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Dear <<First Name>>,
Dear <<First Name>>,
Welcome to the joint Kingston Environment Centre
and Transition Town Kingston  newsletter.
 
Welcome to the July issue of this newsletter with lots of summery events going on, edited by Marilyn  of TTK.

Kingston Environment Centre's Laura  will be editing the next issue - please send July news and events for August-September to her towards the end of July .
 

 

TTK 2017 -18 AGM  
Over 40 of TTK’s friends gathered on Saturday 2nd for our 2018 AGM, which included.a review of the past year and pledges and ideas for next year.  Amongst TTK's plans for the future were a revival of monthly Kingston Green Drinks (which started with an enjoyable meet-up on June 26th), a barbecue at Canbury Community Garden in August, a car-free day and participation in Kingston Carnival Green Zone in September, a regular Happiness Café (see below)…  See Events column on the right for events already scheduled and keep an eye on TTK’s website and Facebook pages for ones that will start very soon. Thank you to everyone who came along with displays, food, ideas, offers of help - TTK now looks forward to another busy year and decade (draft Minutes here › do have a look at them and note any errors while you can still recall the meeting!).

... and TTK's 10th birthday


After the business part of the afternoon, we went on to celebrate our 10th birthday with tea and cake (created by Alison Whybrow - pictured in all its magnificence above) and socialising, while a slide show of the highlights of 10 years played in the background (you can see it here ›).

The party started with our resident poet Des Kay’s 10th birthday rap:  

"We are moving to a future that won’t let you down, 
When you get involved with Transition Town.

We all get together, our prospects to talk
To slow down the waste from a run to a walk

We've cruised to the edge and now we are learning 
How to change course, the ship is now turning

We don’t talk about a global fix
It's all becoming a fantastic mix

With music and culture on continental drift
An information explosion we've only just sniffed

We’re moving towards a homogeneous blend
So local agreements come out in the end 

Get opinions and comments from all walks of life
Cooperation, not agitation and strife

No longer shooting from the hips
What’s needed now is partnerships
 
Can’t rely on market forces
When there are limits to the world’s resources 

Because there’s hardship and adversity
The time is here to celebrate diversity 

We’re moving towards a new global fashion
Based on love, tolerance and compassion
 
Wealth without soul is a short-sighted style
Get together with others, it’s much more worthwhile

So if your not happy with the way things are
Do your bit and become a star

Concerned citizens is where the true power lies
Sharing knowledge is where the decisions are wise

There is a positive future, so don’t just frown
Come and get involved with Transition Town
 
Ten years together finding solutions 
Helping to create planetary revolutions!"

 ****

Missing, probably in action, the TTK banner!

We couldn’t find our banner (pictured above) for the AGM and are wondering where it is and when it was last seen. If anyone has any idea, or even better, knows where it is now, please let us know › 

Kingston Happiness Café 
A self-supporting and sustainable Happiness Cafe in or around Kingston is being planned. The key objectives of the Cafe are to create a supportive community and enhance the quality of life of the attendees by meeting regularly and informally in a easily accessible central location, sharing experiences and skills for happier living and learning about local organisations and events. The two locations currently being considered are: Shiraz Persian Grill,  Eden Street, Kingston and New Malden Methodist Church - other suggestions welcome. Please get in touch with Mo › if you are interested in participating, promoting or supporting the cafe. 

Refugees welcome here?
Marilyn from TTK enjoyed the “Refugees Welcome” workshop she went to at the lovely Paradise Co-operative community garden in Wandsworth (well worth a visit), where she made this welcoming notice -
   
Of course, all our events and projects are open to everyone, but could we be more welcoming to refugees?
 
