Adrian Hollister - Green Issues

First real cold snap this year

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:10:09 +0100

It's cold out there tonight. My thermometer shows -1 at 1am, so I'm guessing it's going to get colder up here throughout the night. We seem to be a bit of an odd microcosm up here on the downs in north Berkshire. Nestled around the ancient Ridgeway on high, wind swept chall hill's we seem to largely have a climate of our own. A mile down the road and you can drive off the downs and end up with completely different weather.

The grass tonight though is crunchy under foot and the roads are quite slippery. The dog's of course love the weather, bounding about and eating anything frosty, smelly or both.

It's interesting tonight as at the time of writing there is no wind up here. Something that seems quite unusual, but something that also shows what much of the country must have been like in the early 20th century - at least in terms of heating. We are mostly solid fuel up here and as you walk around the smell of coal and wood burning is heavy in the air. Without the wind blowing it away our houses and of course all of us live in this smog.

We are of course just a very small village, so the pollution we must have endured in the towns or cities must have been appalling. We have come so far from these days, but of course we have just replaced one fossil fuel (local coal and wood) with gas and oil that may have been transported half way around the world. It's true that you don't get the smell and visible smog of smoke and that the heating appliances are on the whole much more efficient; but is their net CO2 increase really that much better when transport and storage are taken into account?

I am happy that my mostly coal and about one fifth 20% wood burn on my multi-fuel stove adds about the same net new co2 as a good gas boiler. I am happy that my sources for my coal and wood are only within the UK with the wood coming no more than a few miles.

So does Adrian Hollister recommend that we all move back to wood and coal? No. But we do need to invest heavily in industry areas that support sustainable heating sources. The use of heat pumps (ground or air source); the use of biomass; and the use of community heating systems would vastly improve our co2 emissions in this country. What are we waiting for?

"Free event at Thatcham's Nature Discovery Centre will feature activities, displays and ideas on being green" - Newbury Weekly News

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:54:00 +0200

Free event at Thatcham's Nature Discovery Centre will feature activities, displays and ideas on being green - from the Newbury Today web site.

Article follows:

AN environmental event organised by West Berkshire Council will be held tomorrow (Saturday). The event, called Think Green, Act Green, will be held at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham and will include activities, demonstrations, and ideas on show to help local people think about saving the environment. Activities will include pedal powered generators, fuel efficient transport, puppet shows, face painting, wildlife displays, live music, and lots of local foods on display and refreshments for sale.
Waitrose, Volvo, Hill View Farm produce, 'WRAP' composting activities, and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust are just some of the featured names taking part in the event. West Berkshire executive councillor Graham Pask (Con, Bucklebury), said: "Green issues are now firmly in the spotlight, and this is a great chance to get some ideas on how to help make a difference."

The event is being held from 11am until 4.30pm, all are welcome and entrance is free.

End.

Car Boot Fun

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:44:00 +0200

Did a car boot today with the things donated to help Green Party funds. The car boot was in Newbury Racecourse and seems to run every Sunday. Not a bad price either at £7 to get in for traders. We shifted quite a bit of stuff and donated the rest to charity. Darn hot morning's work though and I seem to have a bit of a sun tan

15 Miles of Sponsored Walk - Great Bedwyn to Newbury

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:25:00 +0200

Great fun today had a long walk with the dogs to raise money for the green party. We started at Great Bedwyn and walked down the Kennet and Avon canal to Newbury. It's about 15 miles and is a stunning walk. Most of Great Bedwyn to Hungerford is unspoilt by selfish dog owners and has stunning views. Why does anyone go on holiday abroad when we have such amazing things right here in England? Anyway, for anyone thinking of doing it - Great Bedwyn is on the train line from Reading. Walking back towards Newbury you follow the A4 and the railway line - so if you get stuck you can always ask for a lift or jump on a train.

Jumble Sale fun and antics

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:54:00 +0200

Did my first fund raising Jumble Sale ever today. Pam did a great job arranging everything - Thatcham's Catholic Church Hall was packed with stuff and people. There was one big scrum to get at our wares. Not only have we made money for the Green Party but we have recycled a whole bunch of items that are now back into use. Thanks to everyone that turned up with of course special thanks to Pam, Gif and our families who helped out. I hope that we can run another one of these for the Green Party in Newbury, Lambourn, and Hungerford. So we are well on our way to secure funds to allow Adrian Hollister to stand for Parliament at the next election and field a good few candidates in the regional West Berkshire council elections too.

Nowadays We Worship at Saint Tesco

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:19:13 +0200

Pam Ayres gave an excellent and, if you think about it, very disturbing poem 'Nowadays We Worship at Saint Tesco'. You may be able to still hear it on BBC iPlayer here or find out more here. It is scary how she seems to have captured our greedy nature and our recent need for stuff to make us happy - still as she says we have Saint Tesco to help us.

Greener web hosting

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:31:41 +0200

If you host a web site or domain, think carefully about your provider. I use 1&1 Internet their press release explains why...

1&1 is proud to be the first large web host who relies solely on renewable energy. At 1&1 we believe in a sustainable society for all and that every business has a role in this responsibility. We have therefore made a strong commitment to fight pollution and preserve our natural resources. 1&1 now uses wind, water and solar power in accordance with the Renewable Energy Certification System (RECS).

The use of renewable energy technologies reduces hazardous greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional power plants.
We Use Energy Efficiently

We do not only strive to use clean energy, we also endeavour to use energy as efficiently as possible. In our European data centres, we currently run some 40,000 servers which consume between 50 and 60 Gigawatts per hour (GWh).

For years, 1&1 has been using energy highly economically, with less than 20 per cent heat loss – one of the best figures in the industry. As soon as the outside temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius, we cool our data centre using open-air coolers that work without energy-consuming compressors.

The choice of software also plays a critical role in saving electrical power. Based on Linux, 1&1 has developed its own operating system uses server resources efficiently, saving valuable energy.

By hosting your site with 1&1, you choose an environmentally sound and sustainable future and directly support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that come from conventional power plants."

You can find their site here.

School Run Speeding is just madness

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:44:00 +0200

Today I've got to rant - I'm just fed up with school run speeding. If I'm walking, cycling or driving with the kids all I get to see is mad school run parents driving at bonkers speeds. I see kids all the time flung around by panicing swerving and heavily breaking parents who are going too fast for the conditions.

If your late you should accept the fact that you are late.

Why put people, including your and our children in danger because you are attempting to make up a few seconds on your journey time?

Keep yourself at a sensible speed and please don't pose a risk to you, your family, me, my kids and anyone else. Better still, walk your short journey (yes that may mean you have to leave your house earlier), or start cycling it.

Personally, I'm for a 20mph blanket speed around any school and 20mph in all residential areas where the residents vote for it. I can also see the argument for a strong instant one week driving ban for anyone caught breaking that speed limit.

Great day face painting at Paices Wood for Pang

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:41:00 +0200

I don't usually blog about my charity face painting, but today I had a great day out at Paices Wood Country Parkland. The event was arranged by Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valleys Countryside Project (PKLVCP), which is part of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group - a national charity. Paices Wood is certainly one of those places that unless you lived near Aldermaston you would never know about - it's a hidden little gem for sure. Paices Wood Country Parkland is accessed through Young (Aldermaston) Industrial Estate, which is on the A340 between Aldermaston and Tadley.

It seems a shame that West Berkshire Council have reduced their grant to the Countryside Project by 50% for 2009/10. I need to make up a logo for West Berkshire - NOT cleaner and NOT greener ?

As always if your in West Berkshire and are in need of someone to come along and face paint for your charity event foc then please drop Adrian Hollister an email.

Low Head Hydro Guide from the Environment Agency

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:13:00 +0200

Good to see that the Environment Agency have finally released their long awaited document on hydro power (usually small scale low head hydro systems such as existing or renovated mill's). It's actually a good document, easy to read with clear guidelines. You can find the document here.

Now where do I search to find a mill for renovation ....

Tesco hides figures after missing target to reduce plastic bag usage

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:27:57 +0200

Tesco hides figures after missing target to reduce plastic bag usage. Article from the Times Online, but in summary "Tesco admitted that its figure had been calculated in a different way to the one issued by Wrap." and that "A senior source at Tesco said that the actual reduction had been significantly less than 50 per cent but the company was concerned about negative publicity."

Bad ole Tesco again. When will they learn?

Thunderstorms take out Downlands electricity

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:09:00 +0200

Something strange and rather interesting happened today. Some where around lunch time kids you could hear kids playing over the noise of the birds, bikes were spun up and you could hear people talking over fences and gates.

Our electricity supply is always slightly dodgy up here on the downs, ever time we get a serious thunderstorm or similar event our power goes out. We are high up here and I'm guessing that the electricity cables and poles around here are often the highest point and highly likely to take a lighting strike or two. Well we had one serious thunderstorm Friday here - lasting for several hours with lots of strikes taking out the power with spikes and brown outs. Since then the power has been on and off every few hours throughout the day and night.

A call to SSE Power Distribution (if you've and your neighbours have lost power call SSE on 0800 0727282 or 0845 7708090) confirmed to us that the power would be out for a good chunk of the day - lunchtime until 7pm.

How interesting it was to see people with a slight look of panic on their faces - there is no gas up here so the key source of energy is electricity. Life carried on as usual here, internet and computer powered by battery; cooking and kettle powered by camping gas; and the kids powered by sugar and cakes. It's amazing how we take energy security as a given and not something we need to strive for.

Veggie Oil Filtering

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:39:00 +0200

The latest batch of veggie oil has been filtered and is now ready. My method is simple - first run through a coffee filter. This catches the big bits though it can take some time (other people seem to use several layers of tights for example). Then run through a 50 and 10 micron filter bought from ebay. If you just go straight to the 10 micron it will get full up and you will be endlessly cleaning the filter and wasting a lot of oil. My recommendation before adding to a diesel tank is that you add cetaine boosters (there are loads on the market) as this will make your engine as quiet as a mouse (well as good as your gonna get on a diesel) and add a bit more power too.

Bake with Compassion Week - a local event

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:52:00 +0200

BAKE WITH COMPASSION WEEK

6 - 12 July

To coincide with its Good Egg Awards*, Compassion in World Farming, the leading farm animal welfare charity is launching Bake with Compassion week from 6 – 12 July 2009 to raise awareness for its campaign against battery caged eggs.

Compassion in World Farming supporters Brightwalton 5-12 Youth Club are hosting a good egg cooking evening on Friday the 10th of July at 18:30-20:00. We are cooking cup cakes and using our own local free range eggs for the event*.

Supporters of Bake with Compassion week include Kate Ford (Coronation Street’s Tracy Barlow), Sophie Grigson, Jo Brand, Alison Steadman, Dave Spikey, David Suchet, Paul O’Grady, Brain Blessed.

Kate Ford says: “I would encourage anyone with an interest in animal welfare to get their aprons on and get baking. When you buy eggs, you can choose what sort of life you want the hen to enjoy or endure. If you buy half a dozen eggs a week just switching from caged to free-range could set a hen free.”

“Hosting your own Bake with Compassion event couldn’t be easier. Just invite some friends round for a coffee morning or run a cake sale in the office. I have to confess that I’ve got a real sweet tooth and can never resist a slice of banana and walnut bread. Here’s my own favourite recipe. Why not give it a go.” (see recipe below)

People all over the UK are refusing to eat eggs that have come from inhumane battery cages where each hen is confined to a space the size of an A4 sheet of paper and cannot even flap its wings.

Sales of free-range shell eggs accounted for 56 per cent of the market value in the UK (TNS data).
Free range eggs have seen an 8.4 per cent growth in the volume of sales compared with a 3.3 per cent decline in the sale of battery caged eggs (TNS data).
For the first time this year, The UK’s Office of National Statistics is including large free range eggs in its 2009 Basket of Goods and Services survey.
Yet, despite increased consumer demand for cage-free eggs, 58 per cent of UK hens are still kept in battery cages.

Compassion in World Farming has produced a pocket guide which clearly explains the difference between caged, barn, free-range and organic eggs and what to look for at restaurants and supermarkets: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/egg_guide

Bake with Compassion fundraising packs can be downloaded from http://www.ciwf.org.uk/help_us/fundraising/bake_with_compassion

For further information on Brightwalton Youth Club event please contact Adrian Hollister at adrian@westberksgreens.org.uk or call 01488 639641.

For further information or to arrange interviews with Compassion in World Farming contact Valentina Moressa on 01483 521952 or 07771 926005 (out of office hours) or email valentina@ciwf.org

Kate Ford’s Compassionate Banana and Walnut Loaf
Ingredients:
90 g (3 oz) organic butter
1/3 cup fair trade sugar
1 free-range egg
1 large fair trade banana
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 ¼ cups self raising flour
pinch salt
1/3 cup plain organic yoghurt
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts

Method:
Beat organic butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add lightly beaten free range egg, beat well. Stir in combined, mashed banana and lemon juice. Fold in sifted dry ingredients alternately with organic yoghurt. Stir in half the chopped walnuts, mix until smooth. Spoon mixture into greased and greased paper lined 25 cm x 8 cm (10in x 3 in) bar tin, sprinkle with remaining walnuts.
Bake in a moderate oven for 40 minutes or until cooked when tested. Allow cake to cool 5 minutes in tin, turn out and cool on wire rack. When cold, cut into slices, serve with organic butter.

Sophie Grison
Sophie Grigson’s Compassionate Coconut and Strawberry Cake

This is a favourite summer recipe in our family, though of course, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make it in the middle of winter, replacing the strawberries with strawberry jam, or lemon curd.

175g (6 oz) self-raising flour
pinch of salt
115g (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
250g (9 oz) caster sugar
3 free-range eggs, separated
160 ml (5 51/2 fl oz) o milk
85g (3 oz) dessicated coconut
pinch of cream of tartar

To fill:
150 ml whipping cream, lightly whipped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
150g (5 oz) strawberries, halved
icing sugar

Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease and flour two 20 cm (8”) sandwich tins.

Sift the flour with the salt. Beat the butter for a few minutes until very soft then add 150g (5 oz) of the sugar. Cream together until very light and fluffy. Beat in the free-range egg yolks one at a time. Next beat in about a third of the flour followed by half the milk, repeat and then finish with the last of the flour. Fold in the coconut.

Whisk the free-range egg whites and cream of tartar until they form soft peaks. Sprinkle over the remaining sugar and whisk again until the mixture is thick and glossy. Fold into the cake batter. Divide the batter between the two prepared tins and bake for around 30-35 minutes until just firm to the touch. Test by plunging a skewer into the centre – if it comes out clean then the cakes are done. Let them cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then turn out and finish cooling on a wire rack.

To make the filling, whip the cream lightly with a tablespoon of icing sugar and the vanilla extract until it just holds its shape. Hull and halve or quarter the strawberries depending on size. When the cakes are quite cool, spread the upper side of one thickly with cream, then cover with strawberries. Settle the second cake comfortably on top. Dust with a little icing sugar and keep the whole lot cool until tea-time.

Jo Brand
“I'm pleased to get the opportunity to offer my support to Compassion in World Farming’s Good Egg Awards and would like to encourage everyone to support their work by joining in with their Bake With Compassion fundraising week. I think it's really important to back the production of higher welfare eggs, so please get your aprons out and bake a cake with free-range eggs.”

Alison Steadman
"I first witnessed battery hens in 1974 and the image has never left me. I couldn't believe the cruelty to these helpless trapped creatures. Since then I have never knowingly eaten battery eggs. We must continue to fight for cruelty free farming. I am delighted to support Compassion in World Farming’s Good Egg Awards and would encourage anyone with a mixing bowl and a pinny to get baking in order to help raise funds for this worthwhile cause. "

Dave Spikey
My wife and I have adopted many ex-battery hens through the years and it is one of my greatest joys to see them transform from the battered and traumatized birds that arrive, into these beautiful, inquisitive creatures scratching around my garden and bathing in the sun. I am delighted to support CIWF’s work and would encourage anyone with an interest in animal welfare to join their Bake with Compassion fundraising campaign.

David Suchet
"I hope with all my heart we can eventually provide eggs to the nation from chickens who have been given 'quality life' in return for the eggs they give us. That's a FAIR deal - isn't it?"

Paul O'Grady
"My gang of chickens will be very pleased to hear that millions of hens will live cage free thanks to the Good Egg Awards and the work of Compassion in World Farming. I love a good free range egg when I’m baking and I believe that being a nation of animal lovers – we need to remember that our farmyard friends are animals too!”

Brian Blessed
"Battery hens lead miserable lives confined in cages so small they do not even have room to spread their wings, let alone express their natural behaviours. I fully support any campaign which sets out to end their suffering and applaud those companies being celebrated by Compassion in World Farming’s Good Egg Awards. We have a duty to make sure that the animals we farm enjoy happy, healthy, productive lives. The commitment shown by these organisations is a significant move in the right direction. Please support Compassion in World Farming’s important work by getting baking this July"

Notes to the editor
High res photos of our celebrity supporters are available upon request.
High res logos for Compassion in World Farming and Bake with Compassion are available upon request.
The Good Egg Awards have been developed by Compassion in World Farming to celebrate companies that have committed to source only cage-free (barn, free-range or organic) eggs. Winners include Little Chef, Fox’s Biscuits, Starbucks Coffee Company UK, Virgin Trains and Walkers Shortbread.
The list of 2009 Good Egg Award winners in 17 other European countries is available at www.goodeggawards.com

For further information or to arrange interviews contact Valentina Moressa on 01483 521952 or 07771 926005 (out of office hours) or email valentina@ciwf.org

*egg's are provided by Adrian Hollister from 16 Nodmore, Chaddleworth from his own free range chickens

Five IT things that could start to save the environment

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:43:00 +0200

1. Turn it off. Lights at night - especially in offices. Computers, printers, photocopiers, coffee machines. They all consume power most often when they don't need to. Don't forget these devices consume power even when on stand-by or power saving mode.

2. Reuse, Repair and Recycle. IT is a nightmare and throwing things away because they look grubby or out of date.

3. Travel less and work from home. This not only improve a personal local social environment (getting up later, spending more time with family by not commuting), but also reduced our reliance upon heavily polluting transport systems. Of course this needs to be offset by high efficiency household heating and green energy. Perhaps something that employers will assist with in future years.

4. Spend time understanding 'need' and 'want'. Most waste occurs feeding the 'want' - do you need a new computer or want one? do you need the latest version of office or want it?

5. People are part of the environment - we have needs, social needs. Social needs cannot be met by IT, but IT can facilitate it. So when you plan your IT projects and proposals think about how it will help the people socially and the benefits that will bring to the welfare and sustainability of the business (and the communities within that business.)

Microsoft Windows Only for DEFRA's muddled web site

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:51:00 +0200

How darn annoying is it when you log into a web site, register yourself and then get told that you have to be using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Explorer. I know that Defra are not known for their top end IT but they are certainly not know for IT failures, except IMHO this one. Why do I have to buy a copy of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Explorer just to use their web site?

If you keep current on this blog you'll know that Adrian Hollister's chicken hotel is in business and wonderful girls they are too. You don't have to register that you keep chickens with DEFRA, but given the recent bird flu scares and other things I think it's a good idea too. It not only allows DEFRA to contact you, but helps them plot and plan the potential impact these type of diseases could have. So I've headed over to the DEFRA web site and after a lot of scrabbling around (I've no idea who put this site together, but user friendly did not come into it) I found the right link to register that your a keeper of poultry (for reference and I suggest you book mark it, you can find it here).

You can register there and link your poultry stocks to you online. Sounds great eh? Yes, but only if your running Microsoft's Windows apparently. I have Mac's and Linux machines and I see no need to pay Microsoft to use the online facilities of our government - especially when I'm doing them a favour by registering. I tried using Firefox and Safari and a whole bunch of other browsers, but for sure it's Microsoft only on their site.

What a let down and what a waste of time. I had to go down to the library to register. Madness eh.

After all the struggle and pain, I do still recommend that everyone register that they are keeping poultry with DEFRA using the link above.

Charity Facepaint at Brightwalton Easter Egg hunt

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:32:00 +0200

Adrian Hollister will be face painting for charity again this weekend. This week it's for The Freinds of Brightwalton's School in aid of more playground equipment. The face painting generated over £40 this year.

You can find more details of Brightwalton School here.

Oxford Green Fair 13th December

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:18:00 +0100

Oxfordshire Green Party’s annual Winter Green Fair will be held on
Saturday 13th December 2008, at Oxford Town Hall (10:00am to 4:00pm).
This highly successful fair is now in it's 28th year and regularly
attracts more than 2,000 visitors.

Stall booking details from: greenfair@greenoxford.com

If you want to meet Adrian Hollister or Pam Cooper we will be there trawling the stores and saying hi.

New casualty figures show need for 20 mph limits

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:44:00 +0200

From the Green Party Web site I found this article.. "New road casualty figures from the Department of Transport show that 20 mph limits in towns and cities are urgently needed, the Green Party Deputy Leader said today.

Adrian Ramsay was commenting on figures released today for road casualties in 2007 by the Department for Transport.
These figures show that pedestrian casualties are much higher for areas with high levels of deprivation, many of which are urban areas with low levels of car ownership.

The new statistics, analysed by deprivation score, show that the number of pedestrians killed or injured on the roads rises from 21 casualties per 100,000 people in the least deprived areas to 70 casualties per 100,000 people in the most deprived areas – more than a threefold increase for the poorest neighbourhoods.

A key policy of the Greens is to make 20 mph the default speed limit on residential roads in urban areas to reduce the number of deaths and injuries.

Adrian Hollister agrees with his comments, "Today's figures show that this is a social justice issue as well as a safety and environmental issue. It is shocking that the number of pedestrians killed or injured is so much higher for the most deprived areas."

“Greens across the UK are campaigning for 20 mph to be the default limit in built-up areas and Green Councillors putting forward these proposals to many local authorities.

“With a default 20 mph speed limit, fewer road humps are needed than with limited ‘home zones’, and it is easier to communicate the message that 20mph is the appropriate speed on residential roads where children and people of all ages need to be able to walk about safely.

“Lower speed limits don’t just create safer streets for everyone, they also mean better air quality and lower carbon emissions as they encourage more people to walk and cycle."

In May this year, after becoming the official opposition on Norwich City Council, Norwich Green Party succeeded in getting agreement from the Norwich Highways Agency Committee to introduce a 20mph limit across unclassified residential roads in the city. The Highways Committee has now agreed to introduce the first phase of this scheme by the end of this financial year.

Green Council groups in Lewisham, Hackney, Camden, Leicester and on many other councils across the country are also pushing for the measure, and a city-wide 20 mph speed limit was a key policy in the Greens’ London election campaign in May.

The city of Graz in Austria has half the rate of road deaths compared with similar cities in the UK, thanks to a speed limit on almost all roads of 30 kph (19 mph). When the new speed limit was introduced in 1992, there was a sharp decline of 24% in serious injuries on the roads. Collisions involving pedestrians fell 17% over ten years."

Newbury Farmers Market

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:54:00 +0200

Not sure how many of you have been to a farmers market, but the one in Newbury has to be one of the better ones. On the first Sunday of each month they hold the market. Parking is free and it's a minute walk from the train and bus stations. We did a little bit of leafleting and a whole lot of chatting to people there. Some of the most teasing stalls included some English wines and some stunning bacon rolls. We ended up with a bag more than full from there, with veg, some wonderfully tasty bacon and other treats. The disappointment was a cake from the cake stall - it had no taste and was of poor quality. This was outweighed by some hedgehog bread rolls for the girls - great idea and tasty too.

So after some wonderful bangers and mash, my recommendation from this months Farmers market are the bacon and sausages from Stark House Farm in Headley. They can be contacted on 01635 268 205.

The Kremlins are back!

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:11:00 +0200

Kremlins are back

I couldn't help but giggle at this cartoon from Schnews. "GAME, OSSETIA, MATCH - Georgia, the West-friendly state in the Caucuses, is invaded by Russia. The geo-politics of the oil-rich former Soviet states is not the walk-over which US and Western think it is, as Russia re-asserts it's position in the area.."

It's company car time again - but which car?

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:19:25 +0200

I've had my company car (a Toyota Prius) for four years now and it's going back soon. The car has been utterly reliable - it's never broken. The fuel economy is good, the noise it produces is very good, and it fits Adrian Hollister + family & dog with no problems. The down side is that it's quite expensive for a company car. To help me decide I've test driven a couple of other cars - the BMW 320d, an X type Jag, and one of the new Ford Focus slightly more efficient 1.6D cars.

The beemer was just boring. Boring boring boring. No sat nav, no... well anything. It felt like the seats were optional, the noise was terrible - tractors down my road are much quieter, and the fuel economy worse than the Prius (with the same driving style and roads). The Jag just felt cramped and the family decided against it. The Focus seems smaller than the Prius and again it came with no basic's (my personal opinion is that sat nav and bluetooth integration are mandatory and actually very cheap for the manufacturers to provide). Fuel economy was great, so overall it's OK but nothing stunning.

Disheartened by the marketing hype on the BMW and the massive cost of the add-on's for both the BMW 320d and the Ford Focus I gave up for a bit. We had a quick look at a C30, but it's too small and CO2 output is very high; the same seems to apply to most of the other cars we looked at that would fit our family.

So what was the decision in the end? Well we are getting another Prius. The reasons in order of preference: Sat Nav, Bluetooth built-in, not waking up the family driving away in the morning (cos it's so darn quiet), watching the tyre fitters trying to work out how to drive the car on to the ramp (seriously - this is a hoot), low CO2, utterly reliable and good fuel economy.

Downland snow in April

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:18:27 +0200

Woke up to quite a bit of snow today up here in the downloads of West Berkshire. It's a bit odd to see so much snow so late in the year but all the kids around here are making the most of it.

Discovery 300TDI Waste Veggie Oil Conversion - the update

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:49:00 +0100

It's been a while now since I've been running on waste veggie oil, virgin veggie oil and diesel in my Landy. The 300TDI engine is just so basic it seems to lap it up without any concerns, but about 10K miles on here is my summary to date:

My random notes:

a. I replaced my heater plugs as the starting was a nightmare - whilst doing this I discovered that none of the heater plugs were actually glowing or getting warm! and by the look of some of them, they hadn't been for some time (well before the veggie conversion I'm guessing). New plugs are in and everything starts first time - even on pure veggie oil at 3-8 degrees outside temp.

b. IMHO technically Waste Veggie Oil is much much much better. It seems to burn cleanly, give good performance and leave little smoke. Normal virgin veggie oil is ok and seems to give a performance akin to Diesel but I've only gone through a small amount of the stuff. Of course the best way to use veggie oil has to be by using local waste veggie oil - so I'm not sure if I'm evaluating my estimate of performance of the waste oil on my moral interest in localisation. Either way it does seem to be the best.

c. The glow plug part of the veggie oil conversion seems to provide the best boost in starting and early running performance. The hot water side helps later (but almost by then the engine is already warm and handles it much better anyway).

d. Best ratio of veggie oil to diesel so far: Warmer temps (+10 degrees C) 100% veggie oil no problems. Cooler (0-10 degrees C) 60% Diesel 40% Veggie Oil. Cold (-8 - 0 degrees C) 98% Diesel 2% Veggie Oil. There is nothing scientific about this - this is just what I've experienced. With my heater plugs changed it may well allow me to run higher mixes.

e. Be pragmatic - use an injector cleaner regularly, don't expect miracles, and don't expect to make all your money back in one or two tanks - it's about the environmental savings as well you know.

f. Last thing... getting hold of waste veggie oil is getting very difficult!

Turn the Lights Off at Night Newbury

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:38:17 +0100

I've been interested in the question of street and shop lighting for some time and I've never quite got to grips with why people and businesses seem compelled to leave the lights on all night.

I'm in the lucky position of being north of Newbury in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Our village and the surrounding villages have no street lights. Everyone who is going to be out at night carries a torch, even visitors learn quickly that a torch helps them back to their car. We look up and see a blackish sky, but we can easily see the yellow glow of Newbury, Reading etc.

Driving around the towns you see offices, shops and even houses leaving on lights when they are not in. It would be very interesting to see if one of the smaller towns such as Newbury could enforce or persuade local businesses to turn the lights off at night. Perhaps an incentive around the business rates would interest them? It would also be very interesting to see if people who are used to street lights could survive again with few or no street lights on a night. Is safety really the concern or just fear of the dark?

Health Risk from breaking Low Energy light bulbs

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:28:31 +0100

"The Environment Agency has called for more information to be made available on the health and environmental risks posed by low-energy light bulbs."

BBC News reports on the mercury in Low Energy light bulbs.

Environment Agency Web Site

Is this really a concern though? I just wonder how many nasty chemicals go into the production of standard light bulbs as well.

Landrover Discovery 300TDI running on 100% SVO (straight veggie oil)

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:28:00 +0200

I've been running the landy on 50/50 veggie to diesel with no problem, but now the colder mornings are creaping in she is starting to get a little grumpy. Once warmed up the landy performs as usual without any clear difference (although people do feel compelled to tell me that it smells like a chip shop). I've added a heater element around the fuel filter which just cut's off by thermistor when it reaches 90 degrees and kicks back in at 70; but this is just not enough for the colder mornings and days.

So, I've invested in something to make the veggie oil a little bit warmer (and therefore runnier) - it's from Vow2. I've bought the VOW2DW+ unit which heats the oil from a couple of glow plugs and plumbs into the heating system of the engine. It pre-heats fuel on the way to the filter and warms it nicely on route to the pump and injectors.

Continue reading "Landrover Discovery 300TDI running on 100% SVO (straight veggie oil)"

Sustainable Development

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:42:00 +0200

One great thing about being part of the Green Party is the people I get to meet. It must be the only political party out there where all the members have such a enthusiastic, keen and personal interest in green issues, our society and wellbeing. I had a great chat with Stan Green last week about the green party, green issues and I managed to get a sneak preview of his ideas for an eco community site based on his stunning EcoSphere design. I would very much encouage councils and government to start pushing for this type of development as it is a sustainable and practical way of moving forward with our housing issues.

Please take a moment to check out the Sustainable Development web site.

Greenie with a Land Rover

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:50:38 +0200

Oh how completely mad it seems, but yes, I've sold the car and got a landy. A 12 year old Land Rover Discovery. So what on earth is Adrian Hollister, a green bigot, doing with a diesel drinking pollution monster? Ok here is my rationale....

1. Re-use. The Landy is old - 12 years old. More than my old car would have made (before falling apart). So in my mind it's a question of re-using something that can be readily repaired. Most car's now are disposable - they last 5-10 years before they are scrapped and crushed. Very few Land Rovers get to the crusher, most are kept on the road and for this alone I think it would be worth a greener credential.

2. Alternative Fuels. Very few other car's adapt so well to running on other fuel types. The Disco can easily be converted to run on straight veggie oil (SVO), but is just as happy with bio-diesel's.

3. Need. Unlike most we do have a couple of acres of land and access is via a mud track. Not much else would get there so easily and not much else would be able to carry so much equipment up there.

4. Community. There is a great Land Rover community out there. Mechanics are local, garages are local, the business and the knowledge is spread from local communities to the world via forums and events. There is a great spirit of community in the Landy world.

Am I serious though? Attributing green credentials to a Land Rover?