We had a fun and informative day for all the family, all about energy, in Tavistock Town Hall.
More here.
Author: Kate Royston
Tamar Energy Fest
Tamar Energy Fest – 28th Oct 17 – A great success
Held in Tavistock Town Hall, Tamar Energy Fest brought together local businesses and volunteers in a celebration of local energy and other eco-innovations.
More than 150 visitors came along to chat to local exhibitors, browse our information areas and listen to our programme of talks.
We shared energy advice for home and business including our LED corner with specialist advice about this important lighting technology. We now have a range of LED bulbs on sale in Local Matters in Elbow Lane.
There was a chance to register interest in our Community Solar share offer. You can find out more about our Community Solar installations and the share offer here.
Adrian Hepworth (Transition Tavistock) shared new initiatives around ‘Life without Plastic’ and a Water Bottle Refill Scheme now being offered by some local traders.
There was a strong woodland feel promoting Devon Hedge Week featuring Red Squirrel Tree Care’s photobooth and the Tamar Valley AONB Cordiale work.
A family entertainment table
An interesting and varied programme of talks.
Trevor Jackson, from local firm Metalélectrique caught attention by powering a fan just with liquid poured into an aluminium can – a demo of their ambitious plans for aluminium-air car batteries.
Jodie Giles (Regen) shared news of towns trying to be more self-sufficient in energy.
Kate Royston and Peter Smith (TEC energy advisers) gave practical advice on affordable warmth, and the different approaches for old and new homes.
Harry Jennings marked Devon Hedge Week by looking at the practicalities of using hedge thinnings for wood fuel.
Our Energy Cafe, with delicious tea and cakes, was a welcome spot for a rest. Thanks to Simon Earland (TEC Volunteer) for organising and managing the refreshments.
A local visitor said ““I thought today’s event was fabulous. Great credit to you all and the town. Really enjoyed the speaker and related discussion, and I made some useful contacts for house building purposes!”
Kate Royston (TEC)“We’re delighted that the day went well and visitors, exhibitors and volunteers all felt it was worthwhile. It’s important to share the message that Local Energy Matters, and by working together we can bring more of the benefits of energy back to the local community, help address fuel poverty and support our more vulnerable residents”
Enjoyed the Fest? Interested in getting involved? Volunteering? Joining the Board? Please get in touch.
Please email hello@tamarenergycommunity.com, call 07969 569 444, drop-in at Local Matters or come and have a chat at Green Drinks.
We would like to thank all our volunteers and exhibitors for their hard work, New Generation Energy for their promotional support, Maggie Squires for her art work on our stall in the Farmers Market, Red Squirrel Tree Care for participating with their photo booth, Dart Print, Tavistock Town Hall and Tavistock Times for their excellent service and Cllr. Jeff Moody for his support and participation on the day.
What role can the community play in rejuvenating their local economy?
Check out this inspiring programme recently aired on Radio 4.
Power the Night with Sunlight in Golberdon
Vote here now to help make it happen.
South Hill parish is just 17 minutes from Tavistock.
The Parish Hall in Golberdon village is the heart of all activities and needs money spent on it to keep it going. We aim to “Power the Night with Sunlight” … store the energy generated from the solar panels installed on the hall roof 2 years ago so it can be used when the sun isn’t shining. This will help with running costs and ensure the hall is sustainable for the future.
We have successfully been shortlisted for a M&S Energy grant and now need VOTES, LOTS of VOTES to win the funding. We’re asking all our neighbours and friends and their friends to vote starting on Sept 4th through to Oct 20th 2017.
We hope with all our efforts and your votes we can make a real difference in our community.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR VOTING. We Need Friends.
Vote on-line visit www.south-hill.co.uk or http://www.mandsenergyfund.com/ .
South Hill FaceBook Page South Hill Parish Web Site
Free Home Visits for residents with Project LEAP
Tamar Energy Community and West Devon Borough Council are getting behind a new pilot project to help local residents save energy and money in their homes.
The Local Energy Advice Programme (LEAP) provides residents with a free home visit from a trained energy adviser who provides advice and support to make the home as energy efficient as possible.
More information here
Foraging Walk and Wild Food Lunch – Saturday 6th May
A 2 hour (approx.) walk learning how to identify wild edible spring plants, that are growing in the hedgerow and riverside, and the poisonous plants you could mistake them for.
Ending with a delicious meal at The Old Plough Inn sampling the wild food we find.
Cost: £35
Spring Walks: Meeting at 11:15am at the Bere Ferrers Train Station (15 minutes from Plymouth, coinciding with the 10:54am departure from Plymouth to Bere Ferrers train station) Saturdays 11th March, 8th April and 6th May
For more info: contactus@theoldeploughinn.co.uk
Download – ‘Getting To Know Wild Plants’ by Flora Arbuthnott
Cheers,
Julian Harrison
First Tavistock Seed Swap at Local Matters – April 2017
Tavistock’s first Seed Swap was a great success on Saturday 8th April. We had just over a hundred visitors dropping into Local Matters for seeds, advice and a chat. We’d like to thank Rob and Diana from Holsworthy Organics for helping us offer a great range of seeds; and to all the local allotment holders and other local growers who bought in seeds to share. The courgette seeds seemed to be very popular and were snapped up quickly.
If you missed it, we still have seeds to share at Local Matters (Elbow Lane, Tavistock) every day (except Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays) between 11:00 and 13:00. If you don’t have any to swap, or just too many to use yourself you can always drop them in so others can benefit.
We’re also really keen to hear your growing tips. Come and add them to our ‘greenboard’ or email hello@tamarenergycommunity.com or call 07969 569 444.
Tavistock Seed Swap – Saturday 8th April 2017 – 10.00am to 13.00pm
Join us between 10.00am and 13.00pm on Saturday 8th April at Local Matters.for the first ever Tavistock Seed Swap!
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have any seeds to bring, come along, get some for free and bring them back to next year’s swap!
There will be lots of growers, gardening advice & plenty of chat. 
For more details please contact:
Kate Royston kate.royston@tamarenergycommunity.com
Rob Meredith 01409 254450
Diana Lee d.lee21@btinternet.com
Local Matters, Elbow Lane, Tavistock, PL19 0BG
(between Clinton Cards and Continental Fruits)
Totally Locally – Fiver Fest 1st April – 8th April
Totally Locally Tavistock launches Fiver Fest on Saturday 1st April. Lots of special offers for just £5 from independent traders in the town.
So far, 36 businesses are taking part!
Check out the Totally Locally Facebook page or read about the offers on page 17 in the Tavistock Times Gazette (30th March issue).
Smart Energy Marketplace 2017
Tamar Energy Community is looking forward to this event. A great chance to catch up with what’s going on in the market. And you can find us in the Communities section. Let us know if you’re planning to go.
Organised by RegenSW. Find out more here: www.smartenergymarketplace.co.uk
28 March, Sandy Park, Exeter from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
A unique showcase of the emerging smart, decentralised energy system of the future – a radical shift in the way we power our lives that is creating huge opportunities.
Smart Energy Marketplace is the biggest smart energy technology and renewable energy generation show in the south west. A jam packed event – with a unique exhibition, high level conference and informative talks attracting businesses, installers, developers, community groups and landowners to make for another lively and informative day.
The exhibition features over 100 companies including smart energy technologies, renewable energy installers and developers, construction companies, training providers, manufacturers, consultants and advisors, energy assessors, financiers and banks. Find out more about exhibiting here. The high level conference provides the latest overview of the sector. Designed for those who are already developing projects or those looking to explore complex policy areas or opportunities. Find out more about attending here.
Please phone Emily to find out more about the event on 01392 494 399 or email estokes@regensw.co.uk .