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May newsletter

Lots of things going on with Transition Haslemere, here is a quick note so you can put them in your diary, more details in the newsletter below:

  • May 20th Steering Group Meeting (all are welcome) Town Hall 7.30 pm
  • June 2nd Guided walk at Devil’s Punchbowl
  • June 6th Green Drinks at The Royal Oak Shottermill
  • July 27th we will be at the Swan Barn Green Woodworking Day
  • August 2nd Barbeque and Green Drinks at Swan Barn
  • September 9th Talk: Healthy Food, Healthy Planet

 

Final reminder – Punchbowl Guided Walk

All are welcome to our Sunday June 2nd guided walk from Hindhead Common entrance in Farnham Lane (start 2.30 pm) or from the Devil’s Punchbowl Cafe (start 3.00 pm).
We will learn about and see the results of the work done by the National Trust and Highways Agency on the reclamation of the heathland from the A3. Guided by Matt Cusack, the National Trust ranger, this will be an interesting and enjoyable stroll around our beautiful heathlands. For more details see post below.

 

Green Woodworking Day
The National Trust at Swan Barn will once again be running their Green Woodworking Day and Transition Haslemere will be there.
This year’s event will take place on Saturday 27th July between 10.00 am and  4.00 pm.
This fun annual event – which will include a hog roast, refreshments and a bouncy castle – showcases local green woodworkers who set up stalls and demonstrations, including willow weavers, broom makers, pole lathing, and other traditional crafts such as spinning and weaving.
This is a real fun day for all the family so be sure to put into your diaries.

 

Green Drinks and Barbeque in August
Once again we are teaming up with the National Trust at Swan Barn. In August we will be holding our monthly “Green Drinks” on a Friday (2nd August) and will have a family barbeque at the same time. It was a great success in 2012 and so we are repeating it again this year. More details will follow nearer the time but for the moment please reserve the date in your diaries.

 

Healthy Diet, Healthy Planet

As part of the Haslemere Food Festival and in association with Haslemere 30,  Transition Haslemere are pleased to host a discussion on Monday 9th September in the Georgian on the subject: Can we eat in a way that is good for our health and sustainable for the planet?

Duncan Williamson, senior policy advisor for food at WWF UK, will discuss the principles of a healthy sustainable diet and look at the WWF’s LiveWell Plate – pioneering research on diet in Europe.

The talk takes place on Monday 9th September at the Georgian Hotel, Haslemere High Street. 7.30pm with the talk starting at 8pm, followed by questions and discussion.  Entrance is free.

 

Blackdown & Hindhead Meeting 

The Black Down & Hindhead Supporters of the National Trust will hold their annual Open Meeting on 11th June at 7.30pm at Haslemere Educational Museum.
The guest speaker will be Hilary McGrady, Regional Director of the National Trust, and she will speak about ‘Haslemere’s debt to Sir Robert Hunter (founder of the National Trust and one-time Haslemere resident) on the centenary of his death’ as well as answering more general questions.

Entry is free, open to all, and includes a glass of wine afterwards.

 

 

Climate Warming Gas Passes Major (unsafe) Milestone

Many of you will remember our promotion of 350.org back in 2010. What they have been fearing has now happened. For the first time in human history, the concentration of climate-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has passed the milestone level of 400 parts per million (ppm). the safe point being 350 parts per million. Read more about this worrying statistic here and here

 

Chiddgreen

Chiddgreen had a very successful Spring Swap-it day in early May. You can read all about it here.

Their next event is  on Sunday 9 June from 12 noon – the Chiddingfold Summer Fete, Chiddgreen Smoothie Stall with Smoothie Bike – come and find out how much energy it really takes to make a Smoothie – with a genuine Australian (Bruce) at hand to help you become a Smoothie Operator!

 

Punchbowl 10k Run 

To celebrate the closure of the A3 and Hindhead, the Black Down and Hindhead Supporters have teamed up with Haslemere Borders Athletic Club to launch The Devil’s Punchbowl 10k Run on 15th September over a route made possible by the closure of the old A3.

Paul Fleming, Chairman of of the Athletics Club stated “The Devil’s Punchbowl 10k run offers everything to serious runners, intermediate runners and walkers  – a challenging course, amazing scenery and spectacular views.”

Sarah Bain, Chair of the Supporters is delighted to co-host the event and show spectators and runners how their members can bring vitality and additional funds to the care of these very special commons at Hindhead and Blackdown.

For more information contact nigeljquick@gmail.com or 01428 656809

Green Drinks 

Finally – Don’t forget Green Drinks at 7.30 pm on Thursday 6th June at the Royal Oak, Shottermill. 

Guided Walk – Family Friendly

Sunday June 2nd 2.30 – 4.00 pm


(Picture courtesy of the National Trust)

Hindhead Common and the Devil’s Punchbowl

Come and join us for a family-friendly guided walk on Hindhead Common and the Devil’s Punch Bowl.

Learn about the Spring wildlife and the regeneration of the heathland on the old A3.

Meet at 2.30pm, Sunday 2 June, at the gate to Hindhead Common at the top of Farnham Lane (parking opposite The Royal School) for a half-hour wildlife walk lead by National Trust ranger Matt Cusack. (This part of the walk will cover rough ground).

Or join us at 3pm at the Punch Bowl Café in Hindhead. From there we will follow the byway along the top of the Punch Bowl (suitable for buggies),  where Matt will talk us through the reclamation of the A3 and the regeneration of the heathland.

