June meetings

Oxford North Community Renewables – Launch Meeting

Monday 6^th June

7.30pm

Cherwell School Sixth Form Centre

Become part of a community initiative to invest in North Oxford’s future and put photovoltaic panels on the Cherwell school’s roofs this summer.  The project will reduce carbon emissions by 22 tonnes annually and it will generate clean renewable electricity in Oxford.  It will give the school great educational opportunities and it will generate funds for shareholders and for further carbon reduction activities.

To see the share offer document go to: www.oncore.org.uk

For any questions please email: info@oncore.org.uk

 Low-Carbon Living Programme – Drop-in public meeting

Low Carbon Oxford North

Thursday 9^th June

6.30 – 9pm

North Oxford Association (next to the Ferry Leisure Centre), Summertown

Find out about this positive empowering programme being launched in Oxford North for the first time.  Participants get a detailed carbon footprint, an electricity monitor and access to six carbon busting workshops.  The programme is free and runs for year starting in June.

More details on the website: www.LCON.org.uk/activities/low-carbon-living-programme/ or contact tim.nicholson@LCON.org.uk 07798 725 077

Diana Wynne Jones

Diana Wynne Jones who died last Friday was writing about an imaginary  Wolvercote in a parallel universe yonks before Philip Pullman set an entrance to a parallel Oxford in Sunderland Avenue.  She lived in Oxford for many years.

"Charmed Life" is a fantasy about an orphan boy living in a magical  Wolvercote, where his parents drowned in the river.  He is sent to a strange big house where he is taught magic by sorcerers ( sounds familiar?  Predates H. Potter by 15 years). "The Wolvercote Warlock" is a story about a no good member of a Wolvercote coven who comes to grief.

The obituaries somehow fail to mention the Wolvercote connection

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/27/diana-wynne-jones-obituary/print

Lorna

Goodbye Wolmads, hello 'Acoustic Night'

Well, Wolmads wasn't that catchy was it? And the noise at the Plough meant that all we could do was to bash out songs leaving no room for the more gentle contributions.

So with the permission of James Knox at the Red Lion. 'Acoustic Night' starts on Friday 4th February at around 8.30 in the restaurant. We are hoping for a good turnout for the relaunch of songs and stories over an ale or two.

So come along to share your songs or stories, to join in or simply to have a pint and listen.

On 4th March, Moonrakers are performing at the Holywell so we will miss that date but afterwards we hope to repeat the evening on the first Friday of the month.

See you there!

3 Things for November

• Thing no.1: your regular LCW meeting, Thursday 4th, 8pm in the Plough

 

• Thing no.2: Big Climate Connection , Friday 5th, 5pm in the Jam Factory

Tim Nicholson islocally helping to organise the Stop Climate Chaos Big Climate Connection event - a mass lobby of MPs regarding climate change with some specific requests.  Loads of information on their website here: http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-big-connection

 

“The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is calling for people across the UK to connect with others in their communities on 5th-6th November and lobby their MPs.  With supporters from more than 100 organisations coming together in their communities for the Big Climate Connection, we’ll show MPs that people from all walks of life – from environment to development groups, from unions to local community and health groups - are calling for action on climate change.”

 

For Oxford West and Abingdon    there is a meeting arranged with Nicola Blackwood MP on Friday 5^th November at 5pm at the Jam Factory (http://www.thejamfactoryoxford.com/). 

PLEASE sign up via the website: http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-big-connection

 

• Thing no.3: Runaway Climate Challenge, Sat 13th, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Rd; ***URGENT -  book now! ***    

From Jo Hamilton at ClimateXchange, et al:

We’re really looking forward to the upcoming Runaway Climate Challenge on Sat 13^th November, and we hope you are too.

If you’re planning on coming, please could you register as soon as possible so that we know how many people to expect, and to help with room allocation - we’ve extended the early bird registration until the end of October. Below you’ll find 1) an overview of the day, 2) the agenda and 3) full details of the workshops.  We hope to see you on the 13^th November.

 

People who have registered so far are coming from: Sustainable Blewbury, Hailey Parish Action Climate Team, Canalside Environment Group, Sustainable Wallingford,  Re-Boot Oxford, Sunnymeade CAG, Kidlington vs climate change, Low Carbon West Oxford, Transition Chipping Norton, Oxon Fed of WIs, Transition Eynsham Area,  Henley in Transition,  Oxcar; Low Carbon East Oxford, Oxford Diocese Environment Group, Abingdon Carbon Cutters, Drayton Parish Council, Climate Outreach Information Network... plus from further afield: Hyde Farm Climate Action Network, West Berkshire Council, Transition Wargrave.

What attendees are brining to this year’s event:

“The village is embarking on a community plan and I am interested in the extent to which it may be possible to inject concern about climate change into the discussions about housing, employment, transport and recreation.”

“Interested in the psychology of change, engaging the disengaged to face up to climate change, mobilising group action, social enterprise.”

“I would like to gain advice/contacts to help kick-start a community renewable project in Kidlington.”

 

*We’ll be sending out final details of the event, including attendees and interests, on Fri 5^th November.*

With best wishes,

Jo Hamilton (ClimateXhcange), Simon Kenton (CAG Oxfordshire) Tom McCulloch (Oxfordshire Rural Community Council)

 

1) Overview

Runaway Climate Challenge

Oxfordshire’s Community Climate Conference: Providing stimulation, inspiration and support for taking community action on climate change

Sat 13^th November, 10am – 4.30 pm, Oxford

Oxfordshire is at the forefront of community led climate change action. Whether you’re a new or existing group, this event will provide stimulation, inspiration and support for your group to take action on climate change.

