Millions went #BacktoSchool this week. At Shawlands Primary, that means the return of their #bikebus.

Twice a week, kids & parents gather to wheel the busy city roads to school. By doing it together, it becomes safer, easier & more joyful for kids to cycle to school.

And here they are on the BBC last year, telling the story of their bike bus and the difference it’s making to kids, parents and the streets near them.: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-61599279

Community solutions to the problems of our time - we love it! What do you think? Could it work where you are?

Thanks to Shawlands Bike Bus for letting us sharethe video. Find them on twitter @bikebusshaw and insta at @shawlandsbikebus

#community #communityaction #glasgow #bike #cycle #activetravel #school #climateaction #climatechange #transport

Two years ago, Transition group Zero Carbon Guildford moved into a former New Look high street store and transformed it into a buzzing community climate hub.

Volunteers set up a library of things, community fridge, zero waste shop, baby clothes library, business network and a vertical farm growing salad crops.

They ran cinema, quiz and open mic nights, a food waste feast along the high street, and a climate conversation group.

They trained energy advisors and citizen scientists to test the local river’s water quality, and hosted dozens of groups from other communities who wanted to create a hub just like theirs.

In two years, they reckon their projects have saved a whooping 583 tonnes of CO2 emissions from their community.

It shows how people who are concerned can come together, and have a real, tangible impact and engage whole new audiences with some volunteer power and a meantime space. It’s why they won innovative UK climate project in the Climate Coalition’s annual awards this year.

Now their lease is up, and they want to take Zero Carbon Guildford to a new home and the next level. They’ve set up a crowdfunder, hoping to find out what they could achieve with great capacity and a more permanent space.

Find out more and their advice for anyone else setting up a similar community climate hub: https://transitiontogether.org.uk/building-community-action-through-climate-hubs/

#climatehub #communityhub #guildford #libraryofthings #zerocarbon #babylibrary #communityfridge #zerowastecafe #terracycle #citizenscience #climatecoalition #communityaction #transitiontown #crowdfunder

Last weekend, Transition IG3 and residents of Talbot Road in east London organised a ‘Play Street’.

Children with scooters, bikes, bubbles and chalk took over the street as the road was closed to cars for the day, and residents of all ages shared food and chat, pedal powered music and made a mural of what their street could be like in 2030.

One of the organisers, Rakesh, said: “was great to see so many kids enjoying playing on the road, and neighbours talking to each other.”

Ever wanted to try a #playstreet in your neighbourhood? Get more inspiration from Sustainable St Albans, a Transition group helping communities throughout their district organise Play Streets, and from get support and advice from national organisation Playing Out.

#playingout #transitiontown #communityaction #climateaction #carfree #street
#pedalpower #bike

"Another person has their eye on a row of warehouses with huge roofs that they spotted from the train (top tip: trains & buses offer a great vantage point for solar roof-spotting)."

A day in the life of a roof spotter with community energy group, Lambeth Solar and Repowering London.

https://www.repowering.org.uk/look-up-london-a-day-or-so-in-the-life-of-a-solar-energy-roof-spotter/

#solarpower #solar #solarpanels #communityenergy #transitiontown #Lambeth #London #communityaction #climateaction #renewables

This new community electric car took it's first trip in the Llandrindod carnival parade earlier this month. 🎉💃

Llandrindod Transition and Tripto Car Club worked together to raise funds and public support for the project. Public transport in their part of mid-Wales is limited - now people can now join the car club and borrow for trips without having to own their own vehicle.

It's one of three community cars Tripto look after in the area - and interest is certainly growing: "More and more people are feeling empowered in the fight against climate change and air pollution by driving one of our shared electric vehicles."

The solutions we need aren't just about individuals making different choices - there's lots to be done to give people new alternatives in the first place.

Well done to everyone at Llandrindod Transition and Tripto for making the idea a reality and opening up access to greener travel in your area!

#carclub #greentravel #EVcar #electriccar #Llandrindod #transitiontown #communityaction #communitycar #borrowdontbuy #Walesclimateaction

Kiwis, Szechuan peppers, bamboo for building and herbs.

A team from Transition Town Wellington had a visit to one of the country's oldest forest gardens at Dartington in Totnes with it's creator, Martin Crawford, inspiring plans and dreams for their own fledgling site.

The Wellington forest gardeners reflected: "Our forest garden has been designed for the community, so to attract people to come and use the space we chose fruits that people would recognise, alongside some more unusual but tasty varieties. One aim is to make our town more self sufficient and reduce our reliance on supermarkets, but also to provide a place that people would like to spend time relaxing."

At our recent London gathering, we saw a the grassy corner of an Ilford park which will soon be transformed by the community into a forest garden, and a few miles away, one that's been planted and shaped over two years.

If you're thinking of starting something new in your area, it's brilliant to be able to see it in action somewhere else, to learn and explore what it difference it could make locally. One of the joys of being part of a network!

Jump on our Vive platform to find out if another Transition town is already working on a project you have in mind, or give us a shout if you can't find what you are looking for.

