An evening with Lakeland residents

29 November 2018: On 29 November 2018, Garry will present a talk on the project to residents of South Lakeland. The event, sponsored by Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), will run from 6:30 - 9pm. The organiser, Dr Rhona Pringle, informs us that the event is already a sell out. Wifl'e Cafe, Staveley.

April 2018 activities

"On Wednesday 18th April Kate and Alex hosted a visit by nine members of ADAPT (Audlem and District Acting Positively for Transition). On a beautiful sunny evening we spent an hour or so at the pavilion before taking a stroll around the village. ADAPT were keen to learn how we had engaged the community in the carbon neutral project and what we had achieved over the past 12 years. We also spent some time discussing options for the use of an area of land in Audlem. You can find out more about ADAPT and download their cycling guide to Audlem at http://adapt.audlem.org"

November 2017 activities

22 Nov: Roy gave a presentation to the Royal Society of Chemistry at Frederik’s in Liverpool as part of Chemistry Week 2017, which has the theme of Global Science.

21 Nov: Hosted visit to Ashton Hayes by Khusniddin Alikulov. Kushniddin is from Uzbekistan and is in the UK for one month on a fellowship from the John Smith Trust (ex-Labour Leader) to learn more about opportunities to develop independent renewable energy systems for rural and remote parts of Uzbekistan. He was accompanied by Louise Taylor from the Trust. Photo attached of the three of us having lunch at the Goshawk (Roy in the centre).

11th November: Community bids farewell to Garry and Anne Charnock: Ashton Hayes Community Energy (GCN project), AHSRA and members from the Parish Council and community shop threw a party in the Pavilion to say thanks and goodbye to Garry & Anne Charnock. Garry thought up the idea of the Carbon Neutral Project in 2005 and has worked, with Roy Alexander and many others, on reducing the village carbon fooprint for the past 12 years. The group wished them both a happy time in their new home on the Island of Bute - which is trying to be a carbon neutral and zero waste island!

October 2017 Activities

19 October: Kate Harrison went to meet Finnish Visitors to Fordhall Farm near Market Drayton. The Finnish team represented the Finnish LEADER project and they gave Kate two books - one about an Innovative Village project, which included Northern Ireland and Estonia, and another on art projects in Finland

 Fordhall Farm is one of the longest running organic farms in England, which is community owned and has 8000 shareholders.  It is about 40 minutes drive from Ashton Hayes and suitable for family visits, with farm trails and woodland activities. The visit was organised by Field Farm Tours who provide agricultural based tours for overseas visitors wanting to see UK farming in action and tour the UK There were about 20 people at the talk which was followed by a tour of the farm and a delicious lunch. The visitors returned to Finland stocked up with local produce and gifts from the farm shop.

19 Oct: Roy Alexander gave presentation to the Black Country Geographical Association in King Edward’s Sixth Form College, Stourbridge.

 18 October: Roy Alexander gave talk about the project at Goosfest in Goostrey, Cheshire, 7.30pm Methodist Church.

12 Oct: Roy gives a presentation to North Wales Society of Engineers at Glyndwr University, Wrexham.

June 2017 Activities

19 June: Monthly board meeting of Ashton Hayes Community Energy Company

7 June: Alex and Garry to speak at UCL's Global Citizenship Programme, London.