"the sustainability centre case study" by mary lewis

Presentation by Mary Lewis: Sustainability Centre Manager

The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago. The next best time is now. Chinese proverb

• HMS Mercury derelict Navy communications and training centre

• Earthworks Trust was set up in 1998 as a charity to manage the Sustainability Centre

• Inherited a lot of old 60s buildings, plantation woodland, recreation grounds, dangerous waste etc.

• Restoring native woodland and chalk grassland, converting the buildings, bringing back the joy!

An Exercise in Recycling

‘To be known, recognised and sought out as a leader

in sustainability and as a source of inspiration, resources, expertise,

learning and solutions for building a sustainable

world.’

“Climate change is for real. We have just a small window of

opportunity and it is closing rather rapidly.

There is not a moment to lose.”

Dr. Rajendra Pachauri. Chairman, IPCC

Sustainability is about treating the Earth as if we intend to stay.

But it’s not just about ‘green’ living, it is about making decisions that are fairer, healthier and environmentally sound. It has three key strands:

Social: ensuring a strong, healthy and just society for existing and future communities

Economic: where environmental and social costs fall on those who cause them, and resources are distributed fairly and efficiently

Environmental: respecting and protecting the limits of the planet's environment, resources and biodiversity.

By acting in a more sustainable way, based on thought, fairness and understanding, we can develop a world that future generations will thank us for. 

What is Sustainability?

• Climate Change• Biodiversity and loss of

species• Pressures on water supplies• Pollution• Desertification• Over fishing• Etc...

• …

Environmental Sustainability

Restoring

chalk

grassland

Sustainabl

e woodland

manageme

nt

Green building with local materials

Renewable energy

Retro-fitting

Compost toilets and low water use fittings

Social Sustainability

• Integration, information

and participation• Equal access and opportunities• Diversity• Learning and skills• Fair distribution of resources

Learning

• Activities for schools KS 1-4• Residential school visits including the

South Downs Experience• Work with young people• Family learning • Adult courses• Accredited and professional courses • Woodland Classroom

Community and DiversityDiversity is not just about culture, race and disability – it is about involving all

different types of people in sustainability

• Babies and toddlers• Elderly people• People with drug and alcohol problems• Young people with behavioural, learning or emotional difficulties• Ex-offenders• People with mental health problems• Urbanites, surburbanites, village folk…..

Events, Green Fair, training, talks, corporate team building, community projects

Partnerships with organisations: MIND, Catch 22, Family Learning teams, pupil referral unit, Portsmouth Outdoor Education, Elizabeth Fitzroy Support

Protecting the human

People are:

versatile, creative, resilient, vulnerable, flawed

People are our most important and powerful

resource in effecting change

Teach, inspire, empower, address fears, change

behaviour

EquitableParticipatory Viable

Including:

Economic viabilityEnvironmental costs falling on those that cause themIntegration, information and participation Reinvesting resources in skills and awareness raisingEthical banking and ethical investmentRecognition of the inherent value in nature, life, humanity, habitat, diversity etc.

Economic Sustainability

Financial position of the Sustainability Centre

• Generates own revenue• Has no core funding• Uses grants and donations for capital projects• Employs 13 staff• Hosts 3 other sustainable businesses and 1 other social

enterprise• We are not yet rich and we have a lot of capital works to

complete, but we are stable and financially viable

2008-2009

• Turnover increased by 27% to £241,049 (EWF)• South Downs Natural Burials generated £76,000 profit and increased

income by 18%• Adult courses income increased by 69%• Accommodation income increased by 15%

How are we economically sustainable?

• Not for profit including the only not for profit natural burial site

• Invest in skills, education and training – profits made from commercial activities subsidise educational activities and support core staff

• Ethical banking and pensions• Enrich and maintain natural capital – timber, biodiversity,

aesthetic value, amenity value, carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation

• Provide services for the local community• Financially viable

Social – low-cost, personal approach, creating a beautiful woodland for recreation, reflection and meditation, do-it-yourself, reinvesting profit in young people and education, woodland becomes a collective memorial

Environmental – composting, using biodegradable materials, no headstones from imported stone, planting native trees and plants, creating a carbon sink, leaving a legacy, increasing biodiversity, use of wood for fuel

Economic – generates revenue, affordable, people can feel ‘ownership’ of site, all the profits are reinvested in skills for the future

How are natural burials sustainable?

Staying at the Sustainability Centre

• Accommodation for schools and people coming on courses

• Eco-tourism and the South Downs National Park• Experiencing how to live a greener life

CollaborationWorking with Permanent

Publications and Undercurrents to co-publish book and DVD

Woodland Classroom

Media and Communications• New website

• Corporate Image

• Social networking

• Blog

• Voice

Looking beyond our boundaries

South Downs National Park Natural Burials on other sites A part of the local community Virtual Sustainability Centre

The problem is the solution!

Challenges become opportunities

Creative solutions to big problems

Forward looking and using what we have

Dynamic process, this job will never be finished!

Mary Lewis

centremgr@sustainability-centre.org