We will return to the Punch Bowl Café for 4pm and the Farnham Lane car park for 4.30pm.

There will also be the opportunity to join a brief open discussion of your vision and ideas for the area led by Ann Finlayson of Haslemere Vision – a chance to air your views!

The event is free. Organised by Transition Haslemere in association with the National Trust.

(It will be helpful, although not essential, if you could register if you plan to come – Just email us atnewsletter@transitionhaslemere.org)

April Newsetter

Launch of Haslemere Vision

Haslemere is one of 500 communities taking the opportunity to have more say in how its local area develops in the future under powers given by the Localism Act of 2011.
Haslemere Vision is a community-led organisation set up by a group of local residents who are passionate about Haslemere and the surrounding area. The not-for-profit organisation will act as a vehicle to gather and represent the views of the local community in designing the future for Haslemere. Anyone who lives or works in Haslemere and surrounding villages can get involved, have their say and influence the way the area develops. Haslemere Vision is fully supported by Haslemere Town Council and our MP, Jeremy Hunt.

The launch of Haslemere Vision will take place in Haslemere Hall on Saturday April 27th, between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm. This is a walk-in event open to all, so if you have an interest in shaping the future of Haslemere do come along, visit the exhibition and share your views. For more details see http://haslemerevision.org.uk.
Haslemere Vision are looking for more people to help on the day so if you have an hour or two to spare, please get in touch with Stewart Brown at stewart@stewartmbrown.co.uk.

Sustainability – National Curriculum

Debate about climate change has been cut out of the national curriculum for children under 14. The latest draft guidelines for children in key stages 1 to 3 have no mention of climate change and a single reference to how carbon dioxide produced by humans impacts on the climate (in the chemistry section). There is also no reference to sustainable development, only to the “efficacy of recycling”, again as a chemistry subject.
We, among many organisations and educationalists, believe this to be a very retrograde step given the importance of sustainability to the future generations. We are therefore urging all our supporters to sign a petition drawn up by  ”Sustainability and Environmental Education”. SEEd is a registered charity that identifies, promotes, enables and supports environmental education and education for sustainable development in the UK. www.se-ed.co.uk.
Sign the petition here

Chiddgreen

Chiddgreen are holding their Spring Swap-it day, 10 am Saturday 11 May in Village Hall, Chiddingfold, or in the car park if fine.

“The Spring Swap-it day on May 12 (2012) was well attended, and although it is difficult to estimate the amount of ‘waste’ that is diverted from entering the waste stream, we think we had about 75 visitors, and passed up to 20 cubic meters of previously loved items to delighted new owners. It was great to see so many things carried off to be used afresh by new owners. And after identifying items suitable for the jumble sale, and to be gifted to charity shops, the pile at the end was really quite small.”

Local Economic Blueprint

We started this newsletter with Haslemere Vision – an important first step in ‘localisation’ – and end it with another perspective on some of the many positive rewards localism might bring.

Totnes, probably the most advanced Transition Town in the world, has just published a ground-breaking publication: ‘Totnes & District Local Economic Blueprint’. The report highlights the potential of a more ambitious localisation – quantifying it in terms of money retained or generated in the local economy. (Such localisation will also bring associated reduced carbon emissions, sustainability planning and other benefits – although these are not the focus of the report.) Totnes’ Economic Blueprint is an attempt to map the local economy and to put a value on localism in its broadest sense. You can download it for free here.

Transition Haslemere is taking the first early steps towards producing its own such document through our local food mapping and promotion of local food production and shopping.

Green Drinks 

Finally – Don’t forget Green Drinks at 7.30 pm on Thursday 2nd May at the Royal Oak, Shottermill. 

March Newsletter

Earth Hour 2013 – March 23rd

Earth Hour 2013Earth Hour focuses the world’s attention on our planet and how we need to protect it.

At 08.30 on Saturday March 23rd hundreds of millions of people will turn off their lights for one hour, as a symbolic show of support.
Last year 6,950 towns and cities in 152 countries took part. New countries taking part included Libya, Bhutan, and French Guinea.
In 2012 in the UK 7.6 million people participated. Lights were switched off on iconic buildings such as St Paul’s, Big Ben, Edinburgh Castle and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Haslemere is part of Earth Hour so do please join in and switch off your lights for an hour to support this global campaign to make our planet a better place for our children and generations to come. You can find out more about Earth Hour by clicking here.

Visit us at the Farmer’s Market

Secondhand books for saleOn the first Sunday of every month you can find us on the High Street at Haslemere’s Farmer’s Market. If you haven’t been down recently then you may not know that we have an excellent selection of recycled books on offer; fiction, reference and non-fiction, we even have a few classics.
Apart from aiding Haslemere’s recycling efforts we are raising money for fruit trees in the National Trust’s Swan Barn orchard. Come down and have a browse, have a chat and find out more about us. You will find us outside Costa Coffee.

 

Transition Haslemere News

With the success of our monthly ‘green drinks’ evenings, we have decided to move to bi-monthly steering group meetings. Much of our general discussion has migrated to the less formal and more open environment of green drinks, held on the first Thursday of each month from 7.30 pm at the Royal Oak in Critchmere Lane. We’ve had more than 20 people at our last couple of evenings.

In March, Francis Gimblett came along to talk about the Haslemere 30 local food and drink event he is organising in September and which Transition Haslemere is supporting. We invited some local food producers along, and were joined by two local ice cream makers (who are yearning for the sun more than most of us).

