1. Local actions
Our starting point was to identify some simple ideas to include in our work on a daily basis. We focused on "DIVERSITY" as a strong foundation.
- in 2009 when we moved into 39 Manor Hill, the first thing we did was connect with Brighton and Hove Food Partnership in particular their, Grow Your Neighbours Own scheme by sharing the Green Centre garden with local gardeners. The Sussex Wildlife Trust taught us the best thing to be done for any garden is to install a wildlife pond which we did. Following advice from Southern Water we installed a comprehensive rainwater harvesting system. Ali Waters of the former Magpie Educational Trust taught us the importance of soil nutrition and how we could protect and nurture our soil. We grew Comfrey and supported this by introducing three different kinds of composting including standard composting, a Green Johanna for hot composting and a wormery.
- since moving from Manor Hill, with no garden, it has been difficult to pursue this principle. Since moving into Unit 1 at Brighton Open Market we have acquired planters and are busy exploring plants which will flourish in the market environment.
2. National actions
- we engaged with Professor Francis Ratniek, a leading expert in the study of bees and their decline at The Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects at Sussex University. We became involved in a nationwide campaign to protect bees; sharing information, planting our own bee garden and building bee boxes from wood off cuts from a local saw mill.
3. Global actions
Our connections focus solely on communities in developing countries whose land is negatively impacted by the actions of richer countries:
- we have engaged with Survival International an organisation which works in partnership with tribal peoples to protect their lives and land. We support them through donations of money raised through our foreign currency recycling scheme.
- we understand the value of trees through regular engagement with Tree Aid and raise awareness of their work through social media. We encourage our followers to purchase trees.
