The 7th Annual eco-summit was hailed a roaring success by local MP and founder Tim Loughton MP. The eco-summit which aims to raise awareness of looking after the environment for future generations attracted over 200 pupils from 15 different schools across Sussex, more than ever before.
The eco-summit is hosted by the E.Y.E (eco, young and engaged) project which aims to promote eco-thinking all year round and works with local schools. This year the summit was held in Shoreham Academy and the event, like the project, is kindly supported by the Southern Co-operative.
On the day, the young eco-warriors were treated to a huge range of different workshops, from rescue tips on how to save a beached Dolphin to making and playing musical instruments made out of salvaged items.
Students were also taught how to grow their own vegetables in sustainable plant pots which they made out of paper and how to start a community garden by local group OurPatch. There were lessons in tree planting from Brighton Permaculture Trust and woodcraft classes from the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Southern Water provided an informative breakdown of how water is used in the home and what the students could do to reduce their water footprint. The Worthing Heritage Alliance explained to those present how reducing waste and reusing items was not a new idea but one born out of history, from a time when resources were scarce.
Other workshops included education on how to reduce waste, lessons on mini-beasts and enhancing biodiversity, the power of wind by world class kite surfer Lewis Crathern and an exhibition of everyday items from the Weald and Downlands Open Air Museum.
Between workshops, pupils were given an inspiring talk by Nicola Peel who had recently returned from working to reduce waste pollution in the Amazon. Nicola reported on all sorts of different initiatives aimed at reusing waste materials including making eco-bricks, which are plastic bottles packed with rubbish. After her presentation, all the schools present pledged to build something out of eco-bricks and Tim Loughton MP announced that there would be a competition for the best piece of ‘rubbish’ furniture created.