Clothes, Toads and Fun on the Farm

Hi Everyone,

It's  another quiet-ish week on the events and activities front- maybe that's a good thing as we adjust to British Summer Time! There are  lots of Transition interest group meetings happening next week, so why not use your free evenings this week to dig out your unwanted clothes for the CCF and the Cambridge Ladybirds WI Clothes Swap session on Saturday 9th April?  If you've signed up to the Circular Cambridge Challenge this will count towards it!  It is peak travel season for the toad population in the Newmarket Road area  and these perambulating amphibians could do with a little help crossing busy roads to get to their breeding site. Grab a bucket and torch around dusk, and you're good to go! Finally this Saturday 2nd April we have a Cropshare gathering: there'll be seeding, weeding and lunchtime feasting on the farm. Wellies will very likely be a good idea, given the soaking we had from Storm Katie over Easter.

 

CONTENTS

Transition News and Events

  • Saturday 02 April: CropShare - Be an organic farmer for a day
  • Monday 04 April: Growing Spaces project meeting
  • Tuesday 05 April: Food Group meeting
  • Wednesday 06 April: Energy Group Meeting
  • Tuesday 12 April: Sustainability Hacking meeting
  • Monday 18 April: Transition Cambridge hub meeting
  • Saturday 23 April: Wildlife Wanderings Chivers Lake, North Cambridge

Community News

  • Toads at Toad Crossing need your help!

Other News and Events

  • Wednesday 30 March: Talk : Cambridge Local Nature Reserves
  • Saturday 02 April: Launch of Letchworth GIYO group/Garden Organic comes to Letchworth
  • Monday 04 April: Talk : The role of Opportunity Peterborough in the Development of a Sustainable City
  • Saturday 09 April: George Monbiot : How did we get into this mess?
  • Saturday 09 April: Spring Clothes Swap
  • Events for your calendar

Transition News and Events

Saturday 02 April: CropShare - Be an organic farmer for a day

09:30-16:30, Waterland Organics, Willow Farm, Lode CB25 9HF

Join Transition's community farming project, CropShare, to experience life as a real organic farmer for a day. We will be having fun helping out on the farm from 9.30am to 12.30pm, and 2pm to 4.30, sharing a lunch and a chat in between. You can join us for the morning or afternoon session, or both. See our blog to get a flavour of what workdays are like. It will be good healthy fun, a great chance to see our local countryside, and how food is grown on a large scale. Fill in this form if you would like to take part, and we'll also help you arrange travel to the farm. Everyone is very welcome! Family friendly. More details here.

Monday 04 April: Growing Spaces project meeting

19:30, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Lord Ashcroft Building, Room 027

Would you like to see more fruit and vegetables growing in Cambridge's public spaces? Join the Growing Spaces project to hear more about what we do as we coordinate the care of spaces and to get involved with any of a bunch of exciting new projects in this growing season. Kettle available but bring your own mug for tea if you can! All welcome - gardening knowledge welcome but not required. Contact us for details of the address of this meeting and if you're interested in the project in general. More details of the project here.

Tuesday 05 April: Food Group meeting

18:30-20:00, CB2 Cafe, Norfolk Street

The Food Group's monthly meeting will move forward with our plans for the year (ideas welcome!). So far we have the following - a wild food walk, a talk on soil health and a tour of productive spaces around town. We'll also be exchanging news on food projects and initiatives in and around Cambridge. All welcome - we'll be upstairs in the library.

Wednesday 06 April: Energy Group Meeting

20:00-21:30, Patrick's place, off Coldhams Lane

The main topic will be comparing German and UK energy policy - there are some similarities but also a lot of differences. Sheila will be telling us about German policy and I expect the discussion will include issues such as feed in tariffs, support for fossil fuel power stations needed for backup (or not), interconnectivity with neighbouring countries and community ownership of power generation. We will also catch up on the latest energy related news. All welcome. Ask Nicola for details of the venue. More details here.

Tuesday 12 April: Sustainability Hacking meeting

19:30, Makespace classroom, 16 Mill Lane

The sustainability hacking group will be meeting to discuss what project(s) we want to do together that are efficient for CO2 saving and environmental improvement. Current project proposals include hardware, app coding, data analysis, and human factors ;) ideas. Mostly around energy/heat but also around air quality (and aquaculture). Come and meet like-minded folk! If you'd like to join us for this meeting or are interested in the group in general, contact Toni to say hi.

Monday 18 April: Transition Cambridge hub meeting

19:00-21:00, Nicola's house on Chesterton Road

At the hub's monthly meeting, representatives of the groups and projects report on what they've been up to. We also make plans together to coordinate future events. Meetings are open, so all are welcome to attend. Attending hub meetings is a good way to see how Transition Cambridge works, and to get a sense of the range of projects that we are involved with. Contact Nicola for details of the address.

