Rebecca Armstrong, from Transition Walthamstow, on the project’s triumphant return after a years-long hiatus By Waltham Forest Echo
Apple Day 2012 (credit: Transition Walthamstow)
What kind of world do you want to live in? It’s a question that many of us are asking ourselves right now and one we at Transition Walthamstow are hoping to answer.
The Transition network is a now-global movement created in 2005, in which small local groups work towards a low-carbon, just future through small-scale projects like creating new green spaces or setting up new sources of renewable energy. A decade ago the Walthamstow branch of this moment was running a number of successful projects aimed at reducing the area’s carbon footprint, building community and saving people money.
This frequently took the form of workshops and skillsharing, with Transition Walthamstow hosting a number of events to champion environmental living skills. These included learning how to preserve foods, cycle maintenance advice and foraging walks – among many others.
One of the most popular was a series of draught-busting workshops, teaching people how to cut their energy bill and fuel use by plugging up any gaps in their home. The workshops helped show people what materials they needed and how to install them and also gave people access to high-quality materials at cost price.
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The group also coordinated Apple Day in the grounds of Vestry House Museum every October, an annual celebration of the orchards that brought the whole community together for live music, apple tasting, crafting and organic cider.
However, despite the group’s success, it began to lose momentum as original members moved out of the area and, in 2017, went on hiatus. After five years, Transition Walthamstow is finally making its triumphant return.
Last year’s summer floods and the current heatwave have brought home for many the reality of the climate breakdown, while the Covid-19 lockdown proved more than ever the importance of community. With this in mind, I and a small group of other local people decided it was time for the Transition group to come back to life.
Our aim remains the same – to build a happy, healthy and resilient Walthamstow for all. The first event we’re running as ‘TW 2.0’ is a film screening of climate documentary Once You Know at Gnome House on 22 July.
Find out more on our website or follow us on Twitter @TTWalthamstow
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