A community in transition to a low carbon, sustainable, resilient life.

All Blog Posts (44)

Make a Chestnut Soup.

You've eaten roasted chestnuts. Now try the soup! Learn how with this fun video. All ingredients local, seasonal and delicious! Watch the two minute youtube video Make a Chestnut Soup Continue

Added by Michael Taylor on October 20, 2009 at 4:33pm — No Comments

I've been forwarded this info: Rescue Hens We have recently rescued some free range, organic chickens which were doomed to be slaughtered as supermarkets will not buy eggs laid by hens over a year old. If you can offer any of these hens a home then we £2 per bird (non-profit) . These are healthy birds, which will still lay as many, if not more, eggs than ornamental hens! If you can offer them a good home then we will help with transporting the hens to you if need be. There are still hundred… Continue

Added by Mike Grenville on October 17, 2009 at 3:30pm — 2 Comments

Sowing the Future

Thanks to Peter Brinch and Tom Ventham for the Sowing Workshop, to Mike Grenville and David Jonas for introducing it and putting it into Local Food Week and to all at Plawhatch Farm. Go to the following link to watch a short video of the event SOWING THE FUTURE Best wishes, Michael Taylor Continue

Added by Michael Taylor on October 11, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Carbon neutral housing near Forest Row to visit?

I come from Gloucestershire, but have friends near East Grinsted who are building themselves a new house. I have been trying to get them to make it carbon neutral, but their mind is preoccupied by making it look neoGeorgian. Are there any owners of sustainably-built housing near Forest Row who might be willing to give them a tour of their houses? It really would be dire if they went ahead and built a totally conventional house without considering the alternatives. Martin Continue

Added by Martin Davis on September 30, 2009 at 12:40pm — 2 Comments

Make a Skipping Rope from Chestnut Catkins

Hello, I thought you might be interested in my one minute film about making a skipping rope from Forest Row sweet chestnut catkins. Can you guess where it was taken? It is on the video page of this web-site but the quality doesn't seem great. A better version can be found using the following link: Best wishes, Michael TaylorMake a Skipping Rope from Chestnut Catkins Continue

Added by Michael Taylor on July 18, 2009 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

Have you read the the International Herald Tribune?

Take a look at this very special edition. It has some great headlines, including: 'Sarkozy: Nuclear is dead', 'Heads of state agree historic climate-saving deal', 'Atmosphere named World Heritage Site'. http://www.iht-se.com Continue

Added by Mike Grenville on June 18, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Fern with fronds

I needed to get away from my computer and enjoy the small differences between things. What better thing to do than go and look at ferns in Highams wood? This is one of my favourite spots in the civil parish of Forest Row ever since I found the coppiced sweet chestnuts in a sea of bluebells last year. So, armed with Roger Phillips' splendid… Continue

Added by BradScott on June 17, 2009 at 11:36pm — No Comments

Apples and pears. And plums and cherries

How old can apple trees be? Following up on my last post and the note about the PTES orchard survey project, I was at the NGS open day at Kidbrooke yesterday. While I was there I looked at the walled garden and its fruit trees in a bit more detail and then compared them… Continue

Added by BradScott on June 14, 2009 at 3:35pm — 1 Comment

Cradle to Cradle

Well worth a watch if you have a spare 20 mins: http://www.ted.com/talks/william_mcdonough_on_cradle_to_cradle_design.html Well worth a read over a few evenings in suitable location: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cradle-Remaking-Way-Make-Things/dp/0865475873 (It's made from polymers not trees and you can 'upcycle it!) Continue

Added by Graham Stewart on June 7, 2009 at 2:42pm — No Comments

Our locality, its biodiversity and doing our bit

Now that everything has come to life, the landscape around us is buzzing. Driving over the forest the other day I stopped at Four Counties car park and had a short walk and enjoyed the amazing view across to the North and South Downs. The light was gorgeous so I was fairly pleased with the picture looking north-west:

… Continue

Added by BradScott on June 4, 2009 at 4:30pm — 3 Comments

Engagement

Intrigued by the term "unconference" that I read in a geeky article the other day, I've been reading more about processes and techniques for participatory action, sharing of information, and planning for the future. I suspect that we've all been to events that utilised some of these techniques, but I was amazed at the range of ideas people have had for having and sharing ideas, so this might initiate some thoughts locally about ways in which we can plan and facilitate events. It also has some re… Continue

