New Leaf event welcomes Haywards Heath residents to a greener way of living

Residents turned out to explore practical ways to live more sustainably at the first New Leaf event, held at Haywards Heath Town Hall on Saturday 24 October.

In just two hours, 100 people came through the doors to discover new ways to reduce waste, repair and reuse everyday items, and make more environmentally friendly choices. The event brought together local businesses, community organisations and volunteers, all helping to show that small changes can make a positive difference.

New Leaf was created as a local hub for practical, eco-friendly action, giving residents the opportunity to try new activities, discover local resources and find simple ways to make more sustainable choices in their everyday lives.

At the Fixing Station, residents brought along broken items and received help and advice from volunteers. Direct Home Maintenance helped with wooden items, an electrician was available to assist with electrical items, and a seamstress offered clothing repairs, encouraging residents to repair rather than replace. Visitors could also explore darning, eco-printing and dyeing techniques, discovering creative ways to repair, refresh and transform old fabrics and clothing.

The Swap area gave unwanted books, puzzles and toys the chance to find a new home, while residents could donate good-condition clothing and essentials to local organisations Knights Support and Haywards Heath Baby Bank. Visitors also discovered SHARE, the Library of Things, which offers a wide range of items to borrow rather than buy. Together, these activities highlighted simple ways to share resources, support the local community and keep useful items in circulation for longer.

Fill Good joined the event in the Town Hall car park, offering refills of pantry essentials, cleaning products and more for residents who brought their own containers. Refilling helps reduce unnecessary packaging and provides a practical alternative to buying products in new containers.

Residents could also drop off hard-to-recycle items, including food packaging, beauty products, blister packs, bottle corks, batteries, vapes, ink cartridges, bubble wrap and plastic carrier bags, giving these tricky items another route beyond the household bin.

Alongside the practical activities, visitors had the opportunity to review their carbon footprint and explore ways to reduce their environmental impact, encouraging them to consider how everyday choices can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Hermione Davidson, Community Engagement Officer at Haywards Heath Town Council, said: “It’s wonderful to see so many residents passionate about helping our world and keen to discover ways to live more sustainably. Every small act counts, and when we all make little changes, they can add up to a big difference. We hope New Leaf has inspired people to take these ideas home and put them into practice.”

Following the success of the first event, Haywards Heath Town Council hopes to make New Leaf a quarterly event, giving residents regular opportunities to get involved, learn new skills and discover more ways to live sustainably. Dates for future events will be confirmed in the new year.

In the meantime, residents are invited to continue their journey towards greener living at Haywards Heath Baptist Church’s Eco Fair on Saturday 27 February 2027. The fair will provide another opportunity to discover eco-friendly ideas and connect with others who are passionate about sustainability.

The Town Council would like to thank all the volunteers, local businesses, organisations and residents who supported the launch of New Leaf. Their involvement helped make the event possible and demonstrated the value of working together to encourage more sustainable choices across Haywards Heath.

If you would like to get involved in future New Leaf events, please email [email protected]. To find out more, please visit haywardsheath.gov.uk/environmental-matters.