Sussex Green Hub launch: Raising Horsham awareness of climate crisis

Sussex Green Living has launched its latest initiative in Horsham – the Sussex Green Hub.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

It was officially opened in Horsham’s Bishopric area last week by the High Sheriff of West Sussex Neil Hart who said: “There is no more important challenge we all face than the climate crisis and the Sussex Green Hub shows us the way in raising awareness and providing practical actions we can, and must, all take to address that challenge.

“This is a truly collaborative initiative bringing together volunteer groups, local churches and businesses. I congratulate all involved.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

During the event, Horsham Repair Café volunteers were able to repair 24 household items and plenty of people refilled cleaning product bottles and toiletries. The Sussex Green Living Horsham ‘Wombles’ explained and demonstrated what can be recycled and how, and advice was given on sustainability.

DM21091850a.jpg. Carrie Cort at  the Sussex Green Hub launch in Horsham's Bishopric. Photo by Derek Martin Photography and Art. SUS-210925-175858008DM21091850a.jpg. Carrie Cort at  the Sussex Green Hub launch in Horsham's Bishopric. Photo by Derek Martin Photography and Art. SUS-210925-175858008
DM21091850a.jpg. Carrie Cort at the Sussex Green Hub launch in Horsham's Bishopric. Photo by Derek Martin Photography and Art. SUS-210925-175858008

Also providing great ideas and inspiration were Transition Horsham, Horsham Eco Churches, and Horsham Community Fridge.

A volunteer-run café at Horsham’s United Reformed Church in Springfield Road served cakes and cuppas to visitors.

St John’s Catholic Church shared information about how the environment and farmers can be helped through buying Fairtrade products.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

During the pandemic the climate crisis has taken a back seat but it has unfortunately not gone away. Sussex Green Living’s CEO Carrie Cort said: “Climate change hasn’t stopped, so we haven’t stopped sharing solutions.

“I envisage the Sussex Green Hub as a friendly place where we ‘carbon watchers’ can consolidate a caring community each month to find real suggestions to put into practice.

“We’re extremely grateful to John Lewis and Waitrose Horsham for making this all possible by providing generous funding as well as a Christmas hamper to be offered as a prize to one of the participants in our online small green steps survey.

“We’d love to develop the Hub to include a sewing group and maybe films and talks throughout the winter.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The United Reformed Church is the perfect place, providing a large, airy town centre location very close to the bus station for sustainable travel.

“With the 26th global climate change Conference of Parties (COP26) taking place in Glasgow in November, we really hope that raised media exposure of the urgent need to decarbonise our world will draw local people in to our monthly ‘carbon watchers’ offerings.”

Horsham District Councillor Philip Circus, cabinet member for the environment, waste, recycling and cleansing said: “It was very encouraging to be part of the launch of this new community environmental initiative and to see how much volunteer commitment there is to the environmental agenda.”

Horsham District Councillor Mike Croker added: “I really liked the new venue and think that the combination of groups will prove influential.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Also at the opening, along with the High Sheriff, were West Sussex County Councillor Sarah Payne and Horsham District Council chairman David Skipp, who said: “I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the message of improving and protecting our environment by making changes in our lifestyle as outlined in the new community environmental initiative.

“If we don’t act now what legacy will we leave for our children and grandchildren?”

Councillors Martin Boffey, Mike Croker, Kate Rowbottom, Ruth Fletcher, Bob Platt and Jonathan Chowen of Horsham District Council were also welcomed as were many local businesses, volunteers and well over 100 visitors.

The next meeting will be on Saturday October 30 from 10am - 4pm and will include Sussex Green Living’s mobile Inspiration Eco Station which has been created from a retrofitted milk float.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It will focus on ways to reduce the contents of council rubbish bins so reducing the need for more incinerators and landfill.

The Sussex Green Hub is held on the last Saturday each month at the United Reformed Church Hall, 45 Springfield Road, Horsham RH12 2RG.

For now, masks are required in the Hub.

Related topics: