Romsey’s ‘Pop-Up Zoo’
For Photos - see 'Gallery'
You’ve heard of a ‘pop-up’ shop or cafe, but have you ever heard of a ‘pop-up’ zoo ?
During May, the Dukes Mill area of Romsey was the site of a ‘pop-up’ zoo, with everything made out of plant-pots. The idea was first suggested by the Town Mayor of Romsey, Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, who challenged the residents of Romsey to make animals out of old and discarded plant pots. An appeal went out for unwanted plant pots ..... and there were certainly a few of them around Romsey !
After a major washing-up exercise, designs were drawn up, based on the plant pots available. An invitation was sent out to all those organisations and individuals who had previously taken part in community art projects in Romsey (such as the successful ‘yarn-bombing’ in recent years) to take up the challenge. During March and April, members of Transition Town Romsey’ ran a number of children’s workshops, helped by Sylvie Léost (of ‘Not Just Trash’) and members of Romsey Men’s Shed. Romsey Primary School pupils made a huge crocodile; Cupernham Juniors made snakes, tortoises and monkeys; and Halterworth Primary School made a giraffe, and mini elephants.
Shepherd’s Down Special School also took part by making a number of owls and two groups of Romsey Young Carers made several penguins, and a zoo keeper to feed them.
As well as TTR members, other local organisations including: RoScA, Romsey Men’s Shed, Abbotswood WI, Romsey WI, Romsey Choral Society, and Woodley Grange - along with a number of individuals - added to the menagerie by making giraffes, elephants, mice, pigs, birds, insects, a lion, a sloth and a tarantula.
The animals were installed over the first May Bank Holiday weekend in Dukes Mill and across the river in Comley Court (by kind permission of the owners). Passers-by are amazed at what they found, in what is usually a rather ‘dead’ area of the town, and everyone has agreed that it has been another successful community art project for Romsey. You can visit the ‘zoo’ until the end of May, and an information leaflet is available from: the Town Hall; TIC; Library; Factory Shop; Cloud Vapers; and Pets Corner. A copy is also available to download below.
Thanks go to everyone who was involved in the project, and for the financial backing of TVBC (with a Councillor’s Community Grant for Cupernham Ward) and Romsey Town Council (with a grant from the Mayor’s Community Chest).
Click here for a copy of the information leaflet:
romseys_zoo_leaflet_final.pdf
For Photos - see 'Gallery'
You’ve heard of a ‘pop-up’ shop or cafe, but have you ever heard of a ‘pop-up’ zoo ?
During May, the Dukes Mill area of Romsey was the site of a ‘pop-up’ zoo, with everything made out of plant-pots. The idea was first suggested by the Town Mayor of Romsey, Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, who challenged the residents of Romsey to make animals out of old and discarded plant pots. An appeal went out for unwanted plant pots ..... and there were certainly a few of them around Romsey !
After a major washing-up exercise, designs were drawn up, based on the plant pots available. An invitation was sent out to all those organisations and individuals who had previously taken part in community art projects in Romsey (such as the successful ‘yarn-bombing’ in recent years) to take up the challenge. During March and April, members of Transition Town Romsey’ ran a number of children’s workshops, helped by Sylvie Léost (of ‘Not Just Trash’) and members of Romsey Men’s Shed. Romsey Primary School pupils made a huge crocodile; Cupernham Juniors made snakes, tortoises and monkeys; and Halterworth Primary School made a giraffe, and mini elephants.
Shepherd’s Down Special School also took part by making a number of owls and two groups of Romsey Young Carers made several penguins, and a zoo keeper to feed them.
As well as TTR members, other local organisations including: RoScA, Romsey Men’s Shed, Abbotswood WI, Romsey WI, Romsey Choral Society, and Woodley Grange - along with a number of individuals - added to the menagerie by making giraffes, elephants, mice, pigs, birds, insects, a lion, a sloth and a tarantula.
The animals were installed over the first May Bank Holiday weekend in Dukes Mill and across the river in Comley Court (by kind permission of the owners). Passers-by are amazed at what they found, in what is usually a rather ‘dead’ area of the town, and everyone has agreed that it has been another successful community art project for Romsey. You can visit the ‘zoo’ until the end of May, and an information leaflet is available from: the Town Hall; TIC; Library; Factory Shop; Cloud Vapers; and Pets Corner. A copy is also available to download below.
Thanks go to everyone who was involved in the project, and for the financial backing of TVBC (with a Councillor’s Community Grant for Cupernham Ward) and Romsey Town Council (with a grant from the Mayor’s Community Chest).
Click here for a copy of the information leaflet:
romseys_zoo_leaflet_final.pdf
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ROMSEY METHODIST CHURCH GREEN FAIR
Saturday, March 9th, 10.30a.m. - 2.30p.m.
TTR are having a joint stall with Test Valley Friends of the Earth and will be displaying a range of practical alternatives to everyday products made from plastic. There will be plant pots made from rice husks, toothbrushes made from bamboo, and food covers made from waxed cloth, to name a few. We will have a list of local stockists of the products displayed and visitors can add to this list during the Fair. Afterwards, the list of stockists will be put on the 'Useful Information' page on this website.
Friends of the Earth will also be informing visitors about their campaign to get supermarkets to reduce their use of plastic.
Recycling tips for those plastic products, which are either difficult or impossible to replace, will also be available. Again we are hoping that visitors will add to the list, which will again be put on the 'Useful Information' page of this website.
Other exhibitors include: TVBC, Romsey Allotments, A Rocha UK, HIoW Wildlife Trust, Oasis, Southern Water, Natural Death Centre, TROG, Re-cycle Bikes and displays by a number of local schools.
February 2019
Saturday, March 9th, 10.30a.m. - 2.30p.m.
TTR are having a joint stall with Test Valley Friends of the Earth and will be displaying a range of practical alternatives to everyday products made from plastic. There will be plant pots made from rice husks, toothbrushes made from bamboo, and food covers made from waxed cloth, to name a few. We will have a list of local stockists of the products displayed and visitors can add to this list during the Fair. Afterwards, the list of stockists will be put on the 'Useful Information' page on this website.
Friends of the Earth will also be informing visitors about their campaign to get supermarkets to reduce their use of plastic.
Recycling tips for those plastic products, which are either difficult or impossible to replace, will also be available. Again we are hoping that visitors will add to the list, which will again be put on the 'Useful Information' page of this website.
Other exhibitors include: TVBC, Romsey Allotments, A Rocha UK, HIoW Wildlife Trust, Oasis, Southern Water, Natural Death Centre, TROG, Re-cycle Bikes and displays by a number of local schools.
February 2019
Green Fair 9 March 2019 - Romsey
Come along to the Green Fair at the Methodist Church, the Hundred, Romsey -10.30am - 2.30pm.
There will be stalls, activities and presentations from several groups including Test Valley Friends of the Earth and Transition Town Romsey. There will be lots to see and do for all the family - further details to follow! Do contact us if you would like to be involved.
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There was a steady flow of keen apple-pressers and passers-by of all ages to the Station Road 'Apple Pressing' weekend event. Anton had set-up the equipment in his drive and the sunny weather meant members of the public could enjoy making refreshing apple juice to take home with them. Thanks to Anton for hosting the event, those who helped and those who came along to join in the fun.
APPLE PRESSING 2018 Got too many apples ? Don’t know what to do with all those falls, but hate waste ?... Transition Town Romsey invites you to bring your spare apples and/or pears to 3, Station Road, Romsey (next to the dentist) on Saturday September 15th and Sunday September 16th, where they will have a press available for use from 10.30a.m. – 4.30p.m. each day, to turn them into juice for free. Everyone is welcome to bring their surplus fruit – any type of apple is suitable (including cookers) - as are falls. This year we will be hiring a medium-sized press - so anyone who wants to, should be able to have a go. The resulting juice will keep for 3 days in the fridge; can be frozen; made into jelly; or for the more adventurous – it can be made into cider. Please remember to bring containers, such as plastic drinks/milk bottles, to take the juice home in. There will also be sacks of the crushed apple pulp available to anyone who wants some for their composter, or as animal feed. |
Drive Electric
Programme of Events
1545: Arrival of the Mayor of Test Valley and the Mayor of Romsey
1600: Welcome, followed by Introductory talk by Matt Loxam on 'Air Quality'
1620: 40 minutes to look at the stalls indoors; the range of at least 15 cars outside; and talk to the owners.
1700: Q & A session with ~5 owners answering peoples questions about life with an electric car. Panel members drive the following cars: BMW i3, Kia Soul EV, Nissan Leaf & Tesla Model 3, and Outlander Plug-in.
1730: Another chance to wander around the stalls, look at the cars, talk to owners.
1800: Arrival of Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP
18.15: Talk by Dan Pain on 'The Benefits of Owning an EV'
1830: Second Q & A session with ~5 owners. Panel members drive the following cars: BMW i3, Kia Soul EV, Nissan Leaf, and Outlander Plug-in.
Representatives from Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Council will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have for them.
A Fair Trade Café (run by Romsey Methodist Church) will provide refreshments throughout the event.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE !
June 2018
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DRIVE ELECTRIC An Event to "Inform the Curious about Driving Electric Vehicles" was held on Friday, 29 June 2018 and was a 'Sparking Success'. The Crosfield Hall, Romsey played host recently to around 20 EV owners, who displayed their cars and talked about their experience of driving them. Brands such as Zoe, Leaf, Ampera, Outlander, Soul, Tesla S, BMWi3 and Ioniq were parked with their bonnets up and charging points exposed. Around 200 members of the public were able to quiz the owners about the practicalities of owning and driving an electric car and compare data for each model on real world mileage, charging times, speed and emission data. The afternoon kicked off with a talk on the issues of air quality by Dr Matt Loxam, Senior Research Fellow from the University of Southampton. He explained the health implications of diesel car emissions and why people may wish to change their diesel or petrol car to an EV. Matt visited Romsey fresh from the Houses of Parliament, where he was also advising MPs on the same issues. Romsey Town Mayor, Cllr. Dorothy Baverstock; The Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley Cllr. Ian Carr and Mrs Beryl Carr; and the Rt. Hon. Caroline Nokes MP, all joined the audience for the Q & A session, when the owners talked about the sporty performance, amazing quietness, improved range, exclusive feel, and economic benefits of their EVs. Judging from the response of visitors, the Government target for fossil fuel cars to be phased out of production by 2040 is way too pessimistic. EVs and their infrastructure are rapidly changing as the number of charge points is increasing. With their increased range, EVs are becoming more than competitive with conventional fossil fuel cars. Anton Page from Transition Town Romsey said: “It was fantastic that it attracted so much interest and got such a positive reception from visitors. They got a real flavour of what it is like to own and drive an EV, and everyone left with the clear impression that electric cars are the future.” July 2018 |
'Spring into Romsey'......the Return of Romsey Yarn-Bombing
Following the success of the yarn-bombing of bollards around Romsey Town Centre during Romsey Festival last year, the event is to take place again in 2018. This year, the bollards will have their covers from Good Friday until after the May Bank Holiday.
This doesn't leave much time to make them, so if you are interested, contact the Town Hall to book your bollard. The aim is to get 114 bollards covered.
TTR have booked a bollard in Latimer Street, outside 'The Courtyard' and the cover will be knitted with waste plastic materials - rather then wool - to highlight this global issue.
The main part of the bollard has been knitted from: plastic carrier bags - see if you can guess which shops they were from; tape from an old video cassette; plastic film from a photography studio; and a bit of plastic covered electrical wire !
A few TTR members met the other evening to make the decorations for the bollard. We have made: red and orange tulips from Fruit Shoot bottles, waste plastic, and plastic knitting needles; daisies from white carrier bags and yellow plastic string; and the top will have red and orange polyanthus made from carrier bags.
Following the success of the yarn-bombing of bollards around Romsey Town Centre during Romsey Festival last year, the event is to take place again in 2018. This year, the bollards will have their covers from Good Friday until after the May Bank Holiday.
This doesn't leave much time to make them, so if you are interested, contact the Town Hall to book your bollard. The aim is to get 114 bollards covered.
TTR have booked a bollard in Latimer Street, outside 'The Courtyard' and the cover will be knitted with waste plastic materials - rather then wool - to highlight this global issue.
The main part of the bollard has been knitted from: plastic carrier bags - see if you can guess which shops they were from; tape from an old video cassette; plastic film from a photography studio; and a bit of plastic covered electrical wire !
A few TTR members met the other evening to make the decorations for the bollard. We have made: red and orange tulips from Fruit Shoot bottles, waste plastic, and plastic knitting needles; daisies from white carrier bags and yellow plastic string; and the top will have red and orange polyanthus made from carrier bags.
Romsey Yarn-Bombing - Update
Under the guidance of Deputy Mayor Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, Romsey was once again yarn-bombed on Maundy Thursday evening. Groups and Individuals this time decorated all the 114 bollards within the Town Centre with a 'Spring' theme. There were some quite spectacular (if not top-heavy) creations with nests bulging with chicks, rabbits everywhere, and a myriad of colourful spring flowers.
As detailed below, TTR's creation was made from waste plastic material and it had the advantage of being more rainproof then most of them. The covers were in place until May 7 and they certainly brightened up those dull rainy days in April.
May 2018
ROMSEY FOOD FESTIVAL
On Sunday September 3rd 2017, despite the pouring rain, hundreds turned out to Romsey's annual Food Festival.
This year, Transition Town Romsey joined forces with Michael Pratt and Lee Chesters of Test Valley Borough Council and shared a pitch at the bottom of Latimer Street. TVBC were promoting recycling, and TTR promoted home composting - with a game for the children (or young at heart) and money-off vouchers for adults (courtesy of HCC). Anyone who correctly identified that all the 20+ items could be home composted, won a clay worm. We gave away around 40 worms and the children's knowledge was often better than the parents !
On Sunday September 3rd 2017, despite the pouring rain, hundreds turned out to Romsey's annual Food Festival.
This year, Transition Town Romsey joined forces with Michael Pratt and Lee Chesters of Test Valley Borough Council and shared a pitch at the bottom of Latimer Street. TVBC were promoting recycling, and TTR promoted home composting - with a game for the children (or young at heart) and money-off vouchers for adults (courtesy of HCC). Anyone who correctly identified that all the 20+ items could be home composted, won a clay worm. We gave away around 40 worms and the children's knowledge was often better than the parents !
What will happen "The day after tomorrow?"
the Oceans, Climate Change and Christianity.
The first Parish Environment Group Lecture by Prof Meric Srokosz,National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
At
Romsey Abbey,
Tuesday, October 10th at 7.30
The film ‘The Day after Tomorrow’ imagines the consequences for weather and climate if the Gulf Stream stopped. Might it happen? How would we know? What would the real consequences be? What should our reaction be?
Greenbuttercup CIC at Romsey Festival
The worms made at the Green Fair joined others made by Brendoncare Companions Club, and proved popular with the younger visitors to Greenbuttercup CIC's event "All is Creative in the Garden" at the Romsey Festival in July 2017.
Some have now been returned to their creators, whilst others were given away at the recent Romsey Food Festival as prizes for correctly identifying items which you could put in your home composter .
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The worms made at the Green Fair joined others made by Brendoncare Companions Club, and proved popular with the younger visitors to Greenbuttercup CIC's event "All is Creative in the Garden" at the Romsey Festival in July 2017.
Some have now been returned to their creators, whilst others were given away at the recent Romsey Food Festival as prizes for correctly identifying items which you could put in your home composter .
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Every three years, for the first two weeks of July, Romsey Festival (formerly Romsey Arts Festival) showcases the artistic prowess in the town. Greenbuttercup CIC is now working on their entry for 2017 with 18 community groups and organisations in Romsey & District - as well as many individuals - having successfully secured Arts Council/National Lottery funding for the project. Two of the Directors – Pamela Eastwood and Andrea Ross-Bain – run the ‘Community Art & Crafts’ section of the community interest company, and have also been members of TTR’s Arts Group for a number of years
The project is entitled ‘All is Creative in the Garden’ and will take place at the Abbey United Reformed Church building from Friday, July 7th until Sunday, July 17th. In the run-up to the Festival, Greenbuttercup CIC are working with local community groups and organisations, teaching them new crafting and artistic skills. Community artists are running workshops to produce ‘garden-themed’ exhibits, which when put together will form a ‘creative garden’ in the church.
Already there are: birds made from milk containers; bugs made from junk; flowers made from plastic bottles; trees made from cardboard tubes; and bug hotels made from pallets.
Under the expert guidance of Anton Page, TTR ran one of the workshops at the recent Romsey Methodist Church Green Fair. Visitors to the Fair made clay worms and were given information about the importance of worms in the garden.
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Methodist Green Fair - "We Can Do It"
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On Saturday March 11th, 2017, the Romsey Methodist Church (RMC) held a Green Fair with the aim of “informing people in Romsey about pertinent lifestyle elements for a sustainable world”.
TTR had an information stall covering 'who we are' and 'what we do', It displayed up-to-date information about climate change, and visitors were encouraged to write down suggestions as to how Romsonians can be greener and reduce their carbon footprint. (see 'Useful Information) Visitors were invited to learn about the importance of earthworms, and make a clay worm at the workshop. The clay worms were taken away to be fired, and they will then emerge in the United Reformed Church at Greenbuttercup CIC's event at the Romsey Festival (scroll down to see 'Greenbuttercup CIC at Romsey Festival' for more information). |
EGM
Extraordinary General Meeting
24 November 2016
Romsey Abbey
Apple Day
Every October, King John’s House & Gardens filled with all things to do with apples.
Plastic Fantastic
Workshop run by Not just Trash. You’re invited to bring along your old plastic bags to make decorative objects, or you can just turn up and join in the fun as everything can be provided.
Saturday, 5 March 2016
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Romsey Abbey
Saturday, 5 March 2016
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Romsey Abbey
Trash to Treasure
An exhibition and workshops to challenge the way we look at ‘waste’, and show how everyday waste materials can be recycled and up-cycled to make beautiful and useful objects.
At Romsey Abbey from 23 February - 19 March 2016.
At Romsey Abbey from 23 February - 19 March 2016.
Junk Jewellery
Workshop run by Transition Town Romsey. You’re invited to bring along a sheet of plain or patterned paper to make beads from, or you can just turn up and join in the fun as everything can be provided.
Saturday, 27 February 2016
2 PM - 4 PM
Romsey Abbey
Saturday, 27 February 2016
2 PM - 4 PM
Romsey Abbey