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Something fishy? Come & Watch the Film

‘The End of the Line’

How & where do you buy your fish? Will there always be enough?
Is the fish you eat sustainably caught or sustainably farmed?
Come & watch this film and bring a friend. All welcome.

Something fishy?
Come & Watch the Film

‘The End of the Line’

THURSDAY 13 May 2010
7.30pm

(film running time 85 minutes)
Horfield Quaker Meeting Room, 300 Gloucester Road
Sustainable Bishopston

SEEKING COMMON GROUND

A small joint meeting was held with Friends of St Andrews Park, The Bishopston Society and Sustainable Bishopston on 8 March to discuss scenarios relevant to ‘Whether Sustainability?’.

Friends of St Andrew’s Park (www.friendsofstandrewspark.ning.com) are of two years standing and seek [...]]]> Ian Baker provided this write-up on a recent joint meeting with other local organisations:

SEEKING COMMON GROUND

A small joint meeting was held with Friends of St Andrews Park, The Bishopston Society and Sustainable Bishopston on 8 March to discuss scenarios relevant to ‘Whether Sustainability?’.

Friends of St Andrew’s Park (www.friendsofstandrewspark.ning.com) are of two years standing and seek to encourage reasonable and bountiful use of this Victorian facility. The park caters for residents of all ages and its popularity affords a variety of recreation marred by some recklessness.

The Bishopston Society (www.bishopstonsociety.org.uk) was founded in 2002 and maintains and improves the character, amenities and architecture of the area.

Sustainable Bishopston (www.sustainablebishopston.org.uk) was formed in 2007 with concerns for energy use and efficiency, recycling and use of resources, biodiversity and environmental conditions.  It seeks to raise public awareness for these issues and to offer support to residents.

The combined group discussed briefly three scenarios:

It is likely that Bishopston will experience in the future heatwaves and intermittent droughts or heavy storms affecting the wellbeing of our gardens and parks and buildings. Which protective measures should be considered?

Tree replacement and maintenance for cooling effects, front/back gardens which absorb rainwater, water butts on drain pipes, raised beds for cultivation, green roofs for water absortion and sensitive responses from the Parks Dept were practical ideas to emerge.

As fuel becomes more expensive, the local retail trade of the Gloucester Road will become more of a prize to Bishopston and other residents. How might amenities and services improve further for both customers and retailers?

There was much enthusiasm for home/allotment growing of food. More local food and less food miles are imperatives for retailers. Change of ownership from Somerfield to The Co-operative Society may introduce more environmentally sensitive goods. The Gloucester Road Alternative Bag (GRAB) campaign had secured good change of use and looks to capture more local retailers  with loyalty cards. Improvements for waste reduction and recycling facilities are needed. Too great an expansion of bars and entertainment outlets may l increase noise and anti-social behaviour. Residents and traders bear the brunt of pollution from traffic as shopping and refreshment conflict with use of this trunk road. More public transport, cycling and walking will increase gradually, as will the advent of electric cars.

Energy and other resources need to be preserved for the benefit of children and their future offspring. But constraint by older people now may reduce their own quality of living. How can better adjustments be made for buildings, transport, leisure and other conveniences?

The elegant Victorian houses of the area present difficulties for heat conservation and energy efficiency. Insulation to lofts and floors go someway, but further insulation to external or internal walls conflicts with aesthetic features. Individual or communal renewable energy generation could become worthwhile investments.  Use of club car schemes, shared vehicle use and public transport will improve mobility for those unable to cycle or walk easily. St.Andrew’s Park offers recreation  for all ages and local community groups facilitate for an increasing variety of entertainment and reflection.

Even more ideas for sustainability were thrown up in this lively discussion. The next challenge is to turn some or all of these ideas into action. Each group can now reflect on how it may help its members and residents. The Bishopston Society will convene the next joint meeting, later in the year.

Watch for The Bishopston Society’s next public meeting on 22 March in St Michael’s Church and a walk tour with a Friend of St Andrew’s in South Bishopston on 16 June.

Horfield and District Allotment Association is a busy and productive association, which leases three separate sites from Bristol City Council, spread over two or [...]]]> This information has been provided by Clare, who enthused many of us at our recent showing of In Transition. If you’re interested in finding out more then please contact Clare (details below).

Horfield and District Allotment Association is a busy and productive association, which leases three separate sites from Bristol City Council, spread over two or three miles.
The demand for plots is very high, and in recent years in order to respond to this, plots have been decreased in size to allow access to more people. Despite this, there is currently a two-year waiting list for a plot on the Golden Hill site.
There is, however, a piece of previously unused land which we want to turn into a productive growing space for wider community use. This is poor quality waterlogged clay, but with drainage and raised beds, this could be turned into a valuable community resource.
There is already a pond and wildlife area and a composting scheme on this part of the site. And there is a site, about one acre, or five to six large plots, which we would like to develop as a community allotment and forest garden for local food growing.
Our allotment association is run independently from the local authority, with an established committee. We already host the Horfield Organic Community Orchard, another project run by local people for the local community.
Our plans for the site are to develop a community space where local people can learn about growing food, about taking part in healthy outside activity, engage in horticultural therapy and learn new skills. The allotment will act as a demonstration garden, showing people what they can grow at different times of year in a small space.
We are particularly keen to create an inclusive and accessible site where people with mental and physical health problems can benefit from the project – joining in with food growing, taking up learning opportunities, and experiencing the restorative enjoyment of being in an outdoor natural environment. We are also keen to involve children and young people, through schools and youth groups.
We plan to make the allotment space available to a range of community groups to learn about gardening in a supported way. We believe all the participants will benefit from a project that includes people of all abilities.
We are currently applying for funding from the National Lottery Local Food Fund. We hope to gain funding to build raised beds, create pathways, erect a poly tunnel, build a compost loo, provide seating and create a forest garden. We are hoping to fund a part time post to provide horticultural input and organise volunteers.
As part of the application process we have had a visit from a national lottery local food adviser. Although competition for funding is fierce, she believes we have a strong project.
She said: “A strength of your application is the focus on creating an inclusive and accessible site where people with mental and physical health problems can benefit from the project.”
“Another strength is the holistic nature of the project, encompassing the growing cycle from seeds and propagation to growing, harvesting, (maybe even eating?), composting and back to growing.”
We are looking for folk who can devote a bit of time who would be interested in helping to develop this project. The job in hand at the moment is to do some consultation with likely interested users/partners. This could be talking to schools or youth groups, talking to residential homes, talking to self-help health groups.
If you think you could help, get in touch!
Clare Hanson-Kahn, plot 10a Davis Field
(0117) 944 4413
clarehansonkahn@blueyonder.co.uk

There was a spirit of transition during the post -film (In Transition 1.0) discussion, convened by Dr Chris Johnstone.  The emergent theme was for local expression and ownership of change.

Perhaps easiest was to pin our hopes for change in local schoolchildren. Support to schools is on our agenda, [...]]]> Promoting Transition….

There was a spirit of transition during the post -film (In Transition 1.0) discussion, convened by Dr Chris Johnstone.  The emergent theme was for local expression and ownership of change.

Perhaps easiest was to pin our hopes for change in local schoolchildren. Support to schools is on our agenda, although the task so far has not been without difficulties – like the destruction of an eco-garden! Nonetheless, some parents, teachers and governors are enthusiastic and we will keep up the pressure.

Effort for more local foods from gardens and allotments is a worthy transition. Tree planting and fruit harvests can be rewarding. Instruction and support is available from Avon Organic Group (www.avonorganicgroup.org.uk) and Horfield & District Allotments (www.allotments.fsnet.co.uk).

Promoting social capital in Bishopston would seem to be a target. Good use of open spaces, recreational facilities, a vibrant local economy and local energy gains can be thought through The Gloucester Road can be more of an amenity and perhaps less of a vehicle thoroughfare.  A Bristol City Council initiative for Neighbourhood Partnerships may help (www.bristol.gov.uk).

Transition is essentially in mind and body.  The predictions of global scientists feed our rational thinking. These are linked to emotions of fear, survival and courage – the energy of sustainablility. Turning the corner is not easy. We are used to things as they are. But it can happen and relieves the tensions of denial.

For Bristol, an urban community, the transition challenge is large. There is under-pinning through efforts of the neighbourhood links, like Sustainable Bishopston and others. Already there are those who conceive ‘A City Re-imagined’ (www.transitionbristol.net) and have worked with The Bristol Partnership to produce the report, ‘Building a Positive Future for Bristol after Peak Oil’.

Sustainable Bishopston debates and encourages transition. We have groups to support cycling, schools, fruit harvesting and recycled shopping bags. We try to capture the interest and enthusiasms of residents with our events and raise public awareness. We are open and voluntary and link to other Bishopston organisations.

If you feel able to foster an active group, please contact Ian Baker, ian-baker@blueyonder.co.uk

]]> http://www.sustainablebishopston.org.uk/?feed=rss2&p=402 2 http://www.sustainablebishopston.org.uk/?p=395 http://www.sustainablebishopston.org.uk/?p=395#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:41:04 +0000 Gavin S http://www.gaspsolutions.co.uk/www_sustainablebishopston_org_uk/?p=395 A very successful event, with in excess of 30 people attending and energetic discussions for some while after the film. The enthusiasm and knowledge of the participants was fantastic! A full report is coming soon (now published – here) but here are a few links related to things which were discussed:

-  Can Bristol become more Sustainable?

Come & Watch the Film

‘InTransition‘

WEDNESDAY 10 February 2010

7.45pm

St Michael’s Church Hall, 160a Gloucester Road

The film is reviewed here, or get a sneak-preview below:

In Transition 1.0 from Transition Towns on Vimeo.

(you can also subscribe to it yourself and view or contribute to the associated local sustainable food directory)