About Us

WELCOME TO TRANSITION NORWICH...

We're part of a world-wide community movement in response to peak oil and climate change. This site gives you details of our up and coming events and meetings, as well as reports and related matters that are going on in Norwich and East Anglia.

NEWS AND RELATED EVENTS... Common Room - Low Carbon Cookbook - Magdalen-Augustine Celebration - Norwich FarmShare - Transition Free Press 4 - Visions for Change -On the Blog Harvest: Looking in the Archive 2009-2013 - Flight of the Butterflies - Where We Are Now

Monday, October 26, 2009

Down at the Allotment 2: Seedy Sunday -Sunday 1 November

Erik's organic seed-swap is at Bluebell Lane South allotments, kindly hosted by Mahesh. Bring seeds to exchange, swap ideas and tips for organic growing and see what progress we have made with the TN allotment. We officially launched our City Allotment Project on Sunday 4 October to coincide with the October allotment lunch. Mahesh Pant, founder of the Grow-our-Own scheme, cut the green ribbon and work has already started on plans for the plot, which will have a circular potager-style bed for annual vegetables and permanent crops and fruit round the edges of the circle. For further info contact Jane at editor@transitionnorwich.orContact Erik at martinburo67@hotmail.com.

The allotments are at Bluebell Lane South, off The Avenues down a narrow lane immediately after George Borrow Road on the way out of the city. For more information see http://grow-our-own.co.uk

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Energy and Buildings Group

The Energy / Buildings Group brings together the former Energy group with the Buildings aspect of the old Buildings/Housing Group.

A number of projects are under consideration, such as helping a group of volunteer householders who are willing to spend £5-10K on improving their properties and reporting on their progress (like ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’) to share lessons; community based power generation; carbon offsetting for businesses; providing citizens with a template to help reduce energy; a Norwich Blackout Day to raise awareness about energy consumption.

One of the latest ideas of the Buildings and Energy group of Transition Norwich was to carry out an audit of the lights being left on in shops and offices around the city long after anyone was using them. As part of a programme looking at climate change issues both in an international context and at more local level action, the BBC politics show filmed a report on this project on the evening of 11th November.

Maria Price and Mark Crutchley from the group were interviewed by the show's presenter in Norwich, and filmed looking at the lighting in various city centre shops.

Click here to view / join the Energy and Buildings email discussion group (Google Group) 

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Down at the Allotment 1: Big Dig Day - Sunday 25 October


Calling all spade-wielding Transitioners! The ground of the TN allotment needs a good dig-in before winter planting can begin. If you would like some good resilient exercise this Sunday, do drop in and join the Big Allotment working party. (No need to bring a spade however - all tools provided by the Grow-Our-Own scheme). Even if you can only contribute for an hour (or cheer from the sidelines) do come along. Bring a dish to share if you'd like to stay for lunch.

The allotments are at Bluebell Lane South, off The Avenues down a narrow lane immediately after George Borrow Road on the way out of the city. For more information see http://grow-our-own.co.uk/. For more info contact Jane at editor@transitionnorwich.org
Photo by Kathryn Siveyer of Transition Canterbury transitioncityallotment.blogspot.com

Friday, October 16, 2009

FILM: The Vanishing of the Bees - Tuesday 27 October

The Vanishing of the Bees (U) is showing at Cinema City on Tuesday 27 October, 8.30 Director: George Langworthy. USA/UK 2009. 102 mins.

Honeybees pollinate one third of the food we consume, from apples to tea, but populations across the globe are declining dramatically. The causes are unknown, with theories ranging from poor weather and pests to pesticides.

The Vanishing of the Bees investigates this potentially catastrophic problem through interviews with scientists and beekeepers, in the process asking wider questions about modern intensive agricultural processes. Presented by The Co-operative as part of their Plan BEE programme. Find out after the screening what you can do to help halt the decline.

