Friday, 10 December 2010

Latest news.

The Greenacre Project has been selected by Waitrose in North Finchley for its Community Matters financial support. If you shop there do please put your green tokens in the Greenacre Project box. The support will help fund next year's Greenacre Bicyle Rally.

For those of you on Facebook - we now have a Greenacre Project page - have a look - you will find pictures from the last two rallies and some of our other news. Spread our word by hitting the 'like' button.

Friday, 20 August 2010

Mass Observation Community Online (MOCO)

Dear Greenacre Project,

We at the MOCO Project want to thank you for the contributions that
have come from your group so far. You can see all contributions from
your members here: Greenacre Project

“A Day in your Life” 12th September

On Sunday the 12th of September we will be continue with our Mass
Observationinspired 12th of the month submission drive.  As with our
August initiative we would like to get as manygroups as possible to
participate but this month we are proposing that groupmembers become
Mass Observers for the day.  Mass Observation had a team of observers
that went into avariety of public situations: meetings, religious
occasions, sporting andleisure activities, in the street and at work,
and recorded people's behaviourand surroundings in as much detail as
possible. The material they produced is avaried documentary account of
life in Britain.   We are encouraging community group members to be
Observersfor a day to record life in your community.

Last submission day 20th September

Monday 20th September will be the last day that we accept
submissions.Unfortunately the project is already coming to a close
after all positiveengagement we have had with groups across the country.

Answer our questionnaire: this task gives your group members a unique opportunity to answer a historical MO questionnaire from the 1930s!

Questionnaire

Keep a diary for a day: this task invites individuals to write a diary about their experiences and feelings for a day.

Keep a diary for a day

Observe life in a café: this task invites individuals to observe and record life in a café for an afternoon.

Record life in a cafe

Photograph a street: this task invites individuals to take 6 photos or a 5 minute video of their neighbourhood or an area of interest.

Photograph a street


All submissions received before September 20th will remain on the MOCO
website for at least the next three years and will also be donated to
the MassObservation Archive at the University of Sussex.
 Additionally,each community group will receive a copy of their group's
submissions at theend of the project.
Please encourage your group members to participate throughout August
and September so that both your group and the MOCO archive can benefit
from further contributions!

Concluding Workshop 22nd September

The last workshop is open to everyone who has participated or who is
interested in learning more about the project and the outcomes. The
workshopwill include a technical session on how to use MOCO style
submission forms sothat community groups can use similar strategies on
their own websites.

12.30 – 4.30 Wednesday 22nd September, Universityof Sussex, Brighton.
Workshop is free and travel is reimbursed.

Register onlinehere.

All the best,

MOCO Team
--
Mass Observation Communities Online (MOCO)
A JISC funded project
Centre for Community Engagement
and The Mass Observation Archive
University of Sussex

www.mocoproject.org.uk
E-mail: info@mocoproject.org.uk
Tel: 01273 877 657

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Mass Observation Community Online (MOCO)

The Greenacre Project has recently become part of an exciting new project and needs your help!
The Mass Observation Communities Online (MOCO) project is working together with community groups from across the country, and we are happy to be one of them.
The project, which is based at the University of Sussex, uses Mass Observation material to assist people to record the changing history of their own communities. The Mass Observation Archive specialises in material about everyday life in Britain. For over 60 years, it has been developing questionnaires and diary writing techniques which build up a picture of life round the country. (see attached history)
The MOCO project is making a selection of MOA material freely available online for the first time. You can visit the MOCO website on www.mocoproject.org.uk and look at the material there and also see how you can become involved.
As a member of Greenacres, you are invited to take part in the project through a series of easy tasks including photography, diary writing and answering a questionnaire.
Learn more about the project at www.mocoproject.org.uk or contact me for further details.
HOW TO TAKE PART:

Answer our questionnaire: this task gives your group members a unique opportunity to answer a historical MO questionnaire from the 1930s!

Keep a diary for a day: this task invites individuals to write a diary about their experiences and feelings for a day.

Observe life in a café: this task invites individuals to observe and record life in a café for an afternoon.

Photograph a street: this task invites individuals to take 6 photos or a 5 minute video of their neighbourhood or an area of interest.

Individuals can participate in any and as many of the tasks as they like. There will be the option for participants to contribute anonymously if desired. All material contributed by your group members will show on you group’s own MOCO page on www.mocoproject.org.uk.


