Welcome to Transition Horsham!
Transition Horsham is a community group of local Horsham area residents who are concerned about the effects that climate change and other environmental and economic problems will have on our lives in the near and medium future. We support the ideas and practical solutions of the Transition Towns movement set up by Rob Hopkins in 2006 in Totnes, Devon, where people like us wanted to do something positive to build in flexibility and resilience to their community, so that we not only survive future changes, but thrive.
So Transition Horsham is all about building community networks, sharing and learning new skills. It is about cutting our carbon emissions through establishing new community based ways of producing energy and heating our houses efficiently, reducing our individual carbon footprint, recycling and reducing waste. It is about growing healthy local produce, encouraging local biodiversity through seed swaps, mending clothes and knitting, baking bread and making preserves, learning more through reading groups and film nights, having fun and travelling lightly.
We have a number of projects on the go, so look through the website, join us on Facebook, check out the events page, sign up to get notifications, and if you think there is something you could help with or want to start, then don't hesitate, come to an event and let us know. We look forward to getting to know you.
To find out more about the Transition idea, you can start here.
Transition Horsham Energy Group
Transition volunteers are also working in other ways to become less reliant on fossil fuels, particularly in their own homes. This means saving energy (and money!) where possible – and moving to renewable sources.
Many people now understand why we need to reduce fossil fuel use. The pace of technical developments in energy is exciting. Nationally, there are huge and necessary ambitions. But there are still real practical obstacles to ensuring it is normal and straightforward for an individual to, say, choose a heat pump rather than a new gas boiler. And there are also many misconceptions about the costs and practicalities of green energy choices, which hinder uptake of energy efficiency measures, heat pumps, solar PV and other steps.
There are some grants available for moving to renewable sources (eg £7500 for heat pump installation) and there is a lot of information online. But most people will need to consider investing some personal money and some of us have found it helpful to talk through our options, informally, with others who have some knowledge and experience but no personal financial interest.
Building on this, Transition Horsham has formed the Transition Horsham Energy Group, so we can support each other – and others. We are volunteers, not qualified tradespeople or experts, just enthusiastic local residents who have used the services of tradespeople and experts to try to save energy and move to renewable sources.
If you’d like to discuss joining the group, please email energy@transitionhorsham.org.uk.
Constitution
Click here for a pdf copy of the Transition Horsham Constitution.
Upcoming Events
If want to find out more about the Community Allotment or the Unitarian Wildlife Garden, or arrange to visit, please come and meet us at our regular stall at the Hub.
Recent Events
Regular Events
Sussex Green Hub
Transition Horsham has a stall each month at the Sussex Green Hub. Come and chat to us about growing, community energy and making your home more energy efficient.
Community Allotment
Ideal if you wish to have a go at growing your own vegetables but don’t want to commit to taking on a full allotment. Located on the Chesworth allotment site at the end of Arun Way. Working parties take place on two Saturdays per month, March to October, from 2 - 4 pm.
A description of the activity and achievements on the allotment during the difficult year of 2020 can be found here.
If you are interested in participating in the community allotment project, send an e-mail to allotment@transitionhorsham.org.uk. Chesworth allotment site is secure, so you will need to contact us if you wish to join one of the work parties, so we can let you on site.
Click here for information about the community allotment, details of work parties, and how to get involved.