#transitiontown #forestgarden #community #communityaction #climateaction #somerset #devon #communitygarden #growyourown #collaboration

"What these places are building is a new story about decarbonising our future, what it could be like and giving people a taste of a different future, they are bringing people together. To see it in reality was so inspiring.”

The reflections of Rob Hopkins and many others after our recent gatherings. And what we learned - about our movement, about the challenges of our work, about the value of building strong connections- when we got together as almost 100 people working locally on reimaging and rebuilding our world.

"It helped make the future visible," said one participant.

Read more: https://transitiontogether.org.uk/reflections-on-our-spring-gatherings/

#transitiontowns#resilience #communityaction #climateaction #imagination #netzero #community

🛠️ Tools for Transition alert! 🛠️

Check out the Community Climate Action Toolkit from our friends The Schumacher Institute.

Packed with actions and useful resources, it's there for "to empower any community which wants to take action together."

The guide takes a systems thinking approach, helping groups explore the context in which we are acting, the interconnections and how small actions can often catalyse larger changes.

Get the guide here: https://schumacherinstitute.org.uk/community-climate-action-toolkit/

And join the launch online on Tuesday 11 July at 7pm: https://helmtickets.com/events/8578/community-climate-action-toolkit-launch-the-online-event

#systemsthinking #SystemChange #Schumacher #communityaction #climateaction #transitiontown #toolkit

A Transition shed has been shortlisted for the coveted #shedoftheyear award!

Built by volunteers over several months, with mostly reclaimed materials, it sits in the lush oasis of Transition Cambridge’s Empty Common Community Garden close to the centre of the city.

It's a place of peace for the volunteer gardeners and for local groups working towards a fairer, resilient and thriving community to use.

They call it the Head, Heart and Hands shed – amazing how just a few square metres of space can help bring people together and support local change...

Transition Together seed funding from the The National Lottery Community Fund helped to get the shed up and running. It’s got our vote – what about you?! https://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?shareshed=8284

#shed #transitiontown #communitygarden #communityaction #climatechange #cambridge

It is hard to convey the bubbling up of inspiration, connection and energy at our North West regional gathering this weekend!

We were joined by several Transition groups in the area, and many others working for transformative change through growing, community, politics, business, education and more.

Wow, it felt good to connect, be together, share our work and our challenges, and soak up the rich conversations at the beautiful Greenslate Farm, a lush, green, lively community space where everyone is made welcome, a glimpse of how things could be everywhere!

Rob Hopkins took us to 2030 in his portable time machine, and we felt a different world on the horizon, a more spacious, restful one, with enough for everyone, where we can trust and lean on each other, birdsong, insect buzz and recovery for us and for nature. Importantly, we asked how we tell new stories of what's possibly, creating longing for a future we haven't yet reached, and invite new people to help us shape it.

Many threads to reflect on and weave into our future work! We'd love to hear what you got out of it, and what the future holds for you!

#imagination #communityaction #climateaction #transformourfuture #transitiontowns #transitiontown #communityfarm #growyourown #communityenergy

A taste of what Transition groups are up to this weekend:

🌱Transition Town Rugby volunteer session at their herb garden

☕Trawsnewid Llandrindod Transition green coffee & chat, also at their herb garden!

🐜Abingdon Carbon Cutters host a biodiversity walk

🌺 Transition Buxton have a plant swap at the town's market

🛠 Transition Crich launch their new #repaircafe - good luck! And Transition Town Louth also repairing this weekend!

⛱ Deal With It - Transition Deal beach clean

🔌Many #Transitiontowns have #GreatBigGreenWeek events - like Vision 21 kicking off a cable amnesty, trying to recycle as many of those lurking wires as possible through their Reclaim store.

Plus, looking forward to lots of folks in the North West joining our regional gathering Greenslate Farm!

All this community-led action/change this weekend... and every weekend! Tell us what else you have going on?

#Communityaction #climateaction #growingcommunity #transitiontown #incredibleedible

Community of Dragons is back this eve! 🐲 It's a way to mobilise funds & community support for local, regenerative businesses on land, food, art, bikes, production and more that emerged from Transition Town Totnes and the REconomy Project.

It's a friendly dragon's den style pitching event where local entrepreneurs can share their brilliant projects and anyone in the community can offer support, connections, investment and practical help. Hope it's a great event this evening!

Founder Jay Tompt told the story when explored how "Together We Can build sustainable livelihoods" https://youtu.be/chAvh4sIwZ8

#reconomy #socialeconomy #livelihoods #provisioning #transitiontowns #capitalism #communityaction #dragonsden #totnes #local #investment

Steve & Ben spend a day a week knocking doors on their estate offering to plant free fruit trees in folks' gardens. Today, they are out with fruit bushes looking for new homes.

They've had a brilliant response, and it's opened up many wonderful connections and conversations about traditional food crops amongst their diverse community.

Residents will have fresh fruit on their doorstep at zero cost. The group also offer workshops in thrifty growing and caring for fruit trees.

