Transition Black Isle | Welcome to the Age of Transition

The road to Roskill Mains - Julian Paren

Transition Black Isle is about helping Black Isle communities thrive in the face of Climate Change. We run community markets, we support local food and drink producers, we help people grow more food, we encourage non-car travel, support energy saving and promote reduction of single use plastics - and much more. If we in the Black Isle work together to manage more of our own resources, we can thrive despite whatever climate change and the end of fossil fuels throws our way.

All of us will be affected, all of us can do something for our lives and our children's lives. How can we help each other?

Welcome to a world in Transition

Community

LOCAL people are coming together, taking positive, practical steps to tackle the biggest challenges we face and create a resilient Black Isle. Strong, vibrant communities will find themselves much better equipped to move forward in the face of over-dependence on fossil fuels and the potentially disastrous climate change which is likely to result.

Fossil Fuels and Climate Change

Our way of life is largely powered by fossil fuels like oil and coal. Practically all aspects of the lifestyle we take for granted depend on oil. Food, heating, transport, agriculture, hospitals, medicines; modern western society revolves around the assumption that we have - and will continue to have - plentiful supplies of cheap fossil fuels. But the energy cost of extracting them is increasing and carbon dioxide emissions from burning them are a major cause of global warming and source of pollution. We must leave the fossil fuels in the ground, develop alternative energy sources and reduce total energy consumption.

Climate change is happening. The October 2018 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned there is only 12 years to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5C and avoid catastrophic environmental breakdown. Sir David Attenborough told the December 2018 UN Climate Change conference in Poland: “Right now we are facing a manmade disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years: climate change. If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.”

Challenge and Opportunity

Looking these issues squarely in the face it becomes clear we must adapt and change the way we live, which means being prepared to adopt a more frugal lifestyle than we have become accustomed to. Getting people involved in making our communities resilient and helping to push the change to a low carbon society is what Transition Black Isle is all about.

The good news is it's not all about doom and gloom. Living more locally is more fulfilling, more rewarding and ultimately a lot more fun than rushing in pursuit of an unsustainable lifestyle with barely time to think, let alone get to know our neighbours. It can and should be "more a party than a protest".

Find out more about TBI and get involved!

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Community Markets

There is a Community Market nearly every week in a different village on the Black Isle, selling local produce and crafts and offering the opportunity of a chat over refreshments provided to raise funds for local groups or charities.

Food and Growing

TBI has produced a comprehensive Growing Guide (still available) for the north of Scotland, run several series of 'Grow North' workshops on a range of growing topics, and bought an apple press, which is very popular for juice making in the autumn.

Black Isle Larder

The Black Isle Larder website replaces an earlier 'Your Local Larder' booklet which had become out of date. It provides up to date information both to local people and visitors about Black Isle producers and suppliers offering food and drink largely sourced here.

Travel and Tourism

TBI's Million Miles project reduced car use significantly, and we continue to encourage public transport and cycling, with an associated bike hire business and publication of an Active Travel map and guides to Black Isle cycle routes.

Plastics and waste

With pollution from single-use plastics a top cause of environmental concern, a group has been set up within TBI to exchange ideas and information on the issue and ultimately to change the attitudes and actions of people and businesses on the Black Isle.

Potato Day

In March each year TBI's most popular event offers gardeners the opportunity to select their seed potatoes from around 70 different varieties at a fixed price per tuber. Add onion setts, all day refreshments, variety and growing information and advice and a seed swap stall, and it's no wonder it draws the crowds.

Latest News...

Covid-19 - Local information - Outdoor markets Saturday 28 March Transition Black Isle Our Local Larder All Community Markets, Grow North... More >>

If you missed PotatoDay - Tatties still available We have seed tatties left over from Potato Day - available for anyone who wants to have a go at 'growing y... More >>

Bus timetable changes from 23 March Stagecoach has announced temporary timetable changes for all its Highland services from Monday 23 Ma... More >>

Forthcoming Events…

Saturday 28 March: NA World Wildlife Fund 'Earth Hour'; NA North Kessock Community Market CANCELLED
Tuesday 31 March: 19:30 TBI Admin (Directors) meeting, 7.30 online
Saturday 4 April: 11:00 Transition Town Forres Cafe Collective CANCELLED; NA Fortrose Community Market CANCELLED
Thursday 9 April: NA Common Weal/InverYESs Study for Action workshop
Saturday 11 April: 11:00 Cromarty Community Market CANCELLED
Saturday 18 April: NA Film 'Bikes vs Cars' Muir Hub POSTPONED

Events to add to calendar? Contact Us.

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