We’ve also had visitors from Transition Farnham, and had some interesting discussion about their local vegetable box scheme, cycle routes and other projects. In April, we will have visitors from the Greening Godalming group, as well as Surrey Council’s waste reduction and green network support team.

Do The Green Thing

oil_and_water141d63There is an entertaining and informative website called Do The Green Thing . As a run up to Earth Hour they have been releasing daily posters, of which the picture on the left is one. This surely strikes an important chord in all of us.
Artist and illustrator Andrew Rae wanted to convince people to choose tap water by highlighting the sheer madness that is mineral water. “It bugs the hell out of me how many mineral water bottles are clogging up the oceans and being transported around the world when water is readily available from any tap. Stupid!”
Sometimes the obvious just needs stating!

 

Green Drinks

Green Drinks Transition Haslemere

 

Finally – Don’t forget Green Drinks at 7.30 pm on Thursday 4th April at the Royal Oak, Shottermill.

 

 

Transition Haslemere Steering Group AGM 20 January 2013 – Chair’s Report

It was a difficult year for our community vegetable growers on their plot at Roundhurst Farm. A storm brought down an oak tree destroying two-thirds of the polytunnel. There was too much rain and too little sun. Nevertheless, a hardy group of gardeners produced a reasonable harvest of potatoes, marrows and other vegetables.

The local food group held an open meeting together with the Campaign to Protect Rural England to launch its report on Haslemere’s local food web, which TH helped research. The meeting was well attended by producers, outlets and caterers and looked at how to take some of the recommendations of the report forward. As part of this, TH is starting a listing of local food enterprises on its website, and is supporting the Haslemere 30 local food initiative planned for the Haslemere Food Festival in September.

A number of TH supporters attended the Haslemere Vision meeting in September that launched an initiative to draw up a neighbourhood plan under the new Localism Act. Our former treasurer Ann Finlayson acted as facilitator – a role she is continuing to play – and other TH steering group members are part of the action committee taking the initiative forward. TH will support efforts to make sustainability an integral part of the neighbourhood plan.

We pitched the TH stall at the monthly farmers’ market, the Charter Fair, the Christmas Market and some other local events. Our continued aim is to engage the community in promoting sustainability in Haslemere, to sign up supporters and to raise funds. Our new venture in selling and exchanging secon-hand books has proved particularly successful – part of the proceeds of which are sponsoring a fruit tree in the National Trust orchard.

Our ‘green drinks’ informal gatherings on the first Thursday of each month, now at the Royal Oak, have become a regular institution with over 20 people attending on some evenings. Other TH activities included giving a talk to the Haslemere Society, supporting Haslemere’s ‘well dressing’, publishing a monthly newsletter, maintaining our website and generally providing a support network for all those interested in community and personal efforts towards a green and sustainable Haslemere.

A few thoughts on how to have an eco-friendly Christmas

Before Christmas….

  • Shop local for food and presents
  • Always use reusable bags
  • Support local charity shops – it doesn’t have to be new to be a great gift
  • If you can’t shop locally then shop online
  • Send electronic cards
  • Buy a sustainable Christmas tree
  • Water it regularly
  • Use LED lights on your tree rather than those with bulbs in
  • Make your own tree and present decoration
  • Use recyclable wrapping paper

And when it is all over… 

  • Plant your tree if it has roots or recycle it
  • Recycle your Christmas cards
  • Save your used stamps and hand them into Oxfam
  • Give any unwanted presents to your local charity shop
  • Go out and have a family walk in our wonderful local countryside to reenergise yourself

Haslemere dresses and blesses its well

Haslemere’s town well was dressed in flowers and blessed in thanks at a ceremony on Sunday 9 September.

Well dressing is an ancient tradition of giving thanks for the water of life. Forgotten for centuries, it has most recently been revived in places like Derbyshire, Malvern and Glastonbury.

No one knows if Haslemere previously followed the tradition, but this year it was decided to celebrate the town’s somewhat hidden and neglected well with a dressing and blessing ceremony.

The project was coordinated by councillor Melanie Odell, Charlotte Hall from Waverley Borough Council (who provided funding), local well expert Jonathan Foster, Haslemere Museum curator Julia Tanner and Tamara Kircher of Transition Haslemere.

Jonathan made an arch frame to go round the well entrance. This was covered with soft clay. Tamara and her friends Ann, Aileen and Hermione (pictured) designed and supervised the decoration of the archway and a plaque based on mermaid design by local children. They were helped by a number of volunteers.

The decorations were made with flower petals, rose hips, beech nut shells, leaves, seeds and other natural materials, many of which were foraged in the woods and hedgerows of Swan Barn.

The decorations were created over three days and completed during Sunday at the museum. The arch and plaque were then carried and installed at the well. Melanie led the ceremony, during which Jonathan and Charlotte read poems about water and wells and Jonathan’s daughter Verity played a Celtic harp water melody.
Reverend Mary Bowden conducted the blessing, giving thanks for the gift of water and reflecting on its importance in our lives.

The organisers hope that the well dressing will become an annual event.

The town well is in Well Lane, which runs off the High Street opposite the Georgian Hotel.

The well was one of two principal sources of water for the majority or townspeople (the other was Pilewell in Lower Street. The last carrier, Hannah Oakford who died in 1898 used to charge a penny ha’penny per bucket to deliver water to the houses in the town.