See sections below and the Events column for updates on some ongoing TTK projects. If you'd like to suggest new ones, or help plan and implement TTK activities over coming months please contact the TTK management team via the website › or come along to one of our monthly management meetings on the last Tuesday of every month at 6.30pm (just before Green Drinks) in Woody’s pub by Kingston riverside - next meetings: Tuesdays 31 July, 28 August

Find out more about TTK
Find out more about the wider Transition Network   


1 Kingston Road, Fountain Roundabout, New Malden
KEC website › 

SPECIAL EVENTS coming up at KEC



REGULARS AT KEC

Kingston Green Radio is based at KEC - listen online at any time on the website  . 

New Malden Garden Taskforce meets at KEC every Friday, 3.00pm - 4.00pm, to plan activities.
 
KUTLETS social and trading evenings take place at KEC. Exchange goods and services for the local currency Beaks. Find out more › or contact Simone › 

Volunteering drop-in sessions every Wednesday at Kingston Environment Centre, 10.00am to 2.00pm. Help with a variety of tasks, indoors and outdoors.

For other KEC events and meet-ups see the Events column on the right.


 
Quarterly meeting on Wednesday 18 July
Anyone interested in nature is warmly invited to attend this talk and networking evening. Hear about the latest in biodiversity thinking and action. Connect with others involved with conservation and bring your news and events to share.
 
Agenda:
6:45 - arrival, tea and networking
7: 00 - David Courtneidge from London Wildlife Trust will be speaking about his work on the Water for Wildlife project. The work of staff and volunteers to survey dragonflies and damselflies across London and what this can teach us about the state of London’s freshwater sites.
7:30 - updates from the floor
8:00 - Tea, networking
8:20 - Elliot Newton will talk about new Environment Trust projects, Andrew Robinson will talk about the support idVerdi can provide to local groups and we'll officially launch the Kingston Biodiversity Network as a community group.
8:40 - networking and close

These quarterly KBN talks focus on biodiversity issues around urban living often with a strong practical element that people can act upon in their homes and neighbourhoods. Over the last couple of years, we have covered topics as diverse as: Rewilding, The Thames River Survey, The Lost Effra Project, why Kingston should care about beavers, greening London’s fire stations, could we have wild boars in Kingston? And the future of conservation in Kingston, should we be more radical?

Find out more about KBN activities and events on KBN Facebook Group › and website › and Cemetery Nature Group › or sign up to our newsletter › 

"Green Heroes of Kingston": listen to KBN's interviews ›

Local Group support: local friends or community groups involved in conservation and greening in the borough of Kingston are invited to contact Marina › for support, advice, promotion of your events, relevant courses ...
 



 

"Green infrastructure" in cities and suburbs means more than parks and gardens. It is a network of green features including street trees and green roofs, all planned to improve and sustain our environment and make it easier for wildlife to thrive. In line with the London Plan › the Environment Trust has been commissioned by the Royal Borough of Kingston to work with local people and organisations to develop innovative projects that will build green infrastructure › as well as save energy and water. You can work with us to develop and apply for funding for practical projects, e.g. for rain-harvesting or improving air quality and for ways to save energy and water. Projects may be small 'pathfinder' projects, designed to test ideas, or larger projects with substantial impact. The first step is to share ideas and that is the idea of our survey › 
Read more about the Kingston programme on our website › 
See Environment Trust events here › 
Subscribe to our newsletter › 
See our photo collection › .
Join Kingston Green Infrastructure, Energy and Water Facebook group › 

Around Kingston

 
 
Kingston Carnival Green Zone 2018
A Green Zone planning group has met a couple of times to start preparing for Sunday 2 September. All Saints Kingston is kindly letting the Green Zone have 3 of the 4 church lawns and to borrow tables - so stall-holders  will have to work around church services and traffic closures when setting up and taking down, as we did in 2016. Book your green stall from Kingston Race & Equalities Council › (There is a reduced rate for community green groups (probably members of Kingston Environment Forum). We hope, too, that there will be a few commercial stalls (food, honey, sustainable produce…) in the Green Zone, but they will have to pay the trade rate. 

