‘Pimping’ the university electric milk floats
Go Green Week starts with ‘pimping’ the university electric milk floats. Campus services staff use these second hand zero emissions vehicles to move recycling and furniture around the campus and students and staff are used to seeing them on their travels. The pimping treatment comes from items sourced from Worcester Resource Exchange ‘scrap store’. Companies donate their ‘waste’ which is a treasure trove of craft and art materials for schools and university students and anyone into making things as a hobby. Once the milk floats are suitably dressed, students and staff will get the opportunity to have rides in the vehicles.
Walk the mile and get a close up view of biodiversity on campus
The main theme for Monday is nature and biodiversity. Students will be able to get a close-up view of the biodiversity of their campus by completing the University Mile as part of the Around the World in 80 Days campaign and anyone walking the mile in the week can claim a free locally grown russet apple from the Student Union reception.
Litter Pick
Keeping the environs of the university litter free is very important to some students. Keen to be seen by the local community to be out there cleaning up, they have special University Litter pick hi visibility vests. This joint initiative with Worcester City Council who often help the students and staff Take Pride, has Debbie Merrick community engagement officer out distributing litter pickers again. We don’t think we’ll ever top the day student Rory Dimond found a fiver on a litter pick!
Nature Fair
The Nature Fair features stalls from Friends of the Earth, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Greenpeace, Environment and Conservation Society, and Animal Nepal and Hillside animal sanctuary. They will be selling re-gifted recycled and up-cycled products.
Planting Wild Poppy Seeds
An idea inspired by Duncan Westbury a leading academic in wildflower biodiversity is to give away wild poppy seeds. Students have package the seeds in containers from Worcester Resource Exchange and have instruction for planting. Student are being assessed on measuring the impact of the awareness raising, so in this instance they will map the locations where we hope in the summer bright red poppies will be growing through St Johns and Worcester.
Question Time Debate: ‘Is Leadership for Sustainability Possible in a Market Economy?
Postponed due to flooding, new date to be announced shortly
The day is rounded off by a ‘Question Time’ style debate – ‘Is Leadership for Sustainability Possible in a Market Economy? – which will take place at The Hive and see an expert panel quizzed on the issue. BBC Political Reporter, Matthew Bone, will Chair the debate panel which will include Professor Carolyn Roberts, Director of the Environmental Knowledge Transfer Network, and Lord Adebowale CEO of the social care enterprise Turning Point, and member of the Audit Commission. He has advised governments of all parties on Employment, Housing, Poverty and Public Service Reform.