For further information contact info@transitionhaslemere.org

 

Join in with the Dressing of Haslemere’s Well

On the weekend of 8th and 9th September, Transition Haslemere will be participating in a ‘well dressing’ of the town’s well.

As part of this ceremony we will make decorative pictures from flower petals, seeds and other natural materials, fixed into beds of clay, as an act of thanks for the gift of water.

You are invited to join in the making of the pictures – a communal creative process of setting petals and other natural items into the clay.

The picture making will be led by experienced well dressers, and your contribution will be welcome. Or you could just come to view or attend the blessing ceremony. We also need help with a few other items and preparations.

Can you help with flowers? For the picture we will need a big collection of colourful petals, as well as things like alder cones, acorns, small crab apples, hawthorn berries and honesty. If you have any spare flowers such as marigolds, gerberas, asters, nasturtiums or chrysanthemums, please bring them on the day or contact us at info@transitionhaslemere.org. We can collect if necessary.

A display board about water – The well dressing is a celebration of the water the earth provides. Could you make or contribute to display boards that give information about or celebrate our water or a display about water saving tips? (There will be a display about the history of the town well.)

The programme for the well dressing is:

Children‘s session – 10.30 am -12 noon Thursday 21st August. Haslemere Museum Junior Club for 5 – 11 year olds. Learn about the tradition of well dressing and make your own design. Museum Members £5.00.  Non-Members £7.00. Book in advance

Foraging day – 2.00 – 4.00 pm Saturday 8th September. Come and help us collect materials for the pictures. We will meet at the town well – located behind the High Street near the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Bring gloves, bags, secateurs or scissors.

Picture making – 11.00 am – 3.00 pm Sunday 9th  September at the museum. (Bring a picnic lunch if you are planning to stay all day. There will be tea and cake available in the afternoon.)

Procession – 3.45 pm Sunday 9th September from the museum to the well.

Well blessing – 4.15 pm Sunday 9th September.

 

For further information contact info@transitionhaslemere.org

LAUNCH OF THE HASLEMERE FOOD WEB

A group of local food producers, retailers, caterers and consumers have launched the Haslemere Food Web. The aim is to encourage and promote the production, availability and enjoyment of local food and drink.

The food web was launched at a meeting attended by nearly 30 local producers, retailers, caterers and consumers who engaged in energetic and enthusiastic discussion of the issues around local food and came up with a number of recommendations and actions to promote local food.

“It was great to see such a good turnout from a cross section of the food web. Nearly all the staples were represented – bread, cheese, vegetables, fish, beer and ice cream,” says local market gardener Rebecca Laughton. The meeting highlighted the shortage of local food producers around Haslemere, compared with many other parts of the country. “A reason for this might be the relatively high cost of land, housing and living in the area, which limits opportunities for young entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, retailers and publicans seemed really keen to access more local food, and much of the discussion focused on the most efficient way to share up-to-date information about where to locate local food,” says Laughton.

Among the recommendations that the meeting came up with are the publication of a directory of local producers and retailers, a depot for local food distribution, awareness raising of the benefits and enjoyment of local food, and the creation of a ‘local to Haslemere’ logo.

Attendees included Imbhams Farm Granary, Ed’s Veg, Hansus Cottage (cheese), The Stuffed Mushroom Company, Dylan’s Ice Cream, Mooka (ice cream), Durleigh Marsh Farm Shop, Dunsfold Community Shop, The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum shop, The Royal Oak, The Crown Inn, Taste of the Vine and Hogs Back Brewery.

“As one of the farming producers closest to Haslemere, we were really encouraged by the enthusiasm of the evening to develop a local food web for Haslemere that links quality local producers with shops, customers, chefs, restaurants, hotels and the farmers’ market,” says Margaret Barlow, joint partner, Imbhams Farm Granary.

The launch of the Haslemere Food Web follows the publication of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s report ‘From field to fork: Haslemere – Mapping the local food web’. The report is based on research carried out in 2009 by mainly local volunteers who interviewed producers, outlets and consumers to get a measure of local food activity and attitudes towards it. Thea Platt of the CPRE gave a presentation of the report to the meeting and its findings provided the starting point for the evening’s discussion.

“Understanding about how our local food web is made up is an important first step in making sure that we protect and enhance it in the future – a local food web strengthens the local economy, 

creates strong links between consumers and where their food comes from and supports the sustainability and biodiversity of the environment by encouraging small scale producers,” says Caroline Greenslade, deputy chair of Transition Haslemere, which organised and facilitated the meeting.

The meeting took place at the Georgian Hotel.

To find out more about the Haslemere Food Web or to get involved contact info@transitionhaslemere.org.

Global Warming’s Terrifying New Maths – Article by Bill McKibben

When we think about global warming at all, the arguments tend to be ideological, theological and economic. But to grasp the seriousness of our predicament, you just need to do a little maths. For the past year, an easy and powerful bit of arithmetical analysis first published by financial analysts in the U.K. has been making the rounds of environmental conferences and journals, but it hasn’t yet broken through to the larger public.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719#ixzz22CFjyGPL

Haslemere Food Web

Who is invited?
Leading members of the local food community and interested Haslemere residents are invited to attend the launch of the Haslemere Food Web.

This event will bring together producers, retailers, caterers and consumers to discuss and explore how we can develop the local food and drink economy based on the recommendations of the new Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) ‘From field to fork:Haslemere’ report.

What is a food web?
A food web is a local network of links between people who buy, sell, produce and supply food. Previous research has shown how a thriving local food chain can benefit the quality of life, prosperity and landscape of an area.

The report
The CPRE report ‘From field to fork: Haslemere’ is part of a larger project across England.

Haslemere/Grayshott was selected as one of 19 pilot studies to identify its food network and how to
nurture it so it might thrive.

The report covered a radius of 30 miles from the town centre, and benefited from the support of many local consumers, producers and suppliers. Transition Haslemere volunteers helped conduct the research.

The top findings

  • 39 outlets provide locally sourced food, supported by a local supply chain of over 60 producers within 30 miles.
  • Local food supports an estimated 300 jobs at outlets and 630 at local suppliers.
  • Annual turnover from sales of local food at outlets is £1.9 – £3.6 million and supports a turnover of £16.3m at supply chain businesses.
  • Independent outlets raise awareness among customers about where their food comes from and how it is produced.

Key Challenges

  • Balancing development of larger ‘anchor’ stores to attract shoppers with the support of smaller independent shops.
  • Increasing the quality and reliability of supply of local food to improve availability.
  • Breaking down the perceived and actual price barriers to buying local food.

Haslemere Food Web launch – why this event, now?

  • To identify and action the key recommendations of ‘From field to fork: Haslemere’.
  • Demonstrate we care where our food comes from.
  • Enhance our food network by connecting producers to retailers and caterers.
  • Encourage more people to buy, cook and enjoy local food.
  • Enable greater creativity in the kitchen.
  • Strengthen the local food economy.

Don’t forget to reserve your places by 1st  July. We look forward to seeing you at the launch of the Haslemere Food Web
Coordinated by Transition Haslemere.

To reserve your place please RSVP to Caroline Greenslade by 1st July 2012 on 07710 297920 or by email: info@transitionhaslemere.org

Road Closures! Support Local Shops


Due to gas main upgrade works several roads through Haslemere will be closed to traffic, pedestrians will still have access.

This could prove great for the safety and travel experience of pedestrians, cyclists, young and old, able-bodied or those of us ravaged by time’s onslaught to our faculties. However some of our local businesses are concerned they will lose trade due to the road closures.

So please do remember to continue supporting our tremendous local shops and businesses whilst the road works are in progress.

It will be interesting to see how the town operates and what the quality of our streets will be like during this period. Perhaps TH members may wish to comment through the letters page of the Haslemere Herald in due course

Any queries about the closures to be directed to Sarah Bazley of Surrey County Council’s parking strategy and implementation team, tel. 03456 009009 ext. 517514

Spring Clean the ECO Way

March is upon us and time to think of Spring cleaning.

It is tempting just to pop out to the local supermarket and load up the trolley with cleaning aids that promise to ‘kill all known germs’ and require no effort to leave your house clean as a pin. In all likelihood, these products will work well, but at a cost to the environment. There are more sustainable and, in many cases, equally efficient alternatives.

White vinegar is a natural disinfectant, deodoriser and all-round cleaner. White vinegar will kill 99% of bacteria, 80% of germs and mould. Yes, it does smell when you apply it, but the smell disappears when the vinegar dries up.

Bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice are the two other eco-friendly products that will help you clean your house. If you are planning a Spring Clean. Here are a few suggestions to be more green about doing it.

House smelling fusty? Open the windows and let the fresh air in. Buy some fragrant plants. Lavender is wonderful at freshening up, whether it is growing in a pot, or dried, or as an essence. Eucalyptus is another great de-deodoriser.

Lime scale on your taps or shower screens and heads? Soak the area in white vinegar, leave it and the lime scale will soften and should wash off.

Lime scale in the loo? Sprinkle bicarbonate crystals around the pan and leave overnight.

Tiles and grouting need cleaning? Put half a cup of bicarbonate crystals into half a litre of water and wash the area concerned.

Carpets need freshening up? Sprinkle bicarb onto the carpet and the vacuum off. Dry bicarb can also be used dry to remove carpet stains.

Microwave smelling? Put a couple of slices of lemon into a bowl of water and microwave on full for a minute or two.

Furniture need polishing? Mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice. Spray a little on and then rub it all over. The lemon juice cuts through the dirt and the olive oil gives it a nice shine. Buff with a dry cloth.

Windows need cleaning? 50/50 white vinegar and water works a treat. Just wash it on and dry it off.

Kettle need de-scaling? Again, white vinegar is the answer. Use one part white vinegar and one part water. Boil the kettle and the lime scale will disappear when you empty the kettle. Boil up some plain water to rinse the kettle before you use it again.

Cloudy glasses? A mix of lemon and salt will remove lime scale from glass

Smelly fridge? A dish of bicarbonate of soda put in the fridge will do the job.

Always test a small area of what you want to clean before trying these solutions, just in case there is something about the area you are cleaning that has an adverse reaction.

TRANSITION HASLEMERE STEERING GROUP AGM 9 JANUARY 2012 – CHAIR’S REPORT

Transition Haslemere continued its activities in raising awareness of climate change and peak oil and with projects to increase the resilience and sustainability of Haslemere through 2011.

Awareness raising activities included hosting a talk by international peak oil expert Dr Mamdouh Salameh in March and a regular presence at the monthly farmers’ market as well as the Christmas market and the Fringe Festival. We had regular columns and press releases in the Haslemere Herald.

We lent our support to the National Trust’s Speckled Wood volunteer centre project, including raising over £800 pounds through sponsored roof shingles.

