Glastonbury Town Hall, May 30th 2009, 1pm - late

AA gguuiiddee ttoo aallll tthhee SSoommeerrsseett TTrraannssiittiioonn ggrroouuppss

hear about

learn about

see

hear about

enjoy

Peak Oil with

with

with

with

Jeremy Leggett

Sustainable Communities Steve Shaw

A Farm for the Future

Transition Timelines

Rebecca Hosking

Shaun Chamberlin

Music bySeize The Day...workshops, networking, films, fun and more!

www.transitiontowns.org/Somerset

- from cheap, plentiful oil to a sustainable energy future

- what's in the Sustainable Communities Act for your community?

- beautiful BBC documentary about the future of farming

- how to map a path to a better, low-energy future

- fantastic, fun, fired-up Somerset folk with an environmental twist

2

This isn't the usual Transition Glastonbury newsletter. It's more of a Transition Somerset directory. We hope you'll be inspired when see what's happening around and about in Somerset: the UK's first Transition County.

We've received information from all the Somerset groups we could find. Sorry if we missed yours! One thing becomes clear when you read it: even though the way we live has been bent out of sustainable shape by plentiful cheap oil, the seeds of Transition have been sown. No matter if it's we how grow our food, work, travel, build and heat our homes, or treat our illnesses, you can see that someone near you is either doing something about it, or thinking of a better way.

That gives me what someone once described as the best sixth sense of all: a sense of wellbeing. Here in Glastonbury, we're facing the challenges of organising Somerset in Transition on May 30th. This challenge pales when compared to what we might have to face in the not-too-distant future, but we'll get there, together. See you on May 30th!

NNoott yyoouurr uussuuaall nneewwsslleetttteerr

FFrroomm tthheerree,, ttoo hheerree -- aanndd bbeeyyoonndd Linda Hull writes:

It's been a long but productive year since our last – and first! – Transition Somerset gathering in Glastonbury in March 2008. Many of you have told us that you found that event very inspirational, helping to catalyse activity in your own towns and villages. The most important feeling that you reported leaving with last year was a sense of belonging - reassured that people from all walks of life all over the county agree that we must reduce consumption, produce locally and, perhaps most importantly, act together.

Transition Glastonbury is delighted to host again this second annual gathering on May 30th, in association with fellow Transitioners from Street, Wells, Frome, Langport and Athelney. We have decided on four key aims for 2009:

1. To build the Somerset network2. To cement our bridge-building with local government3. To inspire more people to become active4. To involve people new to Transition in a practical experience of community in action

The Somerset network has grown in an organic fashion, as a small group of us have worked hard to reach out to other community-based 'champions' in every district. In some cases, this has led us to well-established groups of long standing. In others, we have found brand new groups riding

3 on the Transition wave. All of us share broadly common objectives and ways of doing things, so why not collaborate to share best practice, spread learning and avoid reinvention of the wheel - not to mention the strengthening of our collective voice in calling for the issues we are concerned about, and the visions we harbour, to be taken seriously…

This becomes increasingly important as progress is made in enacting the landmark resolution, passed unanimously in July 2008 by Somerset County Council in support of the work of community based groups in the transition to a low carbon economy. Representatives from all five districts met with Council Leader Jill Shortland in March 2009. In addition, SCC is also taking the first steps to becoming the first Transition Local Authority in the country, and to this end senior councillors and officers took part in a Transition Seminar led by Transition Network Trainers - including Rob Hopkins - in April 2009.

We hope that this year's event will attract new people who may have heard much about Transition over the last year. It's an idea whose time has come and is a seed that is falling on fertile soil across the country and around the world. There are now more than 160 'official' Initiatives in the UK and abroad, and people are mulling over Transition ideas on four continents. There are at least 23 Transition groups, both official and 'mullers', in Somerset alone!

I strongly believe that real and lasting changes happens at the local level – for good or ill. The Transition model gives us an abiding set of principles embedded in an ever evolving framework, which changes and expands in accordance with our experience of putting it into practice in our communities. It's challenging, it's rewarding, and ultimately, it's empowering. It's up to all of us to take the opportunity offered to us now – to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty in the physical building of resilience, finding cause to be hopeful in the process!

We invite you therefore to come to the space we will create in Glastonbury on May 30th and to bring what you hope to find – your ideas, enthusiasm, passion and drive – and to share them with others from across the county. Let's work together to pull off something astonishing in Somerset – the Transition to a sustainable society through strong fruitful partnerships and shared visions!

May you be inspired to get active at "Somerset in Transition 2009"

Sowing the seeds...

4 SSoommeerrsseett CCoouunnttyy CCoouunncciill''ss rreessoolluuttiioonn ooff 2233 JJuullyy 22000088The Council RESOLVED to adopt the following resolution:

That this Council

1. acknowledges the work done by communities in Somerset on Transition Towns and that the independence of the Transition Movement is key to its grass roots appeal

2. as demonstrated in its Climate Change Strategy, fully endorses the Transition Town Movement and subscribes to the principles and ethos of the organisation’s goals to reduce dependence on fuel oil and create more sustainable communities

3. commits to providing support and assistance to all towns in Somerset that wish to join this initiative to help them achieve the goals they set for themselves as local communities, as demonstrated under the 'Community Initiatives' section of the Climate Change Strategy

4. therefore, requests the Scrutiny and Executive Committees to consider through the council’s strategic planning process:

- allocating funds to assist in achieving the outcomes of the Transition Towns Movement in Somerset.

- requiring all directorates to engage with and provide support for Transition Initiatives in Somerset

5. through the work outlined above, seeks to become the first Transition Authority in the UK

6. agrees to undertake a review of its budgets and services to achieve a reduction in dependence on fuel oil and produce an energy descent action plan in line with the principles of the Transition Initiative.

Wilf Peddle has been delivering local eggs in the same Morris van since the 1960s. He used to be 'behind the times': but has he really been ahead of them all along?

