National flood forum

the living willow theatre - rhayader

The living willow theatre is situated 4 miles south of Rhayader in a beautiful setting surrounded by the Welsh hills, and powered entirely by renewable energy - solar panels and a small wind turbine. The willow which makes up the walls was only planted 3 years ago and is already about 20 ft high, but it isn't waterproof, so if it's raining performances are in the barn.
I carried out an interview with the owner, organic farmer and Shakespeare enthusiast Phil Bowen

Renovating carpets

Electric bikes

Solar fridge

Living Willow Theatre 3

Living Willow Theatre 2

Living Willow Theatre

Primrose Earth Centre

On Sunday I made a video recording of Paul, from Primrose Earth Centre near Talgarth showing his forest garden, talking about how growing organically can help combat climate change, how permaculture is even better, with its emphasis on natural systems producing far greater yields, and also being therapeutic, and the evils of the multinational Monsanto with their GM technology

The Green Valleys project

On Saturday I interviewed John Whitehead about the project, and particularly about the renovation of Talgarth water mill to provide both electricity as well as milling flour.
The advantage of micro hydro schemes like this is that they can engage the local community, with involvement in ecological studies to pass Environment Agency requirements, as well as engineering, and they can also provide a revenue stream to help set up other community projects

Departure - over the mountain

Started the zero carbon caravan journey with what will probably be the toughest ride of the whole trip (I hope), 10 miles uphill without respite up the mountain into the Brecon Beacons national park.

Primrose Earth Centre 5

Primrose Earth Centre 4

Primrose Earth Centre 3

Primrose Earth Centre 2

Primrose Earth Centre 1

Setting off

Wales

I've taken over the organisation of the Wales leg of the Zero Carbon Caravan as our Wales organiser is likely to be in prison tomorrow for protesting nuclear power (or was it nuclear weapons, or aviation, or something else - she's always doing direct action about something or other).

Made contact with Transition Presteigne, they'll be really pleased to host a caravan, we'll be there on August 26th, and they will probably find a few people to cycle on to Ludlow with us.

Chris Keene
Coordinator
Zero Carbon Caravan