Minutes of Transition Willesden Core Group Meeting 26 March 2012

[Viv Stein]

Present: Urmi, Marjory, Brian, Viv, Sarah (notetaker)

Matters arising from previous minutes:

Finances

Viv and Brian still to meet re cash book

Website

Urmi had advice from Paul, Transition Belsize to wait for the new website setup. The first step was to reserve the domain name transitionwillesden.org.uk. Cheapest hosting costs £3.00 per month. Until this is set up, it would redirect to our section on the K2K website. Urmi suggested having: events listings, a blog, discussion postings, pictures, members, and anyone we nominated to be able to update content. It was agreed the format should be similar to that of K2K.

Logo

Viv had put out a request to group, but got nothing back. Marjory to contact Ashika.

Allotment strategy

Marjory reinforced points she had emailed about the Library drop in session. Sarah was concerned with amount of underused plots and agreed to check the vacancy rate at Gladstone Park Gardens. She would also draft a group response to the consultation and circulate.

Library development

Viv had provided a quote; it had not been used by the local press, but included on the Keep Willesden Green blog.

T Willesden events

Six people attended the coffee morning, three of whom couldn’t come to evening events, and said they would like another at the beginning of May. These are small informal gatherings that involved very little organising compared to public meetings. Marjory agreed to arrange another in May, Urmi would do a poster, a template to use for future events.

None of us went to the St Mungo’s Open Day.

Council

Brian still to meet with Brent’s Biodiversity Officer. There was discussion of Sarah Raven’s excellent three-part television series, Bees, Butterflies and Blooms, on the vital importance of bees and other pollinating insects. This showed that planting wildflower meadows, rather than traditional beds, result in reduced maintenance, costs and less anti-social behaviour.
We could collaborate with FoE, who have a bee campaign, and appropriate people in LB Brent, and possibly arrange a viewing of the films, which have relevance for local parks departments.

Climate Change Schools Conference

Viv had asked the mailing list if anyone wanted to get involved, but no one came forward. It was agreed we did not have the capacity to get involved with this.

Meanwhile Space

Viv and Marjory to visit as potential place for meetings, showing films etc.

Public meeting – foraging presentation

19 people came, a very successful evening which generated a lot of enthusiasm. Most people were unwilling to put their names on a label, but some new people signed up to the mailing list. Jonathan took some great photos which Viv circulated.

To encourage the new owners of the Rising Sun to continue not to charge for the room, Urmi suggested getting people to pre-order drinks for the interval. Everyone thanked Marjory and Sarah who had organised and run this.

Marjory said it would have been useful to have some A5 flyers to hand out at the Queensbury Deli. For future printing Viv will check prices at the green printers and Marjory - the printers in Dudden Hill Lane. It was agreed to look again at the distribution list. Viv will recirculate this, with a view to sharing distribution, each with their own patch to put up posters.

Future activities

Willesden Green Space

The planned 20 March meeting at Sainsbury’s was cancelled, and it has since gone quiet. The meeting to discuss the consultation had also been postponed. Viv felt that holding the consultation in May was now unrealistic. It was agreed that the ball was in Sainsbury’s court and there was no action for us to take at present.

There was discussion about an event at Roundwood Café on 14 April, but none of us could attend this.

Fruit harvesting

Viv had attended K2K’s recent harvesting meeting. Funds are available from them to support new groups. She suggested we hold a future public meeting on this, or invite people to an organising meeting. Viv to talk to Michael to see what is the best way to kick start a Willesden group. We noted that fruit harvesting runs roughly from July to October. Thought needed to be given to where the fruit would end up.

Viv will also check the mailing list for contact details for Vincent, who attended the foraging meeting and had offered a workshop on bread making.

Urmi to check if there is a Gladstonbury festival this year. If so, TT Willesden could have leaflets and a board with pictures and perhaps share a stall with fruit harvesters or others.

A Willesden Green resident Daniel was keen to get some food growing going. Viv to check what help he wants. If it is simply advice on how to grow, Sarah will help.

Dates for future events:
Green coffee morning Thursday 10 May – Marjory to organise.

Public meeting 16 May. We would show the film The Economics of Happiness followed by a general discussion which Brian offered to lead. Viv to get the film and have a pre-screening. Alternatively we could show the Transition film of which K2K has a preview copy. Brian will sound out the Rising Sun re 16 May, and Viv and Marjory will look at the Meanwhile space. Urmi to do poster.

The following public meeting would be on fruit harvesting.

Next meeting: 19 April at Sarah’s