5 TTrraannssiittiioonn SSuunnddaayy aatt tthhee SSuunnrriissee CCeelleebbrraattiioonnThe Sunrise Celebration festival is to be held on a new site near Bruton, from the 28th - 31st May 2009.

Sunrise is renowned for being one of the greenest and most creative festivals on the scene, with 6 stages, cutting-edge info presented in talks and forums, workshops on crafts, alternative technology and earth energies, Circus and walk about performance, dance, art installations and a family vibe. This year the Sunday of the event is dedicated to the Transition movement.

Sunrise is powered on 100% renewable energy sources and ethically sourced bio-diesel generators, and has a site-wide organic and local food policy, which is at least 80% fulfilled. Plates, glasses and cutlery are all biodegradable,as are the cleaning and washing products. Other initiatives include compost toilets and a team of volunteer 'eco-rangers' who help inspire people to be green and educate them on the various recycling and reuse initiatives. There will be a Fashion in Transition area, with garments produced by local designers, including recycled and vintage items, and an ethical fashion show.

Transition Sunday will be a site-wide contribution to the Transition theme with representatives from Transition groups displaying info and answering questions in the Transition Tent. People from each well-established group have been invited to host the space and share their experiences.

There will be talks in the Sunrise Natural Be-In tent from and an array of speakers on the Transition Movement including Shaun Chamberlin (see below), leading UK permaculturist Patrick Whitefield, Jeremy Leggett (see below), Dearbhaile Bradley, 2nd Bard of Glastonbury, with 'An Introduction to Heart and Soul work', 'Starting a Transition Initiative' from Linda Hull, and a forum discussion on Transition UK with Shaun Chamberlin, Linda Hull and Dearbhaile Bradley, chaired by Anne Lamot.

Tickets are £99 for adults (kids £25) with family discounts for all four days, and £35 for Transition Sunday only, from Bristol Ticket Shop (0845 108 0259) and Gothic Image, Glastonbury. See www.sunrisecelebration.com or find us on Ecomotion. Enquiries: info@sunrisecelebration.com or 0845 009 4463.

Maypole dancing during the AvalonCAN May Festival

6 WWhhoo''ss ccoommiinngg ttoo SSoommeerrsseett iinn TTrraannssiittiioonn??Jeremy LeggettA geologist by training, Jeremy began his career as a consultant for the oil industry, having received funding from the Royal School of Mines as well as oil companies BP and Shell, but later became an environmental campaigner for Greenpeace, before evolving into a social entrepreneur and author.

He has written several books including Half Gone: Oil, Gas, Hot Air and the Global Energy Crisis (Portobello, 2005: also published in the US as The Empty Tank) and The Carbon War: Global Warming and the End of the Oil Era (Penguin, 1999). These books examined the issues of oil depletion and global warming.

He spent the 1980s in the service of Big Oil, as a geologist and faculty member of the Royal School of Mines in London, and the 1990s as top campaigner for Greenpeace International. Jeremy Leggett later became the founder and is currently executive chairman of Solarcentury, the UK’s largest independent solar electric company.

In 2007, Leggett stated that he believes global oil production would peak in 2008, give or take two years. He has called for a mass withdrawal from fossil fuels and advocates that coal should be left in the ground. Leggett has been critical of the lack of reporting by the British mainstream media on the economic imperatives of climate change abatement. Leggett is known for his support of microgeneration technology in the fight to abate global warming.

He is an open and engaging speaker, and will be hosting a question and answer session as part of his presentation. (text mostly from Wikipedia)

Shaun ChamberlinDark Optimism is the not-for-profit public interest research work of Shaun Chamberlin, working with a wide network of friends and partners nationally and internationally.

He writes: "I read Philosophy at the University of York and went on to work, at various times, as a teacher, a massage therapist and the manager of a learning centre for marginalised groups. Since 2005 I have devoted myself full-time to exploring the challenges facing our global community, and how we can enable a resilient, sustainable and joyful shared future."

What is Dark Optimism?

Dark Optimism is, in part, a way of seeing life which is not afraid of seeking the truth - even when that truth is unpalatable or feels overwhelming. By exploring the unknown we can see it for what

7 it is, rather than what we might fear it to be. Where there is darkness present we face it with an indomitable belief in the potential of humankind.

The Dark Optimism name is a vehicle for the work and ideas of Shaun Chamberlin, which epitomise that perspective. It is unincorporated, and works with a wide range of colleagues and collobarators, specialising in uncovering the underlying fundamentals in the areas we study. This has led our work together to date to focus on energy and the environment, the two crucial areas without which all others are unable to function.

We are unashamedly positive about what kind of a world humanity could create, and unashamedly realistic about how far we are from creating it today.

Out of this viewpoint comes a firm determination to do what we can to create the world we believe everyone wants to live in - one which is peaceful and creative, resilient and exciting, and one in which we all have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

www.darkoptimism.org

Steve ShawNational Co-ordinator, Local Works - promoting the Sustainable Communities Act. Local Works is a project of Unlock Democracy

National Co-ordinator for the Local Works coalition. Grew up in Sydney, Australia. Studied Economics at Exeter. After working in the City of London as a consultant, took a U-turn and went to work for Friends of the Earth on Parliamentary Campaigns, and then an All Party Parliamentary Group on climate change. Last year he worked on the Climate Change Bill (now Act) campaign and is currently working on the Fuel Poverty Bill campaign as well as promoting the use of the Sustainable Communities Act.

Over the next 10 years he intends to campaign to see new laws that allow the following: full scale citizens initiated referenda at local and national level, a change to our system of voting to a more representative one and the right for citizens to initiate a recall of elected representatives outside of election time.

www.localworks.org or www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk

Rebecca HoskingRebecca Hosking grew up on a south Devon farm before pursuing a career as a wildlife filmmaker. Her film 'A Farm for the Future' shows the issues she is having to face in returning to her family farm and making it truly sustainable – freeing it from the cheap fossil fuels that underpin most modern agricultural methods. Rebecca has been credited for drastically reducing

8 the use of plastic bags in Modbury in Devon, through her skills as a campaigner and persuader, after she witnessed the effects of waste plastic on marine wildlife in the Pacific.

