Conference report > Approaches to the environment - Towards a common understanding

This was a two-day conference organised by the Adventure and Environmental Awareness Group and held at Brockhole, National Park Centre, in November 1988. It attracted over 80 leaders interested in adventure, outdoor recreation, development training, field studies, art and spiritual development to present their views, establish common interests and recommend action for the environment.

Steve Howe from Outward Bound, Ullswater, described the importance of the Lake District for adventurous activities and how it has become big business. He stated that adventure is one of the few multi-million pound industries that does not have to pay for manufacturing space. There is a need to balance two fundamental needs- the need to protect our wild places and the need to feed the fundamental human hunger for adventure.

Mike Mills from Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre traced the development of field studies from the large-scale trip to the seashore to in-depth scientific studies. He questioned whether fieldwork succeeds in raising true environmental appreciation and whether it encourages conservation and understanding of global issues.

Dave Williams from Impact Development Training Group presented the aims of Development Training. He stated that it is about showing people how every experience can become a learning opportunity and as such people have the potential to take control over their own development. The outdoors offers the most realistic classroom of all, it can be challenging and is conducive to creativity and reflection. There have been examples of development training groups misusing the environment but Dave also said there were positive examples of groups who had been involved in National Park issues and conservation projects.

Bryan Edmondson, an art adviser with Wigan education authority, described how artists from the earliest cave dwellers to modern times have tried to make sense of the world through their art. Some artists are interested in the way we treat our environment and the way we have exploited its resources, others in conveying the beauty in the shapes and forms of living things. He described the work of Richard Long and Andy Goldsworthy and demonstrated how these and other artists open our eyes to the world. We become aware of colours, patterns and forms and issues and ideas about the environment are suddenly sharper and more relevant.

Peter Freeman of the Lake District National Park Authority said that tourism is succeeding farming as the lifeblood of upland areas like the Lake District. He claimed that the potential for the greatest damage to the countryside is from the leading edge operators such as climbers leaving their mark on sensitive and spectacular environments. He argued for more mind games and less selfishness.

The conference later divided for a series of four optional workshops - Development Training, Spiritual Awareness, Sculpture and Earth Education. This was followed by a discussion session chaired by Pat Keighley of the AEA Group.

Colin Mortlock, Chairman of the AEA Group, gave a presentation on the Spiritual Environment. He described through personal examples how he had achieved on several occasions a feeling of unity with nature. He felt that drastic changes are required in people’s attitudes to get more peace and harmony. He outlined a theory of unity and a set of universal values, which he argued, could help us live as part of, rather than apart from, the earth.

The second part of the conference considered practical ways of encouraging environmental education and action to conserve the environment.

Philippa McMurdo from High Borrans outdoor education centre described the work of the Institute for Earth Education. She stated that all Earth Education programmes have three components- understanding, feelings and processing- and described in detail the Earth Caretakers programme. Such programmes help young people to live more lightly on the planet and develop a deeper personal relationship with the earth.

Dave Andrews from British Trust for Conservation Volunteers argued that practical conservation should be an essential requirement of all programmes in the outdoors. He considered the various outdoor groups using the Lake District and suggested how each could put something back to help conserve the environment.

Simon Perry, Education Officer for the Royal Society for nature Conservation, described the work of WATCH, the national wildlife and environment club. He argued that community action must start with people. Environmental issues start from where young people are- their immediate surroundings and situation. He said that voluntary organisations have a key role to play in stimulating local action and providing support through resources, expertise and publicity.

Stephen Sterling, a freelance environmental consultant, presented a global perspective. He argued that ecology and economy are becoming even more interwoven- locally, regionally, nationally and globally into a seamless web of causes and effects- and gave examples of how global issues affect us all. He presented a model for global education and encouraged leaders to make connections, explore issues from all angles and identify actions we can take to improve our environments.

The conference divided into five discussion groups and reported back with their recommendations in the plenary session. Geoff Cooper from the AEA Group in his closing remarks emphasised the three main themes of the conference. He said that the importance of a spiritual dimension, a personal connection with the earth, had come across throughout the talks, workshops and discussions. A second theme had been the interrelatedness of everything in the environment. It is clear we cannot consider issues in isolation. The third theme was the need to put something back both on a personal level and through our organisations. The conference had been given many examples of how this can be achieved.

The full report of the conference is available from:

Geoff Cooper
AEA Group Chairman
Low Bank Ground
Coniston
Cumbria
LA21 8AA

Send cheque payable to “Adventure and Environmental Awareness Group” for £4 for each report. This price includes post and package.

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