At The Mount, everyone is encouraged to live in conscious awareness of the earthly materials and spiritual resources we share. Across our households, biodynamic gardens, and craft workshops, we strive to cross the threshold from passive consumers to active caretakers. We are each encouraged to cultivate daily rhythms of mindfulness —ensuring our recycling is done with care, protecting our shared energy by switching off unneeded lights, conserving water as a precious element of life, and aligning our daily work with the seasonal, living cycles of our land.

The Mount’s Green Agenda refers to our long-term commitment to sustainability, including reducing carbon emissions, promoting environmentally responsible practices, and embedding ecological awareness into daily community life. The initiative represents a key step in delivering that vision.

As a proud member of the national Let’s Go Zero campaign, our Green Agenda is a collective path of action. Guided by our dedicated working group and nourished by cross-community collaboration, this long-term strategy aims to anchor sustainable innovation into our daily rhythms. We begin this journey by renewing our relationship with transport, ensuring that how we move across the earth reflects the care we carry in our hearts.

By providing high-quality, sustainable transport for co-workers travelling between Pond House, Briar Cottage and the Mount House, this initiative addresses the increasing need for efficient movement across our expanding site.

Co-workers are required to travel regularly between these locations as part of their role supporting students and cohousers.

Currently, this travel can be time-consuming, stressful, and dependent on limited shared vehicles. By introducing

e-bikes, we aim to reduce time spent in transit, improve efficiency, and enable co-workers to focus more on care, community life and resident support.

This project reduces vehicle reliance whilst fostering a culture of health, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. It also includes secure timber charging hubs to ensure reliable, ready-to-use transport at all times.

Community Impact

• Environmental Leadership: This project allows our co-workers to lead by example. By choosing low-carbon transport, they actively demonstrate the community’s commitment to the Green Agenda, helping to preserve the peaceful, rural character of our East Sussex home. As the first fundraising initiative supporting our environmental strategy, this project plays a key role in launching The Mount Camphill Community’s wider sustainability efforts.

• Enhancing Coworker well-being: The primary impact of this project is the physical and mental well-being of our coworkers. By encouraging active travel, we are supporting coworker’s health, reducing commute related stress, and improving overall quality of life. We believe that well-supported coworkers provide the highest quality of care and presence for our students and cohousers.

• Operational Efficiency: Whilst onsite our roads are not currently suited for resident cycling, they are excellent for efficient coworker movement. E-bikes enable co-workers to move quickly and reliably between our various houses and Wadhurst village. This ensures less time spent travelling and more time focused on supporting residents, strengthening community life, and maintaining a responsive care environment.

• Site-Wide Maintenance Support: The inclusion of a heavy-duty cargo bike will empower our maintenance team to move tools and supplies across the site without a van. This keeps our facilities in top condition more efficiently, which directly improves the living environment for all residents.

The Community’s Green Mobility Fleet and Storage Sheds Fundraising Appeal will support strategic investment in a sustainable e-bike fleet for The Mount Camphill Community. By providing staff and residents with reliable, low-carbon transport, we will reduce vehicle dependence between Pond House, Briar Cottage, and The Mount. This project aligns with our Green Agenda and emphasises inclusion, independence and environmental stewardship.

Recommended Fleet

We have selected two UK based partners that prioritise sustainability and ethical manufacturing.

To ensure this project leaves the smallest possible footprint, we have partnered with Volt (a Certified B Corporation) and Estarli (UK-based assembly). These companies were chosen specifically for their commitment to ethical supply chains and the longevity of their components.

The Commuter & Resident Fleet

• Estarli e28.9 Hybrid: A lightweight (16.5kg) all-rounder assembled in Berkhamsted. It features a removable Samsung battery and a 60-90 km range. Price £1,850 each.

- Sustainability: Built-to-order in the UK to minimise logistical waste.

• VOLT Pulse LS: A premium, high-torque e-bike from a Certified B Corp. Its “low step” frame is highly accessible, and the 250W Spin Tech motor is ideal for the steep hills of Wadhurst. Price £2,199 each.

- Sustainability: 98% sustainable packaging and B Corp ethical supply chain standards.

The Maintenance Fleet

• Estarli e-Cargo Longtail: A specialised cargo bike with a 210 kg total load capacity.

- Use Case: Transporting tools, site supplies, or heavy groceries between community houses. Price £3,450.

- Tech: Features a mid-drive motor and a noise-free Carbon Gates belt drive for low maintenance.

Infrastructure: Timber Charging Hubs

To maintain the community’s natural aesthetic, we will install high-quality wooden storage sheds instead of industrial metal units.

• Pond House Hub (2 bikes): A Tiger Pent Bike Store. This shiplap structure is robust and specifically designed for secure bike storage. Price: £455.

• Briar Cottage Hub (2 bikes): A Forest Overlap Bike Store (approx. 6 x 3 ft). A compact, pressure-treated unit with wide double doors for easy access. Price: £230.

• Charging Points: Our in-house maintenance team will install weather-proof consumer units and 4-way charging bars in both hubs. Materials cost: £200.

Safety & User Equipment

To ensure the safety of every rider, the project includes a “Safety Starter Kit” for each bike.

• Personal Safety: CE-certified adjustable helmets (Cube Stray, high-vis vests, and reflective clips)

• Security: Each bike will be issued a Gold-Rated D-Lock (e.g. Kryptonite for trips into the village).

• Maintenance Kit: on-site pumps, multi-tools, and puncture repair kits at each hub.

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

• Commitment to the Green Agenda: This project serves as a launchpad for the community’s wider environmental strategy. By transitioning from motor vehicles to a low-carbon e-bike fleet, we are actively reducing the community’s carbon footprint and preserving the rural character of our East Sussex home.

• Ethical Manufacturing Partnerships: To ensure the smallest possible environmental footprint, we have selected partners based on their commitment to ethical supply chains and component longevity. Volt is recognised for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, using 98% sustainable packaging and adheres to strict ethical supply chain standards. Estarli assembles bikes to order in the UK, minimises logistical waste and reduces the “bike miles” associated with global shipping.

• Carbon-Efficient: The introduction of a heavy-duty cargo bike allows the maintenance team to transport tools and supplies across the site without relying on a van, further lowering internal vehicle emissions.

• Promoting a “Green Corridor”: The establishment of solar-ready timber storage sheds at Pond House and Briar Cottage creates a sustainable infrastructure that encourages coworkers to choose active travel for both on-site duties and trips to Wadhurst village.

Our fundraising appeal target is £25,000 which includes all the equipment mentioned and contingency for other bike related equipment, such as helmets, lights, hi Vis vests, bells, puncture repair kits, and VAT.

We will look to apply for the Cycling UK Big Bike Revival Grant, as well as applying to other Trusts & Foundations that offer grants to support Sustainable projects.

• Potential grant support £10,000

• Community fundraising £15,000

Any surplus fundraising money raised will be allocated to further equipment or be used for further Green Agenda projects.

Contingency: there are unknown costs for the shed groundworks and electrical fit-out.

By setting a target of £25,000, we ensure a healthy safety margin for immediate installation costs. Any remaining funds following the completion of the e-bike fleet project will be ring-fenced specifically for future Green Agenda initiatives.

• Any funds raised beyond our target will be directed to other future Green Agenda projects that help us achieve our mission and ensuring that your gift still makes a meaningful difference.