First 4BsHive meeting - September in Berlin

It was still very warm; 32 Centigrade previous day

From left: our host Pit van de Loo (Berlin), Steve Parry (Bristol), Szonja Andrasev (Budapest) & Ivor McGillivray (Bristol)

Lunch at the Neukoln Tenant Initiative for older people

One of the last cold war watch towers is now a museum

Local allottments

A women's forge making decorative ironwork and horseshoes

Cycling is the norm in the Berlin lifestyle

Two green campaign groups oppose each other over an outside activities space needed for a school

A fun welcome for children!

Pit (Berlin), Corina (Bistrita), Steve & Ivor (Bristol) & Szonja (Budapest)

A floating swimming pool - one of these would be uber popular in Bristol docks...



The German election was approaching...

Tempelhof airport closed a year ago - the authorities were afraid of drug dealers using the space so closed it with no plans or vision for the future

Frogs at the entrance to the infants school

Lively music culture in Berlin - I hope to sample it next time

Superb brickwork on a warehouse from DDR days - now a fun and busy flea market





GPS hire-bikes have been here for 10 years - Bristol is just about to get them...

Shop for cultural diversity in Neukoln near Pit's place

Wesserstrasse - in Berlin apartment buildings are the norm for accommodation - this one's been refurbished

4BsHive start-up seminar

In Berlin...

European collaborative green mapping - update

We recently heard from the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme regarding our application for a Partnership project with Berlin, Budapest and Bistrita (Transylvania, Romania). To our delight the news is all four partners have been approved! The project's aim is to facilitate collaborative green mapping within and between the four partners. We will use the Open Green Map system which interactively charts natural, cultural and green living sites.

This is a transnational project between four river cities: Bristol (UK), Berlin (Germany), Budapest (Hungary) and Bistrita (Romania). The project will set in motion a collaborative, green map-making process within and between these four European partners. This will involve the creation of online and possibly paper maps charting local resources for more sustainable living. These thematic maps will use the internationally standardized Green Map System (GMS) of icons.

Participants will have the opportunity to gain new ICT skills and learn more about sustainability issues locally and internationally. They will exchange experiences and learn about other European communities on Study Visits. This will be achieved through a participatory process that is creative, enjoyable and enhances confidence. The process may include storytelling, photography and film-making through group and public events.

Outputs and Products will include a Study Visit to each Partner, a shared website, four local green maps, documentary film (online/DVD) and a European Green Mapping Guide. Target Groups will include those from disadvantaged and under-represented sectors including older people and those without basic qualifications.

We will be welcoming participants from all three partner cities to an event in Bristol this October. We will be working with Knowle West Media Centre as our local partner in this project.

Grundtvig Preparatory Visit - the Movie!

4BsHive from Steve Parry on Vimeo.