Eastbourne’s first Climate Emergency Centre
After six busy and successful weeks Eastbourne’s first Climate Emergency Hub has reached the end of its temporary lease in The Beacon Centre at the end of December. During this time the hub team organised over 50 workshops and took turns to keep the hub open as a drop-in centre for the public, seven days a week. They are now searching for new premises.
Many people are concerned about the Climate Emergency and don’t know what they can do to help. The hub brought together over 44 groups with the purpose of showing local people the range of environmental and social justice groups operating in this area, how they can get involved and, or what they can do on a personal level to reduce their carbon footprint. The group would like to thank the Beacon Centre for providing a temporary space for the hub to operate.
The workshops included:
Mercedes from Great British Sewing Bee, who gave a talk about how to Refashion, Reimagine and Reutilise clothing. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries and there is a lot we can do to try and reduce the impact it has.
Ben from Crosslands nursery, who gave a passionate talk about the British flower industry and how he grows Alstroemeria flowers in an organic and sustainable way, at very competitive prices. Ben described how most supermarket flowers are from abroad with a significantly higher carbon footprint and environmental impact in the way they are grown.
Chris the mushroom man, from Hastings Transition Town, brought his mushroom kits and explained how easy it was to grow them. He also explained how important the mushroom network is for the health of our forests, a vitally important carbon sink.
Neil Peters the Council’s Community and Recycling Engagement Officer, ran a recycling workshop/drop-in, where the public were invited to ask any questions they might have to reduce, reuse or recycle more waste.
There was a panel discussion on The Cost of Living Crisis hosted by Greenpeace, and Friends of the Earth launched their Warm Homes Campaign.
Other activities included a bike repair workshop from Sustrans, a bird box making workshop from Eastbourne Shed, information and workshops from Bespoke Cycling Campaign Group, Plastic Free Eastbourne, Eastbourne Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, The Vegan Society and many other local groups.
Andrew Durling From Eastbourne and District Friends of the Earth said:
‘It’s been a real pleasure to work with so many enthusiastic volunteers dedicated to informing local people about ways they can get involved in helping to create a safer healthier climate future, for us and future generations, the Beacon staff have been superb and the response from the public has been very positive.’
Find out more here https://linktr.ee/eastbourneehive
