Grain and Flame – Recycling Comes of Age

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by Keir Hartley

The sustainability movement has achieved great things in the last decade. “Repair”, “recycle” and “reuse” are words that everyone uses now, from businesses and TV shows to repair cafés across the country including the ones run by Sussex Green Living. Dare we hope they’re here to stay? The evidence suggests so, as we discovered when we visited Peter and Kim Beadle and their seven dogs of Grain and Flame in Goring by Sea.

Grain and Flame transforms discarded materials into cherished garden ornaments. Old cutlery is metamorphosed into hovering dragonflies. Chicken wire becomes lifelike owls frozen in flight. Copper is beaten and welded into graceful lilies. Peter got the idea after a lifetime in the building trade. Kim soon joined in. A happy hobby became a business, and the building industry provided the raw materials for one of their star items. Read more

Crafternoons in Horsham

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This October Sussex Green Living will be opening the doors to something new at the Horsham Repair Café. We are calling it Crafternoons, and the idea is simple: an afternoon each month where people can sit together, bring something they are making, and enjoy a couple of hours of creativity and company. The support of the National Lottery Community Fund has made it possible to add this new strand to our work, and we are excited to see where it leads.  

Crafternoons will take place from twelve until two, alongside the usual Repair Café. The set-up is very informal. Some people might arrive with their knitting or embroidery, others with a sketchbook or some mending to do. There will be craft materials provided as well, many of them rescued or repurposed. The community café will be open for tea, coffee and cake, and the pace will be slow and sociable.   Read more

Batting for Change: Repair and Reuse Take Root in Local Cricket

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In a small workshop in Haywards Heath, cricket bats are being restored to life. Barney Morris,
better known as Barney Bats, repairs around 50 damaged bats each week. After a busy
weekend of matches, his workbench can resemble a triage unit as bats arrive in need of care
and attention.

Morris, who runs the cricket department at Wisdom Sports in town, is on a mission to prove
that a cracked bat need not be discarded. His passion began when he started fixing senior bats
for junior players, driven by the high cost of new kit. “The price of cricket bat willow means
getting a good bat is really expensive,” he explained. “Now I get donated adult bats which I can
repair and resize for children and I can sell them at a fraction of the cost of a new bat.”

This local reuse initiative reflects a growing shift towards circularity in sport. The
Farnham-based Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) recently coordinated Cricket Gear Reuse
(CGR) pilot schemes in the Farnham area of Surrey and in Wandsworth, South London. In
summer 2024, clubs collected and redistributed over 500 items including bats, pads, gloves
and shirts that might otherwise have ended up unused or in landfill. These schemes saved
approximately 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and diverted over 100 kilograms of gear from the
waste stream. The items of kit were collected, checked and sorted through drop-off points at
local cricket clubs and at a convenience store and then redistributed to state schools, young
players and an Afghan refugee.

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A Simpler Way: Life With Refills

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Once I figured out how to make refill work in my life, it’s become something beautifully simple. I’m lucky to have an organic shop nearby that stocks seasonal fruit and veg, refill options for pantry staples, toiletries and household cleaning, as well as kombucha on tap and fresh herbs. It’s a place I actually enjoy going to. It’s small, it smells good and everything feels like it’s been chosen with care.

I don’t manage to go every week so I plan ahead. I buy things like rice, oats, lentils, dried fruit, chickpeas, nuts, pasta, shampoo, washing-up liquid and deodorant. I check the jars before I head out and work out where I’ll go depending on what else is happening that week. If I’m not going to the organic shop, I’ll usually go to the market instead. It’s a different rhythm, but still part of the system.

And this is the bit I’ve come to value most. I’ve been able to shape a system that works. One that I can keep up with, that supports my wellbeing, makes sense for the planet and fits into the flow of my daily life. As I’ve mentioned in other blogs, I’m into permaculture and so is my partner. A lot of what I do now started from his system and over time I’ve adapted it to fit how I live. That’s what I love about permaculture. It’s practical and personal, rooted in earth care, people care and fair share. Refill fits into that naturally. It’s about using what you need, making thoughtful swaps and finding ways to tread more lightly.

