despina |
NB the finalised plan is now available at the bottom of this thread.
Hi everyone, wow, I haven’t been keeping up with the Forum, there’s soo much info on here!
Gathering-wise…
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BACKGROUND
A few of us met up at Climate Camp, and found talking to each other was really useful – and pleasant! So though it would be a good idea to have a UK-wide CRAGs meeting. Back then March seemed a long way away – so loots of time to organise.. Nick and I were there from the Leeds group, and offered to host the meeting, as Leeds is more or less in the middle of the UK, and there is a social centre here which we could use for meetings and lots of housing coops that could potentially put people up.
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SUGGESTION
Perhaps a bit late in the day, we thought it would be a better idea if we combined a get-together with treeplanting.. Who wants to be in a meeting room in Leeds on a weekend – and we are really mostly getting to know each other. And planting trees is always a good excuse..
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PROVISIONAL PLAN
There is a “local” charity in Calderdale who organise treeplanting with various groups (www.treesponsibility.com, 01422 843222 – The Treesponsibility Office, treesponsibility@yahoo.co.uk), who I’ve contacted last week. It seems the only weekend that we could feasibly organise going is 8-9 March, which is the Treesponsibility birthday weekend. That would cost us £45 per person, including (lovely) food and accommodation (and saplings!). Treesponsibility are really good at taking care of people.. The normal plan is
- meet up at Leeds train station, or on the train to Hebden Bridge, some time that we can arrange on Friday afternoon (7 March); train to HB is 45-50 mins from Leeds (or turn up some time on Friday at Hebden Bridge train station, or we could let you know where we’re staying/planting if you can’t make it till Sat.)
- we can arrange to be picked up from the station by the Treesponsibility van, or take our bikes with us and cycle – or walk to Height Gate, a lovely converted barn on a hill near HB (about an hour’s walk)
- all meals will be vegan and cooked on site by the Treesponsibility lot, including soup and tea/cake brought to the treeplanting site – they’re great cooks, so food will be a treat! i could also arrange to buy a few bottles of local organic ale and have it delivered if people are interested!
- accommodation: floor space, so we need to bring mats and sleeping bags. The barn should be pretty warm though! If someone would really need a bed, we’d need to let them know because I think there is only 1 or 2.
- on sat and sun morning we will be driven (alas!) to the planting site by the lovely Billy in the treesponsibility van.
- then return to the train station on sunday by any of the means mentioned above, and at a time we can arrange.
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ACTION
So, in order to see how many people are up for this suggestion, PLEASE REPLY TO ME, OR TO THIS THREAD, WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
If you’re up for a CRAGs Gathering,
(1) are you available on the weekend 8-9 March, and, if so,
(2) would you like to meet up with the rest of us in Leeds or Hebden Bridge on Friday/what time could you make it.
If you’re not able to make 8-9 March please still get back to me, and let me know when you would be available – it might turn out that 60% of the people who want to come can’t make this weekend but could make the one before or after or something!
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I’D BE LUCKY
I really hope you’ve got to this part of the thread! :)
Hope to see you soon
Love
Despina





Yes great idea. I would like to take part
Rick M
Hi, I would love to meet up with other CRAGGers and this sounds like a fun way to do it. I am recruiting for a CRAG for Sheffield & the surrounding towns. This looks like a great idea. I will reserve that weekend.