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

Jan 7th, 2012 by

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

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How to have a Green Christmas

Nov 10th, 2011 by

 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

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Enchanted Evening in Imbhams Farm’s Magical Barn

Oct 21st, 2011 by

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.

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Sustainable Harvest Picnic

Sep 7th, 2011 by

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


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Preserving our harvest

Sep 1st, 2011 by

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

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Tips for green shopping

Aug 23rd, 2011 by

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.

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Green Tips Competition

Jun 19th, 2011 by


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!

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Green driving saves fuel, money and carbon

Jun 18th, 2011 by

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.

 

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Green Drinks June 2nd Georgian Hotel at 7.30 pm

May 29th, 2011 by

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!

 

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Energy saving tips for the Spring

May 10th, 2011 by

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.

 

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Green Drinks May 5th Georgian Hotel at 7.30 pm

Apr 28th, 2011 by

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.

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Talk on Peak Oil – April 6th 7.30 pm

Mar 27th, 2011 by

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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Earth Hour – 8.30 pm on Saturday March 26th

Mar 22nd, 2011 by

Come and join us for Earth Hour.


At 8.30 pm on Saturday 26 March people around the world will be switching off their lights to mark Earth Hour and draw attention to climate change.

Among the thousands of buildings across the UK joining in is the Georgian Hotel in Haslemere High Street.

In support, Transition Haslemere is holding an informal gathering at the hotel from 7.30-9.30 pm.

This is a social event for Transition Haslemere supporters and their families and friends. You can bring a low energy light source – a wind-up or solar torch or candle.

There will also be a prize for the person or family who walks the furthest to attend.

Please join us for a drink and a chat by candlelight.

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Green Homes Open Weekend

Mar 7th, 2011 by

Greening Godalming have organised an eco/green homes open weekend with various homes across Surrey. This follows on from a similar event that has just been completed in Alton.

This will happen on Saturday and Sunday 26th and 27th March.

You are invited to view these homes, free of charge, to find out what features the home owners have and the benefits in financial and comfort/energy efficiency terms etc.   

More information about the event and how to book appointments to view the houses can be found here. 

This is a great opportunity to take part in this first green homes viewing event in Surrey organised by Action Surrey.

Greening Godalming have also organised an Insulation and Renewable Energy Presentation from 7.00pm to 9.30pm on Thursday 24th March at the Waverley Council Offices, The Burys, Godalming GU7 1HR

The event will discuss renewable energy technology and insulation. There are a range of technologies (Photovoltaic, heat pumps, wind power, solar thermal) to select from and installation methods and benefits differ.  With Feed in Tariffs for electricity production, the return on such an investment has improved greatly.

 The speakers from RenEnergy have worked with other Greening Groups and are registered to give advice, design and install the range of renewable energy systems for diverse property types and ages.

The presentation is free of charge but you are asked to book a place.  Please email Greening.godalming@googlemail.com

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Support Alice Holt Forest

Feb 10th, 2011 by

This Saturday (12th Feb) there will be a peaceful protest in Alice Holt Forest to draw media attention in the area to the Government’s plans to sell off our publicly owned woodlands.  Supporters will be meeting at the cafe in the woods at 11am. 

Anybody who enjoys using Alice Holt Forest, Bourne Wood, Crooksbury Common, Queen Elizabeth Country Park or any other Forestry Commission woodland is invited. The Farnham Herald will be in attendance as well as members of the Alice Holt Community Forum, Transition Farnham and Transition Haslemere.  Jeremy Hunt MP has also been invited. 

If the government sells off our public forests, they’ll be gone forever. The Forestry Commission manages our woodlands for everyone and every animal. They belong to us and we should fight to keep them. Selling them will generate a quick buck but cost the country more in grant-funding in the long run! 

 Please sign the petition at: www.38degrees.org.uk

Alice Holt is home to one of the Forestry Commission’s two main research centres. Work at the centre includes research into the impact of climate change on Britain’s trees, investigation into species that will be most adaptable to local climate change, measuring carbon capture in woodland soil, and wood as a renewable fuel.

In the Government’s consultation documents Alice Holt is classified not as a “heritage forest” which will be offered to existing charities, but as a “multi-purpose forest” and therefore liable to be sold off at full commercial value. Alice Holt’s original trees were sacrificed over the centuries to build Britain’s fleet. Under the Forestry Commission, it is in the process of being restored to native broadleaved forest – a process that can take many decades. 

Please come along and support Alice Holt.

