July 2009

Welcome to Buck the Trend’s July e-bulletin

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(1) Cycle path campaign
(2) Lamb Pie Day
(3) Use of your email
(4) Next BTT Forum
(5) Devon Climate Action Network
(6) Ashburton Futures Green Devices event
(7) Transition training: Understanding how to influence and work with
local government
(8) Cob-building course
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(1) CYCLE PATH CAMPAIGN

At our Annual General Meeting in early July there was an excellent and
lively discussion about extending the cycle path from Totnes beyond
the Steiner School to Buckfastleigh.
It sounds like there could be a well-supported campaign in support of
a cycle path extension this far, and there is interest in Ashburton in
campaigning for a cycle path from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton. Would
you be interested in getting involved? Get in touch if you are, and
we’ll put you in touch with other interested Trend-Buckers.

(2) LAMB PIE DAY

We had a very successful stall at Lamb Pie Day, giving out Buck the
Trend information and making £66 on the raffle! Thanks to those who
helped during the day and to those who donated prizes. See the website
for some pictures of the stall – www.buckthetrend.info

(3) USE OF YOUR EMAIL

We currently limit the number of emails sent to those on the Buck the
Trend email list, restricting our communication to the e-bulletin and
possibly one or two other emails in between. However, several people
have sent info on events and meetings after the e-bulletin deadline
and asked that these be sent out separately.
Please get in touch if you do not want to receive these random emails
and would like to continue to receive the e-bulletin and forum notices
only.

(4) NEXT BTT FORUM

Our next Forum takes place on Monday 14th September at 7.30pm. It will
be a joint event with St Lukes Church and takes place at St Lukes
where Martyn Goss, Director of the Council for Church & Society for
Exeter Diocese, will be talking on the theme of ‘Climate change: how
can church and community help?’

(5) DEVON CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK*

Devon Climate Action Network (CAN) enables small, local groups working
on climate change issues to have access to resources, information and
funding that they could not otherwise secure.
Devon CAN is working on:
* A website, which will act as both an information point and a way of
promoting cross group interactions
* A regular newsletter, highlighting issues and initiatives of
interest to all the county’s climate action groups
* A November jamboree to bring climate change activists across the
county together to discuss, plan, learn and celebrate what we are all
already doing.
Buck the Trend has joined as a group but you can also join as an
individual. For a membership form contact
Click here to reveal email address.

(6) ASHBURTON FUTURES GREEN DEVICES EVENT*

During the Two Moors Festival on the weekend of 9-11th October the
Ashburton Futures group will be holding an open day for the public to
meet people who already have green devices – PV panels, wood chip
boilers, electric bikes and anything else the group can think of!
Buckfastleigh hosts are also welcome to take part, so if you would be
prepared to be visited and talk about or demonstrate your innovations
on that weekend please contact Chris Thomas – Click here to reveal email address or
01626 821261.

(7) TRANSITION TRAINING: Understanding how to influence and work with
local government*
Tuesday September 8th, 6.00 – 8.30pm
Venue TBC (Central Exeter)
£5.00

Are you bewildered, baffled and just a tiny bit fed up with the
mysteries of how local government works? Not sure how to make your
voice heard or feeling ignored?  You are not alone – the Transition
Network believes that getting to grips with how local government is a
core skill for groups.
Come and find out about the ABC of how to work with local government
and their even more mysterious friends, Local Strategic Partnerships,
in the company of others trying to also influence and work with their
local authority. The training will be very much shaped around the
needs and questions of the participants.
For more information, or to sign up for a place, contact Andi at
Click here to reveal email address

(8) COB-BUILDING COURSE with South Devon Community Supported Farming (CSF)*
August 8 – 9
Venue: near Totnes
Cost: Free! But donations to Devon CSF welcome to cover costs.

This is a joint Devon Community Supported Farming (CSF) & Transition
Town Totnes (TTT) Do-It-Ourselves Skillshare. We’ll be learning about
cobbing as we finish the last 4 feet of a round cob building,
including some final touches using recycled materials like glass
bottles.
The skillshare will be held about four miles from Totnes on a
beautiful farm which is part of the Neighbourhood Farm Network. Come
out for the day(s) or to stay over camping. Some basic floor space is
available in the farm yurt – do bring your own camp bed or roll mat
and sleeping bag or bring your own tent if you prefer. Families and
children welcome as long as children under 5 are kept supervised. No
dogs due to livestock on farm (goats, chickens and sheep).
Bring food & drinks to share, including pizza dough and topping to
contribute to a cob oven pizza dinner. Wear working clothes and bring
a towel if you’re up for cooling off in the stream.
Contact Christian if you’re thinking of coming and to get directions
to the site (and please tell him if you can offer lifts) -
Click here to reveal email address or ring 07760487398 / 07888109022.

* CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT NECESSARILY
ENDORSED BY BUCK THE TREND BUT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP