Green United works with pupils in primary and secondary schools in Lewes, East Sussex.

Dr John Parry MBE, Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of Sussex, is part of a team from the University of Sussex working with Green United and the South Downs National Park Authority to plan and host the ‘Green United School Conference’ on 12 February.

To be officially opened by the CEO of the South Downs National Park Authority, Siôn McGeever, the conference will involve 80 young people. Some from all schools in Lewes (Green United). Pupils from schools within the Ouse Valley Climate Action area (Seaford, Newhaven and Peacehaven) have also been invited as guest attendees.

Speakers include Dr Joanna Smallwood (Associate Professor in Law), Professor Joseph Alcamo (Director of the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme, Department of Geography - cited as a contributor to the Nobel Peace Prize won by the IPCC in 2007), and Dr John Parry from Sussex. There will also be significant input from Emma Montlake from the Environmental Law Foundation.

John said:

“The Green United Youth Board asked for an inter-schools conference two years ago and I am delighted that, with the help of Ouse Valley Climate Action and the University, we have been able to deliver.  It is up to those young people now to make the most of it - and I have every confidence that they will!”

In addition to Green United members talking about projects they have recently successfully taken forward and discussion about environmental projects between Lewes schools, conference themes will include:

• Sea level rise in the Ouse Valley
• An introduction to the ‘Council of All Beings’ - a communal ritual workshop experience in which participants speak on behalf of another life-form to heighten awareness of our interdependence in the living body of Earth and strengthen our commitment to defend it
• Ideas for the ‘Lewes 2025 Big Ask’.

Six Sussex students are facilitating aspects of the conference in which Amy Knight - former Primary and Early Years Education BA student and current postgraduate researcher and doctoral tutor - is playing a large part.

Amy said:

“This conference is a testament to the power of intergenerational dialogue and co-production. It brings together voices of hope and action across ages reminding us that, even in the face of uncertainty, collaboration can inspire meaningful change for a sustainable future.”

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Green United works with pupils in primary and secondary schools in Lewes, East Sussex, with the support of young people, parents, teachers, local councillors and governors of local schools, as well as staff and students from the University of Sussex.

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John Parry is a founder trustee of the Lewes Railway Land Wildlife Trust and established the first Junior Management Board for a Local Nature Reserve in England in 1996. He has led several environmental education campaigns and initiatives, including the campaign to build the Linklater Pavilion in Lewes as a local community hub for the study of environmental change for which he was recognised with an MBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List.