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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Have a great week
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.