Moving on climate change in Malvern

There’s a new section on the MalvernGreen site, Transition. A Transition Towns initiative is in its early stages (the first meeting of the interim steering group was last night) and this is its initial web presence. At some stage it will expand and probably move elsewhere. The web link to quote is: transitionmalvern.mega.org.uk.

Do add your comments and watch out for further developments in the next few months.

Transition Town is about reducing oil dependence and increasing resilience, as well as addressing climate change.

Weeds are plants too

Once again the people  running ‘Malvern in Bloom’ appear to want to eradicate anything which doesn’t produce pretty flowers. There seemed to be MiB backing to remove the Belle Vue plane trees to “improve” the flower planting around the island and now they are after the “weeds”.

Weeds are just plants in the wrong place - but who gets to decide what the wrong place is? Having seen the pictures in the printed version of the Malvern Gazette article “Weeds could scupper In Bloom chances again“, I’d go with the more natural look and hold off poisoning the place with weed killer.

Just my view.

Oh, and I’ve just come across this little cycling attachment idea, aptly called the Bloom device, entered for a design competition at Design 21. This will raise MiB’s blood pressure no doubt: “Seeds are co-mingled with a bubble mixture and upon pedaling to your destination , you release the floating seeds which land in cracks and crevices throughout the city streets. Over time, the seeds grow into flowers and plants to create a green “fringe” to our sidewalks and streets. “

ART for Amnesty

Amnesty International Malvern Hills group and Malvern Quakers

Free exhibition & sale 2008

prints paintings cards ceramics photographs craft jewellery books sculpture

10am - 5pm Daily, 2pm-5pm Sundays

Saturday l7th MAY – Saturday 31st MAY

Friends Meeting House, 1 Orchard Rd, Malvern

Climate change festival in Brum

Thsi may be worth noting in your diary. What is billed as “The world’s first climate change festival” is happening in Birmingham from 31st May to 8th June. It’s organised by Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) with the city council, and will “make a direct link between climate change and the design of buildings and streets around us”. CABE have been doing some good stuff and hopefully this will not be as unexciting an event as that may sound.

CABE news item.

Thousand voices save two trees

The ‘Belle Vue Two’ have been released from their death sentence. The plane trees on Belle Vue Terrace are now to be looked after, rather than removed. Great to see ‘people power’ in action - let’s have more green moves in and around town.

See Malvern Gazette front page article, or see the Two’s MySpace page.

Worcestershire leading on tackling climate change?

Worcestershire Partnership, which brings together local government, public services such as health, learning providers, police and probation, voluntary and community organisations and local businesses within Worcestershire, reports that Worcestershire County Council has been awarded ‘Beacon’ status for their work on tackling climate change. This  is national government recognition of leading on the issue and being held up as an example for other areas to follow.

The same newsletter also says that Worcestershire Partnership for the Environment is currently developing a DVD in conjunction with the University of Worcester to  showcase elements of the State of the Environment report. It  should be available by mid-May.

One Worcester, one planet

One Planet Worcester, a new coalition of local groups, local government, church groups, schools and individuals “seeking ways to help steer Worcester towards a sustainable future”, has its public launch on Sunday 30th March.

The event takes place at Worcester Guildhall, 10.30am to 4pm. More details on their new website. Malvern’s Brigit Strawbridge, of Its Not Easy Being Green BBC TV prog, will  give the keynote presentation.

Plastic bags no thanks - First meeting

A variety of groups and individuals turned up for this week’s first coordinating meeting for making Malvern a plastic bag-free town. See a short report in Malvern Gazette. Do let us have more details, updates etc.

Meanwhile, Marks and Spencers are joining the list of retailers charging for plastic bags - 5p for food customers, implemented by 6th May. See Planet Ark news story.  And Scotland’s government has urged the end of the country’s ‘plastic bag culture’, with the relevant minister saying “I will be writing to Scottish retailers to ask precisely what action they are taking to deliver the target of a 25 per cent reduction in the impact of carrier bags by the end of this year.”

Government encourages more trees in town

Malvern town and district councillors and council staff might like to take a read of the following item (via 24dash news agency based in Hereford):

“The largest ever survey of urban trees in England, published today, will reveal that although national tree health has improved markedly since the last survey in 1992, with trees being maintained much more regularly by councils, there has been a decline in the number of older trees in towns and cities and overall planting rates of new trees has fallen. “

And here’s the link the publication Trees in Towns II, plus DCLG’s wider info on Tree Preservation Orders etc.

Climatetalk evening

The Fold at Bransford is running a Climate Change game evening on 6th March. From their website/email:

Come and share a stimulating evening with friends, eating good food and playing ‘climatetalk’, a great new resource to help us all think through some of the challenges of climate change.

Leave with actions to get behind individually or collectively, and access to a helpful resource for your organisation, family or community group.

The evening will be lead by Rupert Brakspear, Education for Sustainable Development Officer for Worcestershire County Council.

6.30pm for 7.00pm start. Tickets £8.50 including meal. Please book in advance on 01886 833633 or e mail info@thefold.co.uk