Category Archives: Uncategorized

When a number of Dorset transition initiatives met up with da21 at the 2009 Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, they asked da21 to help with a “skills audit” to find out what skills exist within each group.  The idea is that the various Dorset transition groups are likely to have different sets of skills among their members, and may be able to help each other develop their activities by sharing or swapping some of these skills.   As part of the preparation for the Dorset Transition Gathering on 13 March (details on the da21 website), we have now set up the Dorset Transition Skills survey on the Survey Monkey website.    The results from the survey will be presented at the Gathering, when ideas on how to share skills can also be discussed and taken forward.  But first it really is vital that everyone in the Dorset transition movement fills in the survey!  We need you all to fill it in whether or not you can come to the Gathering.  It really is very easy and quick – no more than 10 minutes, honest!  Just go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dorsetransitionsurvey                                                 
 
Best wishes,Susan
Susan Anders
Sustainability Officer
GreenAssist Project
01305 213721
da21
PO Box 5789DorchesterDT2 8ZR
www.da21.org.uk

Plans to resume regular passenger train services from Wareham to Swanage need £3m by the end of the month, or the project could be delayed indefinitely.

The funds are needed to pay for essential track and signalling work, which would enable services to run.

The investment needed represents a significant step in the long running aim to restore the service, which was withdrawn in 1972.

Dorset County Council is seeking funding from central government.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/dorset/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8513000/8513078.stm

Network Rail’s Poole to Wool resignalling scheme presents a unique and un-missable opportunity to reconnect the signaling for the former Wareham to Swanage branch line at an affordable cost. The Poole to Wool scheme will be delivered by the end of 2012, and if the resignaling to the branch line is carried out at this time, if will cost in the region of £2.5 – £3.0 million and be delivered by the end of 2012. If this opportunity is missed, the cost would be significantly greater and the branch reconnection is likely to be delayed, for around 50 years. The cost of branch line signalling as a standalone job would be astronomical.

Therefore we need to write to Jim Knight MP to encourage him to put pressure on central government to find the funding.

Write to Jim at his constituency office:
79 Lynch Lane
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 9DW

Write to Jim at the House of Commons:
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

Send Jim an email:
jimknightmp@parliament.uk

This transport link is absolutely vital towards connecting Purbeck and getting people out of their cars and off the already congested roads.

For your interest….

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0066mk9/One_Planet_18_02_2010/
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Dorset Transition Gathering

The Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 1RR

13 March 2010, 09:00 to 17:00

Da21 is hosting the Dorset Transition Gathering through its GreenAssist project, supported by the Big Lottery Fund.  The aim of the Gathering is to help all the Dorset transition groups boost their effectiveness through:

• An opportunity for transition groups to meet each other and:
• o share experiences and successes
• o exchange lessons and ideas
• o establish networking contacts
• Identifying skills available within Dorset’s transition groups, for potential skill sharing.
• Sharing information on current sources of support.
• Identifying further needs (e.g. training).

The event will be facilitated by Jenny Mackewn, an experienced facilitator who has worked with many transition groups through the Transition Network.  To get the maximum benefit for all the groups, the programme will be as flexible as possible, with plenty of time given over to Open Space sessions which can cover whatever burning issues emerge on the day!

Participants are asked to bring food for a shared lunch. 

Tea and coffee will be provided. 

Attending the event is free of charge, but it would be very much appreciated if participants could make a voluntary donation on the day to help cover some of the costs.

Provisional Programme:

09:00   Registration

09:20   Welcome and introductions

09:30   Da21 ‘GreenAssist’ project

09:45   Dorset transition skills survey

10:15   Tea/coffee

10:45   Mapping transition progress in Dorset.

11:30   Open Space session  (Topics identified by participants)

13:00  Shared lunch & networking

14:00  Open Space session  (Topics identified by participants)

15:45  Tea/coffee

16:15   The way forward: future needs & support from da21.

16:45   Feedback.

17:00   Close.

Booking a place

To book a place at the Dorset Transition Gathering please contact your own transition group for details about registration. Information is also available on the da21 website (www.da21.org.uk)

or from da21 on 01305 213721 or susan@da21.org.uk

 The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers 7.45pm onwards

Come along for an open space style, relaxed discussion evening in the cosy surroundings of the Square and Compass (who claim to be 60% self sufficient!)… to tackle some interesting and incredibly important food issues in Purbeck..

Topics to include…

• the impacts of any potential new supermarkets in Purbeck
• expanding and improving local food production 
• how to make the best of fresh seasonal Purbeck produce

Please let everyone know!! – contact peatda21@googlemail.com if you can distribute posters or need any more information

This ‘taster’ weekend will provide an opportunity to actively learn about the ethics & principles of permaculture, local site design, and how to use permaculture in your own life.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cecilia_macaulay/

“Observe and interact. By taking the time to engage with nature we can design solutions that suit our particular situation” Permaculture Principles

Tutor: Gary Finch

Venue: Binnegar Farm, Binnegar Lane, Puddletown Rd, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6AJ

Cost: £50.00

Contact: Lorretta Perrella Tel: 0773 0555209 email: looberry@hotmail.com

Monday February 8th 2010 The Bankes Arms Studland, 7.30 for 8pm- with Steve Dring (PDC) on Purbeck’s Core Strategy

Finally this meeting has been rescheduled (a month later!). The issues are still relevant so please try and make it down to studland to have an open discussion session on the core startegy plans for purbeck see PDC website for more details.

Thanks

Katie

Over the last two months PEAT members have visted nearly all Parish Councils to talk about PEAT, Peak Oil, Climate Change and Transition. This has been a very worthwhile exercise resulting in invitations from many parishes to give a full talk on the issues.  Three members of PEAT gave the first ‘MEET PEAT’ in a 15 minute power point presentation to Wareham Town Council last week. Tania Kaplan organised the talk with Ian Alexander and myself (Katie) – it went really well and the council responded with some important questions which will hopefully lead to a more interactive session when we strt thinking about some solutions for the area.  We all felt that it was important to keep on meeting people and talking about the issues.  In fact this is one of the most important activities for PEAT to carry on with in a formal and informal way.  If you would like to arrange to give a presentation you can use the powerpoint slides- we also have access to a projector and laptop so let us know and we can help you work something up which is suitable for your audience.

Tania, Ian and I are committed to giving one talk per month from now on but with more details on the issues and time for discussion and finding solutions at the end.

Thanks

Katie

The Dorset Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Open Day is next Saturday,
30th January, from 10.20-3.30 at the Dorset Youth Association Hall in
Lubbecke Way, Dorchester DT1 1QL. There’ll be a chance to try your
hand at traditional crafts like spinning, various forms of weaving,
braiding & feltmaking, as well as meeting us all, both experts &
beginners. There will of course be cake, too… Hope to see
some of you there,

AngieC.

(Secretary to the Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, & anklebiter for Transition Wimborne!)

Dorset County Council is keen to encourage people to cycle more often by making it easier and safer to reach key destinations by bicycle. To achieve this goal we want to define a county wide cycle network and delivery plan for future routes and improvements. This is where we need your help; we would like to know where you would like to see new cycle routes in your area.

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/haveyoursaycyclenetwork