Making Natural History ‘Festival for the Environment’ 2020

In 1995 Eastbourne created and hosted a remarkable event: ‘Leave It To Us’, the first United Nations international children’s conference on the environment. Over 800 children from 92 countries challenged world leaders to stop the destruction of natural habitats and reduce the use of non-recyclable plastic. 

Twenty five years on the ‘Making Natural History’ festival contributors revisited the vision of these young activists and gave us the encouragement and the tools to build on their legacy.

The on-line festival in November 2020 showcased shining examples of environmental activism, conservation and education. It included a series of virtual presentations, discussions and masterclasses with the aim of giving ideas for ways in which everyone can make things better for their environment, where ever they live.

View the presentations and masterclasses on Youtube or Crowdcast. 

Contributors included; Baroness Floella Benjamin, Sir Tim Smit of the Eden Project, Dr William Bird MBE Beat the Street originator, naturalist Mary Cowell, architect Michael Pawlyn, Lord Lucas and Antonia Lucas, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Keep Britain Tidy, Rewilding Sussex, Eastbourne Schools Partnership, ecoDriver, the British Herpetological Society, Eastbourne Borough Council, EcoEd2030, Plastic Free Eastbourne, Eastbourne Eco Action Network, Towner Gallery, Natural History Museum, Butterfly Conservation, The Harmony Project, The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), British Society of Soil Science, National Wildflower Centre, Naturehood, Rewild Your Street, Buglife, British Trust for Ornithology, Froglife, The Met Office, South Downs National Park.