The Friends of Lewes have sponsored and installed three trough planters outside School Hill Surgery, 33 High Street, and planted them up with a range of perennial wildflowers: Ox-eye Daisies, Field Scabious, Self-heal, Greater Knapweed, Rock Rose, Red Campion, Straw Foxglove, and Bird’s Foot Trefoil.

In between we sowed some annual wildflowers, Cornflower and Calendula. Thanks to the team from Lewes House Gardening Project for their help, and thanks to Lewes District Council for giving us permission to use this space.

The planters are sponsored by Friends of Lewes as our contribution to the Wildflower Lewes High Street Pollinator Corridor.

Click to enlarge to see baby plants!

 

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A Zoom talk, followed by Friends of Lewes AGM

Michael Blencowe: Wildlife in Lewes

We welcome popular naturalist, author, speaker, and wildlife guide Michael Blencowe who will tell us about some of the amazing species that can be found around our town and surrounding countryside.

In addition, Michael will provide advice on what we can all do to improve biodiversity in our gardens and our local area.

Brimstone butterfly, by Michael Blencowe

This talk is free to members of the Friends of Lewes, and £4 to non-members. Non-members can buy a ticket (£4) from TicketSource, which will provide a link to register for this Zoom talk.

Members will have received an email on 29 March 2023 with a link to Zoom registration.

Once you have registered, you will receive our confirmation email with a link to the talk. Please click on that link to attend the talk 5 minutes before it starts.

The Friends of Lewes AGM will follow the talk, at about 8:20pm. The AGM is for Members only.

Members are invited to request a copy of the 2022 Accounts from enquiries@friends-of-lewes.org.uk ahead of the AGM.

We would recommend a computer screen or an iPad as a minimum screen-size for viewing our Zoom talks.

Our presenter will be speaking live, and you can ask questions by typing in the Chat box in Zoom.

See the Diary page for a list of  forthcoming events organised by the Friends of Lewes

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The Friends of Lewes is looking for a new Treasurer to assist the Charity in contributing to the preservation and enhancement of our special town.

You will oversee the financial affairs of the organisation, ensure proper record keeping and financial procedures, monitor and report on the financial health of the organisation, and oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts and audits.

We estimate that the role will involve under an hour a week.

Further details are at Reach Volunteering:

 

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On Saturday 6th May, Lewes Urban Arboretum – the Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes, is hosting a “Tree Day” at Lewes Climate Hub, Lewes House, 32 High Street, from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Come and join us to share your ideas for places where we could plant more trees, find out why Lewes needs more trees, and learn about local volunteering opportunities!

Children are welcome and will be invited to make a tree to add to the “Wild Wall” collage we are making with Wildflower Lewes and Lewes Swift Supporters.

Peter Thurman, Arboricultural, Horticultural and Environmental Consultant and Landscape Designer, (and valued member of our Trees Committee), will be giving a talk on “Trees and Climate Change” from 2.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Lewes Urban Arboretum team plants trees on Fitzgerald Green, Lewes

 

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The Aquifer Partnership (TAP), has been working with schools to create Rainscapes, by transforming underused play areas into inspirational and interactive blue-green spaces promoting outdoor learning, while protecting the precious groundwater beneath our feet.

Rainscapes are a nature-based solution that promotes water health. These rainscapes provide play and educational opportunities while reducing flooding, cleaning water, and increasing biodiversity.

TAP has been working with expert designers to create functional and fun rainscapes at three schools, including Wallands Primary School in Lewes. Members of The Friends of Lewes are invited to visit the new Rain Garden at Wallands Primary School, on Saturday 22 April 2023, at 10am.

The event will be led by Aimee Felus, Programme Delivery Manager of TAP, who will explain how the new Rain Garden at the School has slowed down the runoff from the playground by letting it soak into the ground close to where it has fallen. This safeguards our aquifer, and helps wildlife to flourish, while also protecting against local flooding.

The Project was funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy from the South Downs National Park Authority, the Environment Agency and Southern Water.  It is managed by The Aquifer Partnership (TAP).

Image of rainscape at Wallands Primary School, © The Aquifer Partnership

Where and when: Wallands Primary School, Gundreda Road, Lewes BN7 1PU, on Saturday 22 April 2023, at 10am.

Booking your place: This is a free visit for FoL Members, and booking is essential. We will send further information to registered attendees ahead of the visit. Please click to book at Ticketsource.

