After the film was shown visitors were invited to discuss issues relating to the film and how we envision the changes in the Vale of Evesham in the years to come.
Transition Evesham Vale
What do we hope to achieve?
• Develop stronger communities within the Vale
• Encourage support for the local economy
• Encourage people in the Vale to grow and eat more local food
• Develop the use of more sustainable forms of transport
• Improve the sustainability of domestic, public and commercial buildings
Transition Evesham Vale
By doing this we will -
• Reduce the impact we have on the environment, through lowering the carbon footprint of individuals, businesses and communities
• Increase our resilience to changes in climate, and higher fuel and energy costs
• Develop stronger and more sustainable local communities and local enconomy
Transition Evesham Vale - Interest Groups
The current list of TEV Interest Groups cover the following areas
• Awareness
• Energy
• Food
• Transport
The question was asked after having viewed
'In transition' The Movie
What can we work towards in the Vale of Evesham
• In 1 Year ?
• In 5 Years ?
• In 10 Years ?
What can we do
• Next week ?
• Next month ?
• Next Year ?
The Awareness Group has been set up to arrange -
• Public Events, Talks, Films, Discussions, to raise awareness of Peak Oil, Climate Change and Transition.
• Offers information and advice on Transition related matters and local resources.
• Provides speakers for clubs, associations, W.I.'s etc.
• Offers mailings on events and news.
The Food Group asked these questions and listed the following ideas -
What food will we be eating in 10 yrs time?
• Seasonal
• Local
• Organic
• Food Co-ops - to sell, to process, to route garden / allotment surplus into shops
• Local dairies (these are needed)
Backcasting from there the Food group asked the question -
Where do we need to be in 5 yrs time?
• Allotments needed, and to free the holders to sell surpluses
• Cereals, Mills (to grind flour,etc) and maltsters needed in the Vale
• Survey Farmers - what do they need to thrive through the transition?
The Food Group then went on to ask -
What can we do NOW to start this process? (12 to18 mths)
• Seed and plant swops (local varieties that do well in the Vale; encouragement to other growers)
• Pig Club - co-operative to raise own pork
• Get a school involved - an eco/ transition club? Possibly at Prince Henry's School, with their orchard?
• Organise a Tour of examples - Permaculture; meals from foraging
• Create the Worcestershire Diet (a la Fife Diet, all food eaten for a year from within Fife region)
• Get in touch with Age Concern, who apparently do a form of Landshare (where elderly people are no longer able to garden)
• Local food distribution - dairy rounds, veg box schemes, publicise in Local Food Directory
Personal Commitments
• Become a master composter
• Eat less meat
• Start eating Food Feet, not Food miles
The Energy Group discussed concerns about the use of energy here in the Vale of Evesham, for example in our homes, offices, factories, farms, and local services including, schools, hospitals and council run buildings. Questions inevitably arose about how we can make improvements in the way we use existing energy supplies, and suggesting ways and means to introduce new forms of sources of energy, not only derived from reusing and recycling waste materials, but also reconsidering other local sources that were effectively used in the past, for example from wind and hydro generated power.
The Transport Group discussed the following -
• The effects od oil depletion are likely to be felt sooner than generally thought; well within a decade
• The need to move towards sustainable transport is urgent and inevitable
• Evesham Vale therefore needs huge improvements in infrastructure for walkers, cyclists, bus and train users. A complex problem, but TEV can contribute by working in partnership with others and raising public awareness
• Many of the current thousands of daily car journeys to work in the Vale could be transferred to bicycle, bus and train if suitable infrastructure and services were in place
In Conclusion
It is noticeable that much of what has been outlined above by the individual TEV Interests groups is irrevocably interconnected and reliant on each other to play their part in creating sustainable changes for the future. New technologies will necessary but in many ways the TEV feel we should be able to draw on the experiences of those who lived and worked in the Vale of Evesham in the past, who quite naturally adopted more sustainable ways of living, and who probably would have found a number of the above suggestions for change quite familiar within the context of their own time.
TEV wishes to thank all the visitors who took part in the individual group discussions. Their comments have been recorded and the material will be added to the growing list of ideas and projects already being put together by our Interest Groups over the coming months.
If you feel you would like to get involved in any of the above groups please Contact US .We will be happy to hear from you.