The wealth of beautiful images in A Farm for the Future serves to underline the urgency of her task. She writes (in the Mail on Sunday): "I was under no illusion that being a farmer would be easy, but last year's fuel crisis, with oil prices continually rising, was a wake-up call for me."

"Our costs went through the roof – animal feed, diesel for the tractors, agricultural contractor bills – but the biggest rise was the price of fertiliser. We use very little chemical fertiliser, but many farms were driven to bankruptcy."

"For my part, weaning our farm off fossil fuel is all I can do. People have suggested I sell the farm and make more money in a heartbeat than in a lifetime of working the land."

"But how can I turn my back on the place that made me who I am, and my father, and his father before him? Despite the fact that I'm taking over at a time when farming is facing unprecedented challenges, I'm going to do my best to make this a farm for the future."

The film explores low-energy alternatives, such as Permaculture and Forest Gardening, and features permaculture expert Patrick Whitefield, who is active in Transition Glastonbury and will be present on May 30th.

Seize The DayLively, well-crafted songs, a vibrant stage act - and committed environmentalists.

www.seizetheday.org

EEnnggaaggiinngg yyoouunngg ppeeooppllee iinn TTrraannssiittiioonn iinniittiiaattiivveessSo how do we get the younger generation involved? Some I have talked to say they feel helpless; that they might as well enjoy the moment as it's all going down the pan anyway; that there's really no point in doing anything. And lets face it - there's so much bad news that all of us can feel overwhelmed at times. We can only cope with just so much of it, and then it's a natural mechanism to switch off, go into avoidance and seek distraction. The younger generation are not alone in adopting that strategy! So with this in mind, how do we make a start?

In Glastonbury, we are partnering with The Somerset Youth Volunteer Network, who work with young people between 16 and 25. Their focus is empowering young people to get involved with local conservation projects, and as it's youth-led, anything else they might dream up. They are a Somerset-wide network and are keen to partner with Transition initiatives across the county.

Jane Sanders writes:

9

MMaappppiinngg aa ppaatthh ttoo aa ssuussttaaiinnaabbllee ffuuttuurree

They put us in touch with the Somerset Youth Parliament, who have made a commitment in their manifesto to engage with green issues. We are hoping that both groups will be represented at our May event.

Another thing we are piloting in Glastonbury is Ecomotion, a social networking site with a difference: www.ecomotion.org.uk. This a medium that lots of young people are using to communicate and organise their lives. Ecomotion seeks to bring people together online to create action offline and get people enaged with their communities. It's still early days with ecomotion - it's just getting ready to launch properly - but see what we've done so far at www.ecomotion.org.uk/?id=-2514

We also hope that having a presence at festivals like Sunrise will make a difference. Ideas on a postcard please - although an email will do! It would be great to hear about how different groups are doing this. Email me: janesiran@yahoo.co.uk

Book review: Transition Timelines by Shaun Chamberlin. A wide-ranging analysis of our present situation from a Transition perspective, focusing on peak oil and climate change.A Transition timeline is a vision of the future, where the path from now to then is made practical by 'backcasting': you get together and imagine where you want to be in, say, 30 years time, and find ways of getting there, step by step, detailing milestones and creating possible solutions. It's a positive vision, not a bad dream of 'doom and gloom'. It's also a way of involving the whole community in finding physical and knowledge-based resources, thereby creating 'local resilience' – or an Energy Descent Plan.

This is not the kind of book you read in a couple of days: it's more one of those books you can keep coming back to as your own personal understanding moves forwards, and as such it's a very good tool. The timelines aren't actually the main focus: it's more about peak oil and climate change, and is very well researched.

What impressed me most was the clarity of analysis of our present situation. He takes a long, hard look at subjects like food, energy and transport, and if you don't initially understand why we can't continue with 'business as usual', after reading the second part, you will.

It's hard to make predictions, especially ones about the future. Chamberlin and I differ about a thing or two. I don't see the government as having the biggest role in Transition - you and I do – but we'll have to wait and see whose crystal ball needs servicing. The point is not who's right, but that we're playing the same music - albeit with different instruments.

10

''TThhrroowwaawwaayy'' iitteemmss -- aa uusseeffuull rreessoouurrcceeThe time of making artistic statements about how wasteful we are is over: the time to make useful products that drive positive change is here. In other words, the Resources group workshops have started at Bridie's Yard on Sundays from 2pm.

We aim to generate uses for unwanted items, and create markets for the products we make from them. The ultimate mission is to create enough value from waste to sustain a living for someone.

Our approach is about:

- creating a productive and inspirational environment, where people can help each other to develop products. - working with other local organisations such as scrap stores and Transition Towns to generate a collection network for currently non-recyclable items. - launching a collection network for the tools required to turn these items into useful products, and a £1 donation network that can help the group buy materials. - conceptualising, designing and building prototypes of useful and saleable products out of these items, then improving them. - restoring the tools required to do this and developing simple manufacturing aids to make these products quicker and better quality. Anyone got any tin snips? - setting up a place for people to sell them. We're starting at the Byzantium Bazaar from 2-6pm on Tuesdays in the Assembly rooms.

If someone can make a living from waste, they'll be able to keep on doing it. This has great potential to reduce the actual amount of waste that we produce - currently enough to fill a football stadium every couple of hours!

I doubt that the benefits of minimising waste need explaining to most Transition folks, but you can have fun and meet people at the same time! We also eat together, cooking with food from the co-op at Bridie's Yard.

If you are interested in becoming a resource collector for the group then please send an email to kieran@sseeds.co.uk titled 'Resource Collection.' We also need some tools, if you've got any to donate.

I liked the section (written by Rob Hopkins) which gave details of what's actually happening on the ground with regard to timelines. Totnes and Lewes have been hard at work and this section complements the Transition Handbook nicely.

Later in the book, Chamberlin really gets into his stride with an excellent analysis of peak oil and climate change, which is what this book is really about. It's easily read and full of good information, both for people new to the subject and for those who've been studying for a while. Knowledge in these areas, and how they interact, is very much a moving target these days, and in my opinion, Chamberlin makes a first-rate contribution to both the debate and the body of knowledge, and makes it accessible to the layman too.

That's a very good thing: if anything jumps out of these pages, it's the urgency of the tasks we need to face before oil peaks and the crisis - perhaps - begins to bite.

The Transition Timeline, for a local, resilient future. Shaun Chamberlin, Green Books/Transition Network, 2009, ISBN 9781900322560.

Kieran Vanden Bosch writes:

11

Here's your guide to Transition in Somerset. We've done our best to include 'official' Transition initiatives, those who are mulling it over, those who are just aligned to the Transition movement, and a few more besides. This is not a fully comprehensive list: sorry if your group is not included. If you know of a group that should be mentioned here, we can still put you on the new Somerset in Transition webpage (see below) and include you in the Transition Somerset event programme, if you hurry up and email us at transitionglastonbury@googlemail.com.

Check www.transitiontowns.org/Somerset - it's a wiki-based 'portal' to all the Somerset Transition groups, jointly created and maintained by everyone. If you want to add or edit your details or events there you'll need a password - email us or contact any of the existing users. You can find the group details at www.transitiontowns.org/Somerset/groups.

This is what the Somerset groups have to say about themselves (in alphabetical order):

Transition AthelneyTransition Athelney emerged out of "Save It" North Curry and a similar group in Stoke St Gregory. The name derives from the ecclesiastical benefice covering this rural area, also incorporating Lyng and Burrowbridge. It lies roughly midway between Taunton and Langport.

In May 2009 Transition Athelney is approaching an important threshold, with work underway on a constitution, a website coming together, a logo designed and formal affiliation to the Transition Network within sight. Meanwhile, four action groups have been under way since Autumn 2008, with films, discussions and awareness-raising activities.

The action groups are food & agriculture, household energy, woodland and education. The first three have each adopted one scheme to date: garden sharing, tree planting, and a scheme to make monitoring energy use accessible to all. Education interweaves with everything and has included an 'eco treasure hunt' for young children and their parents, a peak oil and climate change book and film library, and arranging talks to local groups and societies to deepen our links and outreach.

Transition Athelney enjoys a fruitful connection with the Taunton and Langport initiatives and aims to contribute to Somerset in Transition. We anticipate critical discussions in the future about shifting relationships between town and country.

Contacts: Adrian Tait adrian.tait@virgin.net or Brian Jeans bkjeanes@f2s.com

Transition Bruton Transition Bruton comprises a small group of Bruton folk who are placing a focus on how to live more sustainably, with particular interest in what can done at a very local level. It strongly supports initiatives such as shopping locally and encouraging local food production. The aim is to encompass many broader issues including waste, transport, education and energy and to find ways of living more cost-effectively, which is especially relevant in the current economic downturn. One of their key projects this year is to start a Bruton Community Garden project and

SSoommeerrsseett''ss ggooiinngg ggrreeeenn aallll oovveerr!!

A deer - for no particular reason

12they are currently investigating potential land. They also hope to get schools and local people involved in local conservation projects.

Contact: Tia Cusden 01749 813220 or transitionbruton@gmail.com

Cheddar Valley in Transition There are a number of groups in the Cheddar Valley encouraging their communities to look at ways of reducing their carbon impact on the environment. The latest of these has started in the last couple of months when a group of people from Cheddar and Draycott have been meeting to consider community projects and take these forward.

Contact: Suzanne Green 01934 744095

Chew ValleyIn some areas of Somerset it makes sense for small village communities to team up with other nearby communites to form an umbrella group. This is the case with the Chew Valley group.

This is a very recent new initiative that encorporates several different green groups such as Transition Wrington, Go Zero and Target 80, and includes people from Chew Stoke,Chew Magna, Blagdon, Wrington, Markesbury, Bishop Sutton and others.

Contacts: Wrington - Phil Neve phil@brilliantfutures.co.uk Target 80 - Denise Perrin dcathperrin@hotmail.com 01275 333867 or 07973 148699 and Ian Roderick mail@dovetail.co.uk

Bath & Wells Diocesan Environment Group (DEG)This is not a transition initiative but we thought it was worth a mention here as its a Somerset wide network. www.bathandwellsenvironmental.org.uk

Contacts: David Osbourne osbornepilton@ukonline.co.uk or Brian Kellock brianckellock@brianckellock.plus.com

Sustainable Frome Sustainable Frome - Town in Transition - is a practical and ethical network of individuals and groups working towards creating a vibrant and sustainable community. Special interest groups include: Transport, Land and Food, Spirituality, Greener buildings, Energy, and Waste. Projects include a new car club, the development of an electric car, weekly allotment demonstration (Dig with Des), and also Make and Mend every week. There is a regular meeting every first Thursday of the month at the Masonic Hall, North Parade, Frome at 7pm, with local food to share, followed by a meeting and often a talk or activity. This is attended by around 70 people of all ages. A full programme of events can be found on the website, including a Green Fair and an evening event with Rob Hopkins in July 2009. www.sustainablefrome.org.uk

Contact: Annabelle Macfadyen 01373 466399 annabelle@gn.apc.org

Transition Glastonbury Transition Glastonbury is a group of local people who've come together to create a better future for our town and surrounding area. We believe we're starting to experience the twin challenges of climate change and the end of cheap oil - and that neither of these are going to go away anytime soon.

But we don't want to focus on the problem: we want to focus on the solution. So we ask you to imagine a "holiday brochure to the future". Let's imagine we're 30 years in the future. How would we like to be living? Simpler lives? More time for our children? Less financial pressure? More fresh food all year round? A greater sense of rootedness where we live? If your answer to any of these

13is yes, you might want to join us. We believe that strengthening our local community is the way forwards: it's easier than trying to go it alone, and more effective than waiting for the government.

You don't have to share any particular beliefs in order to take part. We welcome anyone who wants to see a better future for Glastonbury. Many people want to know the facts about issues like peak oil and climate change, so we organise events where you can meet people and discuss and learn - but we also know that a lot of people want to get going and ACT! So we have many local groups and room for more; each is autonomous and runs its own projects. Currently, there are groups around Food, Energy, Transport, Low-Impact Buildings, Heart and Soul, Awareness Raising and Health. www.transitiontowns.org/Glastonbury

Contact: Linda Hull 01458 835001 or transitionglastonbury@googlemail.com

Ilminster - South Somerset Climate ActionFounded in October 2005, South Somerset Climate Action isn't an official Transition initiative but is very happy to be aligned with transitioners.

We have a gardening group and a loose group of energy generation enthusiasts. We have been meeting approximately monthly for the last three years and have held six major events with up to 160 people – 'How we can Save the Planet', with Mayer Hillman and Rosie Boycott; showing of An Inconvenient Truth - three times; and most recently, a discussion of Severn Energy Generation with 77 people. www.southsomersetclimateaction.org.uk

Contact: Joe Burlington joe@jburlington.co.uk 01460 55323 or drop a line to SSCA 27 East Street, Ilminster TA19 0AN.

Pilton Goes Green group including the villages of

Croscombe, Dinder and North Wooton This group has been going for about two years. Their aim is to encourage people to develop greener lifestyles which sounds quite transitiony to us - though they are not an official Transition initiative. They have been focusing on awareness raising through events. Currently they are planning an evening event focusing on food which will be sometime this summer and a Green fair which is taking place on October 11th.

Contact: David Osbourne osbornepilton@ukonline.co.uk

Sustainable StreetSustainable Street is in its infancy, having only had one meeting so far, and a stand at the Greener Lifestyles event in Glastonbury on April 4th 2009. 'Time4Street', a time bank/skills exchange, is currently enrolling people and should be starting soon. County Councillor Jim Mochnacz has kindly contributed £500 from his Somerset County Council Local Initiative Budget towards trying to raise awareness of Sustainable Street. We plan to use some of the funding to show relevant films like 'The Power of the Community' and 'The End of Suburbia' to interested Street residents.

A thermal imager, currently on loan from Somerset County Council, shows heat loss from buildings so people can visually understand how they can help reduce their heating bills. The

Seed swappers at Glastonbury Farmer's Market

14majority of Clark's Village shops have responded very positively to seeing their heat loss by closing their doors, which is of benefit to shoppers, staff and also saves them money. A number of residents have also taken up the offer to have their houses assessed for heat loss.

Contact: Janet Pipes 01458 442311 sustainablestreet@cooptel.net

The Environmental Network of North Somerset (TENONS) As a networking group, TENONS aims to encourage people, communities, businesses and organisations in North Somerset to live in accordance with the Principles of Agenda 21, an Action Plan agreed at the Earth Summit Conference held in Rio 1992, and in such a way as not to compromise the ability of future generations of people to meet their own needs.

We aim to raise levels of awareness, knowledge and understanding of these Principles, encouraging active participation in their achievement. www.tenons.org.uk

Contact: Rosemary Dowie admin@tenons.org.uk

Transition Langport Transition Langport is based in Langport but covers the surrounding 10 parishes. They have been going since September 2007 and on April 4th 2009 had their 'Great Unleashing'.

They write: "After 18 months of local activity, the existing group came together to organise an event to inspire the local community. Our Great Unleashing was a huge success, with over 35 stalls promoting local informative/inspirational groups, products and businesses, all working to help reduce community impacts on climate change and help build resilience to peak oil. These included (amongst others) local food from organic farms, a plant swap, renewable energy and a solar powered cinema, Sustrans, Free cycle, a horse and cart and cycle powered smoothies!. Micheal Eavis was our special guest and we even had solar powered boat on the River Parrett!"

Action groups: Local Food (setting up a local food co-op), Conservation (hedge laying, fruit and nut tree planting), Health (psychology and the health effects of peak oil), Energy group (community renewables), Transport group (starting soon), Communications group (website and links with local media). We put on regular inspirational films and talks on Transition issues and organise community litter picks. Links with local councils, etc: Cara Naden is on the Langport Town Council and also works as the Renewable Energy Advice Officer for Somerset County Council. We also have members of the group who are teachers, scientists, practitioners, business owners, councillors, artists, parents, farmers...

Plans/visions/wish list: We have so many amazing plans: we hope to build our own bio-methane power station as part of our energy descent plan, and of course local sustainable transport.

Transition Langport would like to thank everyone who supported their Great Unleashing: Rob Hopkins for starting the whole Transition movement, Steve Mewes of Wedmore Green group and Joe Burlington of South Somerset Climate Action who are Somerset's very own pioneers.

Regular meetings are held 2nd Tuesday of the month at Great Bow Wharf, Langport 7.30pm and 4th Tuesday of the month - Green Drinks 7.30pm - contact us for venue details. www.transitionlangport.org

Contacts: Cara Naden 07771 561398, Duncan Reece-Smith. Contact either on transitionlangport@googlemail.com

15Transition Minehead and Alcombe The group started in late 2008 in Minehead and Alcombe. We also include interested people from surrounding villages who do not yet have their own group. Some of these areas have had active climate change groups for some time. We work closely with Forum 21, who have worked in West Somerset for many years. We helped organise Rob Hopkins' recent visit, and have also taken on annual events, such as seed and plant swaps, which helps to free up Forum 21 for other initiatives. The most recent of these are the community reinvestment website www.community-hub.com, and the establishment of a car club.

We have about 12 active members and 96 on the mailing list, and we circulate details of our activities to councillors, our MP, local groups and businesses and other Transition groups. We have recently held an Open Forum where supporters contributed to the process of developing our structures as we develop.

Other projects include a training allotment for young families, through a Get Set Grow course with Jane Sweetman from Somerset Community Foods. We also setting up a garden sharing scheme.

We have good contacts with local churches and and we offer support with school eco projects, one of which is an environmentally themed wall hanging. We are working with West Somerset Community College which is hoping to appoint a horticultural teacher with a community remit in the near future.

We are progressing slowly but steadily and often refer to Rob's advice to not rush the process, but develop as resources allow. To find out what is already going on in our community, we invited as many people as possible who have an interest in our project areas (including councillors, Chamber of Trade, teachers) to join our recent Open Forum.

Contacts: Stephen Stuckes 01643 703285 or 709491, Maureen Smith 01643 709478 or 07802 247761 tma2009@hotmail.co.uk

Sustainable SomertonSustainable Somerton is made up of a group of volunteers who live in or near Somerton. Each one of us is giving some spare time to the group because we want to help the people of Somerton take actions that will enable them to live more sustainably and help combat the effects of climate change. Since forming the group in the summer of 2008 we have achieved the following: held two Energy Efficiency Advice days for local residents; held a waste action/ recycling day in conjunction with Somerset Waste Action Partnership; held three public meetings - the first to launch the group, the second on plastic bags in the environment, the third on micro-generation in the home; started a campaign to reduce disposable plastic bag use by shoppers in the town; produced an "Awareness Raising Plan" for 2009, proposing projects on key sustainability issues aimed at all members of the community; and worked with the town council on the provision of allotments for local people. If you'd like to join us we'd love to hear from you!

Contact: Philip Thomas philthomas3@btinternet.com

Transition Shepton (aka Shepton Green Group)We're a small core group that meets about once a month. We're all keen on organic growing so, when we were offered the use of a piece of land just 2 miles away in Doulting, we seized the opportunity to start a communal allotment.

Are we prepared for life without oil? We want to be as sustainable as possible from the start. We

16are cultivating by hand rather than machine and intend to get fertility from green manure and compost that comes from the allotment itself - a system known as Stockfree Organic.

We're busy with this most weekends - all volunteers welcome! Once we have it the way we want it very little digging should be needed - then we'll be able to start other sub-groups...

Contact: Rod Skinner 01749 347690 or 347124 rodskinner@phonecoop.coop http://groups.google.com/group/shepton-green

Somerset County Council - not a community group, but anyway!Since passing a landmark resolution last year in support of Transition in Somerset, our county council has enthusiastically approached with what it might mean to be a Transition Authority. Councillors and senior officers took part in Transition Training in April which looked at four possible future scenarios – business as usual, total collapse, green tech solutions and proactively planning to cope with energy descent. Lively conversations took place around each scenario. There was broad consensus that business as usual isn't an option anymore but which alternative will we choose? This is a decision which all of us can influence.

SCC is leading the way in many areas, in particular waste minimisation and management. Renewable energy projects in schools and working on reducing carbon emissions across its own estate are just a few examples. An in-depth mapping project is being conducted right now and this will form the basis of plans for the future: what is the county council doing that is already Transitional in nature and where are the gaps? The mapping project will reveal where more work needs to be done.

Also of note is the recently refreshed Sustainable Community Strategy for Somerset to be found at www.somersetstrategicpartnership.co.uk. It's a good read and specifically refers to engagement with Transition towns and village. It'll be an exciting year ahead. Let's enter the dialogue!

South Petherton South Petherton has taken the plunge and are now committed to developing a Transition initiative. They are busy with awareness raising and have organised a series of really interesting looking talks. See a selection in the calendar of events or check out their full programme at www.transitiontowns.org/South-Petherton

Contact: southpetherton@googlemail.com

Taunton Transition Town We have been going for just over a year now. In that time, we have held a number of screenings of films at the Brewhouse Theatre; started what has now become a regular themed drop-in event, coupled with monthly talks; and held a really great World Cafe discussion event at the Genesis Centre, Somerset College, to which over 100 people came. Our mailing list now has over 200 names of people keen to stay in touch with things Transitiony.

It can take a while to get things going somewhere the size of Taunton – and the size can often feel overwhelming. How on earth can we do things to inspire and impact on over 60,000 people? The best thing was just to get on with what individuals had the energy and time to make happen. At the moment we are: holding a 'low food miles' event for a mass Family Picnic in May; launching a "source local cook local" community recipe project intended to promote local suppliers and get people cooking with seasonal ingredients; starting a "grow your own" group, particularly to get people without gardens realising what you can still achieve; doing some practical "guerrilla gardening"; planning an arts-based event in July, with Somerset College, and

17The Brewhouse and Somerset Film and Video, for young people to find creative ways to share their own voices on Transition issues; just starting to work with our Local Authority to find practical projects we can do in partnership together; holding a "Transition Camp" in June for our members, to nurture the Heart and Soul bit, and learn some woodland management skills by working on a friend's land for the weekend; continuing to hold fortnightly drop-ins and monthly talks

Contact: Victoria Watson 01823 259324 vicwatson@tauntonbroadband.co.uk

Wedmore Green GroupWedmore Green Group was established in 2006 as an umbrella organisation to co-ordinate, explore and encourage sustainable living as applies to the Isle of Wedmore. We have always focused on action over debate, working within the community, advising and helping rather than preaching. We are not a Transition organization but we share most of the movement's ambitions.

Since our inception we have: set up regular Freecycle days; improved recycling; bulk purchased renewable equipment; encouraged local food and shops through our 'is it local' cookbook; launched a plastic bag free village; had a number of movie nights; been a source of environmental support and advice; planted and developed a community woodland; supported the wedmore in bloom scheme; encouraged the local school initiatives to produce renewable energy; started a 'pass it on books' scheme for environmental books; purchased eco meters for households to check electricity usage; produced renewable energy information sheets; developed a website providing information for the community; made important linkages with other community groups to share information and support; held two litter picking days, collecting almost 50 sacks of recyclables and rubbish; written over 40 articles for the village magazine showing how a life can be more eco-friendly; and spoken at local schools and churches on environmental topics.