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2010 Report from the Chairman

Jan 26th, 2011 by

In 2010, Transition Haslemere continued its efforts towards making Haslemere a lower carbon, less oil dependent, more resilient and more sustainable community. Ours are early steps, and much of the effort is of necessity still about awareness raising. To that end we had a presence at many of Haslemere’s events over the year, including the monthly farmers’markets, and the Charter Fair and Christmas market.

We ran a successful series of Transition Haslemere Evenings, with talks on permaculture, diet and climate change and home energy efficiency. We also showed the films Power of the Community, about Cuba’s enforced food self-sufficiency, and Rebecca’s Farm, about a permaculture approach to sustainable farming.

We promoted sustainable living through our Green Fair in March and DIY Food event in September, and our community garden, based at Lower Roundhurst Farm, had its first year of operation, producing a bumper crop of vegetables.

Several local organisations contacted us for help and support with their sustainability efforts. Haslemere Museum asked for advice in developing their sustainability policy. We supported the National Trust in its application to build a new volunteer centre at Swan Barn – a model of sustainable building. And we were asked by Haslemere Town Council for help in producing the sustainability, landscape and transport sections of the town’s new Design Statement.

We upgraded our website and contributed a monthly column to the Haslemere Herald. And we now have over 400 supporters on our mailing list.

We have established Transition Haslemere as the reference point for sustainability issues in the town and surrounding area. This is thanks to the considerable efforts of our supporters.

Sadly, in December we had to say goodbye to Naomi Clarke, the founder of our group, who left to return to the snowy hills of Scotland.

Clive Davidson – Chairman Transition Haslemere

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Swan Barn Development Meeting

Jan 17th, 2011 by

Now that planning permission has been granted, the National Trust are pleased to present the Swan Barn development project to local people and explain a little about what they are trying to achieve.
The presentation takes place on Friday 28th  January at 7.30pm in Haslemere Hall (free admission, donations welcome). This will be an opportunity to introduce Swan Barn Farm to some people who may not know much about the place or the easy access there is to the beautiful woods and meadows from the High Street.
Ben Law will be there to speak about his buildings and his designs for the project at Swan Barn Farm. Dave Elliott, the Warden will be there to explain a little of the background to the project as well as how it links some of the beautiful countryside surrounding the town. There will be an opportunity for people to ask questions afterwards.
We encourage you to attend as this will be an interesting evening and is in support of an important local environmental initiative.
You can follow Dave Elliott on is blog http://swanbarnfarm.wordpress.com/

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Green Resolutions For 2011

Jan 7th, 2011 by

New Year is a time for resolutions and a fresh start, so here are some suggestions for how you can make your life a little greener in 2011.

  1. Leave for journeys a earlier so you can drive a little more slowly and efficiently. With petrol prices being sky-high at present, you will not only save carbon emissions but money too.
  2. Buy seasonal vegetables and look up new ways to cook them. Parsnips don’t always have to be roasted. Celeraic makes a tasty addition to mashed potato and kale is a versatile green.
  3.  When planning your budget for the year, look at what energy efficiency measures you might afford, remembering they will pay back over time. Can you upgrade your heating boiler or your fridge to more efficient models? Or could you insulate your loft or double glaze your windows?
  4. Plant a tree – preferably an indigenous species. Although we are surrounded by woodlands in Haslemere, the planet can always use more trees. Britain is the least wooded country in Europe. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, provide habitats for wildlife, hold the soil and nourish the soul.
  5. Eat less meat. Having one or two meat-free days a week is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint. And when you do eat meat, try to use local, free range and organic products.
  6. Consume less. We can learn a lot about living more sustainably from the generation who lived through the War years. As they used to say: use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
  7. There are three more “Rs” you can try besides Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Respect the natural world around you – it is what provides use resources and sustains us. Rethink your lifestyle – are their greener ways you could live? Restore – try to give back as well as consume, for example by composting your waste.
  8. Use water more sparingly. It may seem that we have enough water around us at this time of the year but remember it takes resources – and produces carbon emissions – to collect, purify and distribute water. Install a rain barrel for watering the garden.
  9. Take your own water in a reusable bottle rather than buying bottled water.
  10.  Get an energy monitor and find out just how much energy your various appliances use and how you might reduce your electricity consumption. You can borrow energy monitors from your local library.

A happy New Year to all our supporters, if you are interested in supporting us further please let us know at transition@haslemere.com

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Christmas Market

Dec 10th, 2010 by

We were delighted with the number of visitors who came to say hello at the Christmas Market and would like to thank everyone for their support.

The children were magnificent when lighting up our Christmas Lights - generating the electricity by pedaling on our eco-bike. Such was the enthusiasm that some had to be persuaded away by their parents!