MOCO invites you to participate in…

A day in your Life: 12th August 2010

We are inviting community groups to participate in an exciting nation-wide one day history-making event…

In 1937, Mass Observation (www.massobs.org.uk) called for people from all parts of the UK to record everything they did and thought from when they woke up in the morning to when they went to sleep at night on 12th May. The resulting diaries provide a wonderful glimpse into the everyday lives of all sorts of people in the late 1930s. They are stored, with many other diaries and papers, at the Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex.
Mass Observation Communities Online (www.mocoproject.org.uk) is expanding upon this tradition by asking community groups to participate in a nation-wide initiative. On August 12th we are inviting community group members to submit a photo diary of their day (six photos) or a written account of their day via the MOCO website.

The MOCO team does all of the work – the only thing your community group needs to do is ask your group members to participate via our user friendly website – we can provide you with all the relevant information.

With participation across the country, we are aiming to create a national archive of written and photographic accounts that will reflect a day in the life, not only of individuals across the UK, but also of the members of your specific communities. This will result in a valuable record of your community or organisation that each group will be able to keep. The submissions will also be displayed on the MOCO online archive and donated to the historic Mass Observation Archive.

For more info please contact the MOCO team at:

T. 01273 877657
E. info@mocoproject.org.uk
www.mocoproject.org.uk

Tuesday, 15 June 2010

GREENACRE ECO FILM CLUB - MONDAY 28TH JUNE 2010


presents:

Film/Presentation – Earth Whisperers

There will be a showing of the much acclaimed feature film Earth Whisperers by NZ director Kathleen Gallagher. It was filmed in spectacular locations around New Zealand and focuses on a group of New Zealander's who are out to prove that a shift in consciousness can heal the environment.

There will be a discussion about the issues raised by the film led by Kiwi born author Tony Kearney who will also talk about his book: Who Owns the Future? The book merges themes of environmentalism, philosophy, science, psychology, sociology, metaphysics, religion, gender relationships, politics, poverty, and population in its search for ways to address the challenges confronting us.

Refreshments available.

Mon 28TH June 2010 7.30-9.30pm

Blue Beetle Hall, 28 Hendon Lane N3 1TR

Admission by minimum donation £3
For more details: 020 8346 5503

Saturday, 22 May 2010

DON'T FORGET:


13TH JUNE 2010 10AM-4PM


Assemble outside artsdepot,
Tally Ho, Nether Street, Finchley, London N12 0GA
Dr Bike from 10-11.30am *** (FREE bike safety checks)
Tel: 020 8346 5503 with enquiries

Registration from 10am or beat the crowds and register online: MrGreenacres001@aol.com

(3-mile circular route from artsdepot to Friary Park plus refreshments AND green ride to Barnet Countryside Centre)
Something needs to be done to raise awareness and use of the bicycle in our area. The Greenacre Bicycle Rally, with your help will do just that. Picture the scene – hundreds of bicycles, fancy dress, flags flying, balloons floating upwards. If you missed it last year, do not miss it this year, as it will be bigger and better than ever.

We will set out on a triangular 3 mile circuit from artsdepot to Friern Barnet up to Whetstone and back down to North Finchley. The complete rally will be one and half laps with a refreshment/entertainment break in the middle at Friary Park. We will be escorted by trained stewards, police cyclists and St John Ambulance cyclists, so the event is safe and suitable for cyclists of all ages and experience providing they have good basic control of their bike and a measure of common sense.

Cyclists will assemble on the paved area outside artsdepot N12 0GA from 10am for a 12-noon departure. All cyclists need to be registered. Please allow enough time to register on the day - registration table closes at 11.30am or better still pre-register by phone or e-mail.

This year we will also be having a green ride that starts from outside Friary Park after our lunch break at 2.15pm. The ride will take the scenic route along Dollis Brook towards Barnet and finish at the Barnet Countryside Centre. There will be an environmental fayre taking place and hopefully tea and homemade cakes for the cyclists.

Monday, 29 March 2010

The Greenacre project is a community organisation set up by a group of individuals in order to promote community values, sustainable living, green transport and protection of green spaces.

We have set up GREENACRE TRANSITION FINCHLEY as part of the Transition Town movement. Whilst still at an embryonic stage it is in existence with a steering group and holds regular meetings. Transition Town thinking is all about making the transition from a high carbon lifestyle to a more localised low carbon lifestyle. Food and transport are key issues. Cycling is at the heart of local green transport.

We publish the GREENACRE TIMES bi-monthly. This is a 44 page A5 green community magazine. As well as cycling, we cover environmental issues, green spaces and a littlocal history. The Greenacre Times is now in its third year. We also have the GREENACRE WRITERS, creative writing groups and workshops that meet twice a month.

The GREENACRE BICYCLE RALLY is the focal point of our cycling campaign. This is a high profile, once yearly, mass cycling event run within BIKE WEEK and also as part of the LOVE LONDON green festival in June each year. 2010 will be our third year. Although the GBR attracts both media attention and many participants our cycling campaign is ongoing and perpetual. We hold bicycle maintenance workshops and have helped people repair unroadworthy bikes and taught people in the community basic cycle training to get them started. One woman had not ridden a bicycle for 37 years due to a road accident; by having a series of one-to-one sessions, she slowly gained confidence and even took part in last years bicycle rally. Another young man had bought a bike a few years ago but had been too frightened to ride it on the road, he joined one of our cycle maintenance workshops and we encouraged him to take part in our beginners cycle rides; he too took part in the bicycle rally. We run Dr Bike sessions both at the GBR and the weeks leading up to the event. We are in liaison with various local groups including Local Agenda 21, Barnet Cyclists, Enfield Cyclists, Friends of the Earth and The Barnet Environmental Action For real in Schools’ (known as BEARS) where we have worked with both teachers and pupils in promoting cycling. Incidentally Enfield Cyclists attended the GBR two years ago and were so impressed with our rally that they decided to hold their own festival, they are lucky enough to have full support from Enfield Council. Last year we worked in partnership with The Larches Trust, a registered charity set up to provide care and opportunities for adults who have a learning disability. The Trusts approach is holistic and values each individual. They aim to develop and run vibrant, leisure and recreational programmes. Provide exciting, meaningful learning programmes including independent living skills. Establish supported living where each person feels a sense of belonging. Cultivate inclusive relationships for adults with learning disabilities.

We are very keen to promote cycling in this borough both as a fun recreational activity and as a serious form of transport. We continue to push very hard for cycle lanes, more stands, better training and publicity as well as raise the safety issue, which we have been repeatedly told is a stumbling block to getting people to take to their bikes.

We run the GREENACRE TOOL BANK which is basically a sort of ‘freecycle’ facility centred around tools of every description and have built up quite a number of disused cycles awaiting repair as well as a good collection of spare parts.

Last year we rescued a Bangladeshi rickshaw from outside an arts workshop in Finsbury park. We brought it back to Finchley where I was assisted by a small group of teenagers in restoring it to its former glory. Both myself and the boys thoroughly enjoyed the project – though it’s had work to pedal!

We are currently building a bike trailer from birch plywood, scrap metal and a pair of 15” wheels rescued from our local Council dump. When finished it will join the Rickshaw and ‘Spokey Joe’ (a ‘tent on wheels’ type kiddie trailer) on our promotional tours of local shopping centres.

We are lucky to have a large area of green spaces in the borough and many of these are suitable for cycling. Last year we organised several leisure rides, with the novice in mind. At one of the rides a couple of people confessed they hadn’t had the courage to take their bikes out including one lady who said she had a brand new bike unused for over two years! We allowed 20 minutes for checking bikes for road-worthyness.

Last March I led another group of cyclists to Sanders lane in Mill Hill NW7. This was in support of local residents who were trying to stop plans to have the lane widened and opened to motor traffic. On that day 48 cyclists assembled in my back garden! We were joined by more cyclists on route and eventually totalled 69. The publicity no doubt influenced the council, who subsequently backed down – Sanders lane is till only open to pedestrians, cyclists, dogs and horses.

Several local cycle shops have helped us with tools and equipment. Last year we gave out 80 sets of hi-viz waistcoats and puncture repair kits to children. Our work continues and is very much ongoing. Proper funding would enable us to carry out all our plans for the forthcoming year including cycle training, making cycling videos, cycle workshops, rides and of course the cycle rally which last year had 169 registered riders.

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Greenacre Eco Film Club


Presents:

Film/Presentation - Earthship Brighton

This was the Low Carbon Trust's first project and was the first Earthship to be built in England. The project was built as a community centre for use by Stanmer Organics, built on a Soil Association accredited site in Brighton. This pioneering demonstration project has evolved over the last six years and enables people to come and experience a cutting edge eco-build and be inspired to respond to climate change in their own ways back at home and work.

Refreshments available.

Mon 26TH April 2010 7.30-9.30pm

Trinity Church Hall, 15 Nether Street, London N12 7NN

Admission by minimum donation £3
For more details: 020 8346 5503