Zero Carbon Castle » Events

It’s Blooming Seed Sharing Saturday!

people — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:47:52 +0000

On Saturday 6th March ZCC and our Bedford in Bloom friends (BTCV, Kempston in Bloom, Taste Real Food, Transition Bedford) will be holding the first food growing event planned for 2010 – Seed Sharing Saturday. The event will be held at the Bunyan Free Meeting Church on Mill Street Bedford in the main hall and will start at 9.30am and finish about 12.30pm. Some simple free refreshments will be available on the day.

The idea is that anyone wishing to donate seeds (all types) either send them to: BTCV (FAO: Jill Ferry), Taylor House, 99 Ashburnham Rd, Bedford MK40 1EA prior to the event so they can be packaged up and made available at the start of the day or bring them along on the day. After the event, seed swapping can continue via this website for those growers who want to continue to widen their planting varieties. Details of how this will work will be posted shortly. In the meantime, you can begin to sort your seeds out and put them into envelopes clearly marked with the plant/vegetable type, the variety, any specific details (like expiry date or heritage or organic) and your name and any contact details if you wish to provide them.

So come and join us on the 6th for a warm cup of something and a biscuit and pick up some free seeds!

If you would like to display a poster (pdf) in your community or organisation, please click the link below.

seedexchangeposter rev1 jan10

Local Food Day – Saturday 15th May Following the success of last year’s event we will be...

Loved Bikes!

people — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:06:34 +0000

Thanks to all those who turned out for the bike maintenance workshops on Saturday. Stephen from Transition Cyles was brilliant giving up his morning to demonstrate and guide people through some basic bike maintenance jobs. Thanks Stephen. Another thank you goes out to Rachel and Chris from the Castle Road Cop Shop who were on hand to security stamp peoples bikes.

Although the rain seemed to put off most from coming along to the family bike ride, a few hard core braved the dark clouds and were rewarded with a leisurely and dry cycle ride down to the Willington Dovecote. Sustrans provided some cycle goodies which sent down well with all. Thanks Sustrans. All in all, a great day for all!

Here’s to the next Love your Bike day!

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Love your bike day! Sat 11th July

people — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:54:23 +0000

Love you bike day! Is your bike sitting in the shed feeling neglected and in need of some TLC? Not sure how to fix those little problems or get your bike into shape? Well on Saturday 11th July we have the event just for you! Transition cycles will be doing three free bike maintenance workshops. Also, the police will be security stamping bikes and there will be a family cycle ride along Route 51 with prizes and freebies for those finishing the ride! Bring a picnic and refreshments to enjoy in Willington.

If you can help by delivering some leaflets to advertise the day, then either comment on this blog or email zerocarboncastle at hotmail.co.uk

FREE BIKE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOPS courtesy of Transition Cycles
9.30am – puncture repairs
10.30am – brake maintenance
11.30am – gear maintenance
Prior registration required (see overleaf).
Venue: Transition Cycles, 44 Castle Road, Bedford.
FREE BIKE SECURITY STAMPING by Bedfordshire Police
11.00am until 12 noon
Prior registeration not required.
Venue: Cop Shop, Castle Road, Bedford.

ROUTE 51 FAMILY CYCLE RIDE
Having got your bike in order, we will be having a Discovery Family Cycle. The ride which will be about 3.1 miles on a
traffic-free route to the beautiful village of Willington. Meet at Butterfly bridge on The Embankment Park (opposite
Russell Park) at 1.00pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Route: N.C.N Route 51, Bedford Butterfly Bridge to Willington via Aspects, Priory Country Park to Willington Dovecote and then return the same route.
All route is off road so all ages and abilities welcome! What do I need? A working bicycle, suitable clothing for weather, drink and sunglasses!! Refreshments at Willington will be provided, plus cycle freebies, quiz and prizes!