Saturday 23 April: Wildlife Wanderings Chivers Lake, North Cambridge

10:00-12:00, Meet by Premier Inn, Ring Fort Rd CB4 2GW

A wild meander from Orchard Park in north Cambridge onto the busway past lakes and woodland towards Impington. We'll see what Mandy of Orchard Pk Wildlife has done to enhance this large modern development for biodiversity, and we'll see how the Guided Busway fast-tracks walkers and cyclists into the countryside. Accessible to all: wheelchair and pushchair friendly, Adults & accompanied children, FREE. Email us if you have any queries. More details here.

Community News

Toads at Toad Crossing need your help!

Can you spare an hour or so to help toads navigate their way to safety? A toad force covering Stanley Road,Garlic Row & Oyster Row is open to anyone interested in helping toads safely across increasingly busy roads to reach (and sometimes return from) their breeding grounds which they do every year. Movement starts as soon as the weather warms up to 9/10 degrees, early evening, and only lasts for about eight weeks. We are part way through the season and would love some more help! Bring a good torch, and a plastic bucket if you have one, just turn up and help for as long as you want. Toads travel more frequently in wet weather. For more information contact Paul or visit the facebook group Saving Toads in Cambridge Cambs More details here.

Other News and Events

Wednesday 30 March: Talk : Cambridge Local Nature Reserves

19:30-21:30, St. John the Evangelist Church Hall, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8RN

Guy Belcher, Cambridge City Council Biodiversity Officer, will talk about Cambridge Local Nature Reserves and the ecological pressures and opportunities that growth is bringing to the city. Organised by the Cambridge group of the Wildlife Trust. Entry is £2.50. More info about Cambridge's 12 nature reserves here.

Saturday 02 April: Launch of Letchworth GIYO group/Garden Organic comes to Letchworth

14:00, Free Church Hall, Leys Avenue, Letchworth

An afternoon event to celebrate Transition Town Letchworth's Grow it Yourself group (GIY) becoming the only Gardening club in Hertfordshire which has membership of Garden Organic. Keynote speaker -James Cameron, Chief Executive of Garden Organic (2.30pm). There will be relevant, local stalls selling seeds, plants and produce and refreshments. The event runs from 2pm till 4.30 and entry is FREE. More details here: http://www.ttletchworth.org/events.html.

Monday 04 April: Talk : The role of Opportunity Peterborough in the Development of a Sustainable City

13:00-14:00, Lord Ashcroft Building (LAB 112), Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge

Trevor Gibson, of Opportunity Peterborough, has almost thirty years experience in the public sector predominantly focused on sustainability and environmental protection. He held the position of Director of Environment and Community Services at Peterborough City Council, until 2009. Most recently, he was part of the team which successfully bid for Peterborough to be one of the UK’s four Future City Demonstrators, funded by the Technology Strategy Board, and continues to help develop and deliver the resultant “Peterborough DNA” programme. Trevor is a board member of the Peterborough Environment City Trust. More details here.

*Saturday 09 April: George Monbiot : How did we get into this mess?

10:00-11:00, Cambridge Union Chamber, Bridge Street

George Monbiot is one of the most vocal, and eloquent, critics of the current consensus. "How Did We Get into this Mess? Politics, Equality, Nature", based on his powerful journalism, assesses the state we're now in: the devastation of the natural world, the crisis of inequality, the corporate takeover of nature, our obsessions with growth and profit and the decline of the political debate over what to do. While his diagnosis of the problems in front of us is clear-sighted and reasonable, he also develops solutions to challenge the politics of fear. How do we stand up to the powerful when they seem to have all the weapons? What can we do to prepare our children for an uncertain future? Controversial, clear but always rigorously argued, he makes a persuasive case for change in our everyday lives, our politics and economics, the ways we treat each other and the natural world. Part of the Cambridge Literary Festival, more info and how to book tickets here

Saturday 09 April: Spring Clothes Swap

14:00-15:30, Unitarian Church Hall, Emmanuel Rd, Cambridge, CB1 1JW

CCF and the Cambridge Ladybirds WI are proud to present our Spring Clothes Swap. Bring your unloved garments and swap them for some pre-loved treasures on Saturday 9th April. Bring your items in at 2pm and enjoy tea and cake whilst a team organises a swapping bonanza that kicks off at 2.30pm. 2.00pm: Drop off your clothes, shoes, accessories 2.30pm: The swap shop opens and ends at 3.30pm No booking required and entry is free – though donations are very welcome. This event is a fundraiser. All excess goods will be donated to charity. More details here.

Events for your calendar

Have a great week

Jacky and the bulletin writers' team

Our Mission

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.

Sign up for our fortnightly newsletter

Share this page