In May, we introduced ‘green drinks’ – an informal gathering held on the first Thursday of the month at the Georgian Hotel. It has proved a good way for supporters to meet, new people to find out about TH, and even get some TH business done.

We saw an early draft of the Campaign To Protect Rural England’s survey of Haslemere local food network, which we helped research. We anticipate that the report will be published early in 2012 and TH will look at ways to use the information and platform to further the local food network.

We enjoyed a fine Sustainable Harvest Picnic in the medieval barn on Imbhams farm, attended by around 70 people.

Our community garden group based at Roundhurst Farm changed its name to the Haslemere Community Veg Growers and produced a range of fruit and veg from the Spring to the autumn.

We are helping the Town Council with research on using the Hoppa Bus as a commuter bus during rush hour.

Towards the end of the year a group of TH members proposed a project on local food and heritage and made an initial enquiry into funding. This is ongoing. Meanwhile, in December Owyn Prandle and Clive Ardagh drew up a proposal for a local wood fuel/energy efficiency project and submitted it for first round funding. We are awaiting the outcome. These two proposed projects, perhaps combined in some way, offer exciting opportunities for TH to explore in 2012.

I would like to thank all TH members for their support through 2011. I want to make special mention of Adrian Wimbush for his excellent work on our website and efforts in running TH’s stall wherever it appeared, Ann Finlayson for keeping our accounts, Caroline Gowing for her deputy chairmanship and generally getting us organised, as well as all other steering group members.

Clive Davidson
9 January 2012

How to have a Green Christmas

 Christmas is a time of joyous celebration and goodwill; a time for families, for giving and receiving and for thanksgiving. It can also mean overindulgence and a time when sustainability gets put on the back burner.

In the UK we will produce and throw away enough gift wrap to cover Guernsey and an estimated one billion Christmas cards will end up in the bin. We will waste food, use 750 million extra glass bottles and containers, discard 500 million extra drinks cans and produce over 3 million tons of extra waste, most of it at the expense of increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and most will end up in landfill.

It does not have to be that way; here are ten sustainable tips from Transition Haslemere that will make your Christmas more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The Christmas tree

Use a living tree in a pot and plant it out afterwards, or make sure you recycle it.

Christmas cards

Make sure the cards you send use recycled paper, and recycle them after Christmas.

Think about ‘green gifts’

Buy presents that don’t have a negative impact on the environment – think about giving experiences, donations to conservation causes, or make your own gifts.

Look for locally made gifts

Buy presents from local craft stalls and buy from your local shops.

Wrapping paper

Avoid the paper waste of wrapping paper and use old posters, magazines, or reusable scarves to wrap presents.

Defrost your freezer

Defrost your freezer before Christmas so it will work more efficiently and create more space to store leftover food so it doesn’t go to waste.

Buy local and organic food

Use as much food as possible which comes from local growers and producers, and source items such as turkeys from organic providers.

Green cooking of your greens!

Put the lid on your spuds and sprouts when they’re cooking.

Christmas meal leftovers

If you really can’t eat any more then use your left overs creatively.

Pass on unwanted gifts

Pass on an unused gift to someone who will appreciate it.

For more information please click here

Enchanted Evening in Imbhams Farm’s Magical Barn

Our supporters celebrated the bounty of the land at our Sustainable Harvest Picnic held on Saturday 15 October at Imbhams Farm.

The family event, which attracted 70 people, started with traditional games such as horseshoe throwing and bobbing for apples. The shared supper featured dishes made with as many local ingredients as possible.

The barn was decorated with local greenery and John and Maggie Barlow, the owners of Imbhams farm went out of their way to make us all most welcome, including baking the most delicious apple crumble made from local apples and their own grains.

A competition for the ‘food least travelled’ was won by Jane Devlin for a dish she baked in Chiddingfold which husband Bruce transported to the event by electric bicycle. The prize was a hamper of food donated by Crossways greengrocer in Fernhurst which comprised mostly of produce grown by local organic market gardener Rebecca Laughton.

There were also competitions for the best carved pumpkin and face drawn on a pumpkin with the pumpkins donated by The evening ended with dancing to music by local singer-songwriter David O’Brien and friends.

“The perfect autumn evening, the beautiful setting of Imbhams historic barn, the candlelit carved pumpkins and the warm and welcoming atmosphere made for a magical event,” said Clive Davidson, Chair of Transition Haslemere.

Sustainable Harvest Picnic

Sustainable Harvest Picnic 2009

Sustainable Harvest Picnic

Saturday October 15th 5.00 – 8.00 pm

Imbhams Farm

Adults £2.50, children free

 

Join our family picnic in a celebration of local food.

 

  • Bring the family
  • Bring a dish to share (preferably made from locally sourced food)
  • Bring a drink
  • Meet with other Transition Haslemere supporters

 Enjoy:

  • Live music
  • Carved pumpkin competition
  • Prize for the food least travelled
  • Pumpkin face painting competition
  • “String Beans” and other fun activities

Entrance by invitation only to supporters of Transition Haslemere.

To see pictures of the 2009 picnic click here

To apply for tickets for this year’s picnic click here


Preserving our harvest

With Haslemere holding its food festival and harvesting happening in the fields around, it is a good time to look at how we might preserve some of summer’s bountiful produce.

With more people now growing their own fruit and vegetable,s or looking at ways to take advantage of seasonal food prices, there is renewed interest in traditional and modern methods of preserving food.

