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

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Transition Free Press winter edition now out!

The fourth winter edition of Transition Free Press is now available in Norwich. This is the final issue of the 2013 pilot in which this innovative grassroots newspaper was distributed throughout the UK to broadcast and celebrate all aspects of the Transition movement's social and political culture - from economics, energy and food systems, to wellbeing, books, people, stuff and sport. For a full editorial A-Z of the latest issue read the December update on our news blog.

In an assessment of the first year Rob Hopkins wrote:
The fourth edition of Transition Free Press has just come out, and it is a Thing of Great Beauty. Transition has long created spaces in which people can engage their creativity, and TFP is one of the shining examples of that.  It models a different approach to telling stories, to building networks, and to building a movement. 
Norwich is one of over 100 distributing hubs in the TFP network we would like to wish all our distributors and readers in the city a very happy new year for 2014! Meanwhile here is a short video of the welcome editorial, written and narrated by Charlotte Du Cann and produced by Mike Grenville.

 
For list of distribution outlets in Norwich see the TFP distribution page

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Positive Money Meetup - Tuesday 29 October 7:30pm

The failure of our monetary system has come up over and over again as one of the driving forces behind unsustainable consumption, inequality and environmental destruction. National campaign group Positive Money, along with their counterparts in other countries, are looking to change it, and have come up with some proposals.

Here in Norwich, we're going to have a meetup of people interested in those proposals (more information about them can be found on their website, below). The meetup will be on 29th October at 7:30pm at the Playhouse.

Please come along, meet others who are interested, and let's get our monetary system working for people and planet!

Positive Money's Proposals: http://www.positivemoney.org/our-proposals/

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Magdalen-Augustine Celebration - Saturday 19 October, 11am-5pm

The 4th Magdalen Augustine celebration about to hit the streets on 19th October 2013! With a brand new black history month stage of African bands at the Blueberry on Cowgate, youth samba band, pop-up museum, puppet making, and all the usual music and wonderfulness, it's set to be amazing. The full programme is now available here.

Also opening on the same day: Conversation A new collection from award-winning local photographer, Katherine Mager, made in response to conversations with residents and shop-owners in St Augustine's Street.

The Stage, 52 St Augustine's Street, Norwich NR3 3AD www.stagenorwich.org.uk 

Contact: MAC website for further details and
magdalenstreet@gmail.com | 07964 494836/07790 032 516 to get involved.

Monday, September 16, 2013

New autumn edition of Transition Free Press now out!


Image5461-1Hot off the press,TFP 3 is now hitting doorsteps and Transition streets in 50+ hubs across the UK, including Norwich.

Our Autumn issue runs wild, forages for books and cherry plums, gets smart about community energy and heritage seeds, stands with indigenous peoples, speaks with George Monbiot, rides the lemon bus in Sussex and a canal boat in the Midlands, rides a cargo bike and sits down at a table with fifty people in East Anglia, jumps into a lochan in Scotland, honours elders in Liverpool, makes cider in the North country, makes connections everywhere and a hundred other ingenious, friendly moves in the direction of a low carbon future.

Available at The Greenhouse, FarmShare hub and from Norwich distributor, Lesley Grahame lesley7railway@yahoo.co.  On-line version published here

Monday, July 22, 2013

Norwich FarmShare - Bikes and Beans Project

You might already have heard about the well-being project that Norwich Farmshare and Bicycle Links are running together called ‘Bikes and Beans’ for people in early recovery from substance misuse.

Attendees will learn basic bicycle repair & maintenance skills at Bicycle Links before coming to the farm to learn the basics of growing. it’s a chance for participants to get their hands dirty and enjoy the benefits of practical tasks and being outside learning. The project is running on Tuesdays over the late summer and early autumn.

We had a ‘Bikes and Beans’ awareness raising stall at the Discover Recovery event at the Forum last week which was very popular and signed up our first participants. We’re keen to enable more people to take part, so please do spread the word about this very worthwhile project. You can download a poster to display anywhere you’d like to: bikes_and_beans_poster_and_intro

Like to subscribe to Norwich FarmShare? check out their membership page

Sunday, July 21, 2013

STOP PRESS! Postwick Interchange Inquiry - 22 and 23 July

If you're bothered about council budgets, wildlife, sustainable transport, carbon emissions, this is an appeal for help with an easy but very real action that you can take.
 
The Postwick Interchange Public Inquiry is currently in progress.If you could lend some moral support by attending the Inquiry, as an observer, at the Kings Centre on King Street, to show your interest, the Inspector will realise that people do actually care about excessive road building.
 
Councillors Andrew Boswell and Denise Carlo are doing a tremendous amount of work objecting to this huge road-building scheme and have a good case, but it's possible that the inspector doesn't believe they have wide support - so we need to show that they do. 

Next week SNUB, NNTAG and the Green Party will be presenting their case at The King Centre on King Street (NR1 1PH) on Monday 22 July from 2pm onwards and Tuesday 23 July from 9.30am onwards.

We need to show that the public are concerned about what's going on in their name. So far, very few objectors have come to the inquiry whilst there are a large number of Highways Agency and County Council witnesses.This gives the Inspector the impression that the public are not bothered. Do come if you are. Thank you (Lesley Grahame)

For more details about the campaign see here

Friday, July 5, 2013

Norwich Permaculture Design Course - 3-16 August

An exciting opportunity to participate in Norwich’s first residential Permaculture Design Course. 
 
This course provides an overview of what permaculture is all about and how it can help you to design a more sustainable, yet more abundant lifestyle. The venue, Park House, consists of 12.7 acres of woodland, arable land and gardens 4 miles from the city centre.

Although permaculture is most commonly thought about in connection with gardening and farming, its principles, ethics and design methods can be adapted and used in individual's own work, interests and home and offers a perspective on all aspects of building a sustainable future. Permaculture encourages us to use our individual skills, knowledge and interests, whilst drawing on traditional wisdom, science and our innate ability to observe and learn from the world around us. 

Permaculture is about meeting fundamental human needs by mimicking the design of natural systems. A simple way to understand this is to consider something you don’t want (waste) being used creatively as new input to the system. In this way problems can become the source of solutions. The elegance of systems designed on permaculture principles is in their simplicity and functionality. (Deepak Rughani)
 
Contact: Deepak Rughani Tel: 07931 636337 Visit: www.designedvisions.com for more details

Monday, June 24, 2013

Transition Thursday and The Power of Just Doing Stuff - Swaffham 4 July

An evening with Rob Hopkins, organised by Transition Swaffham, Transition Downham Market and Transition King's Lynn is happening at The Green Britain Centre in Swaffham on Thursday 4th July at 7pm.

Rob will be launching his new book The Power of Just Doing Stuff and engaging in a Q&A. We will also be building a picture of the stuff we are all doing in Norfolk so do come and help us fill in the maps! This is a really important opportunity for us to come together and think about how we can create a positive vision and transition for this great part of the world. If you are interested in helping out before the event, or on the night, please e-mail John Knock at johnknock2@hotmail.co.uk.

There will be refreshments available and this will be a great chance to meet other like-minded people from around Norfolk. All welcome. (Ben Margolis)

Image: Rob Hopkins signs new Transition book at Crystal Palace launch (Jonathan Goldberg)

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Power of Just Doing Stuff - new Transition book out next week


Promotional video of the new Transition book by Rob Hopkins which will be published next week 

The Power of Just Doing Stuff has its official launch at the Grape and Grain pub in Crystal Palace, London, organised by the local Transition initiative.This is the first Transition Thursday (although in fact a Tuesday!), a series of UK book launching events and local conferences during the summer. Nearest events in the Eastern Region are in Norfolk on 18 July (Downham Market, Swaffham and Kings Lynn) and in Lincolnshire on 25 July (Louth and Horncastle). You can preorder a copy here.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

FILM Village at the End of the World - Tuesday 4 June

New Dogwoof documentary shows at Cinema City 

Fascinated by the resilience of the few remaining polar communities, Brick Lane director Sarah Gavron and her cameraman partner David Katznelson spent almost three years filming in Niaqornat, a remote Inuit hamlet in northern Greenland with just 59 inhabitants.

