Transition Ashtead

Transition Ashtead is a group of local people who aim to promote different aspects of sustainability through writing articles in the Local Pages and holding talks and events. If you are interested in helping to make our village a more sustainable place to live, this is the place for you! Our mantra is ‘reduce, recycle, repair, reuse’.

Events 2024

We promoted local community groups, specifically, the Dorking Men’s Shed and the Epsom Repair Café, as engaging people to make the most of their skills and to give us ideas to apply here. We held two Swapshops enabling people to offload items they no longer use and to acquire ones they would like for free! A free good-quality jumble sale! In October, a member of the Surrey HEAT Home Energy Advice Team informed us of the grants available for home energy saving and other useful tips. HEAT is an innovative, in-person energy advice service, helping residents take the first steps to tackling energy inefficiency in their homes, funded by the government.

For more information on this essential scheme: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/community/climate-change/residents/support-for-residents/home-energy-advice-team

Events 2025

In May, MP Helen Maguire’s wide-ranging talk on Sustainability in our local area was well attended and well-received. Discussion took place on local topics including housing plans and the Climate and Nature Bill.

At our June meeting, local resident George Heywood outlined how he has taken his home to nearly carbon zero, a project he started when his boiler needed replacing. Also, Leah Robson from 'Your Energy, Your Way' explained how air source heat pumps are an efficient, low-carbon heating system for the future. She gave excellent advice on preparing our homes for heat pumps and how to choose an installer. This is the link to their webpage on heat pumps with 23 killer questions to help you find a reliable installer.

https://www.yourenergyyourway.co.uk/heat-pumps

In September, we hosted a very successful workshop ‘Surrey Talks Climate’, where representatives from local organisations, further honed their skills in discussing issues to do with climate and nature.

In the Kids’ Club Garden (next to the Youth Club), which Transition Ashtead maintains to teach gardening skills, this autumn the children collected a bumper harvest of beans, carrots, beetroot and sweetcorn.

Current Project 2025 – a food buying group

We are trying to do something positive about plastic reduction and nature, as well as saving money. We are piloting a food buying group sourced from an ethical wholesaler. Infinity Foods Wholesale sell masses of good quality, non-perishable foods (pasta, pulses, rice and so much more) and household items at wholesale prices. We buy in bulk by agreeing a group order using a shared spreadsheet.

Watch the video to see how this can operate!

When the order arrives, we get together to weigh out/split up the food so bring your empty containers.

To take part in this pilot buying group, email transitionashtead23@gmail.com or contact Becky Wood (07892 886260). Deadline for our next order 22nd October at 5 pm.

The Blue Campaign in Surrey

We continue to promote Surrey’s Blue Campaign to encourage the wildflowering of residential verges and gardens, through No-Mow May and beyond, to create a linear habitat for insects and other mini-beasts. This practice has been adopted by many residents in the village and we have Blue Hearts available for sale. Email us at transitionashtead23@gmail.com Alternatively, you can purchase wooden hearts online and paint your own. It is recommended that you get agreement from your immediate neighbours about managing your own verge and discuss how you will do it. If you need to state membership to a Community Group, you can use Transition Ashtead.

Reporting Issues on Verges

Please do pass on any complaints about mowing as this has recently changed to Surrey County Council’s responsibility. Making a complaint to county councils is now done through Fix My Street – fixmystreet.com

Registering Your Verge

The size requirements for Blue Hearts verges and the process for registering your verge have changed and these are explained on Surrey’s Blue Campaign webpage. (see link below)