Transition Island Blog

Around 10,000 people took part in the recent Walk the Wight in aid of Newport’s Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

The full walk across the Island is 26.5 miles between Bembridge and Alum Bay. There is a newly-introduced eight-mile Flat Walk along the cycle path from Sandown to Newport, approximately half the distance. (Photo from County Press)

Walk the WIght was created during the early Spring days of 1991 by two old friends who loved walking, and started walking for charity. It has become the largest annual fund raising event on the Island. 

perfect conditions

Early morning cloud and drizzle were replaced by glorious sunshine as participants walked, ran, stilt-walked, hobbled and limped their way across the Island.

Hospice fundraiser Karen Eeles said: “After last year’s torrential rain, who would have thought we’d get so many people? The atmosphere was fantastic.”

growing event

Before Sunday, 8,275 walkers had registered to walk either the and organisers have estimated that more than 1,000 more registered on the day. Local people of all ages and abilities joined in, and lots of youngsters - and dogs - also took part..

Fundraisers are hoping the total raised will exceed last year’s figure of £230,000.

This is a growing event, having raised £200,000 in 2006 and £217,000 in 2007. Walker numbers have also risen, with over 5,000 last year having grown to an estimated 10,000 this year.

individuals help

So often, the question “But what can I do?” comes up when we’re faced with environmental problems - even those we want to contribute to solving.

‘Walk the Wight’ is a great example of what can be achieved by individuals who work together as a team.

Action:
Volunteer!

This charity encourages manufacturers and retailers to donate their high quality surplus for distribution to good causes.

In Kind Direct has a network of voluntary organisations representing every kind of cause - family welfare, sickness and disability, homelessness, emergency relief, environment, ethnic support and community groups.

donate surplus

Companies donate surplus goods, mainly newly manufactured items. They might be ends of lines, seasonal items, samples, customer returns, things in damaged packaging or with slight defects.

(more…)

From the County Press

The local branch of Age Concern is looking for more friends.

The charity is calling for volunteers to sign up and join its befriender service, which gives vulnerable and lonely older people vital and welcome company.

Volunteers will be asked to visit their new friend for a chat and cup of tea, or take them out for a change of scenery. All volunteer befrienders will be trained and supported by Age Concern IW and will be invited to meet for a monthly coffee morning.

Opinion:
The elderly are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change health risks. They are also the most overlooked resource of crisis experience we have! We have much to learn from them about surviving Peak Oil.
Action:
Anyone interested can contact Gwen Glover, Alan Wiles or Gina Williams on 525282, or email gwen.glover@aciw.org.uk.

Banish The Bags:
How the world shames Britain in dealing with ‘plastic poison’ bags

Britain lags behind the rest of the world in dealing with the ‘plastic poison’ caused by the distribution of billions of single-use carrier bags, says the Daily Mail.

Three billion bags given away annually by retailers, creating long-lived litter and life-threatening traps for wildlife.

Consumers, governments and retailers around the globe have moved to banish the bags, a symbol of urban waste.

(more…)

This exchange scheme is the best holiday-and-learning-experience in organics that you can get! 

Learn about growing, farming, rural issues, farm life, and more… and have fun for the cheapest ‘hotel’ you could find.

In return for your help on organic farm, gardens and smallholdings, you receive meals (usually organic!), accommodation and learning opportunities.

(more…)

Many Islanders can no longer look after their gardens due to ill health or old age.

Volunteers to assist with this growing problem are hard to come by, but ironically there is an increased interest in gardening amongst younger people, many of whom have small gardens or no gardens at all. There is also a waiting list of over 500 people for Council allotments.

This innovative pilot scheme by the Footprint Trust on the Isle of Wight seeks to marry these two groups.

The person who has a garden they can no longer look after and the individual who wants a growing space. The householder will get their garden looked after for free and the gardener gets a free allotment in return. No money exchanges hands and either party can give six weeks notice at any time.

The scheme is being launched in February 2008.

We wish the Footprint Trust every success with this wonderful scheme.

Action
Do you know a suitable volunteer or garden-owner?

So often, you hear people say “Someone ought to do something about that”. Most of us have probably said it from time to time. But now someone is actually doing something about it!

This article from the Isle of Wight Council’s Press Office

Town Centre Managers Clean Up Lukely Brook
Date published: 08/02/2008

Newport’s town centre managers joined forces with one of Isle of Wight Council’s Community Support Officers to clean up one of the town’s rivers.

Armed with a grappling hook forged free of charge by local blacksmith, Vectis Armoury, Neil Perry and two town centre managers fished out five shopping trolleys from Lukely Brook as well as two roadworks signs and a bicycle.

The shopping trolleys were returned to B & Q and Sainsburys and the old bike was taken to the local tip for recycling once the clear up was completed.

Isle of Wight Council is currently drawing up a programme of works to clear up waterways on the Island as part of its on going “One Island” programme.”

More detail on the Council website:

Leading by example

Rudy Giuliani, Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, showed that dealing with relatively minor problems in a highly visible way brings forward community support.

He brought innovative strategies in for reducing crime, reforming welfare, encouraging economic growth, and improving the overall quality of life.

Crime was halved, welfare numbers were halved while moving over 640,000 individuals from benefits to the dignity of self-sufficiency AND creating a record 450,000 new private sector jobs.

Despite various criticisms of the type politicians always seem to receive, he was a highly popular figure, credited with making New York the City that other cities looked up to. As news of the City’s resurgence has spread around the nation and the world, tourism grew to record levels.

Our Island could do with some of that.
And rescuing dumped shopping trolleys might be the start of it!
Is it time to volunteer some free time to help clear up?