Under government threat of relocation if their numbers fell below 50, the locals were determined to reopen a local fish factory in order to stem the slow exodus of their youngsters, and vowed to battle on against an unsympathetic bureaucracy “until the last man’s left standing”. The stark beauty of their harsh landscape and their equally harsh way of life – they rely entirely on hunting and fishing, and the long winter months are totally without daylight – contrast with their quirky humour and robust traditions.Village at the End of the World is a portrait of a traditional community struggling against the challenges of globalisation and climate change.

Opens 4 June, 6.30pm. Book online on Cinema City website or call the Box Office: 0871 902 5724 (10p a minute from a landline)  

Dogwoof are giving away 2 tickets to each screening – email patrick@dogwoof.com to enter the draw.

Official Trailer: Village at the End of the World 

Friday, May 31, 2013

Norwich Greenpeace Fair - Saturday 1 June

Norwich Greenpeace are holding a fair to raise funds for Greenpeace's Save the Arctic campaign in the LCR (Union House) at the University of East Anglia from 11am to 5pm on Sat June 1st.  There will be stalls from local organisations as well as those selling green products, and music from a variety of local musicians.
The Arctic is one of the most vulnerable places on Earth, and Greenpeace need funds for an Arctic survival pod so that they can carry out direct action there, so please come along and show your support. (Chris Keene)

Friday, May 24, 2013

Visions for Change - 28 May


Visions for Change, the meeting place for progressive individuaals and groups in and around Norwich has monthly meetings at the Playhouse and has recently launched a website to publicize activities, events and contacts.

At our first meeting we had a round of talks about why we have come together at Visions for Change and agreed that subsequent meetings should include:
  • shout-outs: about upcoming events and activities by groups and individuals
  • action networking: connecting individuals to set up activities and support each other outside VFC
  • education on issues: have discussions on issues we feel need to be discussed in this space. We do not want to duplicate discussions and talks already taking place, but a number of us felt the need to educate ourselves in this informal round on progressive issues. Discussions will first take place in small groups of max. 7 people on the same issue. Then we have one person from each group sit in a fish-bowl format conversation and feedback and discuss the outcome of the groups.
The meetings follow the structure above and this month's item for discussion: Successes and Problems of Campaigning Groups, Engaging the Norwich Community.
 
The fourth aspect we agreed VfC should be about is 'socializing', thus after our two hour meeting there is time for a drink in the bar afterwards! Vanessa Buth

Playhouse meeting room. 42 - 58 St Georges St. Norwich NR3 1AD, 7.30-9.30pm. All welcome.
Contact: Alan Cottey Email: alancottey@phonecoop.coop

Friday, May 17, 2013

The Common Room: Make Day - Sat 18 May, 11am - 4pm


Following on from two prototype days, The Common Room at St Lawrence's Church is holding a Make Day and inviting people to be part of taking the project to the next stage.

WHAT IS THE COMMON ROOM?
The Common Room could transform St Laurence's Church into a new type of shared space, made and shaped collectively, and run on the principles of collaboration, connection and resourcefulness.

You could host meet ups, start new projects or develop your business ideas. It could be a workspace, workshop, communal dining room, or growing space.... What happens there can be up to you.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
There are lots of exciting ideas, potential opportunities and a high level of interest from many different people:

"Norwich really needs a centre for all of its many creative people to come together & support each other and benefit from each other's experience."
"The Common Room should encourage activities and projects  within the local community, shaped by the local community.  I would love to both teach and be taught here."
 "A community workshop would allow people tolearn new skills and do things for themselves. 
It could have so much potential, for businesses too."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
There are new parts we need to design, build and create together including: membership, activities equipment and economic models
So we would now like to invite you to come to the Make Day and join us in collectively creating the building blocks needed to take The Common Room forward.

