A New Hope: Activating ‘islands of future potential’.

Our first gathering to explore what a bioregion might mean for us in Chichester and the surrounding landscape, felt like a re-energising gathering for those of you who have already been doing the work for some time, and a new beginning for those of us coming together for the first time. I think ‘hope’ summed up the feeling in the room, and it’s our intention that, however the future unfolds, we will continue to foster active hope in our place, together.

Even from this first gathering, it feels that the idea of a bioregional approach to the future resonates with you. That having a broad umbrella process under which we can look at the ‘whole’ of the region through a living systems lens, is one that could be very connective of all of our many efforts for both nature and the human systems we live in. It will take time to unfold.

What do we want to know about water?

Water is one of the most important systems for life.  There are lots of great initiatives across our bioregion to clean up, conserve and protect our waterways.

To work towards a water-resilient future for our biroegion, we need a deeper understanding of how water flows through our bioregion, how it is used, who uses it, where it interacts with other systems that create thrivability. This work is often called ‘living the questions’.  We’re going to collect more as we go and share them with key stakeholders, but here are some of yours.

How much PFAs are in our bioregion?

Where does waste water go?

How will (is) the water cycle affected by climate change here?

Where is the worst affection area for sewage pollution?i

How healthy are our harbours?

What chemicals are in our drinking water?

How is house-building affecting water availability?

What would be the impact of sea level rise here?

Why is the River Lavant now cloudy?

How can we use less water?

Has growing cover crops reduced water run off on fields in our bioregion?

Our hopes and wishes for the future.

We have clear hopes and dreams for the future.  We are an optimistic bunch that value hope, positivity but it’s clear we know there is a lot of work to do.  These are just some of your hopes for our bioregion in the next decade. We love them!!

  • To become a leading eample of intergenerational justice and community
  • That our young people are full of hope and can see a future full of potential instead of anxiety
  • More opportunities for all people to learn about the role of living systems and reconnect to nature
  • To bring back swallows and swifts
  • A beacon of sustainable travel, including more and safer ways to cycle
  • A place where more local food is produced regeneratively by local farmers and local people
  •  self-sufficient, health-giving region for humans and non-humans
  • To be an inspiration for similar landscapes
  • To become a recgonised centre of creativity and inspiration