Two new venues in Kingston for community groups
John Lewis’s spacious and well equipped new Community Hub on the 3rd floor was launched in May. It’s open during JL opening hours, and booking is via email to Lene Wood, Community Liaison Kingston  JL › (working days Monday and Tuesday).
     There is also a new community room available for up to 12 people at the Guildhall, available from 7.00am to 7.00pm, Monday to Friday, and until 9.30pm on days where there is an evening meeting in the building. Find out more or book ›

Going Solar Together in Kingston
384 residents had signed up by the deadline for Solar Together, the London group purchase scheme › for solar panels and installation, and 110 followed through with a deposit and roof survey. The first installation has already taken place in Surbiton.
 
A green Rose  
The Rose theatre recently announced its commitment to stop using single-use plastic › within the venue: “‘Anyone who has seen the last series of Blue Planet has now realised the shocking impact of plastic in our oceans. The Rose is committed to reducing its contribution and aims to be an organisation that leads in confronting the issue of plastic pollution.” Said  Robert O'Dowd, Chief Executive. You can follow the Rose’s efforts to become greener on Twitter @Rosetheatre,  hashtag #RoseGoesGreen. 
 
Renovation one of Kingston's mosaic murals


Save the World Club was sad to see the state of an old mosaic mural in a Kingston alleyway leading to the Thames, done possibly 10 years ago. Then an opportunity arose through our partners Neighbourly, who arranged for Marks and Spencer the staff to volunteer a working day to help a local charity with a project. On winning the bid, we had a day to transform the background wall and clean the mosaics. Many thanks to all involved.

The photo above shows our colleague Tariq performing a disappearing graffiti trick and the one below the final lovely result.

,
 
Ever wondered what SHEDX is?
“The SHEDx project encompasses a range of activities to activate and engage the local community of Tolworth to take ownership of their unused and green spaces to help define and improve the future for their town. Utilising original and accessible ideas, The Community Brain are engaging and helping to energise the community; enabling them to shape the future plans for Tolworth. SHEDx is funded through the HLF, crowd funding and the GLA.  Follow the SHEDx blog › to keep up to date with the project.”
 
Coming soon to a roadside near you?
On display at this month’s e launch of Cleaning the Air, Kingston’s Annual Public Health Report › were Kingston’s new anti-idling signs, destined to reduce air pollution outside schools and other idling hot spots.

 

Sowing, growing and eating

Everything is the community gardens is lovely, though all our gardener friends would probably welcome some rain. Canbury Community Garden’s water-butts are almost drained, and though the river is very nearby, watering can take up most of the weekend gardening sessions, so volunteers could do with more help with all the other seasonal tasks. The community gardeners have been harvesting and eating broad beans and rhubarb, and there are always plenty of herbs to pick. Peter and Marilyn Mason have lent a new shed to the community garden for as long as it is needed, to replace the one that was stolen in December (Peter at work on it below).


 
Hogsmill Community Garden will be at King Athelstan Fair on Saturday 7 July, 11.00am - 3.00pm, and at MIll Street Sausage and Beer Fest on  21  July, 12.00 - 6.00. And the Garden sens a  huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped to make the Solstice Party a great success.

Kingston Environment Forum


Ever wondered what happens to your recycling? Kingston Environment Forum recently compiled and published FAQs on Kingston's waste and recycling, with help from the Council’s waste and recycling team. You can find out what happens to our waste, why we recycle the things we do, and much else. if your particular query is not dealt with, please get in touch with us and we will try to find the answer. and regularly updated 
 
KEF held its first ever open meeting in July, so that other interested community groups could learn more about the Environment Trust’s Green Infrastructure, Energy and Water Project. Find out more about the project in the Environment Trust section above, and there’s another chance to hear about this at Kingston Biodiversity Network’s July meeting (see above).
 

Money, money, money 

Design for Communities
Money for community projects such as a Repair Hub in Kingston - any takers? £10,000 could change your neighbourhood! The Design for Communities fund will contribute up to £10,000 to selected crowdfunding project(s) that best meet the fund criteria. For example you could: carry out a street greening project; create a community centre in a disused building on your high street; improve your local area with a new community garden; create a temporary installation for a community event…
But hurry! Deadline for applications through Crowdfunder is 4th July! To find out more or apply   

EIRIS  the ethical investment charity, offers advice on how to manage your investments, savings and pensions to match your ethics. Are you, for example, inadvertently investing in fossil fuels?

More things we like this month

BBC Ideas › Danny Dorling on how the world’s super-rich are are disproportionately damaging the environment.
- My Green Pod shares green news › and promotes ethical alternative products
- Guardian Green Light - the week’s top environment news stories and green events–recently on plastics, Heathrow expansion and Everest. Sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox 
Project Dirt is changing - have your say  They say “We've been in this game a long time and we've changed a lot, but our brand hasn't, so it's about time we gave it a make over to bring it up to date.”
According to 10:10 76% of us love onshore wind, and the 2% of people who strongly oppose onshore wind are more than twice as likely as the rest of the population not to believe in man-made climate change.
Rob Hopkins talks to Robert Macfarlane “The metaphors we use deliver us hope, or they foreclose possibility.”
Petition for London's first Car Free Day - please sign here 
Why people volunteer and why they stop an interesting and useful item from the NCVO   
- Two new prototype projects from Kingston University students: 

Under the Westway ›  Roisin Tierney makes attractive key-rings and jewelry out of pollution gathered in one of London’s most polluted spots  



- and  Poppy Pippin makes ingenious terracotta tiles, designed to grow moss as a low-maintenance pollution-absorbing green wall.

 

» Visit our websites: Transition Town Kingston › and Kingston Environment Centre  
» If you have local environmental news or an event to share, please email the next editor. 
» Come to one of our events or join in an activity...

The Climate Coalition Speak Up Week

30 June - 8 July
Find out more and get ideas and resources on the TCC website ›  

Berrylands Festival

Sun 1 July, from midday. Stirling Walk, Berrylands KT5 (where Surbiton Lagoon used to be)
Amongst other attractions (see poster on left) there will be a stall selling bric-a-brac in aid of bee and butterfly conservation charities. Bric-a-brac and help on the day welcome.

Building a Low Cost Wind Turbine 

Sat 7 July, 10.00am  and Sun 8 July, 5.00pm, Unit C, 59 Ladywell Rd, London, SE13 7UT
The workshop includes making one three-vane turbine, for donation to the Windmill Hill City Farm project, presentation and discussion on off-grid living, low-tech alternative infrastructure, open source hardware… £80 per person or £70 each if you bring a friend, 10% discount for students, retirees, and the unwaged. Registration is essential as places are limited.
Find out more › 

KBN quarterly meeting

Wed 18 July, 6:45 - 9.00ish
Clattern Lecture Theatre, PRMB0012, Kingston University Penrhyn Road Campus
See KBN section on the left for details.

London National Park City Fair

Sat 21 July, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL
Kicking off the inaugural London National Park City Week with 25+ stands, 25+ speakers, experiences, talks, walks, art and more, and all free (donations welcome).
Find out more and register  

London National Park City Week

21 - 29 July, London
Over 280 events and activities across the capital.
To find events near you, search the interactive map.› 

TTK/CCG BBQ/Picnic

Fri 3 Aug, 6.00pm, Canbury Community Garden
Volunteers, helpers, donors, Transitioners... all welcome to come along to see the progress made in the garden and to eat, drink and chat. We'll probably have baked potatoes to share and can provide paper napkins, but please bring your own plates, cups etc, food to cook on the BBQ and/or other food and drink to share.
Find out more on Facebook 

Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream”

Sat 4 Aug, 1.00pm – 4.00pm, John Lewis Community Hub, Kingston
A unique interactive workshop with participant discussion intertwined with a tapestry of video interviews and information about the state of the world, our earth, our human family and how we got here. Limited to 12 participants - contact Alison › to express interest and register.
Find out more  

Green Zone at Kingston Carnival

Sunday 2 September, central Kingston
Keep the date free and get involved.
Book your community green stall here 

Exploring What Matters - 8-week Action for Happiness course

Monday evenings from 3 Sept, 7.15 - 9.15pm, Kingston Quaker Centre, Fairfield East
Meet with like-minded people to explore what really matters in life and find new ways of looking at things to make ourselves and our community happier. The course is available to all, regardless of financial circumstances, but donations to cover costs welcome
Find out more on the TTK website  and/or contact the local course leaders Kate  or Mo  

Ham Green Screen; “A Quest for Meaning”

Sun 9 Sept, doors open 6.45pm, for 7.00pm start,   Ham Library Annexe (Community Space), Ham Street, Ham, TW10 7HR
The story of an impromptu road-trip undertaken by two childhood friends looking to understand the causes of the world’s crises and find a way to bring about change. Free, but donations of £3 welcome.
Find out more here 

Car-Free Day

Sat 22 Sept, somewhere near you?
On World Car-Free Day, why not use the occasion to close your road to traffic for a street party, or make your street a Play Street for the day? Could be fun, as well as making your local air cleaner and your street quieter and safer for everyone for a day.  
Find out more about Car-Free Day 
Find out more about Play Streets  
Find out how to arrange a street party in Kingston 
Regular events

EVERY MONTH -

Kingston Cycling Campaign monthly meetings

2nd Tuesday each month, 8.00pm, Kingston Environment Centre
Find out more about Kingston Cycling Campaign

Richmond & Kingston Greenpeace monthly meeting

2nd Tuesday each month (usually), 7.30pm, Tide End Cottage, Teddington
Find out more and confirm meeting time   or on Facebook  

Stitch and Chat  

2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings of the month. 7.00 - 9.00pm, Kingston Environment Centre
All welcome to bring their own project or to join in a communal one, currently knitting squares for a blanket for refugees. 
Further information from Pat

Kingston Green Drinks 

Last Tuesday of every month (apart from public holidays) from 7.00pm to 9.00ish, Woody's riverside bar, Rams Passage, KT1 1HH
A free social event for anyone interested in environmental issues, hosted by Transition Town Kingston.  All welcome to come along to have a drink, make new connections, and share news, insights, activities, events and strategies with like-minded people. 

Community Gardening
and Conservation 

Outdoor sessions depend on the season and weather, so please check the web-links before setting out.
 
Hogsmill Community Garden,
Swan Path, Kingston, every Saturday, 11.00am - 3.00pm and every Wednesday, 11.00am - 3.00pm, or by arrangement. Seasonal tasks.
For more info see the Facebook page › 

Kingston Environment Centre Community Garden, 1 Kingston Road, New Malden. KT3 3PE, every Wednesday 10.00am - 3.00pm.

Canbury Community Garden, Canbury Gardens, 1st, 2nd & 4th Sunday mornings and, 3rd Saturday afternoon every month - all welcome to help with seasonal tasks. Find out more on Facebook 

Kingston Cemetery Conservation Days, Bonner Hill Road - every 3rd Saturday of the month, 10.00am - 1.00pm. Find out more on Facebook   

Kingston Permaculture Reserve at Knollmead, Tolworth, last Sunday every month, 12.00 - 6.00pm, and Thursday evenings - group gardening and cooking over the fire in a wonderful forest garden oasis.  And KPR's grow-your-own course continues. For more details see KPR's new website › and to be added to email list contact Simone ›

Parkfields Community Garden, North Kingston, Volunteer sessions Thursdays, 2.00 - 400pm. Connect with nature, observe the seasons, share skills, socialise, grow, cook and eat healthy food, learn about living more sustainably, build dens and play! Facebook page  

Find more local nature conservation activities in the Kingston Biodiversity Network section on the left.

Find a community garden somewhere near you


 


 

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