RSVP: http://commonroommakeday.eventbrite.co.uk

We look forward to meeting and making together! For further details on membership and becoming involved see The Common Room project page,
 

Common Room Co-founding Group, The Churches Conservation Trust and Social Spaces 00:/

Image: Herbs for Resilience Trade School class by Mark Watson, Common Room, February 2012

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Patterns for a Sustainable Planet - Saturday 18 May

'Patterns for a Sustainable Planet' is the UN talk by Corinne Le Quéré, Professor of Climate Change Science and Policy at the University of East Anglia and is Director of the UEA Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Professor Le Quéré was author of the 3rd , 4th and 5th (ongoing) Assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. She co-chairs the Global Carbon Project, a non-governmental organisation that fosters International research on the carbon cycle and publishes annual updates on global emissions and sinks of carbon dioxide. Further information on her current work on Future Earth can be found on this link:  http://www.icsu.org/future-earth

The new international research programme Future Earth, will coordinate international research on sustainability for the next 10 years 

Saturday 18th May at the Curve in the Forum, 11am. will last about 30 minutes followed by questions. Coffee is available from 10.30am Admission is free. A donation is invited to cover expenses. www.unanorwich.org.uk

Monday, April 22, 2013

May Fair in Chapelfield Gardens and Seize the Day - 5 and 11 May

On Sunday May 5 2013 Norwich and District Trades Council presents a day of music, events, talks and fun for all in Chapelfield Gardens.

As well as bands and a great poetry set (headed by Luke Wright), there will be carnival kids crafts, bouncy castle, face painting and competions, plus other activities (adults too) such as circus skills workshops with the Foolhardy Folk  and hula-hooping with Hula-baloo?

To book a stall please mail Mayday2013@hotmail.co.uk

Saturday 11 May 8pm St Thomas Church Hall, Earlham Road

Seize The Day are a radical English acoustic band with global roots. "We write songs to celebrate, inspire and support the liberation of life.

"Whatever needs to change or be defended in this world, we sing to make you laugh about it, cry about it, dance about it – maybe even inspire you to believe that you can DO something about it!"

Bar, refreshments, Campaign and conversation area. Tickets £7/£5 concessions at the door, £6/£4 in advance, available from Lesley Grahame,  07711 298214 lesley7railway@yahoo.co.uk

Do also keep an eye out for the new summer issue of Transition Free Press now out and on sale at both events

Friday, April 5, 2013

Permaculture Design Course West Norfolk: April – September

The fourth West Norfolk Permaculture Design Course is starting in April 2013 and will run for six weekend over six months at six inspiring West Norfolk venues. This course has been very popular for the last three years and is helping to build a strong permaculture community across Norfolk. 

This course provides an introduction to the design methods, tools, principles and ethics that underpin this sustainable design system. It is a unique opportunity to meet other people in the area who are exploring more sustainable ways of living and to visit some exciting projects already employing the principles of permaculture.

The first weekend (April 13/14) is an introduction and participants can come to this as a stand-alone weekend. For those who wish to explore further, there will be five additional weekends on 11/12 May, 8/9 June, 13/14 July, 10/11 August and 14/15 September. All those who complete the full course will receive a certificate and be able to continue on to do the permaculture  diploma if they wish. 

Details and information can be found on the Norfolk Permaculture web site at http://norfolkpermaculture.wordpress.com/. For more information e-mail westnorfolkpdc@gmail.com or call Ben on 01760 756029.


Monday, March 25, 2013

Grapes Hill Community Garden Update

Tea break in the garden, Sunday 17th March 2013.
It doesn't feel particularly like spring at the moment but there are some subtle signs that winter is nearing its end. On a warm day a couple of weeks ago, Comma butterflies briefly emerged from hibernation and in green spaces like Earlham Cemetery in Norwich, bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies have been visiting the massed crocuses.

Another hint of spring was the resumption of garden tasks at Grapes Hill Community Garden in mid March.  These will take place every fortnight, on Sunday afternoons (2 - 4pm). The next dates are: 31st March (Easter Sunday), 14th April, 28th April, 12th May 2013. All welcome - gardening experience is not essential and tools, tea and cake will be provided.

