Smallholder magazine have started a new page to about clubs and societies connected to smallholding - from bee keeping to breed clubs, machinery associations to smallholder training groups. It’s a page for you to keep in touch with other clubs, find like-minded individuals and learn of events and meetings in your area. It’s what you make it. It can be more than one page so do keep sending us your news and we’ll do our best to fit it in. Please send by email to liz.wright@smallholder.co.uk or post your newsletters to the Editorial Office, Hook House, Hook Road, Wimblington, March, Cambs PE15 0QL. Remember for events to allow at least six weeks from sending to publication eg in January please send dates for events from January onwards.

We’ll be compiling our annual list of dates which gets ever larger so please send us any club dates such as shows, demos or talks. Suffolk Smallholders Society The Society last held its own show in 2008 and has since tried other ways to encourage members to meet up, show their animals and generally enjoy a day with like minded people.

We have now held two members’ days on host members’ holdings when as well as having the opportunity to see what goes on there, members have had a chance to meet up and also bring along birds and animals or smallholding items to display if they wish.

This year for the first time we also took part in the Suffolk Punch Day at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk on 15 August. The day is a regular event in the Helmingham Hall calendar and this year along with the Suffolk Punch Trust and their magnificent horses and displays by the British Driving Society with their traditional horse drawn vehicles, our members provided information about smallholding and a chance for the public to see some of their birds and animals. We also had a membership information stall which attracted sixteen new members.

Another event which is looked forward to in the society calendar is the Annual General Meeting in September not so much for the formalities but the fantastic meal which follows. Some years ago it was decided to discontinue the annual Christmas meal and instead have one after the AGM with as much of the food as possible provided by smallholders from their holdings. This has not only proved to be a great social occasion but also encourages more members to attend. Our members also receive a monthly Newsletter, training day opportunities and the chance to visit other holdings on a ‘Nosey’ Sunday.

If you would like to become a member, please contact our membership secretary Wendy Brame by email on wendy.brame@crumblycottage.co.uk. by phone 01449 711178, by writing to her at 6, Turnpike, Stonham Parva, Suffolk IP14 5JS or visit our website www.suffolksmallholders.co.uk.

East Essex Smallholders Group was formally constituted in July 2011.

They are a group of micro farmers who have different size smallholdings; some of them have a few backyard chickens, or maybe a pig, whilst others have small herds/flocks.

The group aims to: Share knowledge (via a newsletter) and promote good husbandry and market gardening practices; Further the group in the local community, raising funds to achieve this.

We do this by providing information and advice participation in events and holding monthly group meetings.

On occasions the group visits local producers and invites guest speakers.

To become a member email our membership officer at membership@eastessexsmallholders.org.uk who will forward an application or check out http://www.eastessexsmallholders.org.uk http://eastessexsmallholders.blogspot.com Transition Cambridge has a wonderful quote on their newsletter - Transition Cambridge - Changing because we want to – before we have to http ://www . transitioncambridge . org They offer a wealth of events from their Transition Café with local Community Supported Agriculture schemes to a one day conference in February. On Saturday 18th "Alternatives to Economic Growth" - a one day conference is being held Chaired by Tony Juniper and featuring, in the morning session, prominent speakers Molly Scott-Cato, Rupert Read, Miriam Kennett and a voice from the New Economics Foundation.

The afternoon session will turn to grass roots initiatives (contributions invited) and an inspirational Open Space workshop to stimulate thought and action. They wish to welcome people from a wide range of groups to make this a really productive event so if you have any ideas do get in touch via their website.

How can we escape the dependency of a system based on continuous economic growth? What alternatives are there?

St Paul’s Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1JP Transition Cambridge is one of the transition movements that are UK wide. To find out if you have one in your area then check out www.transitionnetwork.org to find your nearest town or village.