In future, we intend helping as many people as possible to lead a greener lifestyle and helping new projects come to fruition. www.wedmoregreengroup.co.uk

Wedmore Freecycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wedmorefreecycle

Contact person: Steve Mewes s.mewes@virgin.net 01934 710530 or 07841 336720

WellingtonTT Wellington is currently in the 'forming' stage. We are in the process of setting up a core group, having had one film showing. We are hoping to do more consciousness raising in the next couple of months and then move on to some community activity.

Contact: Holly Regan-Jones 01823 660161 holly.reganjones@btinternet.com

Transition Wells

Did you know? Wells is Already a City in Transition!

We have done our best to plan regular monthly meetings that will provide anyone and everyone who is interested in Transition a chance to get together. Please feel free to spread the word, come along to the meetings yourself and bring as many friends as you can! All meetings are planned for the 3 rd Thursday in the month, and are held at the Wells Museum meeting room. Entry by donation (£3 per person will do nicely!) to cover room hire, tea and coffee and sometimes even homemade cake!

18Contact: Kim Robinson 01749 689037 transition-wells@live.co.uk, newsletter mailing list: sally@sallylever.co.uk

Wellow FuturesWellow (pop.450) lies 5 miles south of Bath on the old Somerset/Dorset railway. Two of us started Sustainable Wellow 3½ years ago by showing "The End of Suburbia," for which over 80 people squeezed into our village hall. Numbers have been lower since, but we've shown five films, had five talks, (including CAfE from Bristol), and one from Ben Brangwyn, and DVD and book sharing. The community is mostly prosperous and not necessarily interested yet in communal ventures. We have a popular horticultural cum gardening club, a 60-year-old annual village fête, a successful community-run village shop, several bookclubs, wine tasting, art, craft, and local business groups, a band, a youth club and a church community.

In 2008, we mounted a campaign to buy land under threat of development for a community farm. The land was withdrawn, but we are looking for some alternative land. We now have 6 private allotments, but want a communal one. We have communal composting & oil deliveries. Some of our activities include an apple abundance/juicing day, beekeeping, and the village school vegetable plot. We lost our bus to Bath and have initiated a lift sharing scheme. We are in regular contact with Peasedown St John/Shoscombe.

Wellow Futures , as we're now called, is undertaking a house to house survey of village groups - the elderly, self-employed, young families, greenies, newcomers, etc – focusing on the village and its future. Alick Bartholomew, the founder and chairperson, is trying to get the core group to take over.

Contact: Alick Bartholomew alick@schauberger-books.org.uk 01225 840889

Transition Winscombe & Sandford - Life beyond OilLife Beyond Oil is a part of Winscombe Community Association and is keen to forge links with any and all other groups within the villages - business, recreational, social, political and religious. Peak Oil and Climate Change will significantly affect all of us, and the positive solutions we need will come from many sources. www.transitionwinscombe.org

Contact: Gillian Hill gillian.hill@ukonline.co.uk

Transition-related Somerset linksWake up to waste: www.recyclesomerset.info/pages/index02.aspMoving Somerset Forward: www.movingsomersetforward.co.ukCar-sharing site - very useful for all your transport groups! www.carsharesomerset.comMendip Environment CIC: mendip.ourenvironment.org.uk

Transition Linkswww.transitiontowns.org and www.transitionculture.org

If you know of any group that should be included above, please let us know on transitionglastonbury@gmail.com

The future's bright. The future's... green!

19TTrraannssiittiioonn SSoommeerrsseett ccaalleennddaarrThis is just a selection of the highlights of Transition Somerset events over the next three months. For more info contact your local initiative directly.

May Saturday May 9th Winscombe: Life beyond oil 10.30am - 12.00 noon, Community Cafe at The Woodborough, (Function Room), Winscombe. A chance to share information and discuss environmental and community concerns. More info: 01934 842996.

Saturday May 16th Wedmore Green Group: Wedmore Green Fair, Wedmore Village Hall, 10.00am - 4.00pm. FREE day event with stalls, workshops, filmshows and information. 8.00pm -11.30pm Party with fantastic band, Seize the Day. Tickets £8 in advance, £10 on the door. Tickets available from the Paper Shop, Church Street, Wedmore; Eco-Friendly Shop, Abbey Mews, Glastonbury or AFS (Avalon Fair Shares), Abbey Mews, Glastonbury.

Saturday May 16th Minehead and Alcombe 10am - 1pm Plant and Seedling Swap and Sale Friends Meeting House Bancks St. Bring your spare seedlings, plants, flower pots and gardening equipment to swap with fellow gardeners. Refreshments available! More info: 01643 709478 tma2009@hotmail.co.uk

Tuesday 19th May Sustainable Frome Jonathan Neale, author of 'Stop Global Warming, Change the World' and environmental activist, will present an engaging, positive and practical solution to climate change and inequality. Portway Methodist Church hall, corner of Alexandra Road and Portway, Frome. 7pm More info: Annabelle Macfadyen 01373 466399 annabelle@gn.apc.org

Tuesday 26th May Cheddar Valley The White Hart, Cheddar - Get together and film. Please join us if you would like to know more about what we are trying to do in Cheddar as an environmental group. More info: 01934 744095

Thursday 21st May Transition Wells Film Night: "A Farm for the Future". We'll be showing this BBC2 Documentary, featuring Rebecca Hosking and Patrick Whitefield. An excellent account of how we can continue farming in the wake of peak oil. The film will be followed by a group discussion of the issues raised. More info: 01749 689037 or transition-wells@live.co.uk.

