EXPO 2007

Record crowds attend EXPO 2007

In excess of 800 people attended EXPO 2007 on the 16th October. There were over 80 separate exhibits and 20 seminars/workshops at the event for sustainable development in the East Midlands Region.

EXPO brings together a wide range of organisations and individuals to identify real opportunities for business to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future. This year the event was held at the prestigious Rockingham Speedway, Corby, Northampton. East Midlands EXPO has now been running for four years and is continuing to grow.

Simon Drury of Envirowise, Chair of the East Midlands EXPO Organising group, said:

“We have been delighted by the numbers and range of organisations that are participating in this years EXPO. We have the key players in the Climate Change issue attending and products and services include Eco-friendly promotional merchandise, Local Authorities, Local food producers, Water Management, Construction and Developers.”

The organisers of East Midlands EXPO got together with Corby Community Transport to get attendees to and from the site for free via Kettering Railway Station and the Willows Arts Centre. The aim of this was to reduce the footprint of the event and to encourage take up of public transport.

In addition to this there was a collection at the event so that individuals could donate money towards reducing their footprint. The money was then donated to the Woodland Trust in order to offset the foot print of the event.

Schools taking part at the event were involved in competitions to heighten awareness of food miles amongst youngsters, the competitions involved students in keystages 1 and 2.

Key stage 1 had to grow something – then eat it! This was to encourage thinking about where food came from and how to grow it. Cress, carrots and potatoes featured and were consumed in a variety of dishes.

The winners of Key stage 1 wereStimpson Avenue Primary School, Northampton, they won a set of giant planters and some seeds for the school.

Second place went to Ashby Hilltop Primary School Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire who won a recycled plastic planter and some seeds

The competition for Key stage 2 encouraged thought as to where the food on the school menu came from and to produce a menu for the school from local sources. This reduces “food miles” and is in keeping with EXPO’s Climate change theme.

The winners of Key stage 2 were Scargill Primary School, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, they won a Farm trip to Chatsworth Farmyard in Derbyshire.

Runners up were Humberstone Junior School, Leicester who won a Farm Trip to Stonehurst farm.

The East Midlands EXPO was organised by The East Midlands Regional Assembly, East Midlands Development Agency, Government Office for the East Midlands and the East Midlands Centre for Constructing the Built Environment.