Green Gown Awards 2014 - Student Engagement - Redbridge Institute - Small Institution Winner

Inside Outside Sculpture Trail and EcoGarden

Students have improved the green space on the campus enabling the public to see ‘outside’ what students learn ‘inside’ by creating a Sculpture Trail and EcoGarden showcasing learners’ skills, promoting healthy eating, sustainability and the use of recycled materials.

Art students from different disciplines worked together on designing and creating sculptures on an environment theme for the outdoor trail. Students recycled 1,500 plastic bottles to construct a greenhouse and encouraged biodiversity by designing and making bird feeders and insect houses for the trail and EcoGarden. Learners have the opportunity to sell their work through a local Garden Centre. The garden will provide vegetables and herbs for the Café.

The aim has been to engage students, homeless people from the Welcome Centre and Ellingham Employment Services for adults with learning disabilities, to create a community learning resource which promotes sustainability, increases student confidence, develops team working and provides volunteering opportunities.

Top 3 learnings

1 The project task group membership profile is crucial. Make sure all the stakeholders
are represented and you harness the enthusiasm and commitment
2 Gain the support of the whole organisation by really involving them in the project
wherever possible
3 Promote the project as widely as possible; people and organisations are often willing
to support or donate.

What the judges say...

Very focused project with good links to course programmes. The public seeing “outside” what students “learn inside” worked extremely well.

What it means to win ...

“Winning a Green GownAward is an exciting achievement which recognises our strong commitment to meeting the needs of disadvantaged individuals and communities. This project has showcased the success of our student engagement and community partnerships and their contribution to sustainability which will spark further collaboration.”

Joni Cunningham, Principal

Videos

• Inside Outside Sculpture Trail and EcoGarden (click to hide)