Aims of the event:

·         Learning: To meet and learn from other groups, strengthening work and sharing best practise

·         Skillshare: To skill share specific ideas to involve communities in carbon and waste reduction

·         Support: To provide inspiration, ideas and support for starting up new projects and community groups,  and to showcase local agencies and organisations that can provide support

·         Movement: Taking stock of the achievements of the diverse numbers of organisations, groups and businesses that are active on climate change locally.

·         Wider action: To encourage cross-sectoral links and leadership

Date and time: Sat 13^th November 2010, 10am – 4.30 pm. Optional post-event networking from 4.30 – 5pm

Venue: Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks road, Oxford, OX1 3QY

 

Cost: To cover costs for the event, the charge will be £5 if you register before 31^st October , £7 per person afterwards. Workshop presenters, facilitators and helpers have free places.  Concessions  are available, please contact event organisers.

 

Further details: For full details about workshops, timetabling and to register in advance, please see www.cagoxfordshire.org  or contact: 01865 275 856 / jo@climatex.org / simon.kenton@resourcefutures.co.uk

 

Organised by:  Oxfordshire ClimateXchange, CAG Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, with support from Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. 

Please register in advance by going to www.cagoxfordshire.org

 

2) Agenda

 

10.00 am	Reception / Tea Coffee
10.30-11.00	INTRODUCTORY  PLENARY SESSION
11.00-12.30	MAIN WORK SHOP SESSION 1	Workshop 1: Including everyone Workshop 2: A strategy for a Greener Oxfordshire Workshop 3: The emotions of climate change Workshop 4: Case studies from Oxfordshire
12.30 – 13.30	LUNCH BREAK / INFORMAL NETWORKING
13.30 - 14.00	MINI-WORKSHOPS SESSION	1.Science and politics updates 2. The Local Authority Low Carbon Manifesto 3. Online networking: Community Central 4. Internet tools for community groups 5. Walk the Walk 6. Polar Explorer / Climate Change Educator 7. Faith responses to climate change
14.10 – 15.40	MAIN WORK SHOP SESSION 2	Workshop 5: Finding and generating funding for your projects Workshop 6:  Overview of engagement models Workshop 7: Demystifying marketing : if you can do it with leg  ulcers, you can do it with low carbon living. Workshop 8: Climate Reach: participatory approaches on climate change learning and action in Oxfordshire Workshop 9: Space available for issues arising on the day
15.40 – 15.50	Comfort break
15:55 – 16:30	Final plenary session
16.30 – 17.30	Optional post-event networking from 4.30pm. Wine / soft drinks will be served

 

Festival Feedback

As the AGM of the Festival Committee draws near (2nd November) we are looking for feedback about the summer festival and any of the events.  Next year's theme is 'Flight' so we are looking for good ideas of events to organise around the theme.  There is also a feedback form on the main website if you want you comments to be more private.  Just click on Comments. Thanks

Apple Day and bad weather

Well after all the preparation the weather has scuppered Apple Day for the for the first time I can remember.  The problem is that we have loads of apples to unfreeze and that process takes 48 hours.  So we can't cancel at the last minute and risk having tons of squishy apples and nobody to drink the juice.

Jo is planning an alternative Christmas Fair on Saturday December 4th in the Baptist Church hall.  Look out for details on the Wolvercote Calendar later.  Stalls will be there to sell the orchard produce and possibly other Christmassy things!

June - The Wolvercote and Wytham Festival

June is the month of the Wolvercote and Wytham Festival.  Our eighth Festival looks back at life during the Edwardian era - often portrayed as a romantic period of long hot summers, garden parties and big hats. But this was also a period of great change. This was a time when Britain's rigid class system was about to be shaken by the emergence of socialism, women's suffrage and the first world war. The period brought us music from Elgar as well as the Music Hall, the Art Nouveau movement and books from H.G Wells and Beatrix Potter. New technologies emerged to record music on wax cylinders and moving pictures on acetate film. Einstein and Freud were producing their famous work whilst Eglantine Jebb founded the Save the Children Fund. Marconi sent the first wireless signals across the Atlantic and the Wright brothers made their first flights. The Titanic set sail on it's fateful maiden voyage. Children played with hoops, teddy bears and hobby horses whilst the better off constructed with Meccano and took pictures with the Box Brownie camera. 

If you are interested in more local history, some reflections of Edwardian life in Wolvercote have been made into a leaflet for the festival by Ann Spokes Symonds and is available for sale at the Post Box.

This year we are pleased to welcome Wytham village into the festival and we look forward to their events. Friends of All Saints are delighted to be invited to host the craft exhibition and there is great excitement about the ‘Ashes’ cricket challenge between Wolvercote and Wytham

The Festival spans two weekends with events in the midweek evenings. On the second Saturday, the Children’s Parade and Morris dancing lead from the Baptist Church Hall to the St Peter’s Church Fete, linking both parts of the village.

The events are free unless stated. It is not a fundraising event in itself, aiming only to cover costs, but if money is raised beyond what is needed to stage the events, then donations are made to local organisations.

We look forward to seeing you there and hope you enjoy it.