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From Repair to Refill: Local Projects Rethink Waste and Rebuild Community

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By Keir Hartley 

Across West Sussex, more and more communities are finding simple ways to cut waste and make the most of what they already have. Whether it’s fixing broken items, passing on unwanted goods or switching to refillable options, people are discovering that small changes can make a big difference.

At Sussex Green Living, we’re working to promote practical solutions like these through our support for repair cafés, new refill initiatives and by sharing inspiring stories from across the county. One group that really caught our attention is based just outside Worthing, where bicycles are getting a new lease of life, along with the people who ride them.

New life for recycled bikes

What do you do with an unwanted bicycle? Down here on the coast, we contacted Durrington Community Cycle Project (DCCP), who are tired of seeing bikes end up in landfill. Instead, they show customers how to repair their bikes and keep them cycling safely. What’s more, they’ve integrated the whole repair and reuse ethos into the heart of their local community.

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Six people standing in front of a large “Refill” banner at Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, smiling beside a display of refillable household product dispensers. Three people wear navy uniforms, and two wear Sussex Green Living T-shirts. The backdrop features a sea turtle and the words “Re-use, Refill, Reduce.”

New refill service coming to Storrington this July

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Sussex Green Living is excited to announce that a new dry-food refill service will be coming to Storrington this summer. The service will launch on Wednesday 23 July at Chanctonbury Leisure Centre and will run every fourth Wednesday from 9am to midday alongside the UK Harvest food hub. Local residents can bring their own containers to stock up on household staples such as oats, pasta, rice and nuts. The aim is simple: buy only what you need, cut down on plastic packaging and reduce food waste at home. 

Two weeks ago Sussex Green Living joined other successful community projects at a launch event hosted by West Sussex County Council, highlighting the creative ways groups across the county are helping people rethink what they throw away. This new refill project in Storrington is one of the initiatives made possible by the Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund, delivered by West Sussex County Council in partnership with Biffa. Read more

Socks displayed on pebblesBrighton Socks

The Trouble With Sustainability

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Socks displayed on pebblesby Amanda Law, the Brighton Socks Company

 Having coffee with an old friend in Brighton’s North Laine recently, the conversation quickly, and inevitably, turned to the climate crisis. Many of my conversations do these days, especially when discussing my small business, the Brighton Socks Company. My friend and I agreed, without question, on the need for sustainability across the business. But what happened next took me by surprise.

“What do you actually mean by sustainability?” my friend asked, with genuine curiosity and a hint of devil’s advocacy. The question, loaded with trepidation and intrigue, sat silently in the otherwise bustling café for just a little longer than I would have liked. Here I was, running a “sustainable” business, yet struggling to articulate a suitable response. So I did what I normally do when faced with a conundrum and reached for my phone – before nose diving down an internet rabbit hole.

The dictionary defines sustainability as “the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level” or “the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.” Simple enough, yet when applied to the messy realities of running a business, I had a sense that these rather basic definitions may quickly reveal their limitations. My search continued.

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Butterfly in Childs hands

Children’s Gardening Week, butterflies and beautiful salads

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Butterfly in Childs hands24 May – 1 June 2025
 www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk
 www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay

by Marianne Lindfield – Climate Action Engagement Officer, SGL

Children’s Gardening Week arrives as May gives way to June, when the garden has found its stride and everything is stretching into summer. It often falls during half term, which makes it the perfect time to step outside and share the garden with the children in our lives. For those taking part in No Mow May, this is when the garden starts to look wilder, the grasses taller, and flowers that were once called weeds begin to feel like gifts. Buttercups, oxeye daisies and self-heal creep through the lawn, and the air starts to hum with insect life again.

It is a moment for noticing. Children are naturally tuned into the small things we often overlook. A curled leaf can hold a hidden insect, and a dandelion seedhead might spark a whole conversation. Being in the garden together does not need to be structured. A slow walk, time spent watching one flower, or simply lying on the grass and listening can lead to all sorts of shared discoveries.

One year, I raised caterpillars with my children. We watched them feed and grow in a netted enclosure, and we made sure the right plants were growing in the garden before we let them go. That small project opened up much more than I expected. The children began asking questions not just about butterflies, but about the plants they needed and how they linked with the others in the garden. It helped them understand that everything is connected, that what we grow, what we leave, and what we choose to remove all have consequences. Read more

Jar of honey

A Beekeeper’s View: Simple Ways to Help Sussex Pollinators

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Bumblebee collecting nectar from a pink flower in a Sussex garden during No Mow May.by Daisy Day, Master Beekeeper

In Britain there are around 250 different species of bees. A few of these are social insects living in large organised communities such as bumblebees and of course honeybees. All bees feed on nectar for energy and feed their larvae on pollen for protein, both collected from flowers.

Pollination is a vital part of how plants reproduce. Crops and wildflowers rely on insects like bees to transfer pollen, helping them set seed and grow the next generation. A large proportion of our food depends on this process. Apples, raspberries and peas all benefit from insect pollination. Without pollinators yields would be lower and we would lose much of the variety in our diets. Read more

Cover of Start with soil book by Juliet Sargeant

Let it grow: the case for messy gardens and living soil

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by Elle Runton. Deputy Trustee Sussex Green Living.

Cover of Start with soil book by Juliet Sargeant

Learn more about soil health and thriving gardens https://www.instagram.com/julietsargeant/

It would be fair to say I’m not yet a gardener. My grandfather had a smallholding, and my uncle just lays his thumb on a plant leaf and it blossoms at his touch, but I’m embarking on a learning journey—with some success. My local Sussex nursery-bought raspberry bush yields fruit for months every year without fail (possibly thanks to its daily cup of used coffee grounds), and my blackberries are sweet and plump under the Sussex sun. I haven’t needed to buy any of those so-called superfoods—just pop along to the fruit bed and help myself free of charge!

When exploring how to get more from your veg patch, I discovered the importance of soil health. Most of us probably wish for a garden that’s easy to care for, beautiful and beneficial to the environment. According to Juliet Sargeant, presenter of BBC Gardeners’ Question Time, it all starts with the earth. Speaking at the recent Sussex Green Living “Plant to Plate” Festival in Horsham, Juliet explained that soil is not just dirt: it’s a living, breathing ecosystem filled with microbes and earthworms that break down organic material and release nutrients. When we use synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, we harm the delicate balance of nature that supports healthy plant growth.

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LUnmown garden with long grass, shrubs and wild garlic in bloom under a clear blue sky in Sussex during No Mow May

Let Nature Lead: A No Mow May Journey in Sussex

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Wild patch of garden beneath blossoming apple tree with flowering dandelions and meadow cress, taken on 30 April during No Mow May Sussex

Wild garden edge photographed on 30 April in Sussex. Early flowering plants like dandelions and meadow cress are already supporting pollinators.

Written by Marianne Lindfield

Living with the land and recognising that even our gardens are part of it has been part of my thinking for a long time. As a permaculturalist observing patterns, valuing edges and letting nature lead is not new but each year the practice becomes more visible.

This spring has brought a series of small yet significant encounters. I saw my first slowworm weaving through the warm grass at the back of the garden. Newts drift like tiny dragons through the pond and most evenings I find myself drawn outside just to watch them. One night when I could not sleep I went out to look at the stars and found a hedgehog ambling past. These are the moments that stay with me and remind me that the garden is not just mine.

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Love your clothes

Second-Hand, First Choice: Vinted Saves Money and the Planet

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Written by Katie Webber

In a world of fast fashion, how can we buy sustainable clothing that is also affordable? Is Vinted the answer to saving our pockets and the planet? Everyone loves a bargain, and it’s an even bigger win when buying cheap clothes doesn’t have to compromise on quality and style. Vinted is very user-friendly for both buying and selling second-hand clothes, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for!

Vinted is perfect for saving money as a buyer and making money as a seller and I would  recommend it to everyone – whatever age, gender or style. In the UK, nearly one-quarter of the population use Vinted and I am one of them. I now buy all my clothes on Vinted and can always find what i’m looking for and at a huge discount! It’s also a great side hustle for me too. I’m able to list all my unwanted clothes in a quick and easy process to make a bit of extra cash, with no extra shipping costs for me!

