What have we been doing?
Find out what we have been doing to help make the Crich area a greener and more sustainable place
Crich Junior School and Luncheon Club: A Creative Clay Experience
December 2024
Crich Glebe Community Centre came alive with the joyful sounds of laughter and conversation as Crich Junior School children joined Crich Luncheon Club for a unique morning centred around making clay tiles together. The gathering was not only a celebration of creativity but also an opportunity for both younger people and older people to learn from each other and share stories about their experiences and passions for making.
Festive Share & Repair Café
Thank you to all who braved the rain to join our festive Share & Repair Café, featuring a special toy swap, unusual repairs, inspiring speeches and some crafts and stories for the little ones.
We were thrilled to welcome everyone to our recent Share and Repair Café on 23rd November at the Glebe Community Centre.
Alongside the seed swap, recycling collection, and eco raffle, we hosted a special toy swap so that children could pass along the toys and books they no longer use and choose replacements from a wide variety, thanks to Derbyshire Toy Libraries.
Whilst enjoying homemade soup and cakes, we heard inspiring speeches from CPRE Countryside Charity and Marches Energy, and Clare Limb made a very exciting announcement about a series of Make, Do and Mend workshops that will be on offer to residents in 2025.
The Repair team managed an incredible 44 repairs, including a book with sound effects, a stereo amplifier, a pair of cycling leggings and a toy train! Plus, we learned some amazing Japanese fabric-wrapping techniques, to minimise waste this Christmas.
What’s more, children and parents gathered together to craft festive angel decorations out of used paper and unwanted beads, create weird and wonderful crowns out of recycled materials and hear stories read by Clare and Hazel.
Thank you to all our amazing volunteers, and to all those who came along!
If you would like to know more about Transition Crich or are interested in being a volunteer at the next café please get in touch.
November 2024
Crich Creative Agent catch-up
November was a very busy month for Clare Limb, Crich’s Creative Agent. You may have come across her at one of the community events in the Crich Area such as the Share and Repair Café or the queue for Refills on The Road!
Members of Crich Youth Club made a panel out of remnants of fabric and sheets, which they decorated with images and words that meant something to them and their thoughts and feelings about the environment. They also made Tin Can Robots out of recyclable materials with artist Lise Bennett. Children from the Monday morning Toy Library Stay and Play session at The Glebe and the Friday morning Popalong Toddler Group at The Wesley listened to a story called Oak, the Littlest Leaf Girl. The children at the Stay and Play joined in with musical instruments accompanied by musician, Sarah Dale, and the children at Popalong made paintings of oak trees with Clare and Linda.
Clare has been listening to people’s ideas for using creativity to make Crich a greener place to live work and play. So far, the consultation has brought out ideas such as sharing traditional skills around making and mending. Other suggestions include nature walks with art as well as a sustainable clothing event including a fashion show.
The consultation has a few more events to come – Mingle and Mince Pie on 28th November from 8 – 9.15pm for anyone in the community interested in helping make something special in spring; and Crich Luncheon Club on 4th December with children from Crich Junior School, swapping stories about how to make, do and mend. Both events are at The Crich Glebe Community Centre.
And finally – discover our new series of Make, Do and Mend Skill-sharing for Wellbeing sessions, developed in collaboration with Crich Parish Council and Arts Council England via Make/Shift. The event will be launching in the new year, on every third Thursday of the month through until May, at The Crich Glebe Community Centre.
Save the date now and Make Something Special in Spring!
November 2024
Transition Crich members attend meeting with new MP
Along with three other members of Transition Crich, Hazel Allister attended the meeting between Derbyshire Climate Coalition and our new MP, John Whitby. Read the key updates from Hazel below.
I found the audience to be very researched in all the topics brought for discussion. Some of these were: Citizens Assemblies (as this operates effectively in Ireland); aviation fuel sustainability, zero-carbonisation and electric planes; renewable energy and concerns about lobbyists; Rolls Royce’s achievements in small modular reactors.
The group also discussed whether we should be implementing large-scale renewables in Peak Park or whether we should source this from elsewhere. The opinion was that we have to do the former, as we are way past the shall we/shan’t we times. The group discussed why the Longcliffe wind turbines occasionally have to stop because there isn’t enough capacity in the system. The consequent need for overhead power lines, although not appealing, means we can go forward with renewables.
Other key updates included:
Rivers: Tideswell Brook is the second worst in the UK for pharmaceutical wastage! The problem is that when the population is below 2000, there is no legal requirement for the sewage company to update their system! Between 30 - 90% of medical and recreational drugs go down the loo! We need to enforce regulation.
Buses: Derbyshire Climate Coalition asked the MP to push for improvement.
Housing: New housing to be built with carbon-neutral emphasis. Plus, more affordable housing.
Biodiversity: The group discussed the need for nature-friendly farming, taking sheep off the hills, and reconnection with the land, stating that a whole cultural shift needs to happen. They urged the MP to end the killing of badgers, as it is ineffective in stopping TB in cows.
The group recommended Brian May’s documentary on iPlayer and YouTube.
I came away thinking that a lot of issues had been raised – a lot of positive things are happening in the background without our knowledge, and so I feel hopeful that there might be an effective move forward in at least some of these issues.
November 2024
Crich Neighbourhood Nature Plan
Transition Crich signed up to preparing a Neighbourhood Nature Plan earlier this year.
The plan is an initiative from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and has participants from across the county.
The idea behind the plan is to make sure Nature is not forgotten by decision makers such as politicians and for local communities to decide how to help nature in their own area.
Prior to the general election, we formed 3 priorities for Nature in our local area. These were devised following the community engagement event held by the parish council in June where we asked people to write down what they would like to see for Nature in our local area.
From suggestions made, we were able to see there were common themes across 3 main areas:
1 Planting to increase biodiversity
2. Maintaining green corridors
3. Having no inappropriate building developments
These became the 3 priorities for our plan. We then wrote to all parliamentary candidates for our constituency of Derbyshire Dales asking them to ensure that they heeded what our neighbourhood priorities were. From 7 candidates, we received 1 reply! This demonstrates there is work to do to keep pressure on our politicians to put nature first in their decision making.
On October 12th, 3 of our members attended a meeting with our elected MP, John Whitby, organised by Derbyshire Climate Alliance, to hear him answer questions about nature’s recovery, climate change, and biodiversity loss, amongst others.
More about his response in the next newsletter.
On a practical level, we have been planting some areas around the village to improve biodiversity. This has included collaborating with Futures Housing to plant flowers and trees on land they own. We are also collaborating with the parish council to look at improving biodiversity on their land too. We have also had a gardening stall at the Glebe's Octoberfest to encourage and advise people on how to help nature in their own gardens.
We will continue to focus on our 3 priorities with practical work such as planting and working with other interested parties in the local community.
October 2024
Using creativity to bring us closer to being a green community
Transition Crich and local resident Clare Limb (Art Share & Neighbourhood Creative Agent) have joined together to find out what interests our community the most in relation to issues that affect our people, planet & place. Clare has designed a survey so that we can find out from you what matters most and how you might like to get involved. If you have time, please consider filling it in.
Community Consultation - Google Forms
Clare’s role as a Neighbourhood Creative Agent is being supported by local organisations Make/Shift & Platform 31, who are providing her with resources and training to make creative things happen in the Crich Area. To find out more about the Peer Learning Adventure that she is taking part in please follow this link:
https://www.wearemakeshift.uk/meet-our-new-neighbourhood-creative-agents/
Clare has been busy talking with members of the community already. You may have seen her during the visits by Refills on the Road or at the Crich Youth Club, Toy Library or Popalong, as well as having a cuppa and a chat recently with members of the Crich Luncheon Club. Clare has plans to undertake creative consultation at various groups and hold events in the next couple of months to find out more about local people’s ideas of how to use our creativity to bring us closer to being a green community.
If you have an idea or would like to get involved, please email Clare on clarelimbcreates@outlook.com
Art Share Sunflower Workshop
Sunflowers in all shapes and sizes
We had a wonderful time exploring colour and pattern with acrylic paint at the recent Art Share Crich workshop, on 12th September!
At the event local artist, Cheryl Porter, guided the group through the process of doing a simple monoprint on teabag paper.
It’s incredible how many different designs the group came out with – each completely unique!
The following weekend the paintings were displayed at the annual Crich Community Art Share Exhibition for everyone to admire.
September 2024
Crich Share & Repair Café - 14 October
Lots going on at our Autumn Share & Repair Café including lots of repairs, community Art Share exhibition, Table Top Sale, poetry reading and rag rug demo.
We had another successful Share and Repair Café. The event, which took place with the Glebe's Table Top sale, generated 74 repairs for our volunteers, keeping them busy!
Homemade cakes were enjoyed alongside a poetry reading and the fantastic artwork on display from local residents as part of Art Share Crich.
Hazel demonstrated how to make a Scandinavian rug and visitors were able to have a go at this fantastic way of creating useful objects out of recycled material.
Volunteers also took time out to join the campaign for better buses in Derbyshire, who are campaigning to win increased funding for bus services and to end the deregulation of buses.
Thank you to all involved and to those who visited.
If you would like to know more about Transition Crich or are interested in being a volunteer at the next café please get in touch.
Scandinavian Rag Rug Workshop
A fun and creative evening learning how to making Scandinavian Rag Rugs.
In collaboration Crich Crafters and Art Share Crich hosted a sustainable materials workshop.
A big thank you to Sophie James who shared her skills with the group and demonstrated the art of making a Scandinavian rag rug using old materials, i.e. old duvet covers or curtain fabric so that we could breathe new life into them.
Getting started was a bit tricky, but with Sophie's patience and guidance we all got going and found it to be a very relaxing and satisfying skill to learn.
Some of the items made have been submitted for display at the Autumn Art Share which is running alongside our October Share & Repair event.
Sophie runs a small business, James and Co. She started crocheting to support her mental health and has since expanded her passion into an artisan craft business.
Whatstandwell Festival - 25 June
Clothes swap and haybox demo success at the Whatstandwell Festival!
Whatstandwell Festival Committee are keen to be eco friendly and over the past few years have introduced reusable branded plastic 'glasses' for customers to use at the bar, take home and bring back the following year. They also provide various recycling bins for waste around the arena.
On hearing about Transition Crich they were keen for us to be involved and offered a stall on Saturday afternoon. We were delighted to accept and decided to run a clothes swap and haybox demonstration.
Both activities were well received with party goers donating, buying and swapping clothes. The haybox demonstration and tasting went down well and we chatted to quite a few people about TC and gained some new volunteers!
The Derwent Living Forest Project - 16 June
During The Great Big Green Week George Jones from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust spoke to us about the positive work that is happening in the Derwent Valley catchment area.
The Derwent Living Forest Project is connecting the National Forest in the south of Derbyshire with forests being created in the north of England with the aim of reducing flooding in the Derwent catchment area, improving habitats for wildlife and reconnecting landscapes across the midlands.
During this 30 year project Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are working with landowners to help them assess their land for flooding, encouraging them to plant more trees and hedges and make other changes to increase wildlife habitats to aid natures recovery.
George said that the landowners that they have worked with so far have been very enthusiastic and willing to plant more hedges and trees and make the other changes they have suggested.
Ideas we can do at home to help #slowtheflow of rain to our rivers include reducing hard surfaces, build a pond, plant hedges and trees, build raised beds. For more information and ideas check out their 15 brilliant ideas to stop flooding leaflet
If you would like to get involved DWT have many varied volunteering opportunities You can contact their team on 01773 881188 or at volunteering@derbyshirewt.co.uk
Crich Share & Repair Cafe - 10 June
Joining up with the Glebe's Table Top Sale proved to be a winning formula for the latest Share & Repair Cafe with our highest number of visitors to date.
Volunteers came together from the Glebe and Crich Share & Repair Cafe to share their skills and provide a space for the community to sell their unwanted second hand items or repair their broken items to prevent them going into landfill.
Some of the items repaired included a wooden card playing table with broken hinges, a teddy bear that need stuffing, a remote control for a whirlpool bath, a bike that needed a service, broken arm on some sunglasses, split seam on a dress, chicken house door, plus Ade & Alan sharpened over 40 garden tools, knives and scissors!
Volunteers shared their repairing skills by showing people how to fix their own items and gave demonstrations on how to use a sewing machine, a soldering iron and how to make plant milk using an Almond Cow!
Donations were made for the repairs and many people bought the delicious homemade cakes sold in the café, which will all help to keep the Crich Share & Repair Café open.
We welcome new volunteers with open arms! Roles include fixing things, serving in the café, organising, welcoming customers and helping them complete our repair forms. If you can help please get in touch by emailing transitioncrich@gmail.com.
The Big Help Out - Monday 8 May 2023
Volunteers from Transition Crich and Crich Open Gardens got together today to lend a hand with #TheBigHelpOut, an initiative to mark the coronation of His Majesty the King's Coronation.
Despite the rain, we met up outside Crich Glebe Field Centre and split into two teams:
1 - Litter pick - lots of rubbish was collected from around our streets and the Rec.
2- Planting - refreshing the Queen Elizabeth Garden outside the Glebe and Medical Practice. We added edible plants like raspberries, strawberries and herbs and also made a bug hotel.
We were so busy chatting that two hours flew by. We were really pleased with what we had achieved and came away with a good sense of wellbeing.
There is still plenty to do. So if you would like to join us next time, please get in touch. The more the merrier!
#The Big One - 21 to 14 April 2023
Members of Transition Crich were taking action at #TheBigOne this weekend – a four day climate protest in Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.
Hazel said "It was a great feeling to be with people from all over the country (a woman on our coach had marched with her daughter from Cornwall. We'd chatted to people from Burnley and Portsmouth); the strength of togetherness to build a strong force to let the Government know that things must change immediately.
I also felt that these great organisers weren't just going to go away thinking The Big One was a great success; this is the start of a demand and they will not stop until we have got the changes that will start the whole system change.
I didn't see this yesterday but for me I want to say "The power of the people is stronger than the people in power."
Crich Inaugural Share & Repair Cafe - 15 October 2022
Successful first repair cafe and skill share held at Crich Glebe Field Centre
We held our first Crich Share & Repair Cafe in partnership with Art Share Crich's annual exhibition of art and craft works made by local people.
Both groups encourage residents to share theirs skills with others in the community through fixing things and sharing their artistic flair.
The repair cafe was well attended and feedback was positive, so we are encouraged to hold some more next year. Keep an eye on our Events Page for dates!
Pledges at Crich Fete 2022
At the Crich Village Fete 2022 we invited visitors to add pledges to our pledge tree in support of environmental changes they would make in their lives. Every Little Helps
Reduce waste
Keep using public transport
Put in a wildlife pond
Rewild my garden
Ask my university to switch of computers each night in the computer labs
Grow more flowers
Use refill shampoos and soaps
Leave an area of the lawn unmown
Buy fizzy drinks in a can not plastic bottles
Reduce my electricity use
Give up flying
Cut down meat consumption
Make a wild flower patch
16 July 2022
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