Added by BradScott on June 3, 2009 at 10:39am — 1 Comment

Uncovering the 'Truth'

I was in London yesterday at a conference about the future or organisational design for international companies. The thought leaders in this area are looking at internet software tools that allow people to share information openly and through their informal networks, thus allowing for people to find what they are looking for much more quickly. They also talked about how eventually search engines will find you, rather that you having to search for things. I also met a guy who is the head of HR… Continue

Added by Graham Stewart on May 15, 2009 at 1:04pm — 1 Comment

How can I best serve my community?

This is a question that I have asked myself wherever I live. It brings up many interesting answers. It also invites me to ask people in the community how I can best serve it or rather, them. As I am new to this site and this village (even though I am physically living just outside Forest Row, my head and heart are most definitely in it and our intention is to move in when the time is right), I thought I would write down some of my thoughts to give you a better idea of where I am coming from. I… Continue

Added by Graham Stewart on May 8, 2009 at 9:06am — 1 Comment

EDAP

The transition network news says that Forest Row has published their EDAP. I should like to see it but your web site merely says it will be published in the spring. Please could you tell me where to find it? Tony Sumner Continue

Added by Tony Sumner on May 4, 2009 at 7:03pm — 6 Comments

Sea/food

Not exactly about Forest Row, but the lovely pictures on the Guardian site of marine wildlife off British shores appealed to me, being another reminder of the wondrous biodiversity around us. We went down to the beach at Cuckmere Haven on Sunday; it is one of my favourite habitats in Sussex and I always enjoy nosing in the rockpools and exploring the flora and fauna in the valley. The… Continue

Added by BradScott on April 8, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

What have the Romans ever done for us?

Another walk up towards the north of the parish yesterday, the goal of which was the Roman iron work site at Cansiron. Walking up the bridleway part of Cansiron Lane there is a small bit of ancient woodland on the left, called Shipyard Pett. Pett is an Old English-derived word for pit, but I'm puzzled about the shipyard connection, unless it is a corruption of something else. We're not exactly close to the sea, especially if one is trying to transport stuff.

… Continue

Added by BradScott on March 22, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Natural Swimming Pond

Last year we finally got around to building a natural swimming pond -literally that, the water is cleaned by the plants within, wildlife is encouraged (except fish and birds - they have to enjoy the adjacent fish pond!). As it was only completed last September, we have only swum in it the once, though the children did try last weekend but it was rather cold.... but it is just wonderful. This week in the sunshine I counted 26 frogs/ toads in the bottom of the deeper swimming area going about the… Continue

Added by Rowena on March 21, 2009 at 9:48pm — No Comments

New 3G Mast Planned for Our Village

A planning application to Wealden Council to upgrade the mobile phone mast at the Fire Station to 3rd generation technology, 3G has been submitted. This will result in an increase in radiation waves around us all (whether you have a mobile or not) affecting not only us, but our children, the elderly, pregnant mums, our animals at Tablehurst and as research is pointing to our Beees. Increased radition waves could be a contributor to Colony Collapse Disorder. We all need to be aware, inform oursel… Continue

Added by Michael Cassels on March 17, 2009 at 1:12am — 2 Comments

The New Naturalist

It is sixty years since the iconic New Naturalist series began to be published by Collins, and yesterday a long piece by Richard Mabey was published to celebrate it. Over a hundred titles have now appeared in the series, and they are a vital source and inspiration for us about our natural environment, living up to their original mission to provide a "high standard of accuracy combined with clarity… Continue

Added by BradScott on March 15, 2009 at 10:09am — No Comments

Green Streets

Interesting item in today's Guardian about the importance of energy efficiency in the broader picture of climate change. It cites a project last year, funded by British Gas, called Green Streets which was an attempt to reduce energy usage in some streets in a number of cities with a £50,000 prize to spend on a community project. A street in Leeds won, with an average energy saving of 35 per cent.… Continue

Added by BradScott on March 13, 2009 at 3:00pm — 2 Comments

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