 |
 Navigation |
| News |
HomepageNews
We welcome stories and suggestions from you.
Other recent events can be viewed in the newsletter
BRIDPORT CLOSE THE DOORBridport is soon to have its own Close the Door campaign. This is a voluntary and very successful campaign operating across the UK, and at retail Head Office level, which encourages retailers to save energy by closing the door when using heating or air conditioning. It is business friendly, tightly targeted and backed by hard scientific data, successfully bringing about very significant energy and money savings, and greatly improving working conditions within shops. Check out their website here.
NB. You are keen on saving energy - your vote is needed - now!
Close the Door has reached the four finalists out of 600 for a 10K funding prize. The last and crucial phase is an online vote and it would be so much appreciated if you and as many others as you can encourage could vote for Close the Door. You have to give an email address to ensure against multiple votes from one person but it is very, very clear and easy at voting to make sure that you cannot be contacted on this - and your vote is sure to help Bridders on its way to keeping those doors closed!
Vote for the 'Close the Door' campaign here
and look out for 'Close the Door' signs displayed in participating businesses in Bridders very soon!
At the Core group meeting on 26 January the following items were discussed:
- Initiating a "Close the Door" campaign to encourage shops to keep their doors closed in winter, and in summer if they are air conditioned. This is part of a national campaign. Anne and Chris have completed a survey of shops in East West and South Streets.
- The stall at the Community Fair the Arts Centre on 4 February as part of Spirit of Bridport
- St Michael's development
- A possible fundraiser, perhaps a film showing. Anyone know any good films?
- Draught Busters. Chit discussed possible houses to initiate the process, and then seek further publicity to widen the number of people involved. The supply of draught proofing materials at the Green Energy Centre or other suppliers was discussed.
- Our contribution to The Home outreach project was discussed.
If you would like to get involved in any of these issues please email us.
Spend Less and Eat Better 17 December
As part of the "Spend Less and Eat Better" project, the Food Group ran a stall in Bucky Doo Square to show that locally grown apples not only taste much better than supermarket bought imports, but that they are actually much cheaper. Passers-by were invited to sample the apples and all were able to guess which was which. Ali Edgley from "Out of the Box" provided the delicious Bridport apples.The survey can be downloaded by clicking this link
AGM and potluck supper
This took place on 6 November in the St John's ambulance Hall. Anne Rickard gave her chairman's report of the extensive work done over the last year, including working with young Transitioners at Colfox school, starting a lending scheme for electricity meters, raising awareness of peak oil, and involvement in a number of social events, and Green drinks. The St John Ambulance hall was decked with display material from each of the main strands of the group.
Anne outlined five new initiatives for the coming year.
- The Energy Descent group plans to start "˜Draught busters", which will train people to reduce draughts simply, and to supply inexpensive materials.
- A survey by the Food group of vegetables sold by six small retailers in Bridport compared with five supermarkets.
- Reskilling workshops will be run in association with Bridport Local Area Skills Training (BLAST), to train young people to use hand t ools.
- The Zero waste group will seek to persuade people to pledge to reduce and aim to eliminate household waste.
- The Awareness and Education group will launch a quiz around energy issues, with prizes for the best response.
After the meeting the tables were brought out for drinks and a "Pot Luck"
feast - the activity we do best! The attendance was
very encouraging, with about 25 people attending.
We do need practical help to get our many projects running. If you are interested in joining any of the groups, or just wish to be kept
informed, please contact our administrator, Chris.
Re-skilling
Transition Town Bridport in conjunction with Bridport Local Area Skills Training (BLAST) is planning, under their Skills for Self Reliance program, a series of short courses on Workshop Practice. They will begin in the New Year and will cover the use of hand tools for working with wood and metal. The course will also cover the elements of joinery, plumbing and electrical wiring.
The initial course has been designed for 5 days duration, and there will be places for 6 applicants. Application details will be available in
January.
The objectives of the courses are: to increase the self reliance of the course members; to improve their chances of employment in local
businesses; to prepare them for more advanced courses in preparation by BLAST.
TTB would be pleased to hear from people with the necessary skills who are prepared to give a day to the course, initially on alternate
weeks. Please contact us in the usual way.
Apple Day at the Community Orchard
Our stall had a bag of apples, with two competitions to guess the number and the weight of the apples in the bag. The winner (right) who guessed the nearest correct weight was Dr Bob Hardwick, Energy Consultant. Bob has been helping the Bridport Leisure Centre to save energy and money - a worthy winner!
The prize for guessing the number of apples in the sack was shared by Martin Wiley and M Stone who each guessed one more and one less than the actual number. (Sorry, no pics of them!)
Colfox School meeting on Energy Use
In July a meeting was held at The Sir John Colfox School, to look at future plans for Transition Town Bridport's involvement in the next academic year. Four TTB members came together for a discussion, with the Estate Manager, the Business Manager and the Director of Standards and Achievements. We learnt much about how Colfox is managing it's energy consumption, and especially its use of a BMS system and plans for installing solar panels and control of water use, through sensors on the taps. As a PFI school, the managers have a business plan of energy reduction and efficiency, for their new partners S.D.G. and hope to lower the school's own utility bills too. The Estate Manager knows the school well, as he has been at Colfox for 10 years and he told us how he had plans to put up a 'promo' display board so that staff and pupils could read about what they were doing and also give feedback for the progress made in energy reduction by all.
TTB members were keen to get involved with the other side of energy reduction - the changing of behaviour and habits. As Bridport's community school, we would like to be part of their projects that made pupils aware of the ways that they waste energy and tips on reducing their footprint. It was agreed that the school would investigate ways of TTB being involved in part of the PSHE programme, especially for the new year seven pupils. We would give a local angle, which would complement work already being done in the school curriculum.
Young Transitioners - Colfox Gardener of the Year competition
The winner of the inter-house gardening competition at Colfox school was announced on Friday.
The four house teams were given two grow-bags, a few starter plants and £5 to buy seedlings or seeds.
The plants had to be edible, with a good range of different foods, and each team had to make a presentation on why they chose their
plants and how they can be prepared.
The winning team, Adler house, used some of their money to buy marigolds, both as edible flowers but also as an aphid repellent. Team
leader Ryan Smith explained the importance of using nature's way to control pests biologically.
Hinomaru house, led by Serena, Matt and Lindsey, were highly commended.
The competition, organised by Bridport Transitioners Amanda Copp, Elizabeth Friend and Sarah Wilberforce, was supported by head of
house Mr Bernard O'Brien, and the prizes were awarded by Mayoress and current Chair of TTB, Anne Rickard, with Colfox governors
represented by the chairman Clive Bath.
A separate prize was awarded to Bridport Young Transitioner of the Year, Ellie Holt, pictured right with Anne, for her continuing commitment to the Colfox Ecoclub.
| Back To Top |
| PRINTABLE VIEW | - | TELL A FRIEND | - | ADD TO FAVOURITES |