Community action/Lewisham

The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Lewisham.
How a London energy co-op is trying to bring power to the people, thenews.coop (Feb 06, 2026) — We speak to Giovanna Speciale, CEO of South East London Community Energy, about its work towards an inclusive transition
How communities are stepping up to revive our tired towns and cities, positive.news (Feb 05, 2026)
Self-build homes nurture a community at Segal-inspired Ladywell scheme, ribaj.com (Jul 09, 2024)
Where property prices are set by what local people earn, BBC News (May 01, 2023)
Call for right to grow food on unused public land, BBC News (Aug 14, 2026) — Campaigners have called on City Hall to introduce a London-wide "Right to Grow" framework to help communities turn unused public land into food gardens
The climate cafe where misery is 'empowering', BBC News (Jul 26, 2026)
‘I don’t like being stuck in an office’: the young people helping plant a ring of trees around London, theguardian.com (Jun 17, 2026) — London Tree Ring project aims to create corridors of plant and animal life around the city to strengthen its biodiversity
Sardines are having a moment but could this humble fish turn the tide for the UK’s local fisheries?, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Sep 03, 2026) — Can the UK learn from Iberian traditions and turn its booming love for tinned sardines into a lasting win for coastal communities?
Andy Burnham announces thousands of new homes, but is the government much closer to its target?, theconversation.com (Sep 02, 2026)
'Social supermarket' to take over vacant shop, BBC News (Aug 26, 2026) — A "social supermarket" offering low-cost food and support to escape financial hardship is to open at a third location in Kent: the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham in October
Why We Sat Out RAMICS Rio, grassecon.substack.com (Aug 30, 2026) — Moving beyond the currency frame, Grassroots Economics and Njambi Njoroge, Programs Director, Grassroots Economics
A Global Gathering to Tackle the Planet’s Soil Crisis Is Underway in Mongolia, insideclimatenews.org (Aug 22, 2026) — This year’s Convention to Combat Desertification focuses on rangelands and attempts to address an overlooked solution to climate change. By Georgina Gustin
The everyday guardians: Rana Tharu women’s implicit roles in Nepal, globalvoices.org (Aug 21, 2026) — Rana Tharu women embody unspoken care, cultural continuity, and living memory across generations in Nepal, Civic Media Observatory, Samanta Azpurua, Bikram
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- Rural Urban Synthesis Society, members-led Community Land Trust based in South London, founded in 2009 with the aim of creating sustainable community-led neighbourhoods and truly affordable homes right across London. "Our mission is to reduce our communities’ dependence on fossil fuels, increase food security, encourage bio-diversity and provide affordable housing for Londoners." added 10:28, 23 November 2022 (UTC)
- Transition Brockley
CDC video
[edit | edit source]Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/Moray, Rewilding Scotland, Community action/Wiltshire / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Sep 7 - 11, 2026 (Mon-Fri) — Zero Waste Week, zerowasteweek.co.uk
Sep 11 - 20, 2026 (Fri-Sun) — Heritage Open Days, celebrating our fantastic history and culture. Your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore, heritageopendays.org.uk
Sep 18 - 27, 2026 (Fri-Sun) — Great British Beach Clean, mcsuk.org
Global or international events
Sep 15, 2026 (Tue) — Free Money Day, Global invitation for people to explore, in a liberating and fun way, what it might be like if our relationship to money was a little different. Sep 15, annually, freemoneyday.org
Sep 18, 2026 (Fri) — Park(ing) day, global, public, participatory project where people across the world temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces and convert them into public parks and social spaces to advocate for safer, greener, and more equitable streets for people, myparkingday.org
Sep 21-27, 2026 (Mon-Sun) — Global Week Of Action For Peace And Climate Justice, climatemilitarism.org
Sep 21, 2026 (Mon) — International Day of Peace, Globally shared date, Sep 21 each year for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace, internationaldayofpeace.org
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Lewisham video
[edit | edit source]Community involvement
[edit | edit source]In 2009 Bold Vision was established as a social enterprise with the aim of strengthening community in the area (of Telegraph Hill). Bold Vision's first project was building the Hill Station - a cafe, community gathering point, learning centre and performance / exhibition space between the two halves of Telegraph Hill Park in the undercroft of Telegraph Hill Centre. Bold Vision was supported by Telegraph Hill Centre who leased the space on a peppercorn rent, acting as an incubator to channel seed funding for the new venture in addition to making a financial contribution. Bold Vision's other projects include Common Growth, a food growing project and acting as an incubator to enable the campaign to save New Cross Public Library. W
Food activism
[edit | edit source]Community resources
[edit | edit source]- Kath's Place, st-johns-soc.org, added 18:55, 31 October 2022 (UTC)
- RUSS Community Hub, theruss.org, added 13:00, 23 November 2022 (UTC)
- Crofton Park Community Library
Arts, sport and culture
[edit | edit source]Hither Green Hall, an arts and community space for Hither Green, (Wikipedia)
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle
[edit | edit source]Climate action
[edit | edit source]- Climate Action Lewisham, added 15:54, 22 June 2021 (UTC)
Sustainable transport activism
[edit | edit source]Thames Path W
Cycling
[edit | edit source]The following designated Cycleways are available in Lewisham:
- Cycleway 4 (C4) along Deptford's Evelyn Street (A200), which runs from Tower Bridge to Woolwich.
- Cycleway 10 (C10) from Euston to Greenwich, going through Surrey Canal Road and Deptford (Folkestone Gardens).
- Cycleway 14 (C14) from Waterloo to Thamesmead along the river Thames in Deptford.
- Cycleway 66 (C66) from Brockley to Forest Hill.
In addition to these designated routes, the Waterlink Way (to be upgraded to Cycleway 18) runs from north to south along the Ravensbourne and Pool rivers.
Waterlink Way W
Biodiversity activism
[edit | edit source]Together with other smaller sites, such as ponds, woods, and railside areas there is a total of 1185 acres (474ha) of land defined as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. W
Sue Godfrey Nature Park is a small park and local nature reserve in Deptford in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is a mixture of rough grassland, scrub and ruderal plants.
The park grew up on wasteland, and was opened in 1984 as Bronze Street Nature Park. It was renamed in 1994 after local environmental campaigner Sue Godfrey, in recognition of the efforts she devoted to the park.
More than 200 species of plants have been recorded and there is a wide variety of invertebrates, including grasshoppers, bush-crickets and six species of butterflies.
The reserve is located between Bronze Street and Berthon Street; Deptford Church Street is to the west, with St Paul's, Deptford on the other side of the street. Adjacent to the east is Ferranti Park.
Environment quality
[edit | edit source]Open spaces
[edit | edit source]Lewisham parks and open spaces are part of the "green lung" of London and include a diverse range of sites, from small urban parks and gardens to one of the most historic natural landscapes in Greater London at Blackheath.
About Lewisham
[edit | edit source]Lewisham ( LOO-ish-əm) is a London borough in south-east London, England. It forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham. The local authority is Lewisham London Borough Council, based in Catford. The Prime Meridian passes through Lewisham. Blackheath, Goldsmiths, University of London and Millwall F.C. are located within the borough.
| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2014–2026). "Community action/Lewisham". Appropedia. Retrieved September 6, 2026. |







