan of traditional crafts, presents a series which celebrates six of the craft skills that built Britain and its heritage, ranging from thatching to stonemasonry."
http://bbc.co.uk/i/qsc3j/
My Dream Farm on Channel 4, where "Monty Don helps six families realise their dream of returning to the land". Watch here:http://www.channel4.com/programmes/my-dream-farm
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Nearly ready to plant the orchard
We had another good work session at Trenoweth Community orchard again today. About 12 people helped at some point during the day, where we continued getting the hedges in shape, moved all the hedge cuttings and stripped the old black plastic away from the arum lillies.
It was a lovely sunny day after 12 and it felt very sheltered from the cool Northerly breeze. The photos show some good work having been done and another...well, reflection?! Does Nick realise he's been caught on camera supervising the biscuits?
We're still on course for planting on 28th Feb, but will confirm nearer the time.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Community orchard taking shape
On Sunday 31st January several Transition Scilly members got together on a lovely sunny day at Trenoweth to help prepare the field for the new Community Orchard.
The land had previously been part of Trenoweth Horticultural Research Station and had been used for Narcissi flower trials. But as it was ancillary to the main parcel of land it hadn't been fully managed for a number of years so is in need of some improvement.
Hedges to the west and north of the plot needed some serious cutting, so we got in and started hacking back the Oleria and gorse in a dramatic way. Looks a bit serious to start with, but it'll improve the field no end in the long run.
Another work party is planned for Sunday 14th Feb from 10-4 where we should finish hedge cutting and have the field ready for planting a couple of weeks after that. Then it really will be an orchard!
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Nursery food
"You are what you eat" is a simple statement that gets right to the heart of the relationship between our landscape, society, human health and economy. Eat good, wholesome food from your local area - and of course a balanced diet, and the short and long term health benefits are immense.
It seemed to take our society about 25 years to work out that in fact we may not be giving our children the best food at school, and that this has a huge impact on learning, behaviour and grades. Fortunately this has been addressed on a national scale, led by people like Jamie Oliver and carried on by great projects such as Food for Life.
We've also realised that perhaps hospitals are not providing the best food to help patients recover, though sadly this has not been addressed on a national scale.
It's particularly shocking then that children in Nurseries appear to be fed on absolute rubbish right up and down the country. The Soil Association report Georgie, Porgie, Pudding and Pie found that many nurseries were spending as little as 25p per child on food. Much of this food had additives and ingredients banned under school nutritional standards.
The effect that such poor food has on young developing minds and bodies can't be underestimated. Trends towards weight gain and obesity start in the under 5's, so we're saving up massive health problems for society in the future if such trends continue.
A "Better Nursery Food" campaign has begun here: http://www.nurseryfood.org/
It seemed to take our society about 25 years to work out that in fact we may not be giving our children the best food at school, and that this has a huge impact on learning, behaviour and grades. Fortunately this has been addressed on a national scale, led by people like Jamie Oliver and carried on by great projects such as Food for Life.
We've also realised that perhaps hospitals are not providing the best food to help patients recover, though sadly this has not been addressed on a national scale.
It's particularly shocking then that children in Nurseries appear to be fed on absolute rubbish right up and down the country. The Soil Association report Georgie, Porgie, Pudding and Pie found that many nurseries were spending as little as 25p per child on food. Much of this food had additives and ingredients banned under school nutritional standards.
The effect that such poor food has on young developing minds and bodies can't be underestimated. Trends towards weight gain and obesity start in the under 5's, so we're saving up massive health problems for society in the future if such trends continue.
A "Better Nursery Food" campaign has begun here: http://www.nurseryfood.org/
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