Local economy and the Lewes pound

It is easy for us to forget that rich, healthy natural ecosystems are vital for our wellbeing, including that of our economy.

Our natural environment is vital to our health and prosperity.
• Here in Lewes, we draw upon ecosystem services from around the world, so we don’t know when our consumption choices are damaging other places.
• Technologies and culture buffer us from our interdependence with nature.
• The mainstream economy currently doesn’t recognise or put value on the natural services we get for free so it is easy to damage or even destroy ecosystems’ capacity to support us.

Local relationships

When we look, we can see examples of how our local businesses are benefiting directly from our local ecosystems. A wonderful example is how the chalk spring water that has filtered through the chalk downland on Malling determines the quality of Harveys beer. That Malling Down is a beautiful species rich nature reserve supporting populations of the incredible and endangered Adonis Blue butterfly is more than a bonus – it is really important because it is free of pollutants.

How can we help?

A fantastic initiative is the creation of our own local currency, the Lewes Pound, helping local businesses, local ecosystems and our overall wellbeing.

• Use the Lewes Pound.
• Use local independent producers and retailers
• Support the wildlife trusts and other nature conservation initiatives
• What do you do?

The Lewes Pound – Celebrates Lewes

The Lewes Pound keeps money circulating within Lewes and attracts visitors to the historic county town of East Sussex. It is a creative yet practical way for local people to make money work for Lewes. Most money spent locally circulates within, and benefits the local economy. Most money spent in national chains is taken out of Lewes. The Lewes Pound encourages demand for local produce, goods and services.

The Lewes Pound aims to add to the Health (encouraging local producers and markets; and decreasing CO2 emissions through reduced transport costs and food miles); Wealth (through supporting local economy of independent traders, suppliers, services and producers; and encouraging visitors to Lewes) and Happiness (increasing a sense of pride) of our community.

Lewes Pounds are available from seven issuing points – Harvey’s Brewery, Cliffe; Lewes Town Hall; Depot Cinema; The Patisserie, Station Street; Richards & Sons, Butchers, Western Road; Skylark independent bookshop, Needlemakers; and the Lewes Farmers Market.

For more information visit: www.thelewespound.org

The Riverside – Food Hall, Brasserie and Shops

The Riverside supports the local environment as a market for local farm and fish produce; supports the local economy as a centre for local shops; and supports the local community with its renowned local café and brasserie.
The Riverside is a bustling centre connecting local independent businesses with the local environment and the local community. Each local shop has its own identity making shopping an engaging activity again – full of necessities, refreshments and treats. Most of the shops in the Riverside accept Lewes Pounds, attracting visitors and making connections with Lewes and the surrounding area.

For more information visit: www.riverside-lewes.co.uk

Harveys Brewery – Handmade in Lewes

Harvey’s Brewery has a strong connection with the local environment – using water from its own artesian well, filtered through the local chalk and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

Harvey’s Brewery is renowned throughout the South East of England for its wonderful range of award winning, traditional cask ales since 1790. This is achieved by selecting the finest raw materials and combining them with unique ‘local’ conditions brewed within a traditional brew-house.

In addition to returning all by-products, such as spent hops for mulch fertiliser and spent grains as cattle feed to local agriculture, both casks and bottles are returned to the brewery for washing and reuse. Harvey’s Brewery Depot is run on 544 roof solar panels. The panels generate an estimated 92,000kWhs of electricity a year, with any surplus feeding back into the local grid. The panels are owned by OVESCO the local community energy company, who celebrated their tenth anniversary with the release of a special edition Lewes Pound note, photographed on Harvey’s roof.

For more information visit: www.harveys.org.uk

Cliffe Precinct – Farmers Market

The Lewes Farmers Market brings together carefully sourced local produce supporting the rural economy. The Lewes Farmers Market runs from 9-1pm on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at the Cliffe Precinct, Cliffe High Street. The market is a lively way to support the local economy by bringing together those who care for the local environment and the local community. The Lewes Pound has a stall here on the first Saturday of each month encouraging and explaining the benefits of shopping locally.

The award-winning market was established in 1998 and has grown to become one of the most vibrant and successful Farmers Markets in Sussex. Each month there are around 40 producers, offering a wide range of local produce, plus seasonal guest producers to tie in with the growing year.

For more information visit: www.commoncause.org.uk/lewes-farmers-market

Lewes Friday Food Market

Buy local, eat seasonal, feel good.
Every Friday 9.30 – 1.30 Market Street, Lewes

Our stallholders can proudly tell you where and how their foods were farmed or processed as well as give you cooking advice and recipes.

Lewes Friday Food Market offers an abundance of high quality food brought from local producers. You’ll find a wide range of competitively priced, fresh produce so you can do your weekly shopping at the market.

By shopping at Lewes Friday Food Market, you’re helping to maintain the viability of our local producers and so sustaining and protecting our local food supplies.

You’re also using fewer food miles so you are helping to protect the environment. Shopping regularly at Lewes Friday Food Market is fun and relaxing – just the place to meet up with old friends and make some new ones.

For more information visit: lewesfoodmarket.co.uk