Lostwithiel

Sun 24th March, The Archers, Radio 4

Pat Archer introduces Kathy Perks to the idea of introducing a ‘transition’ initiative in Ambridge.

PA: It’s something the Soil Association has been talking about for a long time. Transition is a way of actually making a difference. It’s not just about food.

KP: You mean you want everyone to eat local produce or grow their own?

PA: The Transition Movement says we’ve got to do something about climate change and we’ve got to reduce our dependency on oil.

KP: Everyone says we’ve been doing that for ages

PA: Well Transition communities are actually doing it how in lots of ways .. energy descent plans, community orchards, woodchip boilers, economic localisation, the Totnes pound …

KP: The what?

PA: You know, Totnes in Devon, they’ve created their own currency which you can only use locally.

KP: Good grief - all sounds pretty ambitious.

PA: Well it’s got to be.

KP: And you’re expecting the whole of Ambridge to get involved?

PA: Definitely the whole of Ambridge and other villages. Most of the places doing it are Transition Towns. There are a few villages.

KP: Well you can see why if you’re asking people to get out of their cars ….

PA: In Stroud they’re setting up a community bike scheme ….

KP: It sounds amazing – still think you’ll have a job selling it to the whole village.

PA: Well I’m going to carry on with it and see how far I can get.