Our “Spot the Hamper” competition proved to be very popular and we were happy to deliver the hamper to a family in Witley, the wind-up torch was won by one of our loyal junior supporters.

We also delivered a second hamper to a lady in Hindhead who won the prize draw that took place among those who completed out Haslemere Transport Study during the Autumn. If you are interested in the results of the survey, which has been passed to the team who are drafting the Haslemere Design Statement as it provides valuable input, then you can see it here.

Finally many of you asked for the recipe for the warm mulled apple that we gave away on the stall. It is quite simple. Take a litre of apple juice and add 2 tablespoons of clear honey, 6 cloves and 2 cinnamon sticks and warm together in a pan for 10 – 15 minutes. Then add the sliced apple and heat gently for a further 5 minutes before serving. It certainly went down well at the market as we gave away 10 litres of it!

Our thanks go to all the supporters who visited the stand, to those who were on the stand and to those who helped with the preparation. Happy Christmas to one and all!

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SUPPORT SWAN BARN

Dec 1st, 2010 by

UPDATE: WAVERLEY HAVE GIVEN FULL PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THIS TO GO AHEAD.  THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE APPLICATION

Transition Haslemere are asking all our supporters to back The National Trust’s application to build a new sustainable volunteer center at Swan Barn. The building’s proposed design, materials and construction methods are as sustainable as they could possibly be, using local coppiced wood, with the construction under the supervision of local sustainable builder Ben Law. The building will replace a dilapidated asbestos shed and have the same footprint, so there is now new development of land. The building will also include a biodigester for energy, which will also service the existing volunteer building, enabling it to be retrofitted for improved energy efficiency. The purpose of the building is to house long-term conservation volunteers to the benefit of our local environment.

However, Waverley Borough Council has indicated that it intends to turn down the application on the grounds that it is not a justified development of the green belt.

We urge all our supporters to support it and commenting to Waverley. You can do it here.

Below is the message Transition Haslemere, through the Chairman,  have sent to Waverley, feel free to paraphrase.

“Transition Haslemere is familiar with the National Trust’s Swan Barn planning application. We have examined the plans and visited the site, including the woods from which much of the building materials will be sourced. We believe the Swan Barn plans are a model of sustainable development which will make a significant contribution to the local environment and community and enhance the Green Belt.

The proposed design, materials and construction techniques will have minimal impact on the local and wider environment. The associated biodigester and energy efficiency retrofitting of the existing volunteer centre will reduce energy demand and save carbon emissions.

The proposed new building will occupy the site of an existing and unsightly shed, so will involve no further development of Green Belt land, while improving the visual aspect of the site.

The proposed building will bring a number of additional benefits. It will house long-term volunteers who will actively improve the local natural environment. The sourcing of the building materials will promote local woodland coppicing, to the benefit of wildlife and biodiversity. It will also encourage local woodland crafts and the local economy.

Waverley Borough Council has ambitious sustainability aims of its own and this project appears to be entirely in keeping with those aims.

All in all, the National Trust Swan Barn development is an exemplary project in its sustainability and local community benefits. We believe its impact on the Green Belt will be positive. Transition Haslemere welcomes the project and gives it full support. We believe that it could be a beacon development and one of which Waverley could be proud. We therefore urge you to agree to the planning application.”

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Walking Bus

Dec 1st, 2010 by

Transition Haslemere are delighted with the success of the walking bus operated for St Batholomew’s School and will be very happy to assist any other local schools to set one up. For more information please see here.

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HOW TO SET UP A COMPOST BIN

Nov 21st, 2010 by


Thinking of setting up a compost bin but not sure how? Well, now you can watch our video for a step by step guide here.
Composting is a great way to recycle your kitchen scraps into food for your garden. And it’s not just potato peelings and vegetable trimmings that can go in the bin. A third of household waste can be used for composting, including teabags, cardboard, eggshells and dead flowers.
Put the right balance of waste into your bin, allow earthworms, bugs and insects in, and Nature does the rest. In 9-12 months you will have rich, dark compost that you can spread on your garden to help it grow. And you can keep the process going indefinitely.
Composting prevents food and other waste going to landfill, avoids you having to buy environmentally harmful peat-based compost and enriches the soil.
Waverley and Surrey councils offer compost bins at reduced prices – see www.surrey.getcomposting.com
Once you’ve got your bin, our video shows you how to set it up and get going. You can have a look first to see what’s involved – and just how simple it is.
(Turning waste into compost was made for Transition Haslemere by local marketing video production agency Focused Film.)

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Winter – It’s time to save energy and save money

Nov 2nd, 2010 by

November has come and with it the first signs of winter. The clocks have gone back, the leaves are falling off the trees and we start to think ahead to Christmas. It’s also when our energy bills shoot up. The central heating settles into its daily routine, we turn the lights on in the early afternoon and it’s a rare day that we can dry any washing outside. So it’s a good time to review whether we can improve the energy efficiency of our homes or workplaces. It might not even cost that much. There are now a range of subsidies for upgrading heating appliances and insulation, as well as installing renewable energy generators.

 We don’t know if we are going to see the snow and cold again that we did last winter, but as we discovered then, it is best to be prepared. Good loft insulation and getting cavity walls filled should be a priority. This helps keep the heat in and bills down. Most energy companies offer a subsidised service for installing the insulation, so it can be done at moderate cost and pay for itself within five years. Or if you want to do it yourself, energy supplier EON currently subsidises loft insulation material at Homebase, while British Gas subsidises a similar offer at B&Q. This includes a new range of loftboards that allow you to insulate your loft while simultaneously creating storage space. Meanwhile, if you are over 70 or on benefits, you can probably get the insulation done for free. Get in touch with your energy supplier or the Energy Saving Trust to find out more.

Winter Energy

There is a whole range of other measures you can take to save energy depending on your budget and the type and age of your house. Big expense items include fitting double glazing, replacing an old boiler with a condensing boiler or installing a wood-burning stove. Cheap but effective measures include draught-proofing doors and windows, changing to energy efficient lightbulbs and double insulating your hot water tank.

 The Energy Saving Trust also has details of a variety of grants and subsidies available to all householders, including some for installing your own renewable energy, such as solar or wind power or anaerobic digestion. New feed-in tariffs, where you get paid a guaranteed minimum for any electricity that you generate that is in excess of your needs and that you feed in to the national grid, make renewables much more cost effective.

Saving energy not only saves money on your household bills, but also saves on carbon emissions from energy generation, so you are also helping combat climate change at the same time.

Transition Haslemere has lots of good advice on energy efficiency compiled by local experts, including estimated payback times for various measures and contact details for grants and subsidies for more details on how to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint please click here and for details on grants you may be able to get and more useful tips click here.

For even more ideas you can go to the Energy Trust website just click here

The Energy Trust also has a local advice helpline: 0800 512 012.

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Schoolchildren’s View of Haslemere in 2030?

Oct 26th, 2010 by

Winning Exhibit in Transition Haslemere Competition

What will a sustainable Haslemere look like in 2030?

This is a question that Transition Haslemere asked of pupils at Camelsdale School recently. Their response was encouragingly optimistic. The children built a model of how they thought their school would look in 20 years time. he cardboard model, which is now on show at Haslemere Museum, shows a variety of measures the children think could be put in place over that time. These include triple-glazed windows, thick ceiling insulation and a ‘green roof’ planted with sedum and wildflowers. Water butts collect rainwater for irrigating the school’s vegetable garden, which supplies the kitchen for healthy school dinners. Compost bins recycle waste. 

 here are solar panels on the school roof for water heating and in the corner of the grounds stands a wind turbine. Now it may turn out that the school is not well sited for a wind turbine but there is no doubt that Camelsdale School and other buildings in Haslemere will need to shift to more renewable sources of energy over the next 20 years, and where possible, local sources. 

The children’s model of the future is not one of austerity and gloom. Instead, it gives a picture of a thriving and more self-sufficient institution. By growing its own vegetables, the school will not only lower its carbon footprint, but save money and provide an outdoor classroom for biology and ecology lessons.The children’s proposals are also notable for their practicality. In fact, the model sets an example of things that many of us can start to do in our own homes. However, when we look at things like insulation, double glazing and solar panels we are faced with a number of questions. Given that most of us have limited time and budgets, what should be our priorities? Which will cut our energy bills the most? How long will loft insulation take to pay for itself compared with double glazing? Solar panels look like a good idea for heating water, but are they a good idea for generating electricity? What will have the most impact on our carbon footprint? 

Local engineer Sandy Polack has made a detailed study of these issues and answered these questions and others in a talk titled “Cost-effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint”. You can see his presentation here and read his article here.

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Cost Effective Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Oct 17th, 2010 by

In the last of the 2010 series of Transition Haslemere Evenings Sandy Polak gave us a useful and interesting talk on the practical things we can do to reduce our Carbon Footprint while, at the same time, saving us money.

A copy of Sandy’s presentation is available here if you want to know more.

Transition Haslemere Evenings will be back in March 2011 with a new and exciting programme of monthly evening talks, films and other events. For more news keep an eye on the website and of course the newsletters.

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