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From Donation to Dump: The Environmental Cost of Charity Shop Surplus

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© Kevin McElvaney / Greenpeace

Written by Katie Webber

You know that big bag of old clothes you dropped off at the charity shop after having a wardrobe declutter? You probably felt a warm glow of generosity by donating your unwanted bits to a good cause (and it’s probably also a relief to get all that clutter out of sight by conveniently handing it all over to someone else, right?). What if I told you that only between 10% and 30% of second-hand donations are resold in store. What happens to all the rest?

The clothes that charity shops can’t sell are taken away and in the UK, 70% of used clothing is exported to the Global South. Once there, many clothes end up in landfills or incinerated. This has major impacts on health and the environment, including water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, worsening the strain on countries already struggling with waste management infrastructure. Read more

Plant 2 Plate Festival Logo

Exciting new family friendly event in Horsham

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Plant 2 Plate Festival LogoPress release – PLANT TO PLATE FESTIVAL – brought to you by Sussex Green Living

Growing together – Food – Fun – Family – Free

From 10am-4pm on Saturday 26th April, Horsham will come alive to celebrate green living in Sussex – perfect for mums, dads, and little ones alike. It’s a day packed with local food, expert talks and eco-friendly fun that will inspire you and your family to live more sustainably. Spread across four unique venues in central Horsham, come along for a day of free goodies, family-friendly activities, and caring community vibes at the Plant to Plate Festival!

At the Sussex Green Hub, in the United Reformed Church, you will find advice and simple energy-saving hacks to reduce utility bills, our popular Horsham Repair Café who might help you fix that zip, clock or kettle. There will be free food stalls at the Horsham Community Fridge, our Refill Shop to top up on all of the essentials, and don’t forget to treat yourself to one of the Sussex food or drink artisan delights – of course all in line with reducing waste.

At the Unitarian Church Hall and gardens, green thumbs can get hands-on gardening tips from the experts with activities like ‘take it away’ seedlings, books and goodie stall and ways to reduce your food waste. There’s also the chance to get your hands dirty with composting and wildlife-friendly gardening advice and nature activities for the kids.

The Quaker Meeting House will play host to an array of expert talks and demonstrations, including how to avoid that problematic packaging that just can’t be recycled and ideas on how to cook tasty healthy meals that can reduce your impact on the planet.

Stop off at the Bishopric Market on your way between the venues, hosting fresh fruit, veggies, plants, and even retro pre-loved treasures for your home. Enjoy live music, meet warm-hearted community volunteers, and explore the vibrant eco float that’s been creatively refurbished to lighten our carbon footprint.

Whether you’re already deeply passionate about taking care of our planet or just starting out, the Plant to Plate Festival has something for everyone. Bring your family and friends, learn new ways to live more sustainably, and join us in building a brighter, greener future for Sussex – one plate and one plant at a time!

Mark your calendars – we can’t wait to see you there!

Events Calendar | Sussex Green Living

Sussex Environmental Charity Marks Banner Year with Call for New Volunteers

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Sussex Green Living is celebrating a remarkable year of environmental activism and community engagement, while announcing ambitious expansion plans for 2025. The grassroots charity has seen unprecedented growth in its initiatives across the region, particularly in its innovative business partnerships and educational programmes.

“The climate and ecological emergency affects us all, small changes by many in everyday actions are triggering significant and rapid societal shifts” says Carrie Cort the charity’s founder. “2024 has shown us the incredible impact of community-driven environmental initiatives.”

A significant milestone came in March when the charity partnered with Billingshurst-based PMW Marketing to launch two groundbreaking projects. The Green Business Network has successfully fostered corporate environmental responsibility, while the Pollination Education Station project has literally planted seeds of change across Sussex. Read more

Festive Fun that doesn’t cost the Earth

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Festive Fun that doesn’t cost the Earth. Christmas doesn’t have to be a costly burden, with a little effort and imagination we can have a waste free festive season, save money and protect the planet for future generations. Read more

Celebrating Local Apples: Sweet Success at Transition’s First Apple Day

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Celebrating Local Apples: Sweet Success at Transition’s First Apple Day.  On Saturday, 19th October, Transition Horsham held its first Apple Day at the Unitarian church hall and garden. It was a great success with over 150 people coming through the door. Visitors were treated to an amazing selection of apple varieties to admire and taste, […]

