Comments for Sussex Eco Awards

Comment on South Downs Campaign by James Simister

James Simister — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:53:32 +0000

Campaigning for a South Downs National Park started in the late 1940s and the last phase that has finally achieved that objective started in the 1990s. The most remarkable things about this campaign are:

1. its objective was achieved by local people and groups without a lot of money or the support of many prominent people or celebrities

2. by contrast some very powerful organisations and lobbies opposed the park and have spent large sums of money to prevent and limit it

3. the campaign has been remarkably cohesive despite the elongated shape of the park; there has been huge solidarity throughout the area

4. SDNPC was consistent in its aims and principled in its approach to key issues wherever they arose, but flexible about less vital issues

5. the campaign was imaginatively led by dedicated and able people, but in an open and democratic manner that kept everyone on board

6. the detail and level of presentations, oral and written, to the public inquiries by members of the campaign was consistently high

James Simister, Keep Our Downs Public (founded 1995), Brighton

Comment on Mid Sussex Wood Recycling Project by David Treadwell

David Treadwell — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:46:09 +0000

The project has gone from strength to strength since we began in 2007. This has been due to the commercial customers that have been able to see beyond the traditional landfill option for their waste timber and also to realise the benefits of reduced charges for clearing their waste. The smaller customers have also been vital to us, whether it has been the occasional bag of firewood, building a summer house or just letting us know that what we do is a worthwhile venture!
Another important factor is getting people to realise that recycling and re-using can be applied to so many things apart from timber waste. We work with Oakmasters, who construct beautiful oak framed buildings, and clear their waste timber from them. This is our firewood supply. We then began talking to Oathall Community College to use their old animal feed bags as our firewood bags, reducing their disposal costs and saving us buying firewood bags. We are now getting the sawdust from Oakmasters to Oathall for animal litter and bedding, hence more savings all round.
So, as the project expands, we intend to become a recycling information hub where ideas and contacts can be exchanged too.

Comment on Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project by Ken Finn

Ken Finn — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:26:57 +0000

The Wood Recycling Project is inspirational for all sorts of reasons but mainly I think because they have demonstrated what can be done with a strong resolve. I know that it hasn’t been easy for them and many would have given in to the pressure of keeping such a project going. They are hero’s in my book and more than deserve any recognition that comes their way.
Surviving 12 years is an achievement but what really makes them sooo special is they keep getting better!

Comment on South Downs Campaign by Robin Crane

Robin Crane — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:47:36 +0000

The South Downs Campaign, after a twenty year struggle, not only succeeded in its aim of having the South Downs declared a National Park. It also succeeded in having practically all the land it nominated included in the Park. This was only achieved through an enormous amount of highly professional and dedicated work by both volunteers and staff who submitted a huge amount of carefully prepared arguments to two long public inquiries.
This was backed up by a continuous stream of public and political campaigning. The victory was won despite strong opposition from several local authorities and most of the Sussex MPs.

This was surely a unique campaign. Its membership built up to include nearly 160 national, regional and local organisations and latterly a number of parish and town councils. There were many individual members as well.

The superb landscapes of the SOuth Downs and the Low Weald within the National Park will now enjoy the strongest protection available. The National Park Authority will have a statutory duty to conserve and enhance the countryside and to promote quiet enjoyment of this
very special and much treasured British Landscape.

Comment on East Sussex Energy Partnership by Peter Gaimster

Peter Gaimster — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:09:36 +0000

Another update....... 4373 CO2 tonnes SAVED!! 6049 measures installed almost £5 million spent £507,000 households have saved per year

Comment on East Sussex Energy Partnership by Peter Gaimster

Peter Gaimster — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:09:33 +0000

Latest stats:

3275 tonnes of CO2 emission saved

3334 number of homes helped

£3 million spent

£280,000 is how much households in Sussex have saved

Comment on Trevor Weeks by Michael Lamb

Michael Lamb — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:56:31 +0000

I have only been a voluntary helper for WRAS for just over the past two years and have felt honoured to help when ever called upon to rescue, and possibly care, for any animal or bird in trouble. Trevor Weeks has been the king-pin in this operation for the past 25 years and I have enjoyed trying to help him whenever possible, and to see the end result, in most cases, when the animal or bird has been brought back to 100% fit again and ready for release once more into the wild has made this all worthwhile. Trevor has an expert knowledge on all these patiets and how they should he treated to bring the earliest and fullest recovery possible. He works tirelessly 24 hours a day, seven days a week – even running the operation while doing his few days of paid employment, Not every County in the country has such a rescue organisation and Trevor has built this up into one that the County, indeed the Country, should be proud of.

Comment on Ringmer Community College and Sixth (year 7 + ), Ringmer, East Sussex by Darryl Shear

Darryl Shear — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:57:38 +0000

In recent weeks Ringmer has been selected by HRH Prince of Wales as one of only six schools in the country to represent sustainability at his London festival this September when the gardens of Marlborough House, Lancaster House and Clarence House will be opened for the first time to allow exhibitors to demonstrate the need for us all to change the way we live to sustain our existence. Pupils and staff will man a purpose built Eco Pavilion at the event for each of the 12 days of the event.

Ringmer is also close to achieving ISO 14001 an international recognition of sound Environmental Management Systems. We would be one of the first schools in the country to achieve this.

Comment on East Sussex Energy Partnership by admin

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:19:48 +0000

The East Sussex Energy Partnership has just agreed a massive external wall insulation programme to a block of flats directly on Hastings sea front. The block comprises 59 very poorly heated and poorly insulated individual flats (concrete built) – all of which are rented out to households in receipt of some kind of benefit. The property is off the gas network and has been posing considerable concern to the Partnership for some time. The external wall insulation works will commence this September and will be completed through the Spring but will result in a huge improvement to the quality of life of residents in the block and go along way to eradicating fuel poverty for these tenancies

Comment on Trevor Weeks by Elaine Brown

Elaine Brown — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:29:38 +0000

I’ve known Trevor Weeks a number of years now and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time and effort he’s put into running WRAS and in taking in rescuing and caring for sick and injured wildlife, and then returning them to the wild once they have been successfully treated. He has indeed dedicated his life to volunteering to this cause and has put it in utmost importance in his life and has accomplished so much good and prevented so much suffering by our local wildlife. His story truly is inspirational.