BEAMZ Trust CIC have challenged the triple-threat issue of Climate-emergency, biodiversity loss and poor wellbeing. Each of these are a cause of the other two, and are in turn caused by the other two. There are so many interdependencies and feedback loops that they all need to be tackled together. And BEAMZ are tackling it with wooden bicycles. The biggest sector of our excessive energy use is embodied energy. That is the energy required to make all the ‘stuff’ we consume in our day to day lives. Most of this energy is used in the mining and refining of the materials from which they are made. Because these processes take place in distant lands we have little knowledge or oversight of the process. For this reason the environmental outcome of our purchases are not included in the UK total BEAMZ are demonstrating that a remarkable sustainable material is growing in our local area. The bikes are made from Coppice wood poles. Small broadleaf trees grow in parklands, roadsides and riversides, as well as coppice-managed woodland. When these trees are cut, the root live on and generates a new set of poles which can be cut again in 7 to 12 years. The root continues to sequester carbon, support the soil and maintain the porosity of the soil, reducing flooding. Periodic cutting of the poles lower the canopy allowing sunlight to reach the woodland floor. This unleashed a flowering of woodland plants which have lain dormant during the dark period. These support invertebrates which are the base of the food-chain for amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. These animals poop and die in the woodland providing a supply of nutrient to support the regeneration of the trees. Using the poles in their natural state minimises processing and offers high strength because the grain structure is uninterrupted. Using this material to make bike frames BEAMZ are putting it head to head with the best structural materials available. The process creates working and volunteering opportunities which involve working in woodland, working with wood, working with your hands and working to push back on the triple-threat problem. Once the bikes leave the workshop, they attract plenty of attention, offering us a great opportunity to draw attention to the important issues. BEAMZ are also pioneering ways to sustain and support the rider’s attachment to the bike, both by technical support of the bike and creating a riding community to emotional support the rider. This will ensure a long product life. BEAMZ is unusual in encompassing a significant technical development to develop the processing of the material, debarking, hollowing and joining, in a way that creates a reliable structure in an economic time. Much of the workload in the 23-24 year has been improving the special machinery and jigs used in this process and significant advances have been made. Improved processes for binding the joints have greatly enhanced the reliability and appearance of the bikes.

Consultation with stakeholders, together with other BEAMZ activity during the 24 -25 year has been seriously curtailed by a health issue suffered by my wife and fellow director Sarah Coates, whose care will be the focus of my attention in future. This, together with my advancing years have led to reflections on the future of BEAMZ. A number of factors have become clear. 1. I have had no success in attracting other board members who would be in a position to take on some of the functions of running the CIC, such as community engagement. I have also been brought to the conclusion that my own ability at multi-tasking is a limitation. 2. Some of the running costs such as insurance are high, due to the need to cover the use of bicycles of non-standard materials and the potential for accidents. 3. The sale price of the bikes has covered the materials and parts, but has never come close to a reasonable return on the months of work required to build and finish a bike, from woodland to the road. We have had some remarkable achievements such as building a pair of bikes in 2016 which have been giving continuous service since, and building the Tower Power bike, which adventurer Jordan Wylie MBE rode from Pisa in Italy to Blackpool, some 3000km in 30 days, carrying his camping gear. 4. I also have to address a backlog of repairs to my house, including modifications to reduce its environmental impact and energy costs and make it ready for future climate events. For that reason, I have with regret decided to bring BEAMZ trust CIC to a close. I hope that in my own time I will be able to document the learning that has been gained from the experience.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration