Reimagine our town, rebuild our world

Taking action on climate change is now critical. At Transition Town Lewes in East Sussex, we believe that, by working together as a local community, we can find brilliant and inspiring ways to reduce our contribution to global warming, manage our impact on the planet – and help our town to thrive.

‘Transition Town Lewes’ simply means we’re working to transform our town into a community that isn’t reliant on fossil fuels and that can live, work and feed itself in ways that support, rather than damage, our natural world.

We run projects, provide information and host talks and workshops to enable everyone do their bit to tackle the challenges our world faces. Check out what we’re doing – and come and join us!

News

People’s Assembly: How can we safeguard our water?

People’s Assembly: How can we safeguard our water?

People’s Assembly: How can we safeguard our water?   As part of the Our River, Our Sea! season, Lewes Climate Hub held a People’s Assembly, inviting anyone to come and share their views on what’s needed to protect our water from pollution, drought and other...

Depot staff get busy with the bees

Depot staff get busy with the bees

Depot staff get busy with the bees   On 4th July, Depot Cinema in Lewes welcomed Alice Parfitt, Changing Chalk Conservation Officer from Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust to their living roof and orchard garden to train staff members in the...

Small electricals: A reader writes…

Small electricals: A reader writes…

Small electricals: A reader writes… Jane T emailed Lewes Climate Hub asking: “Do you know if there is anywhere in Lewes that takes old light bulbs and small electrical equipment for people who don't have a car to get to the tip.” Ann Link gave this response. Hi Jane...

Help out at Eco Open Houses

Help out at Eco Open Houses

Help out at Eco Open Houses This September, local community energy company OVESCo is holding two Eco Open House weekends. If you’re passionate about showing people how they can make their homes greener and more energy efficient – here’s an opportunity to help. At the...

Help shape the South Downs Local Plan

Help shape the South Downs Local Plan

Help shape the South Downs Local Plan Work has begun on reviewing the South Downs Local Plan. The Plan guides decisions on development across the South Downs National Park, including Lewes. It can influence a range of issues from action on climate change and...

Lewes Allotment Wildlife Surveys

Lewes Allotment Wildlife Surveys

Lewes Allotment Wildlife Surveys The Lewes Mosaic Project is a partnership between the Railway Land Wildlife Trust and Common Cause Cooperative which is working to connect wildlife to personal and community wellbeing. As well as supporting green wellbeing activities,...

Events

Talk: Should I get a heat pump?

Talk: Should I get a heat pump?

Talk: Should I get a heat pump?   Thursday 9 March, Elephant & Castle Pub, White Hill, Lewes, BN7 2DJ, 7.30pm (doors open 7.15pm), FREE (donations welcome) Lots of people have been asking us if a heat pump would be a greener, cheaper way to heat their home...

Divest Protest: Join the Tug of War

Divest Protest: Join the Tug of War

Divest Protest: Join the Tug of War   Tuesday 6 December, County Hall, Lewes, BN7 1UE Lewes (meet at Lewes Train Station at 9am) Wish our county council would take real action on climate change? Then join the protest to demand that ESCC shows it’s on the right...

Seedy Saturday 2023 – Helpers needed!

Seedy Saturday 2023 – Helpers needed!

Seedy Saturday 2023 – Helpers needed! Seedy Saturday is Lewes’ annual seed swap, gardening and growing event that attracts hundreds of visitors. Now it’s looking for volunteers, including those who can help with social media, as Vicki Trenhaile of Common Cause...

Ouse Valley Solar Farm open events

Ouse Valley Solar Farm open events

Ouse Valley Solar Farm open events 9th, 10th, and 12th November – Ringmer and Lewes Come and learn about the proposed solar farm near Ringmer that could generate enough energy to power 4,000 homes – and will be funded by community members. Plans are underway by local...

Lewes’s favourite green podcasts

In lockdown, podcasts are proving a great way to be inspired, get new ideas and learn from others’ real-life experiences – especially when it comes to taking action on climate change. So we asked seven of Lewes’s environmental movers and shakers what they’re listening to.

Helen Meade - Programme Manager, Railway Land Wildlife Trust

Mothers of Invention – episodes 55 mins
One podcast I have been really enjoying recently is Mothers of Invention. It covers everything from the crucial role of indigenous communities to how microbes can help in carbon capture, with great humanity and a good dose of humour.

The Wild – episodes 10 mins-30 mins
I’ve never been very good at picking favourites, so would also mention The Wild with Chris Morgan, especially the fabulous soundscape episodes, which are like a balm for the soul.

Tim Rabjohns - Plastic Free Lewes and Lewes Open Eco Houses

 

How To Save a Planet – episodes 45-60 mins
I really like this podcast partly because the two presenters are very personable but also because they look at climate issues in a very human way.  For example the episode called ‘Trying To Talk To Your Family About Climate Change? Here’s how.’ – is something that I struggle with and they illustrated the point by interviewing a US senator and his son.  The former is very conservative and was anti climate change at first and his son talks about how he won him over, over time.  They also give practical tips in the show notes

There are many good episodes, including Breaking Building’s Addiction To Fossil Fuels, where a business man retrains to offer financial products for the greening of buildings affordable to low-income households in New York

People Fixing The World – episodes 25 mins
This show is not only about the environment, but many of the episodes are about solutions people have found to specific environmental issues e.g. saving Dolphins in Cape Cod, new solar technology, solar railways, building with fungi etc.  I always come away having learnt something and feeling better because I know the solutions are out there. Friendly, no nonsense style that you’d expect from the BBC!

Mark Engineer – Organiser, Extinction Rebellion Lewes

The End Of The World Has Already Happened – episodes 28 mins
Don’t be put off by the title! This BBC three-parter is a lot more positive that it sounds. Actually, that’s not true. It pulls no punches about the fact we’re in deep trouble. Which is fine – because we’re in deep trouble. But it’s not without hope, and is particularly interesting on dealing psychologically with the scale of the crisis and the helplessness we all feel. Plus some William Blake poetry.

Lesley Healey – Director, Common Cause Cooperative

What Planet Are We On?episodes 60 mins
This series presented by Liz Bonnin talks about solutions. Not pie in the sky, far in the future things (though they often get a mention), but practical actions on lots of different fronts that will make a difference to our planet and our ability to occupy it kindly and carefully. More to the point, things that individuals can achieve.

English Pastoral – episodes 14 mins
I also recommend listening to ‘English Pastoral’ by James Rebanks, farmer and author of the best-selling ‘A Shepherd’s Life’. I was just about teenaged when the farmer ripped out the hedges and trees along the field behind our house to make one enormous field. Sitting crouched under piled up straw bales, listening to the mice is a cherished childhood memory and one that I hope future children may experience.

Matthew Bird - Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Lewes District Council; Climate Lead at Sussex Wildlife Trust

The Climate Question on the World Service is wide ranging and very listenable. I listen to Costing the Earth regularly which picks some really interesting subjects and Crossing Continents has the odd climate change episode from a Finnish perspective or something!

I’m really interested in climate adaptation as I don’t think there’s enough public examination of what we need to do now to deal with locked-in climate change. Listened to a few episodes of America Adapts which annoys me in style as much as it interests me in content! Generally I watch/listen to Ted Talks especially the two Georges, Monbiot and Marshall!

Audrey Jarvis - Chairperson of Friends of Lewes Trees Committee, Lewes Urban Arboretum

Tweet of the Day – episodes 5 mins
I enjoy Tweet of the Day, BBC Radio 4 and available on Sounds as a back catalogue. I like it because it reminds me of how good it is to be out and about in Lewes and hear and see the birds singing.

Dinah Morgan – Management team, Lewes Climate Hub

George Monbiot – The invisible ideology – Part 1- Consumerism, capitalism and neo-liberalism – 47 mins

Not a podcast per se, but I strongly recommend this talk by George Monbiot recorded in February 2020 exploring the forces that have led to the dire state our world is in.  In three-quarters of an hour, it explained so much that was just an unclear shape in my mind and turned it into a coherent form. As usual Monbiot was eloquent with loads of interesting references. I cannot recommend it enough!