PRIOR REGISTRATION:
Please either email your name and a contact telephone number to zerocarboncastle at hotmail.co.uk

It’s Blooming Seed Sharing Saturday! On Saturday 6th March ZCC and our Bedford in Bloom...

Introduction to Permaculture course

shane — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:24:13 +0000

Bedfordshire’s – Introduction to permaculture design

Permaculture ethical and design flower

A weekend course to introduce the basics of permaculture and show how this approach can be applied.

Date
Saturday 4th July; 9:30 start – Sunday 5th July 4pm finish.

Venue
Yelnow Organic Farm, Church Lane, Odell, MK43 7AD, North Bedfordshire.
Surrounded by Odell Great Wood 10 miles from Bedford & Northampton

Course tutor:
Hannah Thorogood

Who is the course for?
The course is open to anyone. No prior knowledge of permaculture is needed.

Find out all the details about the course here.

It’s Blooming Seed Sharing Saturday! On Saturday 6th March ZCC and our Bedford in Bloom...

2 Film screenings for the diary

shane — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:02:42 +0000

Chris Watson and Emma Goude, producers of The Transition Movie, out filming in Totnes.

If you haven’t already seen it, the film the Age of Stupid will be showing again in Bedford on the 28th of May, see below for details. A second film “In Transition” will be premiered on the 23rd of May. The first showing of the film will be held at the Transition Towns annual conference but in true eco-fasion, you wont have to get into your gas guzzler or even on your push bike to see it. In fact the TT annual conference sold out months ago. However the film will also be streamed live. Tune in here at 1.45pm on the 23rd of May for you free, low carbon viewing.

See the In Transition film, there may even be a mention of ZCC projects. Get a projector or huddle around the computer screen, Invite your neighbours around and get the most fun out of your energy input. This film will hopefully be the perfect antidote to the Age of Stupid, which although, highly acclaimed (see Age of Stupid media coverage below), is an unrelentingly negative part dramatised part real documentary portrail of our destruction of our planet. While the film In Transition is a the tales of hundreds people’s actual responses to climate change, peak oil, resource depletion, ecosystem breakdown and overall systemic vulnerability. Find out much more about the film here and watch a clip. These tales will hopefully inspire a glimpse into how the world may look if we make the transition to a sustainable, resilient and vibrant community. Motivation has to come from the fear or the negative planetary distruction and the absolute passion and love for the potentially amazing future that we, our children and our childrens children have in front of us. Tune in and get motivated.

This time the Age of Stupid screening will be held at;

D1.01
Studio Theatre
Campus Centre
University of Bedfordshire
Polhill Avenue
Bedford
MK41 9EA

It is being held on 28th May 2009 at 7pm.

For background information about the Age of Stupid film see our original post or the Age of Stupid site

This film is aiming for 250 million viewers world wide and the surrounding media coverage has reached hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people already.

Some media coverage for the Age of Stupid;
BBC news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment…
Channel 4 news: http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/ar…
New Zealand news: http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/CampbellLiv…
Sky News: here
Interesting phenomenon going on whereby the tabloids love the film
The FT, Telegraph and Times were all very enthusiastic
10 minutes on Newsnight Review, watch here.
And the Guardian’s weekly podcast – which gets 50,000 listeners – also had a feature on Stupid.
Postlethwaite vs Miliband: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5RCHXLW9…
Maldives Priminster message: http://vimeo.com/3661849

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Local Food Day – Invite

shane — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:45:59 +0000

Herb planting at Rothsay roundabout in 2008

A CELEBRATION OF LOCAL FOOD GROWING

Saturday 9th May 2009
1pm start at the Herb Garden on the Rothsay
Road and Castle Road roundabout

Seed Planting – Get yourself growing! Paper pots, compost and seeds all provided!

Fun learning about food

Join ZCC and work towards a resilient and vibrant community

Decorate your own pot!
Herb Container Planting – Jane Perrone Gardening Editor for Guardian Weekend will do demonstrations on windowsill growing and making a herb container from old fruit boxes.