Saturday 23rd May & Sun 31 May 10am-1.30pm Sustainable Frome Scything Workshop, Vallis Veg, Frome, BA11 3JQ. £20 (including refreshments & light lunch) . To book a place, please contact Chris Smaje: 01373 462842 info@vallisveg.co.uk

Thursday 28th May Breathe - South Petherton Transition Initiative: Francis Blake on soil and oil. Food security and peak oil. Venue: Blake Hall Time: 8pm Cost: £3

Saturday 30th May Glastonbury, 1pm till late 'Somerset in Transition' in Glastonbury Town Hall with events at other venues around the town. Speakers: Jeremy Leggett, Shaun Chamberlin, Steve Shaw and also Rebecca Hosking, maker of 'A Farm for the Future'. Workshops, films, networking and lots more including evening entertainment from Seize The Day. Daytime entry by donation. Evening event £5 which includes meal, main speakers and music. Pay in advance if you want an evening meal! Booking: send cheques payable to 'Transition Wells' by Friday May 24th to Trish O' Carroll, 34 Old Wells Rd, Glastonbury, Somerest BA6 8EA. You can pay on the door for the evening event if you don't expect to be fed! More info: www.transitiontowns.org/Somerset or transitionglastonbury@googlemail.com

20Sunday 31st May Transition Sunday at Sunrise Festival: A whole day of events as part of the three day Sunrise festival. If you are not there already you get Sunday tickets for £35. Tickets available from Bristol Ticket Shop 0845 1080259 and Gothic Image, Glastonbury. For more info see www.sunrisecelebration.com or find us on Ecomotion. For enquiries contact info@sunrisecelebration.com 0845 009 4463.

June Tuesday 2nd June South Somerset Climate Action meeting GLADE Centre, Frog Lane, off East Street, Ilminster TA19 0AP. Reports and plans on energy generation, gardening, tree planting, food issues and more. More info: Joe Burlington: joe@jburlington.co.uk or 01460 55323

Sunday 14th June Green Fair and Scythe Festival at Thorney Lakes, Nr Muchelney. Workshops, activities, displays, stalls, good food and drink and entertainment to: raise environmental awareness through fun activities, promote sustainable projects, revive rural skills and engage the local community in green issues. To book a stall (no later than 15 May) or for further information call Louise Finnis 01308 425 018 or finnisl@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 18th June Transition Wells Energy Showcase. Local guest speakers will explain the situation local to Wells on generating renewable energy. More info: 01749 689037 or transition-wells@live.co.uk

Thursday 25th June Transition Minehead & Alcombe Film:'The Power of Community', West Somerset Community College Sixth Form Block at 7.30pm. An uplifting and inspiring film about how the people of Cuba survived their economic and oil crisis in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. After the film there will be refreshments and an opportunity to discuss local solutions to points raised in the film. Entry £2. More info: 01643 709478 tma2009@hotmail.co.uk

Thursday 25th June Breathe - South Petherton Transition Initiative: Milary Manning from SWAP. Waste time line activity. 8pm at Blake Hall, entry £3

July Friday 3rd July Strode Theatre, Street. Film 'The Age of Stupid', featuring Pete Postlethwaite. 7.30pm £6 (concessions £5). Booking 01458 442846

Sunday 5th July Sustainable Frome Green Fair - all day at the Cheese and Grain. www.sustainablefrome.org.uk More info: Annabelle Macfadyen 01373 466399 annabelle@gn.apc.org

Wednesday & Thursday 8th- 9th July Transition Glastonbury 'Crossing Stony Ground - Renewing and Sustaining the Journey' with Starhawk 2pm Wednesday - 4.30 Thursday. Includes an evening event (entry £15) which is also open to Transition folk not attending the whole workshop. Booking essential by June 8th. Cost for whole workshop £70, concessions available. More info www.glastonburynaturalhealth.co.uk/Starhawk.html or Jane Sanders 01458 833382 janesiran@yahoo.co.uk

Wednesday 8th July 7.30pm Sustainable Frome hosts a Rob Hopkins Talk: 'Flourishing' at The Merlin Theatre, Frome. www.sustainablefrome.org.uk Contact person: Annabelle Macfadyen 01373 466399 annabelle@gn.apc.org

Tuesday 14th July Transition Glastonbury Food group meeting with speakers Charles Dowding & Sarah Pugh, Bay Tree Café, Glastonbury. Entry by donation. More info: Caroline Lewis 01458 833420 carolinelewis_ot@yahoo.co.uk

21Sunday 19th July Transition Wells Picnic: A chance for families to get together to celebrate Wells in Transition. Venue to be confirmed. More info 01749 689037 or transition-wells@live.co.uk.

Thursday 23 July Breathe - South Petherton Transition Initiative: Henry Hobhouse on renewable energy, advantages and the different technologies. 8pm at Blake Hall, entry £3

We haven't got space in this newsletter for the usual reports from Transition Glastonbury working groups. Here are their contact details:

Food group: Caroline Lewis 01458 833420 carolinelewis_ot@yahoo.co.uk

Health group: Andrew Johnson 01458 833382 andrew.health@yahoo.co.ukLIMBS (Low Impact Buildings and Skills)/Energy group: Tim Woolmington 01749 672426 tim@woolmington.fsnet.co.uk, Marke Pawson markepawson@yahoo.co.ukPublicity: Trish O’Carroll 01458 835810 patriciaocarroll@aol.com, Jane Sanders 01458 833382 janesiran@yahoo.co.ukHeart and Soul: Jane Sanders 01458 833382 janesiran@yahoo.co.ukTransport: Matt 01458 833386NEW! Resources group: Kieran Vanden Bosch kieran@sseeds.co.ukNewsletter editors: Richard Chisnall 07757 663456 rchisnall@gmail.com, Jane Sanders 01458 833382 janesiran@yahoo.co.uk

Copyright under Creative Commons Non-commercial-Attribution-Share-alike, www.creativecommons.org

Group descriptions courtesy of the various groups. Articles without attribution are by the editors.

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