Llangollen & District Friends of the Earth | Cyfeillion y Ddaear Llangollen a'r Rhanbarth

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  • Community Garden: Press Release

    Llangollen & District Friends of the Earth are in the process of setting up a community garden in Llangollen. The “Llangollen community garden” sits in a easily accessed location, close to Plas Newydd.

    By setting up a garden we aim to provide an opportunity for local people, groups and schools to grow their own food and engage with nature. We also hope that as we work together on this very practical and positive project, we will be strengthening links within our community. Produce from the garden will be shared out amongst those involved, and any surplus donated at the time.

    We have spent our first few working sessions establishing access and beginning clearance, as well as making plans for the future. Planting will start next year, but currently the area is very overgrown and so there is still a large amount of clearing to take place.

    Working sessions run every Saturday morning from 10.00 – 12.00. Sessions are also organised for evenings during the week. Access to the site is restricted to these working sessions.
    We would love to hear from anyone who might be interested in getting involved with the garden. Perhaps you would like to help clear the site? Or perhaps you would be interested in helping to design or plant the garden?

    Unfortunately, due to insurance restrictions, until the undergrowth clearance is complete, we cannot allow under 18s to help on site. We really want to see people of all ages involved in the garden, so once clearance has been completed, this rule will be relaxed.

    If you would like to find out more or attend one of our sessions please get in touch, contact either Warren via email: foe@llangollenweb.co.uk [Other contact and details included in offline version].

    Warren Davies – Llangollen & District Friends of the Earth

  • Fairtrade Producer Video Link

    Fairtrade Producer Video Link

    On 28th May Llangollen linked up live with Honduras to talk to Xiomara Paredes from the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Small Fairtrade Producers (CLAC). CLAC is an alliance of producers from 21 countries, mainly in South America. Through a live videolink hosted by Llangollen Friends of the Earth at St. Collen’s Community Hall, people from Llangollen were able to see and speak to Xiomara, an employee of CLAC.
    Xiomara told us about the effect climate change is having on producers growing fairtrade products such as sugar, coffee, tea and wine.  We heard stories from different producers in many countries, who told us how the changing weather such as irregular rainfall is causing up to 50% reduction in crop production.  In Costa Rica the temperatures are warmer than usual in the night and colder than usual in the day, which has meant that oranges are turning yellow instead of orange, so they are rejected for export.  CLAC is working to increase producers’ ability to adapt to climate change, and to represent the growers in the global political arena.
    The message from the videolink was clear: a direct ask from people whose livelihoods depend on the environment, for us to cut down on our carbon emissions.

  • Plas Newydd Fete – Bee Campaign

    Our stall was unofficially the best looking stall on the field! We ran a very busy bee stall at this year’s Plas Newydd Fete. Our activities and information went down very well. Well done and thanks to all involved.

    More photos to follow…

  • Live Fairtrade Videolink – EVENT – 28th May Llangollen

    Live Fairtrade Videolink – EVENT – 28th May Llangollen

    Live Fairtrade Videolink… On Monday 28th May we will be linking up live with a Fairtrade producer inSouth America. You’ll be able to see them and ask them questions to findout more about their lives and the impact of Fairtrade.

    Where and when? Monday 28th May, 7PM at St. Collen’s Community Hall,Regent Street, Llangollen. LL20 8HL. – Next to the church and the doctors.

    Fairtrade drinks and nibbles will be provided. Free entry – All welcome!

  • Llangollen Traders & Business survey

    Llangollen Traders & Business survey

    Please click here to see the results of our Trader and Business survey

  • Cymru Conference: Friday 25th – Sunday 27th May

    Conference this year will be held at Gladstone’s Library, St. Deiniol’s in Hawarden near Wrexham. It’s a beautiful venue which we have used before – http://www.st-deiniols.com/

    Conference will take place on the weekend 25-27th May.

    We have a host of great speakers lined up, including:
    * Andy Atkins – Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director *Gareth Clubb – Friends of the Earth Cymru Director *John Griffiths AM – Welsh Government Minister for the Environment and Sustainability *Dr Carly McLachlan – Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research *John Vidal – Environment Editor, The Guardian *Craig Bennett – Friends of the Earth Director of Policy and Campaigns *Danny Chivers – Eco performance poet and climate change activist *Llyr Huws Gruffydd AM – Plaid Cymru, Environment, Housing & Regeneration

    We will be looking ahead to some exciting new campaigns that FoE will be running as well as finding some time just to chill out and relax and socialise. We have changed things slightly this year with the Friday evening being more informal, a chance to talk to Andy Atkins and Gareth Clubb and we have brought forward the Mike Jacob Awards to the Friday evening as well.