We are all used to having a freezer these days, but often we simply use to store products we buy already frozen. Freezing homegrown produce is quick and simple, but is not always the best or only way to preserve flavour, texture and vitamins. Also, some foods aren’t suitable for freezing – lettuce or uncooked potatoes, for instance. However, if you are going to freeze your vegetables and other produce, there are useful techniques such as blanching that can help improve taste and texture.

People have been drying fruit, vegetables, herbs and meats since ancient times. Again, there are a variety of techniques appropriate to different foods that can improve the process, such as sun drying, air drying, smoking and baking. Our climate isn’t ideal for drying, of course, but you can get relatively inexpensive dehydrators on the internet that will work for a wide range of foods.

Pickling is another method with a long history. Like many preserved foods, pickles have come to be enjoyed in their own right and are now produced to be eaten all year round. Cheeses are another example of where a preservation method has created foods that are now valued in themselves and not just something stored in a cupboard for the dark days of winter.

Vacuum packing is a modern technique popular with food manufacturers, but is now increasingly used by smaller producers. Small vacuum packing machines are now available at quite modest prices, making it possible to use the technique at home on a wide variety of foods. Vacuum packing can also be used in conjunction with freezing to extend storage life.

Then there are canning and bottling. Many people still make jams with the fruits of the summer – and marmalade in winter with Seville oranges – although canning is something of a lost art. However, like bottling, canning requires only relatively simple inexpensive equipment and some patience in order to capture the taste and colours of garden produce.

Finally, some foods don’t require any special processing or treatment and can simply be stored appropriately to last a winter or more. Root vegetables were designed by Nature for this purpose. Potatoes, parsnips, carrots, onions and many others can often simply be left in the ground until they are needed – if pests aren’t a problem. Otherwise they should be lifted, allowed to dry and then stored in a dark ventilated place.

For all these food preserving methods there is now a wealth of information on the internet, and many helpful books are also available.

One thing to remember, whatever method you choose – always label and date what your preserve. It’s easy to forget just what you put in a package or can and when. And don’t forget to eat the products by their ‘use by’ date.

Here are some useful links for further information:

www.allotment.org.uk

www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

www.lowimpact.org/linkspreservingfood.html

Tips for green shopping

Shopping is part of life’s routine. We are fortunate nowadays to be faced with choice in almost everything we buy. There are various criteria we can apply in making our choices, such as cost, convenience or quality. But there is also something else we can look at – what is the impact of our choices on the world in which we live?

Our buying decisions can have an affect on the natural environment, on our local economy, on the sustainability of production processes or on the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

To help us make greener choices in what we buy, there are a number of questions we can ask when we look to purchase something. What is it made from? How was it produced? Where was it produced? How did it get here? Where do the profits from its sale go?
The answers to the questions won’t always be clear, and sometimes you might have to balance out competing considerations – for example, produce that is local but non-organic versus produce that is organic but transported from a distance.
Here are some general tips if you want to shop greener and promote sustainability.

  • Read the label – ask yourself if the item is from a sustainable source.
  • Shop locally – you will be supporting your local economy as well as saving on the carbon emissions of travel.
  • Buy locally produced goods – support your local producers, for example by shopping at the farmers market held on the first Sunday of the month from 10am to 1.30pm in Haslemere High Street. The produce is fresh and you can talk to the producers themselves.
  • Take your own bags – the world doesn’t need any more plastic shopping bags.
  • Use charity shops – ‘reduce, recycle, reuse’ is the green mantra. Charity shops are the high street’s great recyclers.
  • Use auction sites like e-Bay, free goods sites like Freecycle and sale sites like Gumtree – you can often get good quality used items very cheaply. They are also great ways of getting rid of unwanted possessions – getting cash for them and saving on landfill.
  • Get together with others and buy basic items in bulk – larger packs of many basic goods are cheaper and come with less packaging.
  • Don’t forget the library if you are looking for a book or DVD – read and return.

Finally, and most important of all – buy only what you need. Avoid waste – it will only end up in landfill.

Green Tips Competition


Do you have a great tip for ‘greening’ your life?

Let us know by either replying to the newsletter, posting on our Facebook wall (click here) or tweeting us @GreenHaslemere. We’re offering a £25 voucher for the Lower Roundhurst Farm shop for the best response.

We’ll also be taking suggestions on our stall at the Farmers’ Market (Sunday July 3rd) – so come and say hello and share your best green tip!

Green driving saves fuel, money and carbon

With petrol prices showing no signs of falling back, it’s a good time to develop more fuel efficient driving habits. This is especially true if you are about to set off on your family holidays and have a long drive to your destination. And saving fuel means saving carbon emissions, so it’s good for the environment too.

Here are some tips for greener, more fuel efficient driving.