During the winter we planted a mini-orchard of plum trees on an area of grass on Golding Place and in early March we organised a community litter pick.   

This summer we are going to host a Big Lunch in the garden on Sunday 2nd June. We'll also be opening the garden, along with the Belvedere Centre Garden for charity through the National Gardens Scheme on Sunday 28th July 2013 as "Two Norwich Community Gardens".


For more information on the garden see our website and Facebook page. Jeremy Bartlett

Photograph by Jeremy Bartlett
 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Edible Forest Gardening - 17 March

Turn any garden or patch of land into a sustainable multi-layer food system. From surveying and site analysis, to plant choice and placement, this workshop will use a real world example to take you through the forest garden design process. By the end of the day you will have created a design and be ready to grow your own forest garden to suit your circumstances. Includes how to work sustainably with nature, implementation, plant sourcing, propagation and maintaing a healthy garden. Cost £20 (£15 concessions)

Edible Forest Gardening - Sunday 17 March 11-4pm at True Sounds above Ali Bongo's, 22 St Johns, Madermarket, Norwich NR2 1DN 

Reserve a place here For futther information: David Boyce 07526423076 healthygrowth7@gmail.com

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Norwich FarmShare talk- 25 February

As well as running a hedge-planting workday on 24th February (all welcome), Norwich FarmShare will be relating their experiences of this unique city CSA at  the next meeting of the Norwich Organic Group.

Connecting community with food growing on 7 acres: Our story so far with grower,  Tierney Woods
Members of the social enterprise will share their experience of creating a community-run vegetable growing business. The growers, Transitioners and volunteers will be telling their grassroots story of how the farm got started, how everyone has learned about the site and soil, how people have benefited from being on the land and find out about opportunities to get involved.

All welcome; £2 entry for people who are not members of NOG. If you’re a member of FarmShare and you’d like to come along for free, please email us.

 Date:7.30pm Monday 25 February Venue: Friends’ Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich NR2 1EW (next to St Giles Car Park)

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Common Room - 23 February

“The Common Room” is a series of Norfolk-based community popup days, open to all, creating innovative projects and events. Following on from the successful prototype day last November, we will be hosting another day of making, learning, sharing and socializing at the 15th Century St Laurence’s Church in St Benedict’s Street, Norwich, on Saturday, 23rd February, 2013, from 11am until 4pm.

The Common Room is an experiment in creating a community space, made and shaped through local collaboration, connection and resourcefulness: a social engine room for developing our community’s ideas and projects. It was initially created by Social Spaces and 00:/ in partnership with the Churches Conservation Trust, and is now run by a Norwich based community group formed from some of those who were deeply inspired by the prototype day.

Just a few of the events on Saturday, 23rd February, will include: a trade school, weaving, origami, herbs for resilience, disruptive education, grassroots communications and media, a book exchange, pod building, DIY events, a speaker’s corner, maker’s market, music and food workshops, as well as a chance to meet and talk with other interesting members of our community over a cup of tea and launch your own ideas!

For further information contact Jeppe Graugaard jeppegraugaard@gmail.com

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Logging for Stove Wood 2/3 March

A Norwich-based 2-day course in safe use of a chainsaw, cross-cutting,splitting and stacking with local forester and conservationist, Paul Jackson. Selection of trees for coppicing/trimming/felling, designed for those wishing to maintain or enhance biological diversity of a copse or woodland. It also includes processing and preparing stove wood from bulk supplies.

This two-day course is designed as:

*     Introduction to the safe domestic use of a chainsaw
*     Chainsaw cleaning and general maintenance
*     Use of different types of hand-saw
*     Cross-cutting
*     Wood-splitting - maul/wedge/fro
*     Introduction to woodland management
*     Coppicing
*     Replanting
*     Wood-stacking and weather protection for optimal seasoning

This is an ideal course for those wishing to maintain or enhance
biodiversity in a copse or woodland using a chainsaw.  It also includes
processing and preparing your own supply of stove wood from bulk
supplies.

This course does not cover mature tree felling and is not suitable for
those people who use a chainsaw in an industrial capacity

Please bring PPE safety equipment with you.  If you can't please tell us
and we will aim to accomodate at this end.  Chainsaw not essential but
if you already have one then do bring it.
 
Lunch and tea/coffee/biscuits provided. 09:30 - 16:30  each day 
Limited places, booking essential Total cost: £150  For further 
details and booking contact: Deepak Rughani parkhouse@fastmail.co.uk

Friday, February 1, 2013

Transition Free Press Issue 1 is here

#TFP_Issue1_Spring2013_frontcover.jpegThe Transition Free Press has published its first edition today. 10,000 copies of the new Spring issue are now being distributed throughout the UK. 24 pages of news, reviews, comments and cartoons, as well as dedicated pages to land rights, education, food, well-being, arts and community. Do check out our on-line version:

http://issuu.com/transitionfreepress
 
Transition Free Press is written by transitioners from the UK to Japan to Europe and the Americas. This issue includes an article on the Magdalen Street Celebration by our own Chris Hull, reviews by TN bloggers, Mark Watson and Simeon Jackson and is edited by Charlotte Du Cann (who will all be distributing hard copies in the city from mid-month). Copies will also be available at The Common Room on 23rd February at St Lawrence's, Benedict Street. Cover price, £1.

Lists of stockists, events and distributors for the paper is here

If you enjoy what you read, do become a Friend of TFP and help the newspaper crew continue with Issue 2 (May). Our crowd-funding campaign ends on 14th Feburary and would welcome a boost. If you prefer offline donations, please contact Jay Tompt jay@transitionfreepress.org.uk Many thanks!

TRANSITION FREE PRESS – REPORTING THE MOVEMENT.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Norwich FarmShare - Job vacancy for grower

Tierney, one of our two growers, is off to pastures new- so we’re looking for another grower. Could that be you?

Norwich FarmShare are looking for an experienced grower to join our team. You will be responsible, alongside our existing Grower, for planning and growing a year-round supply of vegetables for our Community Supported Agriculture project, located just outside Norwich. We want a great communicator, who’s passionate about  involving our members and the wider community in our CSA. Our existing membership is around 90, and we look to expand this in the course of the next year to 130 members.

Hours & wage: we are looking for a grower to work around 18 hours a week in winter, rising to 35 hours in summer. The hourly wage is £8.00 per hour (subject to annual review). Download the job description to find out more about the role.

Please email us your CV and a supporting statement or call on 08456 805721 for an informal chat if you’d like to find out more. If you’d prefer to apply by post, please send your application to Norwich FarmShare, 18 St Mary’s Works, Norwich NR3 1QA.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on February 12th; Interviews will take place on February 18th.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Living together gathering - 26 January

A day of workshops and networking about and for intentional communities. 

 How to set up a housing co-op 
Introduction to CoHousing 
Forming a group/ Visioning/ Action Planning 
Facilitation and Consensus Decision Making 
Raising finance and making a business plan 
Radical Routes 
Case studies from local communities: Random Camel Housing Co-op, Argyle St Housing Co-op, Norwich Cohousing, Old Hall, possibly the Drive from Walthamstow 
Open space discussions - and please notify in advance any specialist workshop desires

Matchmaking! Like a real time Diggers and Dreamers noticeboard! 

Lunch included, a local AND vegan offering - oooh.  

Cost: A tenner concession/ twenty pounds full price, but nobody turned away for lack of funds - contact us! Places limited please book  

Contact: Nigel - 07946529642 / livingtogetherevent@gmail.com
 
 When:
Sat, 26 January 2013, 09:30 – 16:30 
Where:
Old Hall Community, East Bergholt, Essex, CO76TG. Nearest station is Manningtree on the East Coast mainline then a 3 mile cycle/ walk along the Stour, or let us know if you require or can offer a lift.

If you want to display posters as below please ask download and print or ask Gemma for hard copies: 07816 146 567