Hi Everyone,
It's great to be back after our summer break, and there's plenty of action coming up to pull the focus onto building a clean, green city that we can all enjoy and feel proud of. First up, there's a brilliant collaboration between the city's climate activism groups this Saturday 8th with the Cambridge, Rise for Climate Rally, while on Sunday you can join the Empty Common Community for harvest gardening fun. Cambridge Festival of Cycling has events sprinkled liberally throught the month with film screenings and a community bike ride. Opportunities to meet, learn and connect with like-minded people are also happening; a group conversation event on how we talk about climate change on 17th September, a new Communicating Transition meetup on 24th September and a sewing and draught-proofing themed repair cafe on 22nd September.
10:30-12:30, Empty Common Community Garden
There is generally a group of us in the garden on Sunday mornings from 10.30 am to 12.30 or later, and people are also coming and going during the week - you don't even have to garden just come and enjoy the space! More details here.
19:00, 6 Bells Covent Garden Cambridge
Our monthly hub meeting to network and hook up with Transition members, sharing info, events, news and a late summer drink... We'll also be considering what we want to focus on for the coming year and putting the finishing touches to the plans for the AGM next month. All welcome!
13:00-16:00, St Andrew's Hall, Chesterton, CB4 1DH
Cambridge Repair Cafe is back! We kick off an autumn of local Repair Cafes with an afternoon of repairing, a sewing skillshare and a draught-proofing workshop at St Andrews Hall, Chesterton. Please book ahead if you have an item to be repaired - we can fix all sorts of things, but if we know what the problem is in advance, we're more likely to be able to help. We're open from 1pm to 4pm. Admission is free, but donations to help cover our costs are welcome. More details here.
20:00, 6 Bells Covent Garden Cambridge
This get-together will provide a space to discuss how to better communicate what Transition is about, and a chance for all of us already involved in doing this (writing the bulletin, updating the web-page, writing blog posts, posting on social media, writing press releases etc) to meet each other. All are welcome, whether you are already involved in Transition Cambridge, would like to be, or you're just interested in how to better communicate with people about making the transition to more sustainable ways of living. NB: we'll probably be in the back room of the pub.
Do you travel in and around Cambridge - by cycle or otherwise? We want to hear from you. Please complete this survey about cycling in Cambridge. More details here.
19:30, Friends House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge
Join Camcycle members and friends for a talk by Alec Seaman from World Bicycle Relief, a global bicycle charity which mobilises people in developing countries with access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. This talk is part of Camcycle's series of monthly meetings for members and supporters. All welcome. More details here.
10:00-17:00, River Cam, Ditton Meadows,Fen Ditton, Cambridge CB5 8ST
Dragon Boat racing is an ancient Chinese tradition and the fastest growing water activity in Britain today- as well as the most fun! Up to 10 people paddle each 30' boat with a drummer at the front beating in time and our helm at the tail steering a straight course. No previous experience required, just plenty of team spirit! Gable Events is proud to have once again joined with Festival charity, Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, to bring you the 14th Cambridge Charity Dragon Boat Festival. The Festival is open to everyone and over 40 crews are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course, watched by several hundred spectators. The Ditton Meadows location offers a superb venue for racing and a fabulous day is guaranteed with plenty of bank-side family entertainment including funfair activities, inflatables and children's rides plus a variety of food stalls and bar. Team entry fee applies. Entry FREE to spectators! Phone: 01780 470718 Email: info@gablevents.co.uk More details here.
11:30, Market Square, Cambridge
Join local activist groups this coming Saturday for an afternoon of Community Action: information stalls from 11.30am, Street theatre at 1.30pm, plus singing, the Climate Games quiz, speeches from local climate justice activists and Craig Bennett, CEO of Friends of the Earth. Come to make pledges, and noise with whistles tambourines, saucepan lids etc at the rally which starts at 2pm. This is one of thousands of events in cities and towns around the world: a peoples' demand that our local leaders commit to building a fossil free world that puts people and justice before profits. All welcome, event details here.
09:00-15:30, Milton Country Park visitor centre
A fun and friendly village show, entries welcomed under categories including fruit and veg, flowers, baking, handicrafts, photography. All welcome - please see here for more info and the entry form.
19:00, Storey's Field Centre, Eddington
Join Camcycle in the beautiful and award-winning Storey's Field Centre for a screening of the Dutch film Why we cycle. It's a love letter to a country where 27% of all journeys are taken by bicycle and a manifesto for those who aspire to the benefits of a cycling society. Keep your eyes on the website to buy tickets! More details here.
15:00, The Grove School, Campkin Road
Join Camcycle and a range of family cycling experts, children's cycles, cargo cycles and equipment for carrying children for a new event to share knowledge and experiences of family cycling. More details here.
19:00-21:00, The Edge Cafe, 351 Mill Road, CB1 3DF Cambridge
How has climate breakdown been shaped in our collective and individual conscience? Has the focus on the individual and individual actions shifted cultural attitudes towards the environment or has it detracted from the bigger problems of consumerism, corporate pollution and reliance on fossil fuels? On an individual level, how do we face the reality without being emotionally numbed or overwhelmed by the imminent danger we are in? How do we engage other people in ways to help them do the same? Cambridge-based environmentalists, Elena Moses and Mark Slade, will lead us into our first of four evenings on the subject of climate breakdown. After these short presentations, we will open up the space for interaction where everyone has the chance to contribute their thoughts (if they so wish) and be listened to. No prior or in-depth knowledge of the subject matter is necessary. Whatever your background, you can be sure of a warm welcome! More details here.
19:30-21:30, St Barnabas Church, Mill Lane, CB1 2BD
This workshop invites three key speakers to share their knowledge of community inspired housing projects. Co-housing and Community Land Trusts (CLTs) both offer alternatives to developer led or individual self-build projects for those who want to get together with others to build. Speakers include Emily Mulvaney of East Cambs Community Housing, Ian Collins of Marmalade Lane Co-housing and Anthea Dodson of Stretham and Wilburton CLT. Part of a series of five workshops making up Eco Homes for All - a month long festival of green ideas for home makers, incorporating Open Eco Homes. September 18th - October 18th. More details here.
12:30, The Bradfield Centre, Cambridge Science Park
Camcycle welcomes employers of all sizes from across the city to a mini cycling-to-work conference to find out how you can encourage your staff to gain the benefits of commuting by cycle. Timing and further details to be confirmed. More details here.
11:00, Lammas Land, Cambridge
Meeting at 11am, we'll take a short ride through the city centre to Lammas Land where we'll pull up for a small festival of cargo traders and cargo bike specialists. If you're a trader and you'd like to be involved, it's not too late! Contact Camcycle via our website. Everyone else, round up your friends! Load up your cargo, decorate your bikes and let's have one fantastic celebration on wheels! More details here.
14:00-15:30, Hosted as part of Chesterton Repair Cafe, St Andrew's Hall (Annex), St Andrew's Road, CB4 1DH
Draughts and poor ventilation can cause discomfort, illness and expensive heat loss. Fixing draughts and improving ventilation can be quick, cheap and immediately rewarding. FREE draught-proofing materials available. The workshop is led by Cambridge Carbon Footprint Chair Tom Bragg and Chesterton resident Claire Graziano. Part of a series of five workshops making up Eco Homes for All - a month long festival of green ideas for home makers, incorporating Open Eco Homes. September 18th - October 18th. More details here.
19:30-21:30, Wesley Methodist Church, Christ Pieces, CB1 1LG
Drawing together the expertise of two self-builders and looking at new government schemes to make more plots available for self-builders, with a focus on South Cambs and Cambridge. Speakers include Mark Brinkley - Author of Housebuilder's Bible, Kate Hawksworth - Self-builder and Open Eco Homes host and Laurence Castle - South Cambs District Council. Part of a series of five workshops making up Eco Homes for All - a month long festival of green ideas for home makers, incorporating Open Eco Homes. September 18th - October 18th. More details here.
14:00-17:00, Castle Street Methodist Church
Join Camcycle, Dr Kat Jungnickel and the Cambridge Ladybirds WI for a discussion and cycle ride followed by tea and cake. There will even be examples of the Victorian cycle wear for guests to try! Keep an eye on the Festival website for ticket information. More details here.
10:00-17:00, Across Cambridge, Girton, Impington and Grantchester
Open Eco Homes 2018 opens 11 new and renovated homes across Cambridge and surrounding villages on September 30th and October 6th. Open Eco Homes provides a fast track for people who want to make their homes cosier and more energy efficient by giving them access to householders who have already built or renovated an eco-home. For more information about the hosts and their homes, and to book one or more one-hour tours go to www.openecohomes.org. Booking essential. Bookings open August 20th. More details here.
That's all for this week, happy transitioning!
Jacky and the bulletin writers' team
Transition Cambridge aims to help Cambridge make the transition to ways of life that are more resilient in the face of rising energy prices and a changing climate.