Chalking up the Benefits

Case Study Information
Description: 
The Lewes and Ouse Valley eco-nomics Group is working with local communities to value what nature does for people.
Location: 
Lewes, East Sussex
Stage: 
Complete
Scale: 
Local
Partners, organisations and stakeholders involved: 
  • Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust
  • Sussex Wildlife Trust
  • Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
  • Lewes District Council
  • Lewes Town Council (via Lewes Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group)
  • Transition Town Lewes
  • The Environment Agency – Coastal Communities 2150
  • Natural England
  • Brighton and Lewes Biosphere
  • South Downs National Park Authority 
  • Sussex Flow Initiative
  • University of Brighton
Aims of the project/initiative: 
  • Work with the local community to explore and document the benefits to wellbeing in Lewes from the local environment (with a focus on the chalk downs)
  • Raise and spread awareness of the gains for the Lewes local economy from locally provided ecosystem services
Progress so far: 
  • Involvement in public engagement activities and production e.g. 'Waking up to Tomorrow' response to climate change, adaptation vision and action plan for the lower Ouse valley and coastal areas.
  • Designed, ran and reported on a community engagement workshop on Ecosystem Services for Coastal Communities 2150 (CC2150). See short film.
  • Designed, developed, trialled and used tools for community engagement with ecosystem services e.g. using 'naturegain' instead of 'Ecosystem Services'; Naturegain Going Local workshops; Naturegain walks; the Big Benefits Game.
  • Produced maps of community perceptions of ecosystem service provision around Lewes and had maps produced of the project area.
Further information
Web link 
L&OVe Chalking up the Benefits, South Downs Way Ahead
Contact name 

Colin Tingle

Role in project: 
Project Officer
Email: 
tc09@gn.apc.org
Location map: