April 2017 Newsletter

A round up of news and views

Are you around on Wednsesday 10th May? - We need a group of supporters to gather at 12.30pm outside Lloyds Bank for a flash mob/photo op in the High Street as part of the the Fourth United Nations Global Road Safety Week. We want to send a message to Wiltshire Council that "20's plenty for our children's safety and to reduce pollution from stop-start traffic". Please come and join us for 15 minutes if you're free.

Transition Film Night, Wednesday, 25th May - "How to Cook Your Life" is about the art of cooking. Zen priest of cookery, Edward Espe Brown, demonstrates that food means much more than just nutrition and that cooking is a feast of the senses, as well as an act of love and generosity. This is the first of a series of films looking at our relationship with food.

• Free admission with donations welcomed to help cover costs. 
• Film showing 7.30pm - 9.10pm in the Bear, 1 High Street, SN8 1AA. 
• Everyone welcome to stay for discussion and sharing thoughts and ideas after the film.

Is your garden bee-friendly? The 'Bee-Foraging Corridor' project is up and running, while the bees in our gardens are already feeding on the nectar from spring flowers and fruit tree blossoms. I spotted some amorous, male, hairy-footed flower bees chasing a female in my weedy garden this week - see image. If you have sufficient bee-friendly flowers that can provide a continuous source of nectar, between February and October and would like your garden to be included in the Bee-Foraging Corridor, between Marlborough and Pewsey, please click here...

Permaculture Course - At the last session participants viewed nematodes and other micro-organisms that are part of the composting process. It was interesting to see the comparative amounts of organic matter that was present in the soil samples that participants brought. We also made a kitchen wormery together using kichen waste, cardboard and tiger worms.

Get in touch via permaculture@transitionmarlborough.org if you would like some tiger worms for your compost.

Marlborough Rail Link News - Claire Perry MP, has responded to our recent letter requesting funds for a feasibility study by saying that she will raise the issue at her next meeting with the Swindon and Wilts Local Enterprise Partnership. In addition, TM has been asked to present the case for restoring the line between Bedwyn and Marlborough at a meeting of the new Town Council.

Neighbourhood Planning update - Just over 1,000 residents filled in the questionnaire and of those who wanted to move, 75% were seeking 1 or 2 bedroom houses or appartments. Unfortunately, developers are currently building 3 and 4 bedroom houses. The consultants' report will be online soon.

Thanks

The Transition Marlborough team