Presentation slides from Tuesday 25th November 2025
Peter Thurman of The Thurman Consultancy talked about how trees may ameliorate the effects of Climate Change and how humans can enable them to do this.
Category: Natural Environment
Ham Lane Sewage discharges
BBC South East have picked up on Friends of Lewes concerns over discharges of untreated Sewage into the river Ouse at Lewes and our call for an embargo on Housebuilding until the infrastructure is able to cope. Here is their investigation into the Ham Lane Pumping Station discharges.
Swift-Friendly Town Season (Apr-May 2025)
From 23rd April 2025 to 31st May 2025 we will be celebrating the return of our Swifts through a season of events at Lewes Climate Hub, Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes. All events are free of charge and no booking is required. Our aims are to raise awareness of Swifts and encourage further small actions that will help to boost biodiversity – and help Swifts and other wildlife to flourish!
Throughout the season at the Hub there will be displays to explain what makes a Swift-friendly town and posters to show the contributions from groups and organisations that have given their support – and an activity so that you may share your contributions to helping our Swifts.
We are launching this season with a “pavement parade” from the Linklater Pavilion at the Railway Land to Lewes Climate Hub. We are inviting you to join us on the parade, perhaps carrying a placard to send a clear message to passers-by. Some suggested images for placards and instructions for making a simple flying Swift along with a poster of the events are below – and we’d love to see your own designs!
| Saturday 26th April The Mayor of Lewes has agreed to lead a pavement procession to welcome back our Swifts. We will be starting at 10.30 a.m. at the LInklater Pavilion on the Railway Land and finishing at Lewes Climate Hub, 32 High Street. It would be wonderful if Friends of Lewes members could join in with logos or other placards of your choice. At 1.30 p.m. Paul Stevens will give his talk: “A Summer with Swifts, Swallows and Martins”. |
| Saturday 3rd May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. As you know, one of the challenges to Swifts is the fall in the population of the insects and airborne invertebrates that they feed upon. Ponds are great for Insects, invertebrates and other wildlife”! At 1.30 p.m. Pete Birchall, (Pete the Pond), will talk about “The importance of ponds for wildlife”Inviati |
| Saturday 10th May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. We are proud of being partners in the Lewes Mosaic Project with the Railway Land Wildlife Trust, Wildflower Lewes, Lewes Urban Arboretum, and Common Cause. Helen Meade, (Railway Land CEO), will share information about how you may add to Lewes Mosaic – which is an exact match for our Swift-friendly town! |
| Saturday 17th May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Dylan Walker from Wilder Life will be presenting the Peoples’ Park for Nature idea of a wider connected mosaic of habitats for nature and people to enjoy.. |
| Saturday 24th May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Lewes Urban Arboretum will share ideas for increasing biodiversity by adding small trees or hedges to our gardens. 1.30 p.m. Talk by Emily Thrift – “Protecting our Hedgehogs: understanding the impact of plastic” |
| Saturday 31st May 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Buglife research suggests that the population of insects and invertebrates has fallen by 79% since 2004. Since parent Swifts need an estimated 20,000 insects a day when they are feeding chicks, this has the potential to be a huge factor in their decline. We are very pleased to be able to welcome an expert from Buglife to our season! 1.30 p.m. Talk by Alice Parfitt of Buglife: “Why bugs matter”. |
https://e-voice.org.uk/lewesswiftsupporters/lewes-a-swift-friendly-town/
Tree Festival Week – 15th to 22nd June 2025
The Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes are organising guided tree walks during Tree Festival Week, 15th to 22nd June.
Southover Grange Gardens
Sunday 15th June 2.30 – 4.00 p.m.
Explore the gardens native and exotic trees including a venerable Mulberry and a magnificent Tulip tree.
Meet next to the café hatch in Southover Grange Gardens, Southover Road, BN7 1TL Book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southover-grange-gardens-guided-tree-walk-tickets-1255969190659?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=email&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_campaign=postpublish
Railway Land Nature Reserve
Tuesday 17th June 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Join us for a Nature Wander around this urban wildlife haven.
Meet at the Linklater Pavilion in the Lewes Railway Land Nature Reserve, Railway Lane, BN7 2FG
Free – no need to book.
Nature Wanders take place every Tuesday 11.00 – 12.30
Just turn up!
Southover Grange Gardens
Sunday 22nd June 2.30 – 4.00 p.m.
Explore the gardens native and exotic trees including a venerable Mulberry and a magnificent Tulip tree.
Meet next to the café hatch in Southover Grange Gardens, Southover Road, BN7 1TL
Book via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southover-grange-gardens-guided-tree-walk-tickets-1256013884339?aff=oddtdtcreator
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) Partnership Management Plan for the Future
There are many people who play a role in looking after the National Park. The Partnership Management Plan (PMP) is a key document that sets out the priorities for the South Downs National Park for the next five years and how we will work together to achieve this shared vision.
The world is facing both climate and nature crises at a time when people have never needed access to green space more. The South Downs National Park is already being impacted and needs an ambitious vision for the next five years to meet these crises and to deliver for nature, climate, people and place. This is your National Park, and we need your input to decide what the shared priorities for the next five years should be. Over the coming months there will be different opportunities to get involved.
Resources for Change are working with the SDNPA to ensure we hear from as many voices as possible but to do that we really need your support. We think that your views around what the National Park does next are critical and so please do sign up or encourage others to do the same and help create a plan for the future that works for nature and for everyone.
Please see the table of upcoming events below and a link to the SDNPA website were you can complete a short survey.
Phase 2: Priority outcomes and action planning – Everyone is welcome to attend events listed below.
| Date | Time | Venue |
| Wednesday 5th March CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE | 7pm – 9pm | ONLINE |
| Thursday 6th March CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE | 10am – 3pm | Stroud Village Hall |
| Monday 10th March CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE | 10am – 3pm | Pulborough Village Hall |
| Tuesday 11th March CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE | 7pm – 9pm | ONLINE |
| Wednesday 12th March CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE | 7pm – 9pm | ONLINE |
| Friday 14th March CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE | 10am – 3pm | Linklater Pavilion, Lewes |
Together for Nature, Climate and People – South Downs National Park Authority
Lewes Flood Exhibition – Call for exhibits
Do you have photographs or memorabilia of the Lewes Floods? Did you write a poem or paint any pictures? This October is the 25th Anniversary of the 2000 Lewes Floods when over 600 homes and 300 businesses were devastated, as following days of very heavy rain the river Ouse burst its banks and flooded large areas of Lewes.
The Friends of Lewes are organising an exhibition of flood memories and experiences, and we would like to hear from people who can loan photographs/ memorabilia etc. We would also like to audio record people’s memories of the time, and reflections 25 years on.
We are particularly interested to hear from any children or families who slept in the Town Hall or Malling Community Centre, and hear their memories and reflections 25 years on.
Harvey’s Brewery Yard 3pm 12th Oct 2000
Winterbourne Festival 1st – 9th March 2025
Instagram / Facebook / Love our Ouse Website
Sponsored by The Friends of Lewes
Community initiative Love our Ouse and local partners have been awarded funds to deliver a festival on the 1st to the 9th March dedicated to the Winterbourne Stream that flows through Lewes
Read the press release here:
Friends of Lewes 