For more information visit http://www.vanishingbees.co.uk/ www.facebook.com/PicturehouseDOCS Book online or on 0871 704 2053

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Party's Over but the Band Plays On

Transition Norwich celebrated its first anniversary last Sunday with the first screening of In Transition, an inspirational documentary film about some of the 227 Transition initiatives around the UK and beyond. The film includes the unleashing of Transition Norwich at St Andrew’s Hall last October, with interviews from several Norwich people, including City Councillors Rupert Read, and Ruth Makoff and County Councillor Chris Hull.

It tells the story of the generation that looked peak oil and climate change square in the face, and responded with creativity, compassion and genius. http://transitionculture.org/in-transition/ .

Councillor Rupert Read responded to seeing himself unexpectedly in the film: ‘It was great, with lots of Norwich people – the wonderful turnout, then and now shows that the Transition movement is clearly going strong in our fine city.’

The party was held at the arts venue, Unit 5, in the Silver Triangle and n the true co-operative spirit of Transition everyone gave a hand. The apple juice was pressed that afternoon after the launch of our plot at the Bluebell Allotments. The food was all home-grown, organic and fairtrade and cooked by a Transition cooking bee.The bunting was made from recycled clothes by the Reskilling group.

The evening was opened by the Sheriff of Norwich, Professor Tim O’ Riordan, who expressed his support for the Transition movement, which he described as ‘organic, helpful, exciting and fun, showing how we can live sustainably and enjoy life’. Tully Wakeman then gave an overview of the work of the various theme groups and the practical projects we have been working on during the last year.

Journalist Ariane Heinz, 65 from Germany, visiting friends in Norwich said that ‘The Transition (from oil dependence to local resilience against economic and environmental shocks) have a long way to go but it’s the only way. In my home town of Cologne, we are gathering information to help each other reduce our energy use by 1% every 6 months’

After the film party goers enjoyed low-carbon cider and beer, and danced to live music from Transitioners Tom Foxe, Fret 6 and the John Preston Tribute Band, all amplified by cycle power. More like a party than a protest’ is how party organizer Charlotte Du Cann described her first year of Transition, not just tonight’s event. For founder member Tully Wakeman the year was ‘an exciting journey of finding out how we should be doing things, with valuable views and contributions brought by lots of different people’ . (Lesley Grahame/Comms)

Monday, October 5, 2009

Opening Out - TN2 and the new Transition Circles

The TN2 group began in July with a focussed discussion about what personal actions we had already made in the face of climate change (ranging from reduced use of water and fuel, cycling to work, almost zero waste) and how we should log our carbon adn ecological footprints and make connections with other groups embarking on similar explorations. Since then we have been rippling outwards meeting in three neighbourhood groups (Circle West, Stranger's and Transition City Lunch). These new groups are known as Transition Circles. the main hub is known as TN2.

In our main meeting in September fourteen of us began to swap stories and start building a co-operative network of people and resources, as well as map out what a low-carbon way of life might look. We also decided to base each of our subsequent TC meetings on the principle carbon- cutting themes of energy, transport and food. Our next meetings will be based on Electricity. So "get the bills out" and come along and find out how we can all reduce our electricity use and still keep our (inner) lights switched on (Charlotte Du Cann/TC Stranger's)

Transition Circle West met for the first time in August and has committed to monthly meetings. We plan to meet in each others houses and to share food, ideas and support for ways of reducing our carbon footprint. We made a start by using a range of carbon calculators to see where we are now and where we would like to be in a years time. (Helen Wells/TC West)

Transition City Lunch Circle This new Transition Circle is for anyone who lives, works, shops or has a regular connection with the city during the day and would like to join a Transition Circle. These Transition Circles are groups of individuals committed to supporting each other in reducing their carbon footprint and leading an enjoyable low energy life style. As the plan is to create a sociable event as well as a constructive business meeting we will meet at lunchtime and share food. The first meeting will be in Christine’s flat at Inner Space on Monday 12 October at 12.30. 01603 614460 or transition@phonecoop.coop for more information (Christine/TC City Lunch)

If you want to join us, do come to our next meetings and bring food to share. Please check the calendar for dates and venues.

Now We Are Six - the new core group

Representatives from all theme groups met last spring and thrashed out some constitutional issues for Transition Norwich. One of the things we agreed was that we need to have a Core Group, which should be of 6 people, elected by the membership. We felt continuity is important so agreed 3 people should step down each year, i.e. ideally nobody will serve for more than 2 years. In early summer we asked (via the Bulletin) for nominations, and received only 3, so those people were elected automatically.

The new members are Jane Chittenden, Alex Haxeltine and Tom Harper. They join the continuing members Christine Way, Chris Hull and Tully Wakeman. The core group thanks Greg Colbourn and Sarah Gann, who stood down at this election, for their valuable work during the first year of Transition Norwich (Tully Wakeman/Core)

Jane Chittenden: lives and works in Norwich, running a small communications company. I am a lifelong champion of good food and a "green gardener and a member of the communications, resilience planning, transport and business/economy groups.

Tom Harper: recently moved to Norwich from London. I am a 'Be the Change' Facilitator, trained in jan 2008 and since then have been in a state of 'blessed unrest' regarding environmental sustainability and social justice issues. I am passionate about getting involved on a deeper level with the transition movement here in my new home city

Alex Haxeltine: lives on Stafford Street in the west of Norwich and works as a researcher in the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, I have some 20 years experience of working on climate change and sustainability issues. and so far have been most involved in the Heart and Soul group, TN2 and the Resilience Plan group.

This Low Carbon Life – new TN blog goes live - Sunday 4 October

Blogging is an internet phenomenon. First we had information sites, then ecommerce, then e-everything. Facebook, email, google – the internet became ubiquitous and everyone got connected. But as we became connected, somehow we got further apart. Blogs are different. For me, blogs put real people back at the heart of the internet.

Our TN blog is designed to showcase the Norwich transition experience, from those who are living it. The highs, the lows, the challenges and the triumphs! If Transition is itself a community experiment, then our site is also an experiment in community blogging. Unlike most blogs we’re asking a number of authors to share their unique experience – and unique voice. Some will write a little, some lots, some will post photos and some will post paintings. What ever happens, it will be an exciting journey.

So add the blog to your favourites, post your comments, and tell us what you think! http://www.transitionnorwich.blogspot.com (Jon Curran/Comms)

Norwich Green Guide

Kerry Lane (TN2/Resilience Plan/Reskilling) writes: I am an environmental science student at UEA and a regular participant of Transition. In my three years in Norwich I have gradually discovered more and more of its amazing secrets and I would like to make it possible for others to discover them more easily. So I want to put together a guide to living a green life in Norwich, giving all of the local information on places to get local food, where to bank, recycling centres and everything else under the sun. If you would like to help make this a reality or have any titbits of information then please join the Norwich Green Guide group at http://groups.google.com/group/norwichgreenguide Any help appreciated!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Our First Birthday

Come to our First Birthday Party and see the first Norwich screening of the In Transition film. We’ll have low-carbon and local drinks and snacks and music to set the scene, as well as feedback from the key TN groups that have been active around the city since our Unleashing last year. The party is for everyone in Transition Norwich and anyone else who would like to come along. We’re asking for donations at the door between £3-5 to cover costs. 7.30pm at Unit 5, Beckham Place, off Edward Street. If you would like to book a place or give us a hand on the night contact Elena at info@transitionnorwich.org or phone Charlotte (01502 722419).

Friday, October 2, 2009

Allotment and Growers Group

From the autumn of 2010 the TN Allotment Group is widening its remit to include all our veggie-growers, whether they have an allotment, a garden in the sky, a proper kitchen garden or just a window-box. We'll carry on swapping seeds, plants and tall stories at regular events throughout the gardening year. Look out for the garden-share scheme coming soon too.

Securing reliable sources of local food is the most urgent of the Transition tasks, because most modern farming and food production is totally dependent on fossil fuel and chemicals, which can't be sustained even in the short term; and increasingly climate change will affect the reliability of intensively farmed crops. In Transition we're buying from our local growers, producers and sellers (organic wherever possible) to support our communities and build sustainable food practices for the future. And we're working as a group to grow our own seasonal and regional fruit and vegetables -we're learning new skills and rediscovering skills that have almost been lost. Along the way we are growing and eating really delicious food together.

