Transition Town Louth

Lincolnshire

Louth Community Food Gardens

The Minutes Page

The Archived Stuff

Transition Town Louth Constitution

Join Transition Together T-tog

Louth Town Centre Partnership

Transition Town Louth is an inclusive grouping of people who recognize the reality of Peak Oil and Climate Change, but are determined not to cry doom and gloom into their beer but rather develop the transition to a sustainable community, resilient in an uncertain future, where the quality of life in our lovely town is maintained and improved.
To find out more about Transition Towns in general please take a look at the national Transition Town Website and Transition Culture.
An excellent introductory read is What we are and what we do, by Rob Hopkins and Peter Lipman.
To find out more about Peak Oil, The Oil Drum is a good place to start and Real Climate is the leading net resource for climate science.

To contact Transition Town Louth,Send Mail

Join the Louth Food Group facebook page

Louth St James Market, Sunday 25th July 2010

Next meetings of Transition Town Louth:

Tuesday 14th September 7pm at Rose and Bob's house, 68 Eastfield Road, Louth

See The Minutes Page

Peak Oil - Implications Of Resource Scarcity On Security

Center for German Army Transformation, Group for “Future Studies” July 2010

"Investment will decline and debt service will be challenged, leading to a crash in financial markets, accompanied by a loss of trust in currencies and a break-up of value and supply chains – because trade is no longer possible. This would in turn lead to the collapse of economies, mass unemployment, government defaults and infrastructure breakdowns, ultimately followed by famines and total system collapse".
From the German Military report leaked to Der Spiegel.

Natural environment: an invitation to shape the nature of England

A message from Defra:

Our natural environment underpins our economic prosperity, our health and our wellbeing. As a result, protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity is one of Defra’s top 3 priorities, as outlined in the Department’s Structural Reform Plan. A key commitment under this priority is the publication of a White Paper on the natural environment by spring 2011. We want all interested parties to have a say in shaping the development of the White Paper. On 26 July 2010 we published our discussion paper “An invitation to shape the Nature of England” and we invite all comments and submissions from anyone with an interest in the Natural Environment White Paper. You may wish to develop these in response to the discussion document or there may be other issues you feel that we should focus on. Discussion document summary (PDF, 100KB) Discussion document “An invitation to shape the Nature of England” (PDF, 850KB) All comments should be received by 30 October 2010.

Improving East Lindsey's Energy Self-reliance

Enertrag UK are proposing to build a windwarm with eight 3MW turbines to the south-east of Baumber, near Horncastle. A planning inquiry is to be held in October but there will be a Pre-Inquiry meeting on July 30, 2010 at East Lindsey District Council’s Manby offices at 10am. Details here. A description of the proposal can be found

Ecotricity are proposing to add five more turbines to their Fen Farm site near Conisholme. Details can be found at their webstite and navigating to the Fen Farm II link.

Their is clearly a great deal of opposition to both these developments by those who do not understand the threats that peak oil and global warming pose to our livelihoods in the short term and to our, and our children's, lives in the longer term future.

A New Website for a Sustainable Lincolnshire

Take a look round this great new website created by Groundwork Lincolnshire and join the Forum for discussions about building a sustainable and resilient Lincolnshire.

Louth Town Partnership

The new Board of the Town Partnership was elected on Monday 21st June. Biff is looking after the Environment brief and welcomes any comments, advice and offers of involvment. One of the first issues being looked at is possible plans for pedestrianising the town centre or investigating whether Shared Space might be a way forward. For a full list of Board Members see the temporary Town Partnership website. (A much flashier one is being planned.)

LOCAL MONEY: how to make it happen in your community by Peter North is the latest book in the Transition series. “Whoever controls money controls our lives. Taking back that power for good, not harm, has to be at the heart of new thinking after the crash. Without change, the next one could be Armageddon. This book tells every community everywhere how to make local money work for local good.” – Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist. “A local currency is essential for greater local resilience. Peter North’s comprehensive and well- written survey of local money systems is the best guide by far for communities planning to launch their own currency.” – Richard Douthwaite, author, The Growth Illusion and The Ecology of Money.

Transition Network Conference 2010

Transition Radio is a great opportunity to listen to interviews and talks from the conference workshops.

And here's the Transition Blog to keep you up to date on what's going on.