Please book by Friday 21 April 2023 at 10am

Become a member of the Friends of Lewes for free access to our visits and talks

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Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 7 March 2023:

SDNP/23/00391/HOUS: 67 North Way: S73A retrospective application for erection of front porch, hip to gable roof extension with rear dormer and side gable, and addition of hardstanding to the front.
The Friends of Lewes note that amendments have been made to the original proposal but object to the retention of the gable and recommend that it be removed and the original hip roof reinstated. Indeed, the removal of the original hip and erection of the gable end and the resulting impact on the character and appearance of this semi-detached house and within the wider context was a significant reason for the Planning Inspector to dismiss the appeal of SDNP/21/02960/HOUS on the 09^th December 2022. In the opinion of the Society, the retention of the gable would set a precedent within the locality, which should not be encouraged. The Society also considers that the drainage arrangements on the extensive hardstanding to the front of the house to be totally inadequate on such a steeply sloping site and are very likely to contribute to surface water flooding in the locality. In addition, the Society are disappointed to see the minimal ecosystems provision proposed to offset the environmental impact.

SDNP/23/00579/HOUS: 51 Cluny Street. Conversion of garage to residential annexe.
The Friends of Lewes have no objection to this proposal provided that permission, if granted, be solely for ancillary use to the existing house. However, the Society is concerned that the proposed plan of the conversion provides no details of how the space is to be used or whether it would be connected internally with the existing house.

SDNP/23/00630/HOUS: 35 Cranedown. Removal of existing sun room and replacement of single storey rear extension, rear dormer, garage conversion, and addition of large garden store below rear terrace.
The Friends of Lewes note that the size of the proposed box dormer to the rear has been reduced and other amendments made to the fenestration, which are to be welcomed. 

SDNP/22/05716/HOUS: 1 Delaware Road. Ground floor side and rear extension and front and rear dormers.
The Friends of Lewes object to the proposed large box dormer to the rear as it would not comply with the agreed design guidance for dormers and in addition would set a precedent as there are no similar dormers to the rear of any of the adjacent properties. The Society also notes the proposed use of UVPC throughout the works and would seek to encourage the use of more sustainable materials.

The Committee examined the following applications and had no observations to make:

SDNP/00328/HOUS:  57 Highdown Road	Erection of two-storey side extension, single-storey rear extension , porch to front elevation, associated demolition of existing garage, porch, and conservatory, and installation of solar PV panels to front roof.
SDNP/23/00356/CND:  35 Newton Road	Variation of Condition 2 (Plans) and Removal or Rewording of Condition 3 (Matching Materials) related to Planning Approval SDNP/19/03681/HOUS to include changing external material of extension from Brick to Cedral Cladding.
SDNP/23/00451/HOUS:  41 South Street	Erection of single-storey rear extension, extension of existing rear dormer, and replacement of 4 sash windows to front elevation
SDNP/23/00467/HOUS:  81 Highdown Road	Erection of single-storey front/side extension, erection of single-storey rear extension, and associated demolition of rear conservatory.
SDNP/23/00493/LIS:  140 High Street	Retrospective application for internal glazed screen between library and hallway at ground floor.
SDNP/23/00503/LIS:  141 High Street	Internal alterations to ground floor WC.
SDNP/23/00521/FUL & 00522/LIS:  141 High Street	Creation of first floor to accommodate two additional classrooms within existing workshop, additional ground floor window, replace roof finish with slate roof with single feature rooflight.
SDNP/23/00529/HOUS: 18 Highdown Road	Erection of single-storey rear extension.
SDNP/23/00770/HOUS & 00771/LIS:  22 Lansdown Place	Replacement of timber windows to front and rear dormers.
SDNP/23/00218/HOUS:  21 De Montfort Road	Side/rear extension to lower ground floor with terrace to extension roof and demolition and rebuilding of existing rear extension.
SDNP/23/00822/LIS & 00535/HOUS:  204 High Street	Repaint window glazing bars and frames and two external doors on front elevation from white to Farrow and Ball shade Black Blue.
SDNP/23/00618/LIS:  4 St James Street	Various internal structural and remedial works, to include strengthening structurally weakened first-floor joists, insertion of thermal batts between joists and re-covering ceiling with wood fibre board & lime plaster;  re-rendering kitchen walls in lime plaster;  installation of solid oak floorboards over insulated studwork structure to kitchen floor;  kitchen relocation;  and reinstation and strengthening of studwork and plasterboard and insertion of thermal insulation to two first-floor bedrooms.

 

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Lewes Priory was once one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in the kingdom with as many as a hundred monks devoting their lives to prayer, while many of the townspeople of Lewes were employed by the Priory to grow and cook their food, tend their livestock, mill their flour, build and maintain their fine buildings and much else besides.

Following the success of last year’s sell-out tours, Lewes Priory Trust is once again running walking tours of the Priory ruins, and Southover Church, which houses the bones of William and Gundrada de Warenne who founded the Priory in the 11th century, and was once the guest house of the Priory.

The tours, led by a member of Lewes Priory Trust who is a professional guide, tells the story of the rise and fall of this magnificent Priory, which was such an important part of Lewes life for 450 years.

Booking is essential. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre, 187 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2DE. Tel 01273 483448.

 

 

Please click to enlarge the poster for more details, or visit the Priory Trust’s website

 

 

A live talk at King’s Church

This talk has been moved to the first Monday of April, as the second Monday is Easter Monday Bank Holiday

Anthea Arnold and Alison Grant – The Fitzroy Library Story: from gargoyles to Virginia Woolf and beyond

Fitzroy House occupies a prominent position in the now pedestrianised part of Lewes high street; “a jewel today in a rather bland crown” (John Eccles Sussex Express 2012). It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott for Hannah Fitzroy (nee Rothschild) as a memorial to her husband Henry Fitzroy, MP for Lewes for 22 years.

Anthea Arnold will explain how the library came to be built, its original use by the Library Society of Lewes and its life as a public library from 1897 – 1952 which gave rise to some interesting and unusual stories.

In addition, Alison Grant, the current owner of Fitzroy House, will introduce the key players as well as reveal some hidden architectural details in this gothic gem. The building has been saved once from demolition and has always been a prominent and appreciated feature in Lewes’s history and in the current landscape.

Fitzroy House, Lewes, image from C. Wycherley

Venue: The King’s Church building on Brooks Road, Lewes, BN7 2BY. (Between Tesco car park and Homebase)
(Please don’t park in Homebase’s car park: they take deliveries in the evenings)

Entry: Entry is FREE for LHG members, and £4 for non-members. Due to limited seating, admission will be by advance ticketing only – no payments on the door. Please book in advance at https://ticketsource.co.uk/lhg. Tickets available from 1 March 2023 until 5:30pm of the day of the talk. We will have lists of ticket-holders at the door and will check you in.

Covid precautions: Limited seating to allow for some spacing; no refreshments.

See the Talks page for a list of  forthcoming monthly events organised by the Lewes History Group.

 

Human Nature’s Phoenix Application has now been validated by the planning authority, the South Downs National Park, and can be seen on the SDNP website.

The consultee and public comments deadline is 21 April (now extended to 26 May), with the determination date set as 28 June 2023.

The submitted application is a ‘hybrid’ format, meaning it contains outline elements, such as the use-mix and parameter plans (determining the size, location and uses of the buildings on the site), and detailed elements including the demolition of some existing buildings, the first stages of a new flood defence along the river, a temporary construction access ramp from Phoenix Causeway to serve a temporary construction and manufacturing yard on the site, as well as the development of 44 homes in Parcel 1 (which can be explored in detail in the Parcel 1 Design & Access Statement).

There is a paper copy of the planning application and Environmental Statement available at Lewes Town Hall for the public to inspect.

Text and image from Human Nature’s email, 14 March 2023

 

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Friends of Lewes is one of over thirty groups affiliated to Lewes Climate Hub and we are very excited about the Hub opening in new, larger premises in Lewes House, 32 High Street, on Saturday 18th March 2023.

To celebrate the opening, we have been invited to take part in a Pavement Parade from the Linklater Pavilion to Lewes House. Anyone from Friends of Lewes may join in, provided they are carrying carrying a picture, placard or banner which represents Friends of Lewes. It could be a copy of our logo, a photograph of a tree, or a representation of something else which makes Lewes special, perhaps with our strapline – “Keeping Our Town Special”.

We are meeting at the Linklater Pavilion, on the Railway Land, at 11.00 a.m. After photographs and a short opening speech at Lewes House at midday, you will be able to have a first look inside the Hub and see the opening exhibition on the theme of “Water”. Free refreshments will be available and there will be activities for children during the day until 3.00 p.m.

If you are not able to visit on the opening day, Lewes Climate Hub will be open every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Image from Lewes Climate Hub website

 

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