THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
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HMS Mercury

Special Events for all those who ​served
or worked at HMS Mercury

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The Sustainability Centre is situated in heart of the South Downs and now occupies the land that was once HMS Mercury. 

Only a few traces of the old buildings still remain as the land is being returned to nature. It is vital therefore, that the heritage and collective memory the thousands of ex-members of the Royal Navy who trained and worked at HMS Mercury, is recorded and honored. 

We are delighted that so many former service personel have become Friends of The Sustainability Centre. Thank you to you all. 
Become a Friend

Mercury Rising ​

Next Event is in 2021

This has become a biannual event where we welcome back lots of ex Navy personnel who served at HMS Mercury in the past.

We all take a wander down memory lane as we throw open the doors of The Sustainability Centre to all those who worked or served at HMS Mercury.

​This is a great opportunity to . . .
  • Find out what the future holds for HMS Mercury’s site at Leydene
  • Catch up with former friends and colleagues
  • In the past we have even enjoyed a special "Mercury Rising" beer, kindly donated by the RNCCA

Past Events                    

Mercury Rising ​2018

Sunday 8th April 2018

​Over 100 ex Mercury personnel came along. This included civvies, officers and ratings. There was plenty of time to wander down memory land, look at the exhibits and enjoy a presentation.

The first part of the presentation, given by Jill Edmunds, took us back more than the 70 plus years when Mercury was a Signal School , in fact back to the Anglo Saxons and the long barrow that is visible on the downs, then onto the building of Leydene House.  Christine Seaward (CEO of The Sustainability Centre) gave an enthusiastic  talk about the aims of the charity, what is happening at the site now and shared plans for the future.
A buffet lunch was enjoyed by all, washed down with Mercury Rising Ale donated by the RNCCA. Ken Sutton was in the old Senior Rates accommodation block where items from the Communications Museum/Library were on display.

The Centre has started a Memory Book to enable people who served at Mercury to write down snippets, anecdotes etc to ensure that Mercury as  Naval Establishment is never forgotten.

The event raised almost £500

This was a free event organised by the fundraising group at the Sustainability Centre and Ollie Butler on 02392 366508. 
Mercury Day & History
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Memory Book  

The Sustainability Centre and the RNCCA are creating a memory book in order to record all of the social history of HMS Mercury.

If you served at HMS and would like to share your memories then please get in touch or send us your stories in the form below.

    Add to our Memory Book 

Submit

RNCCA
Adopted Charity

Royal Naval Communications Chiefs Association 
We would like to thank the the RNCCA , who have adopted The Sustainability Centre as their charity.
  
They are very active supporters and wonderful fund raisers who have already supported us with donations. 

We are working together to sustain the relationship between The Sustainability Centre & The Royal Navy, preserving heritage links with the land and keeping the memories of MHS Mercury alive.   
Find Out About the RNCCA

Make a Donation

If you would like to make a donation in memory of your colleagues and times spent at HMS Mercury we would love to hear from you.
Make a Donation

Support Our Education Programme

Find Out More

Natural Burial Ground

Part of the site of HMS Mercury is now a Natural Burial Ground. If you would like to find out more kindly click the button below.  
Natural Burial Ground
​
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Earthworks Trust & Earthworks Foundation

​The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866).
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.

SITE VISITORS

Please be aware that our 55 acre site is privately owned. Customers and clients are welcomed at their own risk. All visitors are reminded that this is a countryside site and all tracks, paths and car parks are informal, uneven and may not all be suitable for people with mobility issues.
As we are located in the South Downs National Park dark skies zone, there is no lighting on site after dark.
We advise sturdy, appropriate footwear at all times and use of a torch at night.


​Charity Number ​​ 1079866

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Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR
01730 823166

Reception

01730 823166
​info@sustainability-centre.org

South Downs Eco Lodge & Camp Site

South Downs Eco Lodge
​The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR
01730 823549
​​accommodation@sustainability-centre.org

Cafe

01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com  

Burials

​01730 823425
​burials@sustainability-centre.org

Education

​01730 823166
​education@sustainability-centre.org

Courses

01730 823166
​courses@sustainability-centre.org

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  • Home
    • Covid Announcement
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Awards
    • Bursary
    • Beech Cafe
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
    • Site Map >
      • Map
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List
  • What's On
    • Evening Talks
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Talk & Tour
    • Art Exhibitions >
      • Past Exhibitions
      • Pete Levy
    • Room & Space Hire
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Felted Robin Workshop
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
        • Trug Making Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Obelisks Course
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Food and Gardening Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
      • Health & Wellbeing Courses >
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Mental Health First Aid Course
        • Youth Mental Health First Aid Course
      • Nature Connection and Folklore Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Permaculture Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
    • Courses Covid Information
  • Accommodation
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
    • Accommodation COVID Information
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
    • Family Holiday Activities >
      • Family Day Time Activities
      • Family Overnight Adventures
      • Advanced Wilderness Skills
  • Schools
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • We Can Come to Your School
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Useful Information & Booking Forms
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies and Gifts
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Cast Off
    • Friends >
      • Become a Friend
      • Friends Field
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop and Bookings
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Shop At The Centre