Green Gown Awards 2021: Sustainability Champion – Student - Goldsmiths, UoL M. Jennings - HC

Margaret Jennings

The organic Eco Haven I established in 2014 has developed into an increasingly biodiverse wildlife and plant centred, (rather than human centred), community space, offering research, education, well-being and expanded Ecoarts. In the face of pandemic-lockdowns and increasing mental-health issues, recognising the limitations to connect with nature in inner cities, plus the knowledge that positive wellbeing arises from nature-contact, the need to reach-out to communities on and off campus became self-evident.

Drawing from the Eco Haven experience, 3 socially engaged, participative zoom+instagram Ecoart Workshops based on 4 SDG’s, (sustainable cities, quality education. wellbeing, climate change), have been successfully conducted 6 times, offering; Tree stories and sustainable wood-related home discoveries; Walk reasearch+biodiversity curiosity-focus + awe-findings; and local seed exchanges connecting nurturing, community, and legacy. As a proactive eco project they link-up with my local community art fest workshop 21 and Capital Culture 22, a yearly eco-sustainability SU Award, one acre of rainforest purchase and two library eco archives.

Top 3 learnings:

1. We can offer positive environmental legacy sharing and nurturing seeds. Even on a windowsill.
2. I encourage time to be with nature, Respect, love, and awe - pathways for wellbeing-ecochange.
3. I embrace layered ecoart research, connecting circular community engagements towards stimulating hands on proactive eco- sustainable responsibility.