On
2nd September we set up on the Quay in Exeter for our second public
event outside of the woods - the Moretonhampstead
Summer Fair being the first time we did a stall and demonstrations.
We joined about a dozen other organisations for an event billed
as 'Fayre Future' which was sponsered by the Co-op bank. We had
been invited by the local Oxfam group, that was organising the event,
to provide cycle powered entertainment.
Our
cycle power sound system made use of our Mk II generator, which
incorprated chain guards and was therefore much safer for public
use than our first version. The voltage produced by this system
proved to high for our amplifier and caused it to emit smoke and
a loud bang - and yet it continued to work! Putting a battery inline
to regulate the voltage solved the problem but spoiled the demonstration
a little since if you stopped pedalling the music would continue
for quite a while even when using a flat battery.
Since our last green woodworking demonstrations we had joined the
Association of Pole Lathe Turners
and arranged public liability insurance to cover this and future public
events. This meant we could show people how to use the tools and let
them have ago. We made mauls, gluts, and a new heavy long handled
mallet.
As
well as the green woodworking we were demonstrating rag
rug making on home made peg looms and also did a demonstration
of paper making. The Mayor of Exeter was delighted to met us having
been reading about our planning application
in the paper that very morning. She said that she would like to come
and visit us at Steward Wood and see what we are doing.
Others
groups represented at the fair included;Amnesty
International, The
Vegan Society, Moor Trees, Devon
Food Links, Exeter LETS, Offwell Environmental Enducation Center,
as well as Oxfam and the Co-op bank. There was also a very large group
of local african style drummers.
It was a great day and well attended. We spoke to lots of people
interested in our planning progress and also met the local contact
for the National
Small Woods Association (of which we are a member) and the Local
Agenda 21 officer of the Enviromment Agency. We ended the day looking
forward to our next event, in Tavistock
the following saturday and went in search of a chip shop.
