We are delighted to say that following the receipt of grant funding via the Transition Network, provided from National Lottery funds, we have created a fun 'living sculpture' on our Festival Gardens wilding area.
We hope it will attract interest and be enjoyed.

We are awaiting the results of a 'give it a name' competition so we will announce the winner shortly!

News and recent activities
Our film night and gin tasting was well attended and much enjoyed.  Our thanks go to Shenstone Library for hosting and the Apiarist Gin for supplying the delicious, locally-produced, honey-infused gin!
‘Planet Local: A Quiet Revolution ‘ produced by Local Futures, explores the negative impact of the globalisation of the world economy and argues that:
•      It is an extractive model, not a sustainable one.
•      Globalisation has turbocharged the pursuit of economic growth at all costs.
•      In turn, this is driving the twin threats of global warming and ecological destruction.
•    It is also concentrating economic power and money in very few hands and increasing inequality.
•             Governments should invest more to support local communities.
•             Communities need to take their future into their own hands.
•             It argues that we can improve the situation by re-localising our economy.
There were so many people and projects around the world already using the ‘localisation’ model and bringing about change, resulting in people having a sense of purpose and community.  It was very inspiring to see solutions.  The next step for us all is to see how we can bring about change to our own locality!
If you did not get chance to attend then do watch the film – available here.

LDC are planning to hold a Climate Summit on 27th Sept at Lichfield Cathedral which would be aimed at residents of the District as well as community groups and businesses.  A comprehensive recycling campaign is proposed for May time too, so these provide good opportunities for conversations with the community. And LCC have an active Climate Change Committee which has a number of plans for the City in relation to planting, drinking water and support for eco projects.

Repair Café celebrated its 6th birthday and calculated that well over 1000 items have been looked at/repaired!  That’s quite an achievement!  They will be having a stand at The Great Imagining event, being held at Chase Leisure Centre, Cannock Chase on Sat 9th March.  The event will showcase lots of climate and environmental activities – a fun day out for all the family.

Grace & May Home (based at the Plant Plot Garden Centre, Lichfield, main building) are now open Fridays - 11-4, Saturdays - 10-4, Sundays - 10-4.  They have a new refill station including cleaning, laundry and beauty products (see photo). Customers can purchase ready filled bottles which include a loyalty stamp scheme for refill returns, and/or bring their own clean containers for refills (no loyalty scheme with fill your own). They also have Terracycle collection point for the following items:
All Babybel packaging; any brand of flexible plastic cheese packaging and nets; Ferrero Rocher and Ferrero Collection aluminium wrappers, plastic boxes and plastic trays; biscuit, cracker and cake wrappers; Pringles tubes; Bakery plastic packaging; Warburton's wax bread packets; Air, home and laundry care products; Philips dental care products.
If getting ready for holidays/travel then they have a number of useful products including insect repellent, after bite balms, toothbrushes, stick deodorants and shampoo bars. Nearly all of their products are vegan friendly and made in the UK. Check them out online for more information.
 
Spark in Burntwood have a number of fundraising events coming up, to help support their many activities - a timetable which can be found here. Their Community Fridge will be undergoing some upgrades throughout March/April but anyone can make use of the items from the fridge so do check it out. 

Lichfield Cathedral’s Lent Lectures will be a series based on the theme ‘Faithfully Political’, looking at issues that will dominate the narrative of a General Election, expected this year (homelessness, migration, law and order). The Climate Crisis, and it’s impact upon daily life will surely be one of these, and they are pleased to have Andy Atkins, Chair of ‘A Rocha (UK)’, coming to speak (7.15pm - Wednesday, 6th March) on how as people of faith can use our vote and place in the public square, to make changes that will address the existential crisis of Climate Change. The lecture will be followed by group discussion, and a chance for groups to ask questions.

New Co-op HQ in Lichfield
Good to read the following….“The building, situated at Queen Street, Lichfield, WS13 6QS, includes sustainable features, including solar roof panels, and soon to be installed EV charging points plus a bike shed, and showers planned for early in 2024, for those who choose to take advantage of our new cycle to work scheme. We even recycled and reused as much as we could from our old offices to avoid waste.”  Transition are hoping to team up with them on some planting initiatives on the site soon too!

Support Staffordshire Job Role
Support Staffordshire are recruiting for a new Community and Environment Officer to work on future projects as part of Transforming the Trent Valley Partnership. This is a 30 hour/week post, with work mainly focussed on north Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. The role will focus on engaging communities along the River Trent with their local natural spaces, working in partnership with other Transforming the Trent Valley partners to develop environmental community action and volunteering opportunities.
The full application pack can be found here but please feel free to share widely among your networks and interested contacts. The closing date is 4th March 2024.

