Weather recollections
Greener Teign want to contribute to an archive project currently being run by the Community
Council of Devon. To do so we will be visiting official records at the Met Office to see what we
can find relating to the Teign Valley. Depending on the level of interest and the quantity of
material submitted, we hope to be able to build a bigger project so that we can professionally,
record peoples stories, digitally collect photographs and maybe, make "talk through’ recordings
of peoples’ memories of extreme weather conditions. Then we will be able to learn from the
past so as to better plan for the future. The big freezes of the late 40s, early 60s and maybe
this year and last instantly come to mind together with the drought in the 70s. Met Office
records are fine but we want personal recollections as well.
Forms to show interest will be distributed and gathered very kindly by each of the Valley Post
Offices and Shops. Further information and a downloadable form can be found on
www.greener-teign.org.uk or if you e-mail weatherhistory@greener-teign.or.uk
we will happily send you a copy direct.
350 day of action on climate change
On the 350 day me and my Dad went down to the community hall and helped to put up the stage and get things ready. There was some artwork made by Christow School and I had made a piece of bunting to show the ice from the Artic. In our class we have learnt about climate change and how the ice is melting in the Arctic circle. The ice has been measured by scientists and they are worried about where the polar bears are going to live. On the 350 day I heard a scientist and explorer talking about climate change and she said that all the ice in the Arctic would be melted in the summertime in only ten years when I will be sixteen. After the talk some children (from Dunsford, Hennock and Doddi schools, Ed) did a dance to spell out the number 350 and then there was some belly dancing on the stage. They were wearing beautiful costumes and it was funny when my Mum joined in. Next a poet did some funny poetry and after that I played with my friends. I enjoyed the 350 day and I think we should try hard to save the planet otherwise when I grow up, the planet will not be such a nice place to live in.
By Leo Sherbersky (age 6)
Thank you to all those who helped to make the 24th October such a success: Ann Daniels who opened the event and described the survey she undertook in the arctic measuring ice thickness; the children from the local schools who danced their socks off and produced wonderful posters/displays illustrating climate change; Catherine Rees for choreographing the dance; Kalash ATS belly dancers for a visual treat and for getting the audience involved; Jackie Juno, ‘stand-up poet’, for amusing us with her dramatic delivery and caustic humour; green energy installers for demonstrating sustainable energy equipment; Penny Clapham for providing excellent food; Dave Parsons for running the bar and serving mulled cider; Vanessa Miles for overcoming her fear of heights and ascending in a crane to take wonderful photographs (which can be seen on www.greener-teign.org.uk); all the others who put in a huge effort to organise and run a great day. This was one of over 5200 events held in 181 countries which CNN described as “the most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history.”
Mary Roddick, Chair Greener Teign
