Imaginative environmental events
Gerard Darby
Environment Week '91 was managed by Institute member Gerard Darby, from whose report these adapted extracts are taken.
Environment Week in the summer of '91 was a great success with over 3,000 projects and events around the country. Many of these were extremely inventive and enterprising and could be copied by other groups in other parts of Britain. Some of the best were:
- A Bike Mate scheme which covers the whole of London and which was launched during the week by the London Cycling Campaign. The scheme will match a nervous novice with a more experienced cyclist who will teach their 'Mate' how to cope with the hazards of London traffic.
'300 children from ten schools beat the clock in their project to clear up a ten mile footpath by the River Wear Trail in one day'
- Environmental Challenges which had to be completed against the clock: in Saltley, Birmingham, there was a five day programme of linked challenges such as tackling a wall of graffiti in half a day, making 50 hanging baskets for installing in a tower block in one day, making bird boxes - ten different activities all against the clock. In Sunderland, 300 children from ten schools beat the clock in their project to clear up a ten mile footpath by the River Wear Trail in one day.
- Young people had the chance to be a world leader for a day in a simulation of a United Nations General Assembly on the environment held at Camden Town Hall and organised by the United Nations Association for Youth and Students. Almost a hundred young people from different London schools represented over fifty countries and debated key international environmental issues.
- The Barn Owl Re-Introduction Scheme in Norfolk worked with inmates in the Britannia Training Wing of Norwich Prison to make barn owl nest boxes using timber donated by a local firm.
- Birmingham City Council launched Britain's first full-time litter wardens armed with spy cameras.
- Members of the Llandaff Rowing Club in Cardiff scoured the banks of the River Taff as part of a major clean-up exercise. Using their boating skills the oarsmen and women were able to reach piles of unsightly litter and debris.
'The best siting of a satellite dish, one that would reduce its visual impact on the environment'
- North Tyneside Borough Council held an environmental competition. This included an award for the best siting of a satellite dish, one that would reduce its visual impact on the environment.
Gerard Darby, 10 Caversham Avenue, Cheam, Surrey SM3 9AH (tel 081 643 3798).
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