Totnes and District Energy Descent Action Plan

‘Transition in Action: Totnes and District 2030. An Energy Descent Plan’: available now! 20 months in the making, many hundreds of members of the local community involved, 230 households surveyed, contributions from local artists and schools, many oral histories carried out, and now the UK’s first comprehensive Energy Descent Action Plan is available. It is a sizeable and comprehensive document. Running to over 300 pages, printed in full colour A4, and beautifully designed, the Totnes & District EDAP is a remarkable achievement, a powerful and practical vision for the relocalisation and decarbonisation of one town and its surroundings. Find out more

Transition Handbook Discussion Guide

From time to time I hear about people doing Book Clubs based around the Transition Handbook. Thankfully, and entirely in a self-organising “wouldn’t-it-be-great-if-there-was-a-study-guide” kind of way, Joann Kerr, Susan Gregory, and Leo Brodie of Sustainable NE Seattle (the 19th officially-recognized Transition Initiative in the United States), decided to take matters into their own hands and create one. Rather wonderful it is too, packed with activities and exercises to do with a group of people, it is quite special to think that my humble lil’ ole Transition Handbook would enthuse people sufficiently to create such a great resource. Download it here, take it, use it, let them know how it went….Rob Hopkins

Transition Network UK conference

The 2010 Transition Network UK conference was held at Seale Hayne, (an old agricultural college in Devon), just outside Newton Abbott, over the weekend of 12 to 13-June. Latest reports from the Conference blogspot is here.

Take a little time to read Life After Growth by Richard Heinberg

Louth Community Food Gardens We are a sub group of Transition Town Louth, a voluntary organisation which exists to raise awareness on the impact of Climate Change and Peak Oil to our community. The aim of this sub group is simply to encourage and inspire the people of Louth to grow their own food. We intend to do this through the creation of community food gardens in and around Louth town. We hope the gardens will be a safe haven for everyone, young and old, to share in the community re-skilling of home food production and consumption. Initially we need volunteers to help the project take shape (spade work required!) We have some areas of land available but will be pleased to hear of any other areas that might be suitable for such a project. If you know of possible sites that can have public access, are suitably positioned for food growing and have an easy supply of water, then please let us know. Thanks Maggie, James, Nick, Nisha, Noel & Janet Please visit the Louth Community Food Gardens blog.

10:10

What can I do? - Click here for 10 ways to reduce by 10%

10:10 unites every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010.

10:10 is the perfect opportunity to discover what’s possible when we work together. Let’s get started.

What's On

Saturday September 18th
Diane Cluck, from New York, songsmith and celestial wonder.
Watch her on Youtube

Tickets from Mark Merrifield at Off The Beaten Tracks in Aswell Street.

Wednesday 22nd September 9.30am to 4pm, Hull Quaker Meeting House HU3 2PR
Yes we can! Create green homes and neighbourhoods.

Building on the success of the 'Eat sustainably' workshops run by Leeds Permaculture Network in 2009, the Cooperative is now working with the Permaculture Association to offer day long sessions that will help you find out about creating a greener household and how you can work with others in your community using Transition Town initiatives and permaculture to develop a more eco-friendly neighbourhood. The days will be held in each of the nine northern regions, and will bring together cooperative members, transition town groups and permaculture practitioners. Each day will include interactive workshops, presentations from local groups, stalls, lunch and an optional afternoon networking session where people can find out about a brand new £1000 grant for 'Transition Projects' in each region to help projects that are aiming to make their neighbourhood a healthier more sustainable place to live. You don't need to have any previous experience or eco-knowledge to attend, just a desire to make a difference. An interesting, rewarding and fun day is guaranteed!

We are holding a regional networking event in Hull to bring together Transition Towns, Cooperative members, permaculture people and people who are interested in developing sustainable communities. This is part of a series of 9 – the first 5 have been very successful with many attendees saying what a good opportunity it was to meet people and share ideas.
To book a place, please email Suzi or Harriet at office@permauclture.org.uk

Friday,24th 7.30pm September at British Legion, Northgate, Louth.
International Peace Day ( which is actually 21st September)
With Merlin's Keep
Tickets from Off the Beaten Tracks or on the door. £5 - in aid of the Holocaust Education Centre, nr Newark
Bring a bottle - glasses will be available at the British Legion.

October 7-9th
CAMRA beer festival

Sunday 10th October 11-2pm (approx.) Northgate (East) car park, Louth.
Bicycling Basics: 10/10/10 James Pocklington with Alex Woollen from Sustrans and Jim from Louth Cycle centre, present sessions to learn some basic bike maintenance and knowledge of the road for safer cycling.
Below is a brief idea of what is planned.