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Dogs and Wolves

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Dogs and Wolves: Saving nature in Lewes where dogs are behaving like wolves!  In Lewes, dogs are on a mission to help the environment, and they’re doing it by acting like wolves! A long time ago, before wolves disappeared from the UK in the 1760s, they travelled across large areas every night, sometimes covering over 20 km. While they roamed, their fur collected seeds from wildflowers and grasses, which would later fall off and grow into new plants, spreading nature far and wide. Read more

Residents call on MPs to vote for landmark Climate and Nature Bill

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Residents in Arundel and South Downs are calling on local MP Andrew Griffith to vote for a landmark piece of environmental legislation at its second reading on 24 January 2025. Members of Greening Steyning, Sussex Green Living, and South East Climate Alliance gathered this weekend for a photo opp to raise awareness about the Climate and Nature Bill (or “CAN” Bill).

If made law the CAN Bill would ensure that the UK has a joined up, science-led and people-powered plan to tackle climate change and nature loss, together. It is currently supported by 187 MPs, 372 local councils, 1,000 organisations, and over 1,200 leading UK climate and nature scientists.

The CAN Bill is being championed by Dr Roz Savage MP (Lib Dems), a longtime environmental campaigner and world record breaking solo ocean rower. She is supported by 11 co-sponsors from Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, Greens, Plaid Cymru, and SNP. Read more

Recycling competition – plastic food storage containers and lids

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WILLIAM PENN PRIMARY SCHOOL ASKS THE HORSHAM COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS IN A NATIONWIDE CONTEST TO WIN A PLAYGROUND WITH A FRAME MADE OF 100% RECYCLED MATERIALS 

Residents of Horsham and surrounding areas can help William Penn Primary School to win a playground with a frame made of 100% recycled materials – including recycled plastic food storage containers and lids, as well as reusable plastic water bottles and caps by bringing this used waste to the school’s public collection point 

The Sistema® Recycled Playground Contest is running from 12th September until 18th December 2024 and the school that collects the most amount of plastic food storage containers and lids, as well as reusable plastic water bottles and caps, in that time will be crowned the winner . Read more

How Affordable are Affordable Homes?

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How Affordable are Affordable Homes? We’ve heard a lot recently about housebuilding. Horsham District Council’s new Local Plan is now with the Government appointed inspector. Meanwhile, central government is promising to double the number of new homes built each year, which could potentially mean a lot more building in our District Read more

A group of people displaying a pollination education station otherwise known as a luxury bug hotel

Preparing for Spring: Flowering Food for our Hungry Pollinators!

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A group of people displaying a pollination education station otherwise known as a luxury bug hotelPreparing for Spring: Flowering Food for our Hungry Pollinators!  As we head towards autumn, it’s time to think about spring planting and preparing our outside spaces and Pollination Education Stations (PES) for the coming year to give our pollinators the best chance of survival during the winter and provide them with rich, nutritious food sources when they emerge next year.

First, we must ensure these vital creatures have safe places to overwinter. These pollinators are essential for our survival, helping to pollinate one-third of the food we eat. That’s where our PES trail comes in, providing crucial havens across Sussex. This year, we’ve been busy installing these stations with the help of local businesses, parish councils, schools, and housebuilders. Read more

Ducks on a sunny day enjoying the grass aroun a pond

Enjoying Ducks and Protecting Ponds

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Enjoying ducks and protecting ponds: Horsham Town has two new family-friendly Wildways Trails thanks to Horsham Green Spaces, and these are a wonderful way to explore nature, with both routes beginning and ending at picturesque ponds. Ponds are often home to ducks, and we are fortunate to have a newly restored, wildlife-friendly pond in Horsham […]

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Worthing’s New Heat Network brings in the Community

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Worthing’s new heat network brings in the community.  Can we really find ways to ensure that everyone gets a benefit from Net Zero? Not just by doing the right thing, or far in the future, but here, now, in terms of tangible things like jobs and lower costs? According to Charlotte Owen, yes, we can. […]

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Partnering for a Greener Future

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Partnering for a Greener Future: At SGL we’re thrilled to be partnering with Greenwood, which is a great example of how a company can become ‘greener’.

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