It's a direct response to the #costoflivingcrisis that also improves climate & biodiversity.

Here's what Steve says: "The most direct way of addressing food poverty is getting together with friends, family and community and growing it. It's surprisingly easy, it starts with a conversation over a brew. Be that person who puts the kettle on and invites folk round." ❤️

Delighted we could support Community Roots Permaculture Project with a Transition Together seed-funding grant, supported by @tnlcommunityfund.

Read more about the impact of communities planting trees: https://transitiontogether.org.uk/communities-planting-trees-for-the-future/

#urbangrowing #foodpoverty #growyourown #fruittrees #fruitbushes #permaculture #bolton #fooddesert #transitiontown #transition #foodsystem #costofliving #communityaction #climateaction

"What we cannot imagine cannot come into being"

What future are you imagining and working to build? How can we imagine it together, so it's safe, equitable, abundant for everyone?

Crucial questions to explore.

Join us 10-11 June for our #TransformOurFuture North West gathering, to help us shape the journey: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/organizations/events

#bellhooks #imagination #communityaction #future #climateaction #socialjustice #transitiontowns #transition

What if... there was a public makerspace in every community, free to use for local people and groups?

Space like Everyone's Warehouse in East London, kitted out with workshops and tools for wood, fabric, digital, cooking, making and dreaming...

It's one of the biggest in the country, and there's no cost to use it, because, they say: "We think this is really important for using these types of spaces for building inclusive economies. We’d like the Warehouse to be seen very much like a public library or a park, and just as essential."

What an inspiring venue for our London gathering happening very soon! Join us and see it in action: https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/608557169877

#transitiontowns #london #event #climatechange #communityaction #climateaction #grassroots #makerspace #inclusive #neweconomy

Planting a new forest can seem a big undertaking for a community group.

In our latest blog, Rob Hopkins meets the Transition groups with big plans to double tree cover in their community, plant new forests and turn their towns into orchards.

https://transitiontogether.org.uk/communities-planting-trees-for-the-future/

From Southall Transition (pictured) planting five orchards in public spaces across their borough, to Transition Wilmslow bringing 200 people together to plant a nature-rich tiny forest at the town's High School.

Community Roots Permaculture planting fruit trees in estate gardens, and many more, like Transition Town Hastings, Marlow, Wellington, Ilford, Kentish Town and Woodbridge

Just like acorns, community tree planting can start tiny but lead to great things. Read on for your Friday inspiration! https://transitiontogether.org.uk/communities-planting-trees-for-the-future/

#treeplanting #trees #nature #rewilding #communityaction #climateaction #transitionstowns

The bicycle rush hour, fresh air and bird song, schools designed by kids, homelessness a thing of the past...

Rob Hopkins returns from his 2030 time machine and shares a beautiful picture of the future at #TheBigOne, possible if we make it.

"We must imagine as we build, always both." Mariame Kaba.

#imagination #communityaction #nature #Transitiontowns #TheBigOne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVm1PHNbFE&t=5s

"Trying to act alone in the challenges of climate change can feel overwhelming, but when we come together, we start to realise our power and potential".

After 14 years Transition Town Bridport is gathering this evening to celebrate, share ideas and relaunch as Sustainable Bridport! They've taken great strides on promoting local food and growing, making homes low energy and bringing people together to build a resilient, fair and low carbon town.

Can't wait to see what emerges in the next 14 years! https://sustainablebridport.org/

#climatechange #communityaction #community #transitiontowns

What a busy weekend! Members of many Transition groups are heading to #TheBigOne @ExtinctionR

Look out for Transition movement co-founder Rob Hopkins speaking at 2.30pm Saturday at mobile stage Ritual one, about the future we can build... It's already emerging in pockets of gloriousness we need to rapidly expand.

Elsewhere,
🍲 Transition Loughborough are sharing food & plants at their community allotment to celebrate Eid and #GoodtoGrow weekend. #eidmubarak
🎪 Sustainable Carlisle Network at the #EarthDay Multicultural Bazaar
🏖️ Deal With It - Transition Deal Beach clean
🐛 Kew The Transition nature connection event
🥕 Local food markets organised by Transition Llambed and Transition Town West Kirby
🛠️ Transition Buxton and Transition Town Ilford #Repaircafe
🌳 Trawsnewid Llandrindod Transition #forestgarden work party

What else? #transitiontowns #communityaction #climateaction

“It’s turbo charging community solutions, not putting the burden onto individuals to solve this global crisis. We’re supporting & empowering people to take actions at a community level."

Raechal Kelly explaining the exciting things coming for Transition group Vision 21 and Planet Cheltenham.

They've already raised funds to buy a disused building close to Cheltenham high street and have BIG plans and planning permission to turn it into a thriving community eco hub.

Now it’s time to make it happen! The next phase of their project launches today - funds raised will be matched until 27 April! Find out more:
https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002PomKGAAZ

#Transitiontowns #communityaction #community #climatehub #climatechange #Biggive