 

  • Watch your speed. Driving at 50-60 mph is usually most efficient. Driving over 70mph rapidly increases your fuel consumption and your carbon emissions. It can cost up to 25% more in fuel to drive at 70mph compared with 50mph.
  • Try not to accelerate or brake sharply. Harsh acceleration and braking can use up to 30% more fuel. They also add to the wear and tear on your car.
  • Switch off the engine if you think you will stationary for more than two minutes – for example, while you are waiting at the Hindhead traffic lights.
  • Drive when the traffic is lightest if you can. Avoid rush hours and the school run, as well as congested routes where the traffic is stop-start and your journey time is longer. Sometimes just a twenty minute delay can enable you to miss heavy traffic.
  • But don’t adjust your driving time if it means you’ll be in a hurry. If you’re stressed you will tend to drive more erratically and less economically.
  • Try to combine errands so you only have to make one trip.
  • Arrange to car share with work colleagues or for the school run.
  • Remove any unnecessary items from your car. Extra weight means extra fuel consumption. If it is not inconvenient, only half full your tank for the same reason.
  • Remove your roof rack unless you need it. Roof racks increase wind resistance, which can make a significant difference to your fuel consumption.
  • On warm days, driving with the windows open increases the drag on your car and your fuel consumption. But so does using the air-conditioner. So which should you choose? The general rule is for slower driving – under 45mph or so – open the windows. On motorways and faster roads, use the air conditioner.
  • Keep your tyres at the right pressure for your load and for the season. Under-inflated tyres increase your fuel consumption.
  • Have your car serviced and checked regularly to make sure it is performing at its optimal level.

 

Finally, relax and enjoy the trip – you’ll probably drive better and more efficiently.

 

Green Drinks June 2nd Georgian Hotel at 7.30 pm

Join us again for our monthly get together and chat over a drink or two at the Georgian Hotel on Thursday June 2nd between 7.30 and 9.30 pm.

As usual we will have representatives from our Haslemere Community Veg Growers, our Transport and Energy Group, our Schools Group and Steering Group on hand. Do join us for some green conviviality.

All are welcome!

 

Energy saving tips for the Spring

As we enjoy the glorious Spring, it is a good time to review our energy bills and look at ways of reducing our winter costs and of keeping them down through the summer. Now is a good opportunity to investigate some of the bigger measures you might take to improve energy efficiency if you haven’t already taken them, such as loft or cavity wall insulation, double glazing or installing a wood burner.

Figuring out the comparative cost effectiveness of each of these measures can be tricky so we have provided some analysis and guidelines on our website at www.transitionhaslemere.org. There are a number of grants and subsidies available for some of the measures, such as free loft and cavity wall insulation for the elderly. You can find out information about these at the Energy Savings Trust website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk, or call them on 0800 512 012.

You don’t have to spend a huge amount to conserve energy and reduce your bills. Here are some other things you can do that will save you money while also cutting your carbon emissions.

  • Hang washing outside to dry instead of using your dryer. It’s also kinder on your clothes, especially those with elastication or printed patterns or logos.
  • Turn down the temperature of your water heater now that outside temperatures are higher.
  • Turn off your towel radiators.
  • If you have empty space in your fridge or freezer fill it up with used milk cartons filled with water. Your fridge or freezer will have to work less hard, and therefore use less electricity, to maintain its temperature when you open and close the door.
  • Eat more salad – which avoids using energy for cooking.
  • And while we are on the subject of food, shop locally and buy local produce wherever possible. A good place to do this is at the farmers’ market, which takes place from 10am to 1.30pm on the first Sunday of each month in the High Street – next one on Sunday 5 June.
  • Walk or cycle to the shop if possible. It’s surprising how much you can carry comfortably in a rucksack. Waitrose also lends out a bicycle trailer to take your shopping home.
  • Grow your own vegetables. If you don’t have the space at home, or the time or the confidence to do it all yourself, then you can join the Haslemere Community Veg Growers – who you can find on Facebook or this website.

 

Green Drinks May 5th Georgian Hotel at 7.30 pm

No we don’t mean Chartreuse and Kiwi juice!

Join us for a get together and chat over a drink or two at the Georgian Hotel on Thursday May 5th between 7.30 and 9.30 pm.

As well as most of the Steering Group we will have representatives from our Haslemere Community Veg Growers, our Transport and Energy Group and our Schools Group on hand. Do join us for some green conviviality.

Talk on Peak Oil – April 6th 7.30 pm

Slides from Dr Salomeh’s talk can be viewed here

Come to the Georgian Hotel at 7.30 pm  (for an 08.00 pm start) on Wednesday April 6th and hear about Peak Oil from Dr Mamdouh Salameh, one of the world’s foremost experts. Tickets are just £2.00 each (£1.00 concessions).

A peak in global oil production has been reached in 2006. Peak oil is not only a reality but is already impacting on oil prices, the world economy and the global energy security. It is against this background that the concept of peak oil becomes more worrisome.

An analysis of the global market fundamentals indicates that a severe oil crunch could be in the offing probably by 2015 or thereabouts.

By 2012, global oil spare production capacity could entirely disappear and by 2015 the shortfall in oil output could reach nearly 10 million barrels a day (mbd) causing a severe oil crunch and pushing the oil price to levels not reached before.

Such a crunch could, at least, lead to periods of harsh economic adjustments in the global economy and, at worst, to conflict and even war should one of the major oil consuming nations choose to intervene forcefully. The war on Iraq was a foretaste of what’s to come.

Dr Mamdouh G Salameh is an international oil economist, a consultant for the World Bank in Washington DC on oil and energy and also a technical expert with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna. He has a doctorate in Economics specializing in the economics & geopolitics of oil & energy.

Dr Salameh is currently Director of the Oil Market Consultancy Service in the UK. Dr Salameh has written three books on oil and has presented papers to numerous international energy conferences on the economics & geopolitics of oil & energy and has also been frequently invited to lecture on these topics at universities around the world.

He regularly appears on TV to discuss oil prices and other developments in the global oil market. He is a member of many international institutes and associations around the world including the International Associatiobn for Energy Economics in the US, the British Institute for Energy Economics & the International Energy Foundation in Canada.

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