Session 1:
• Good to go? (20-30mins stood alongside the bicycle)
• Your bicycle: Basic bicycle “M” check, fault identity and minor adjustment.
• And you: Clothing, footwear, helmet, bags, boxes and baskets.
• Fitting in: Seat height, handlebar position, pedal points, hand controls.
Session 2:
• Getting going (40-60 mins on bike around a coned off course)
• Starting out: Right side, 2o’clock pedal, road positioning, look all around.
• Riding safely : Controlled rear vision, road positioning, manoeuvrability, safe signals, brake control, emergency stops, gear selection.
• Journey’s end : Check behind, stop before you drop your feet ,parking the bike.
Session 3:
• Self preservation (20-30mins off bike)
• Assertive cycling: Road positioning, traffic awareness, avoiding “the squeeze”, communication with other road users.

Tuesday 19th October 7.30pm Conoco room, Louth Library Louth Naturalists', Antiquarian and Literary Society present a lecture: Dr Bryan Lovell: Challenged by Carbon – Geologists, the oil industry and climate change. Background to the lecture

Bryan Lovell's book, Challenged by Carbon.

Sunday 31st October
Victorian Market

The Bumpy Plateau of Peak Oil

Coalition of the Willing

Watch this 15 minute film and be inspired.

On all the time

Annie Leonard has followed up her ever popular and awareness raising animation, the Story of Stuff with a new film, Cap and Trade. It is brilliant, important and all oh so true. Watch it.

Farmers' Markets are on the second Friday and fourth Wednesday of the month

Transition Town Louth has launched the area's own Freegle group. If you have something to give away or want something for free just sign up and get freegling.

Louth Freegle

Part of The Freegle Association

Transition Town Louth is acting as a focus for Landsharers in the area. Let us know if you would like to join Landshare and meet others to share ideas.

Go places with

Louth Time Bank.
Our plans are taking shape with our own website. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved.

Other pages on this website:

Louth Food Fest

Zing ~ The Incredibly Light Railway

Council Matters is where we report on stuff to do with Louth Town Council and East Lindsey District Council.

What's on The Big Ideas Page:

Get involved with The Action Page

Get gardening with The Louth Community Food Garden

Transitition Town Louth Constitution

The Minutes Page is where you can read minutes of meetings.

The Training Page has information about training for transition.

The Archived Stuff is where you can find older stuff

What's new on The Opinion Page:

• Energy Descent Action Plan
• The Archbishop's Opinion
• A New Supermarket
• Farmers Market

The Arts Page

• The Louth Multiarts Project

The Poetry Page

Letters from India
Messages from Nisha in Jaipur.

Transition Town Hornacstle.

Transition Town Louth becomes virtually Twinned with Transition Town Katoomba.
Find out more and get involved from the Transition Twinning Page.

Links to Louth based organizations that form parts of The Solution rather than parts of The problem

Louth Views Some pictures and films taken in and around Louth.

Click here for much larger picture (4Mb). Photo credit: Chris Vernon

There are now over 300 Transition Initiatives, Louth being the ninety-ninth. Transition Towns are completely autonomous organizations, linked by the Transition Network, which provides and shares ideas, resources and support. The common thread is a belief that energy security in the time following the peak in oil production and the risk of global warming, present threats so large that we will be forced to make a transition to a very different world from that to which we are accustomed.

The Transition movement is driven by optimism and a determination to learn to adjust to whatever the future brings. Preparing in good time to meet the challenges is the wise approach.

Our government, driven by the need to address the climate change issue and knowing that fossil fuels will be increasingly hard to come by, has a policy of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. Even that drastic change may be understated as we compete for what little fossil fuel remains. This is not a target that can be missed but a reality that we are forced to accept. Indeed, the problems may press harder and faster than the government is prepared, as yet, to admit. It behoves each of us, as individuals or working through community groups and within local government, to accept that reality promptly, and to work together to make the transition as painless as we can, moving positively to a future where life may actually be better.

Transition Town Louth is a grassroots grouping of people who share a determination to act. We are not concerned with debating whether global warming caused by man's actions is a problem, nor whether energy security is soon to be the most significant constraint on economic activity. We have accepted the issues, moved beyond debating the realities, and are ready for actions.

Ecotricity