Our steering group is facilitating transition start up, not leading it, we interact with local council, and groups in community, eg schools,colleges, teachers businesses, farmers, fishermen, art and craft and literary groups, social environmental groups etc and hear their opinions first, Like occupy it is fluid and evolving and inclusive, we're trying to harness local skills effort and talents and groups, to make it a community effort. Many groups are already functioning well and we hope to integrate with them for the benefit of all Together we will be looking at local food security with community supporting local food producers and agriculture, We intend identifying local rescources to see how they can be utilised in the best way for the community. We are hoping local business backed by local community will thrive and help open up new jobs, especially in the area of local production and energy security, it will be communal choice communally directed with the steering group keeping agreed communal goals on track and facilitating co ordination. We are collecting ideas for discussion and possible adoption later, eg local currency supporting local production, shared communal delivery system for local business. In view of welfare and social cuts, we are looking at the possibility of volunteer hours being traded or banked for our parents or our own future needs. We are looking at new technologies and possible application to suit our area, The first stage is consultation and involvement of local community, from children to the retired and much listening and garnering of ideas and concensus. On a few boards one for energy one for food security etc with stick it notes we can add to ideas suggested while on the run and organise later. We plan a launch party after the initial consultation period, when we have more contacts on board. A free swap shop with refreshments on a regular basis,films, social fun green drinks monthly, we want it to be fun as well as productive..

Rye is a cinque port,a fishing port and has a rivermouth harbour,it's an ancient walled medieval town with cobbled streets, it's a tourist attraction, with a thriving art craft and literary tradition.with interesting independent shops, fine restaurants, old english pubs and hotels. It is surrounded by rural villages that date back to medieval times which hopefully will all become involved in Rye transition. There are unique nature reserves nearby,including a bee reserve which is reintroducing a bee that became extinct here, it has much woodland, a lot is coppiced, nearby are sandy and shingle beaches, a holiday camp and a few caravan sites, and the unique environment of Romney Marsh with the famous romney sheep.

Not much on the website yet as this is only just the start, more hopefully as surrounding villages and various groups become involved. -  http://www.facebook.com/TransitionRye

Images to give you an idea of the area -

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rye+wildlife+images&hl=en&...

http://ryeartsandcrafts.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/rye-arts-and-craft...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rye+maritime+images&hl=en&...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=H...

We are aiming for community resilience and local mutual support in the economic, fuel descent, and climate challenges that lie ahead.