Transition Town Poole Meeting 12th May 2010

Coffee, Cakes and Candy not open again (answerphone was on the blink), so moved to The Globe Café initially, then on to The Blue Boar after The Globe closed at 9pm.

Harriet and Kate co-facilitated the meeting.

After brief introductions and a quick statement about something that inspired us to be involved in Transition from the ten (later 11) attendees, Harriet read out the 12 steps of Transition and we discussed how/if we as a group were doing these things.

1.      Set up a steering group and design its demise/transformation from the outset

TT Poole haven’t done this, discussed whether this meeting was the steering group.

2. Start raising awareness

TT Poole have done this in a number of ways e.g. film screenings, seed packets with transition info on, Turner’s Field litter pick, food cooperative, and so on.

Harriet mentioned that Canford Heath has a population of 14,000 – easily big enough to have its own Transition group if it wanted. She has a couple of contacts there interested in a film screening and will investigate possible venues.

3. Lay the foundations – this is about networking with existing groups and activists.

TT Poole have worked with the 350 organisation, Big Green fortnight and other local groups such as Greenpeace, Poole Agenda 21 and Friends of the Earth.

4. Organise a Great Unleashing

TT Poole haven’t done this.

5. Form theme (or special interest) groups

TT Poole have done this: Abundance, Energy group, Friends of Turner’s field, Food Coop, Transition Together.

6. Use Open Space

TT Poole have and do use this approach of holding meetings where there is no fixed agenda and people can move from group to group as their interest takes them.

7. Develop visible practical manifestations of the project

TT Poole have the website but we discussed the possibility of using an empty shop front to have a visual display of what TT Poole are up to and how people can get involved. There was concern that this would have limited effect if it was only a shop front and there was no one to communicate with directly (Mark has experience of this). Considered running some kind of information stall from an empty shop – Time required from volunteers to run it could be an issue. Discussed possibility of liaising with Oxfam or other charity shop to promote TT. Someone suggested energy efficiency businesses may like to display TT leaflets.

8. Facilitate the Great Reskilling such as TT Christchurch has done – knitting, bike mending, cooking and making chutneys etc. Discussed Tatnam Organic Patch (TOP) as a visible example of what can be done and as an educational and skill sharing resource. Simon asked how happy TOP are to be visible as a reskilling/educational resource and Andy responded that it is definitely available as a community resource should anyone want to use it to meet or for education or similar. Stanley Green primary school (5 year olds) came to TOP recently and this was a great success although one child did manage to fall in the raised pond!

One idea for publicity for TT Poole was talking to the council about turning a roundabout from flowers into vegetables and promoting TT through this. Concerns about Health and Safety of getting onto the roundabout were expressed, also whether anyone would want to consume vegetables grown on a roundabout. However, could use recycled materials to make fake vegetables and turn it into an art installation and/or perhaps just have some nut/fruit trees which wouldn’t require so much maintenance. Derby’s corner roundabout was given as an example of a roundabout which has many trees on it already, but probably doesn’t need our help.

Could run a competition for an art installation.

9. Build a bridge to Local Government

TT Poole have done this, we have links with Poole Council via Don Collier and Tony Trent. We have a seat on the Environmental Forum which Harriet regularly attends.

10. Honour the elders

Harriet moved swiftly on from this one.

11. Let it go where it wants to go…

And this one…by default we have !

12. Create an Energy Descent Action Plan

TT Poole have not yet done this but discussed how we could be challenging the local council to create one although this is likely to be less radical than we would like, as the public would probably not like it otherwise. However TT is not a campaigning group. The word “plan” was challenged in terms of our input. Would “vision” be a better word to use? Andy suggested avenues of trees and more space for cyclists and walkers as examples of visions for the future. Christine suggested that decentralization of energy is essential for the future.

We discussed options for the open space sessions, considering things which needed most urgent action.

We then moved venue (because the Globe shut at 9pm), to the Blue Boar, and went into three open space sessions: Abundance, Schools and gardens, and Grooves on the Green.

Abundance – urban cropping

Cherry has started creating publicity posters for this project using pictures of blossom and describing the reasons behind the project as well as how people can get involved. Further leaflets and posters will be developed as well as forms for keeping a record of trees which can be cropped, including details such as location and ownership.

Decided to keep project fairly small this year to allow experience to be gained. If only one tree from each TT Poole member is cropped, that is still a lot of harvesting. If anyone knows of a tree which is likely to be a good candidate, let us know. Ideally each needs a ‘watcher’ to decide when it is ready to crop. We are probably going to attach the form to fill in to the TT Poole website.

Schools and gardens

Schools and gardens group are going to find out what schools in the local area are doing already about growing vegetables and green spaces as well as looking at www.edibleplayground.co.uk which is a useful resource for gardening projects in schools.

They will also contact Don Collier at the council.

Grooves on the Green

Grooves on the Green discussed various possibilities for the TT Poole stall at the upcoming festival on 11th July at Ashley Cross including having cookery demonstrations with local food and children’s activities to get children and their parents engaged. However, unless someone is willing to come forward and be lead organizer of this event then it cannot happen. Various things need to be organized including getting gazebos, finding out about doing cookery demos on site and getting equipment for this as well as volunteers to run the stalls and give the demos. Discussed how the festival is less for children than it used to be, and might not be so good to have events aimed at children after all? Also discussed idea of making art installation from recycled beer cans etc from rubbish found on the site. Christine knows an artist who may be interested in doing this and she will try to contact him. Christine offered to do some organising but can’t be there on the day, so isn’t going to be able to lead. Still need someone to come forward for this if TT Poole is going to have a successful stall.

World Environment Day is on June 5th

“Make a picnic – Make a difference” beach and garden party is being held by kind invitation at a beachfront house in Sandbanks in aid of WaterAid and RESULTS UK. £5 a ticket. Contact Harriet

Next meeting

Next meeting will (almost) DEFINITELY be at Coffee, Cakes and Candy at 7.30pm on Tues 8th June as Ian has spoken to the owner directly and confirmed it with him.

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