Mud Creature!
Our Mud Creature is taking shape at Three Tree Triangle at long last!  It needs its mosaic eyes adding in and planting to be done too of course but do go take a look if passing! Although it does not look all that big, it has taken over 90 bags of soil so far!
        
Learning opportunities, inspiration and handy hints
Read
Some items in the news recently:
 
Why are farmers around the world protesting? A useful insight.
About time that the UK left the Energy Charter Treaty.  Why did they even sign up in the first place?
A space probe, made out of wood and about the size of a coffee cup will be launched in the summer!
 
Visit
The RHS has a new venture – an urban based show, looking at community growing, indoor plants etc.

Household
The story of Vinted – are second hand clothes the future? A lot of our Transition members think so!
Loo rolls…. There are lots of eco loo rolls out there. What kinds are the best?  Serious Tissues loo roll, kitchen roll and tissues are highly recommended (by Pam!). UK made from 100% recycled from post-consumer waste.  They plant trees for every roll purchased. In fact, every box sequesters 11% of the average annual carbon footprint of someone in the UK. Check out their calculations on their website.  Anyone else use something to compete with this?  Please let us know!
 
Get involved
Transition meetup
Thurs 7th March, 7.00 for 7.30 start at BitterSuite pub.  Lots of thing to discuss and plan for. Volunteers are definitely needed if we are to continue to have an impact in our locality so please do show your support if you are able.
 
Mothers Rebellion
 Sat 9th March, 11am at Speakers’ Corner.  Mums, daughters, grandmothers….gather to speak out about our children’s future
 
The Big Plastic count – 11th to 17th March.  Try and reduce the plastic you are buying but also count the stuff that you do have!  You will be surprised.

Gardening/growing
There are lots of opportunities for people to help out with planting, maintenance, planning and so on with a range of projects going on.  Please get in touch if you would like to be on our list of contacts so that we can get in touch and let us know if you have specific skills or interests. Email [email protected].

Some interesting tips here from the RHS on planting for the environment and also on watering effectively.

Contribute
Findings from discussions held around the County at consultation events will be brought together at a Staffordshire COP event, which is taking place at Staffordshire University on 15th March. Click here to book your place and/or stand or for further details on the project, partners, sponsors and other events please visit the Staffordshire COP website.
 
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Dates for your diary
You can also check out the Events listing on the Transition website.
March
2nd – Burntwood Repair & Share Café, 10-1pm, St Joseph’s RC Church, Cannock Road, WS7 0BB
2nd - NCT Cloth Nappy Library. 10.00-12.00am, Lichfield District Children's Centre WS13 7PH. [email protected]
2nd – Burton Conservation Volunteers. Washlands litter pick 9.30-12 noon, meet Washlands car park, Watson Street.
3rd - Burton Conservation Volunteers. Milford  - training locals to manage 2 community woods.
5th - Lichfield Wildlife Group, talk by Joan Lockley, West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue. Wade Street Church Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield WS13 6HL. 7.45pm. £3:50.
6th – Lichfield Cathedral Lent Lecture, Andy Atkins of A Rocha, 7.15pm in the Old Stables building.
7th – Transition Meet-up, 7.00pm for 7.30pm start Bitter Suite pub, St John Street.
9th – Mother’s Rebellion gathering, 11-12, Speakers’ Corner Lichfield
9th – Great Imagining, Chase Leisure Centre, 10-4pm.
15th – Staffordshire COP, Staffordshire University, 10-3pm
16th - Lichfield Repair & Share Café, Martin Heath Hall, Christchurch Lane, Lichfield. 2-5pm. Note change of venue just for March only.
24th – Friends of Lichfield City Station working party 10.30am.
29th - 31st – Easter events at Woodhouse Farm.
30th – Shenstone Library Repair Café, 10-12pm
 
April
2nd – Lichfield Wildlife Group – talk by Jane Arnold Pipe Green Trust, Wade Street Church Hall, Frog Lane, Lichfield WS13 6HL. 7.45pm. £3:50.
6th - Burntwood Repair & Share Café, 10-1pm, St Joseph’s RC Church, Cannock Road, WS7 0BB
6th - NCT Cloth Nappy Library. 10.00-12.00am, Lichfield District Children's Centre WS13 7PH. [email protected]
12th – Spark Fashion Show, Ashmole Club, Hammerwich (time tbc)
18th – Lichfield Cathedral along with Lichfield Wildlife Group iNaturalist workshop at College Hall, The Close, 2pm-4pm
20th - Lichfield Repair & Share Café, Curborough Community Centre, 2-5pm
22nd - Lichen around The Close. Ivan Pedley will be sharing his expertise on lichen, beginning with a Talk in College Hall at 2pm  followed by a Walk around The Close. Email [email protected] to book
27th – Shenstone Library Repair Café, 10-12pm