Our aim is to share and learn together, with a mix of conventional allotment growing and permaculture techniques. We are keen to concentrate on delicious tasting fruit and veggies as well as exploring what grows best in our Norfolk climate!


Members of the group so far are a mix of experienced gardeners and newcomers keen to learn how to grow great food for themselves and their friends and families. Several of us have plots at the Grow Our Own community allotment scheme at Bluebell Lane South and we catch up at Grow Our Own regular meetings to share a meal together (ideally made with produce from the allotments), on the first Sunday of each month.


Contact: Jane Chittenden jane@janechittenden.co.uk

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Allotment

Securing reliable sources of local food is the most urgent of the Transition tasks, because most modern farming and food production is totally dependent on fossil fuel and chemicals, which can't be sustained even in the short term; and increasingly climate change will affect the reliability of intensively farmed crops. In Transition we're buying from our local growers, producers and sellers (organic wherever possible) to support our communities and build sustainable food practices for the future. And we're working as a group to grow our own seasonal and regional fruit and vegetables -we're learning new skills and rediscovering skills that have almost been lost. Along the way we are growing and eating really delicious food together at our community allotment.

The TN Allotment is a group plot on the Grow our Own community allotment scheme based at Bluebell Lane South in the west of the city, near the university. All the plots in this scheme are organic.

Our aim is to use this plot as a learning centre, with a mix of conventional allotment growing and permaculture techniques. We are keen to concentrate on delicious tasting fruit and veggies as well as exploring what grows best in our Norfolk climate!

Quite a lot is already happening on the allotment since we acquired it in October 2009. Vegetables: the broad beans have all come through (Sabberton Supreme beans are looking particularly good), the garlic and onion sets are starting to shoot; and the spring cabbages are bedding in nicely. Fruit: there are lots of little strawberry runners to plant later; and we have discovered that our mystery tree (a legacy from the previous owners) is a self-fertile Stella cherry. Our permaculture experts are putting aside some cuttings from pruning the allotment's fruit bushes.


We have made good progress on digging. There is more to be done when the weather improves - too cold at the moment. Over the winter we are planning to propagate some herb cuttings – any offers from people with interesting herbs?

Our outline planting plan will be developed in detail, starting before the spring rush in March and updated during the course of the year as new seeds and plants become available. We'll be using seeds and seedling plants that are available to us as members of the Grow Our Own scheme, which also provides us with all the tools we need (no need to bring your own), together with water, organic compost and manure - and lots of advice on tap from seasoned allotment-holders.

Events planned for 2010 include a Plant Swap in the city centre; a Taste the Difference session to compare different types of popular fruit and veg varieties (summer holidays); a Seedy Sunday to swop seeds (late autumn, to follow on the success of last year's event) and contribution to the Grow Our Own open day, which was a huge success last summer with apple and pear juice pressings, plant sales and delicious veggie dishes, cakes and puds for visitors to try, all made from allotment produce.

Members of the group so far are a mix of experienced gardeners and newcomers keen to learn how to grow great food for themselves and their friends and families. Meetings will be synchronised with Grow Our Own regular meetings to share a meal together (ideally made with produce from the allotments), on the last Sunday of each month.. Volunteering is on the last Sunday of the month; food-sharing on the first Sunday.. The Grow Our Own team are usually at the allotment site on Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings; the allotments are open every day until dusk.












Contact: Jane Chittenden jane@janechittenden.co.uk

Transition City Allotment Launch – Sunday 4 October

We're officially launching our City Allotment Project on Sunday 4 October at 1pm to coincide with the October allotment lunch. Mahesh Pant, founder of the Grow-our-Own scheme will cut the green ribbon at 1pm. Work has already started on plans for the plot, which will have a circular potager-style bed for annual vegetables and permanent crops and fruit round the edges of the circle. Come along to Bluebell Lane South between 10am -12 noon to see our allotment plot, share ideas and meet fellow-growers. Stay for the allotment lunch if you have time (1pm) and bring a dish to share.

For further info contact Jane at editor@transitionnorwich.org.