    On the Sunday we have organised 2 practical workshops following on from feedback we have had at previous conferences.
    Campaign Surgeries – We are running a special campaign surgery session where you can spend some time withmembers of staff discussing specific campaign issues/planning questions etc.
    Open Space session – would you like to host a discussion? We are also running an Open Space type session where we are hoping to have a few tables where discussions are happening around certain issues where people can takepart if they want to or spend some time going between the various discussion groups. We would like to throw the floor open to you all to suggest topics for discussion. It could be specific campaign related or skill sharing, anything relevant really that you would like to talk about. You are then welcome to host this discussionduring this session. If you would like to suggest a topic and host the discussion then do let the FoE Cymru office know. We are looking for 5 or 6 topics for discussion.

    Mike Jacob Award:

    As you are probably aware by now, we run an annual award to recognise bothindividual contributions to Friends of the Earth local groups in Wales and also successful Friends of the Earth local group campaigns, events and actions in Wales.

    *   Is there a particular local group campaign in Wales that has impressed youover the last year?  *   Is there someone in your local group who you think deserves recognition?  *   Is there a particular piece of local group or individual work or action (not necessarily a campaign) that you think should be nominated?

    Entertainment:

    We have managed to get Danny Chivers (eco poet, author and activist) to come along to conference. Danny was one of six people due to be tried in January 2011 forplanning to invade Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal power station.  That case collapsed after revelations about undercover police officer Mark Kennedy. Danny will be telling us about his experiences as well as doing some of his eco-slam poetry.
    He has also recently written a book (The No-Nonsense Guide to Climate Change) http://www.newint.org/books/no-nonsense-guides/climate-change-2011/

    Conference details:
    Date:Friday 25th – Sunday 27th May
    Venue:St Deiniol’sGladstone’s Library, Church Lane, Hawarden, Flintshire CH5 3DF http://www.st-deiniols.com/

  • Coop Sustainability Conference – 24th March

    Coop Sustainability Conference – 24th March

     

    Co-operatives Building a Better future in Wales – in 2012: Year of Co-operatives

    “Food and the Environment in Transition”: How do we address issues of food,the environment and energy in the era after Peak Oil?

    At Glyndwr University between 11am – 2pm. On Saturday 24 March

    The event to consist of:

    Speakers we have from Fairshare (Jay), Llangollen FoE (Warren Davies), Holywell &     District Transition group (Roberta Owen), and Effion Williams; All of the above have already been contacted and have     agreed to attend – and would hopefully bring some of their members with     them; The speakers would be preceded by a DVD film on the     co-operatives ethical policies, and possibly a film item on tar sands. Each speaker could be followed by questions, and     depending on numbers we could have some short workshops; The event would conclude with a panel discussion,     involving the above, and in which we would also participate

    I think that the above, or a close variation, could work as an effectiveevent for a number of people, and which we could complete and finish atlunchtime – ending with lunch – and providing around 3 hrs of contacttime (11am start). It could also be billed as an initiative which would, if we wished, likemid Wales, be followed by something more ambitious at a later date.

    The event takes place in the Catrin Finch Centre at the backof Glyndwr. There is a train station (Wrexham General) right next to theUniversity, so it’s a convenient 2-3 minute walk round the corner. I hopethose details assist those visiting from outside Wrexham.

  • Sustainable Llangollen

    Sustainable Llangollen

    An invitation for local groups to work together on environmental and social issues

    Launch Event with FREE food!

    Friday 17th February, 7.00pm – St Collen’s Community Hall, Regent Street, Llangollen

    Llangollen Friends of the Earth are looking to establish a coalition of local groups to work together on environmental and social issues.

    This is an invitation for groups in Llangollen to come together informally, to discuss where we could work together to achieve strong positive outcomes.

    Friends of the Earth in Llangollen would like to develop the idea of a community shop, although we are open to ideas for alternative projects.

    CLICK HERE TO VIEW INVITE / FLYER

  • Young’s Farm Shop – Derwen College

    Young’s Farm Shop – Derwen College

    For quality local produce, Young’s farm shop at Derwen College near Oswesty is excellent. A large amount of their stock is grown on site. Food miles are displayed on labels next to other produce – the vast majority comes from local suppliers within 20miles.

    If you’re passing and looking for quality local produce at reasonable prices, you can’t beat it. For more information click on the following link: http://www.derwen.ac.uk/visitors/youngs-farm-shop-oswestry-shropshire.html

  • Community Party Success!

    Our Stop Climate Chaos party was a triumph! Thanks everyone! See some of the photos below;

    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.296534187049387.60921.189333207769486&type=1