Progress

The impulse to organise in the Forest of Dean came after a conference in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire in May 2007. The process began in the Forest of Dean in June 2007 when step 1 of the twelve suggested was achieved: the formation of a 'steering group' which has planned it's own demise.

From July 2007 onwards the group was working to let people know of the existence of the initiative in the Forest, to try and get more energy and enthusiasm into the project - step 2! This site was created as part of this second 'awareness raising' step and continues to evolve. Events around the Forest are continuing to let people know that this initiative is afloat.

2008 came and brought the rains again. Fuel went up 30% at the pumps and came down with the over production for the recession. Bali came & went. Rice and wheat price soared after a bad season (global warming?) and the decision to feed cars before we feed humans (peak oil and what? - stupidity, heartless market forces?). We have had Richard Heinberg and Megan Quinn (March 30th '08) address 270 people in Coleford about these issues. (You can listen to Sue's interview with Richard here or ask to get a DVD of the event.) Sub groups formed to start to take the necessary actions.

Later in 2008, we worked with the local strategic partnership to apply for a grant from the South West Regional Development Agency to help the area respond to the challenge of climate change - and for the first time this area got some of the extra funding it needs.

We have real working action groups - Allotments, Garden Partners and Community Supported Agriculture - and we're looking to establish more.

And now it's 2009 and the initiating steering group has stepped down in favour of a core group, made up of people from the action groups. We have Rob Hopkins coming in April, we're working with the Local Strategic Partnership to work on how to use the grant in the best possible way and the work goes on...

Newent has been accepted as a Transition Town in its own right - well done folks!

There are newsletters & other things on the downloads page, links to interested organisations on the links page and it's time to be up and doing!

If you want to be kept in touch with what's going on, ask to be added to the email list (on the contacts page) or check the calendar on the events page.