 With a bit of luck (and the right winds) March is normally a good month. Days get noticeably longer and the weather usually gets a bit milder. It’s also a time, after winter’s cold and wet, that it becomes a bit easier to stretch our legs and lungs in our beautiful countryside. With all our fingers crossed for a glorious spring, we’ve looked ahead to March to give you some ideas for getting out and about. Read our story below.
 Tomorrow (Friday, 24 February) marks the first anniversary of the start of the conflict in Ukraine. A minute's silence will be held in UK government buildings and there will also be ceremonies and vigils in many towns and communities around the county in the coming days. There are more than 1,400 Ukrainian guests either living in East Sussex or due to arrive here, with more than 500 host households. But the need for more welcoming homes remains.
 Twelve months since the war in Ukraine began we've been looking at how East Sussex has stepped up to help. And we have spoken to one family who have found a welcoming home with "wonderful people" here.
 Over the years register office weddings have got a bad rap. But gone are the days of stuffy, restrictive, one-size-fits-all registrar ceremonies. There is so much more to getting married with Ceremonies in East Sussex. And we have some pretty unique venues, too, including castles, an observatory, a racecourse, vineyards, in the middle of the woods, or even on a steam railway! So if you're planning your wedding or are just intrigued, we've had a look at some of things you might not know about getting married with a registrar in East Sussex.
 There are signs in the garden that spring is on its way. Bulbs have begun to appear, dormant plants are starting to show their first green shoots and snowdrops are flowering. And gardening is known to be great for reducing stress and helping us to relax. It was the BBC's Monty Don who said: "I always see gardening as an escape, as peace really. If you are angry or troubled, nothing provides the same solace as nurturing the soil."
We may not have shaken off winter just yet, but there is lots you can do at this time of year to start preparing your garden for spring, and it'll be good for your mental health too. Read our story.
 February has been LGBTQ+ month and our libraries have been celebrating LGBTQ+ writers and their work. With themed displays in libraries and downloadable books, audio and comics from our eLibrary, our literary worlds can be as diverse as the one we live in. Some of this month's recommended reads from our library team reflect that diversity.
Budget protects vital services
Details of how £500 million will support vital services for East Sussex residents have been agreed by councillors. Our 2023/24 budget, which will pay for services including roads, libraries and support for vulnerable adults and children, was approved at a meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday, February 7, along with the plan for delivering our priorities in the coming year. Find out how we'll fund vital services this year
Help our libraries recover lost books
A book amnesty is being held in libraries across the county to recover missing library books. Almost 5,000 books a year are not returned to East Sussex libraries, and we're asking residents to check their bookshelves, behind the sofa and under the bed to see if they have any overdue titles. Find out more about the book amnesty
Take part in a survey to improve benefit and debt advice
Like millions of people across the UK, many of East Sussex's residents are struggling to cover their essential household costs nowadays. The 'cost of living crisis' means we’re all paying a lot more for energy and food, and things like rent and fuel. A lot of people are finding that wages and benefit payment increases aren’t keeping track with these price rises. Help us create better ways to support people across East Sussex to access advice about managing their money. Take part in the survey
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