Professor Sir Ghillean T. Prance is Scientific Director for the Eden Project in Cornwall. His presentation to the Eco Island conference yesterday was fascinating and his insights into educating on sustainability were well received by the audience.
Sir Ghillean believes that Cornwall has much in common with the Isle of Wight, so hopefully we will be able to learn some lessons from their development at the Eden Project.
He started by explaining that something that has been embraced wholeheartedly down in Cornwall, is the issue of fairtrade.
The Project are right behind this movement, as well as only serving fair trade beverages in their cafes and restaurants, they work hard to educate on the subject at the same time.
He went on to tell us that from it’s inception, Eden has always been considered a ‘living laboratory’.
The Core, the educational heart of Eden, attempts (and succeeds) to mix science, art and technology as part of the education process, stimulating visitors understanding of how plants affect our everyday lives.
This is a lesson that will be very important, if the Island’s aspirations of becoming an Eco Isle are serious. This vision will only succeed if residents, businesses and visitors take on the challenge and they are only likely to do that, if they understand the importance of it’s success.
Sir Ghillean went onto describe their latest building at Eden. It was created two years ago and he (rightly so) was proud to say that it is virtually carbon neutral. It’s well insulated and the roof contains photo voltaic cells, gathering 23% of it’s electric energy. The wood and copper used, has been carefully considered. The copper in fact, was sourced from a mine directly related to the Eden Project.
Whilst showing us a slide of an huge sculpture that has been created using the average number of electric devices used during ones lifetime, Sir Ghillean went on to say that the importance of sustainability can also be interpreted through music, art and theatre. This sculpture certainly illustrates what a wasteful society we now live in.
Education has always been a main focus at Eden. The goal is that every school child in Cornwall should visit the Eden Project to learn about plants and sustainability. But it would be impossible for them to hold classes for every single child, so instead they teach the teachers – who in turn are able to pass on the knowledge to use in the school classroom.
We found Sir Ghillean’s talk fascinating, but our ears really pricked up when we started talking about how the team had to consider other ways to encourage visitors out of season.
Given the Isle of Wight is a seasonal island, we hoped that he would be able to pass on some invaluable advice.
One such project for Eden was to install an ice rink during the winter. As well as being open to the public (raising revenue and attracting visitors), school parties could take part in the fun. However, to make sure the message was being delivered well, the school children first had to attend an hour long class on the importance plants and sustainability.
In our view, it’s lateral thinking such as this, that makes Eden the success it is.
You might wonder what has been the impact of the Eden Project on the local Community?
For a start, it’s created huge employment opportunities in the area. 85% of the food used is sourced locally. Clealy, it attracts visitors to Cornwall and in the process educates on the importance of plants to people. Finally it creates a fantastic opportunity for artists, musicians, writers and actors.
Sir Ghillean finished his presentation by talking about the Turn Lyme Green project. As he lives in Lyme Regis, he has been intimately involved with the project. He told us that at least 46 business have already signed up to not use plastic bags as part of the project and efforts are being made to instigate many changes in the town that will hopefully make a wider impact o the environment.
[Photo of Sir Ghillean reproduced courtesy of Julian Winslow]
