Green Projects

LMC Goes Green in 2010

Lancaster and Morecambe College continues to make strides in protecting the environment. It has signed up to the 10:10 climate change project, recently hosted its own ‘One Planet Festival’ and is currently planting hedges and oak trees for local wildlife.

After winning the coveted national ‘Green Gown Award’ in 2008; LMC has continued to embed and expand its sustainability initiatives.

Along with high profile names like Tottenham Hotspur, Royal Mail and Colin Firth, LMC has signed up to the national 10:10 climate change project. 10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010. In January, staff came together and set departmental targets for reducing electricity, gas, vehicle fuel use, air travel and paper usage. Games Development students also developed 10:10 animations now showing on plasma screens across college and featured on all publicity.

The 10:10 project and college sustainability initiatives featured at the College’s recent ‘One Planet Festival’. This coincided with Fairtrade Fortnight and Volunteer Fortnight and included an array of activities to promote respecting the environment, communities and each other. Over 70 students and staff watched ‘Age of Stupid’ film where man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looks at footage from 2008 and asks: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance? Eight community organisations attended the ‘Eco Fair’ including Transition City, LESS, Global Link, Piccadilly Gardens, Craft Aid, V Volunteering, Global Link and Celebrating Cycling alongside College Hospitality students giving out free healthy smoothies, Business students promoting their social enterprises, and Student Services raising awareness about local volunteering opportunities.

Throughout ‘Volunteering Fortnight’ the college promoted its own ‘LMC Volunteers Scheme’ whereby students can gain accreditation for volunteering in the community and for the College. The annual LMC Volunteer Awards will be held on Thursday 27th May. Local organisations can nominate LMC students for ‘Outstanding Contribution Awards’ by contacting Naomi Oosman at Student Services on 01524 521237.

Finally, throughout the winter and spring months, students and staff have been hard at work planting hedges and oak trees on site for local wildlife. Local community organisation ‘Growing Matters’ based on the LMC grounds have been working with Estates and the Animal Care and Foundation Learning courses to plant hedges, create wildlife corridors and to start developing a new woodland area for students and staff to enjoy.

David Wood, College Principal said: “I am very proud of this College’s commitment to the 10:10 climate change project, with a huge contribution by the staff and students.  We take our corporate responsibility and community leadership role very seriously and believe that, by positively influencing the actions of individuals, we will make a difference to our community and planet.”