Transition Isle of Purbeck

People are concerned with issues surrounding Peak Oil and Climate Change, and that we have become a ‘throw away’ society. Views are changing in Purbeck… communities acknowledge the need to reduce, reuse and recycle. Allotments, local producers and the arts and crafts are being encouraged. Environmental issues are now on the school curriculum. The school walking bus is being supported (PACT, SRSNT) This is creating a strong sense of community. The Transition Towns model supports and encourages this change. This model has been initiated by Rob Hopkins (environmentalist) and is growing rapidly throughout this country. He has now written the Transition Handbook (Reviews have been positive).
Transition began in Totnes and following its success there are now further initiatives, eg. Bristol, Bath and Exeter, the Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, Lyme Regis, and Shaftsbury. Transition Movement aims to help ordinary people make local changes, re-energise their local economies and change their lives for the better and not to rely on ‘others’.

Click here to see how Transition Scotland is starting.

How does Transition Isle of Purbeck work?

• Transition acts as an umbrella group and is inclusive by supporting the work of other existing groups eg. PACT, Purbeck Producers, PEAT, allotment holders, Scout and Guide Groups, Art Groups, churches and WI’s.
• Transition offers a positive vision and acknowledges that there are uncertain times ahead and offers ways to build community resilience.
• Transition values everyone including young people who will inherit our world and the older people who have much to teach us from their memories of a world that was not driven by fast cars and consumerism.
• Transition offers practical steps not set in stone and can be modified by different communities to help them work through complex issues such as energy, transport, food supply and waste management.
• Most of all… Transition is fun! Music, art, storytelling and craft as well as thinking about the problems we face.

The Isle of Purbeck is beginning an exciting new journey. Local groups such as Purbeck such as PEAT (Purbeck Environment Action Team), Down2Earth, DA21 (Dorset Agenda 21), PACT (Partners and Communities Working Together), SRSNT (Swanage Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team)are coming together to create a more sustainable future for our communities within Purbeck.   We are now joining many other Transition areas throughout Dorset, this country and overseas to bring about positive changes to our environment.   If we all work together we can make it happen.      

If you would like to find out more about Transition on the Isle of Purbeck please contact peatda21@googlemail.com or tel.Collette Drayson 01929 422832