Herb Harvesting - Harvest some herbs from our community herb garden and find out how to preserve and use them.

Permaculture Workshop – Local permaculture expert Hannah Thoroughgood will do a workshop on how to
harness nature’s patterns when creating a garden.

Community Food Growing and Harvesting - A member of Grow Sheffield will explain how they have organised community harvesting unwanted fruit and vegetables in their community.

Free refreshments ~ Everyone welcome! For more information contact us. Watch for posters in the area for more details!

Zero says… “Don’t forget our next meetings!”
Thursday 14th May, 7.30pm, Castle Lower School
Tuesday 16th June, 7.30pm, Gordon Arms Public House

Local Food Day – Saturday 15th May Following the success of last year’s event we will be...
It’s Blooming Seed Sharing Saturday! On Saturday 6th March ZCC and our Bedford in Bloom...

Age of Stupid – Film screening

shane — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:04:18 +0000

Sydney burning - scene from the film

For all those who haven’t seen this film, see the trailer here. It will be screened on April the 14th at Friends meeting house at 7pm, 5 Lansdowne Road, Bedford. MK40 2BY. Directions are available here.

Bedfordshire features quite heavily in this film, specifically the planning application for Poddington Windfarm.

People against Poddington windfarm

Peirs attempts wind farm planning permission

The film is attempting to get 250 million viewers from across the globe, with major supporters in Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth among many other significant environmental organisations. Notably, in the film Bedfordshire’s “brand” is impacted quite negatively. The film unrelentingly paints a dramatised look into the future after climate change has taken it’s grip. As we look back from this vantage point some of our current acts start to look a little stupid.

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See you at the Energy Clinic

shane — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:43:45 +0000

ENERGY CLINIC FOR ALL YOUR HOME ENERGY ILLS
Energy efficiency made easy for residents! And the Great low energy light bulb give away! Drop in for free light bulbs! This is a one day event to explain the practical and easy ways to make your home more energy efficient! We’ve brought together local professionals, trades people and regional energy experts to explain home energy problems in older properties and practical ways to improve their efficiency. The day will consist of a series of ‘drop in’ talks, demonstrations and films with questions and answer sessions. If you want to save money and CO2 this is the place to be!

When: Saturday 14th March 11.00am until 3.30pm

Where: The Ent Shed Gordon Arms Castle Road

Prior registration: no

Cost: Free

Drop in for one or some of the following sessions:

11.00 – Current home energy use in Castle Ward – a short overview of the 2008 carbon footprint survey results – by Shane Hughes (ZCC)

11.15 – Energy use in your home – a case study of energy use in a Victorian property in Castle Ward – Mark Thompson (Home Energy Assessor)

12.00 – Home energy efficiency and what can I do today to improve it – Energy Saving Trust

1.00 – Window maintenance in Victorian properties – what you can do to improve efficiency of your windows – The Sash Doctor

1.30 – Renewable technologies for your home and community – where will our energy come from in the future? – Renewables East

2.15 – Solar hot water systems – a case study of a Bedford property – Hazel Mitchell (Bedford resident)

2.40 – Micro hydro turbine on the river Ouse and possible community ownership (Shane Hughes)

3.00 – Close

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Film Screenings

Chris Johnson — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:40:15 +0000

Every month we run a film night at the Ent Shed. The films cover a wide range of climate change topics and are sometimes short and other times long! Here are a few interesting films which you may find enlightening or even compelling! If you come across an interesting film, then let us know and we’ll consider adding it here.

The Most Terrifying Video You Will Ever See (Real Title)

10 minute short that might convince even the most stubborn climate skeptic of the need to do something.

Green Streets

The Guardian newspaper and British Gas have collaborated to challenge a number of UK communities to cut their carbon emissions. The prize is £50,000 to a green community project.

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Launch Event

Chris Johnson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:00:32 +0000

Our launch was happily a very successful and special day. We had lots of things going on and here are some photos showing what we achieved…

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