Championing sustainability with Chris Hines MBE 

Image caption: Chris Hines MBE at Bee House’s Earth Day event

We were thrilled to welcome Chris Hines MBE, environmental campaigner, co-founder of Surfers Against Sewage and former Sustainability Director at the Eden Project to Bee House to celebrate Earth Day. His keynote talk set the tone for an insightful morning, which included support from Earth Trust, Sustainable Didcot, Foodilicious, AIRA and B•ABLE. 

Just before the inspiring talk, Chris joined Veronica Reynolds, Milton Park’s Sustainability and Community Manager, for an interview with BBC Radio Oxford. Veronica discussed the range of sustainability initiatives at Milton Park and the growing number of companies in the green energy and EV battery technology sectors who have chosen the Park as their base.   

She said: “The Earth Day event was about celebrating our planet’s beauty and reminding ourselves that it is up to all of us to protect it. We are fortunate to work somewhere like Milton Park which has made space for nature. It is no coincidence that companies who are working to address climate change are choosing to base themselves here”. 

Chris’ infectious sense of optimism reminded event attendees that, although the environmental challenges faced are steep, change isn’t only possible, but can be seen all around us. 

Chris was a founding member of the action group Surfers Against Sewage, regarded as “some of the Government’s most sophisticated environmental critics” by the BBC and “Britain’s coolest pressure group” by the Independent.  

He described his own story of how, in the 1990s, he managed to turn around policies that led to widespread polluting of our coastal areas through ‘intelligent activism’. The group managed to get water companies to treat the sewage water before it was pumped into the sea. 

“There is no business to be done on a dead planet,” he said, as he urged us to think long-term and act boldly. 

He also highlighted his work at the Eden Project, where initiatives to cut down on single-use plastics and boost on-site recycling were not only good for the planet but helped to inspire visitors with meaningful sustainability practices that empowered them to do their bit. 

It was especially moving to see Chris don a green hand-crocheted heart, a lovely handmade gesture by Sustainable Didcot volunteers, a small, but visible symbol of community-led climate action. 

Joining Chris at the event were innovators and grassroots organisations making change happen across Didcot and beyond: 

• AIRA, a Swedish-based company and new Bee House occupier, showcased how its air-source heat pumps are revolutionising home heating with zero emissions 

• B•ABLE offered practical advice for businesses looking to become B Corps, demystifying the process and encouraging more organisations to commit to ethical and sustainable practices 

• Local favourites Foodilicious tempted taste buds with their stall — featuring recyclable coffee pods made for the Eden Project, combining sustainability with great flavour. 

• Sustainable Didcot shared some of the brilliant projects happening right on our doorstep, encouraging attendees to roll up their sleeves and get involved 

• Earth Trust introduced us to their latest wetlands project, with volunteering opportunities available for anyone keen to help boost biodiversity in our local area. 

We were delighted to see Milton Park occupiers and members of the local community come together for an informative morning that reminded us that every action counts and the power to reimagine a better Earth sits with us all. 

Sustainability initiatives

Discover more about other sustainable initiatives which are blossoming across Milton Park this spring…

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