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Reclaim the Earth Centre - people power needed for occupation campaign

naughty pixies | 07.10.2009 16:16 | Culture | Ecology | Education | Sheffield

The Earth Centre in Doncaster has been left to ruin for 5 years. We intend to take it back. This site now owned by the council was developed to be a sustainable living education centre and community farm. It is currently being used as a firing range by weapon enthusiasts Cerberus Airsoft. Its time to bring this valuable resource back to the people before it is sold off for development.

The Earth Centre
The Earth Centre

One of many allotments
One of many allotments

Permaculture
Permaculture

Growing plots
Growing plots

Alas it once educated a new generation
Alas it once educated a new generation

One of many alternative technology buildings
One of many alternative technology buildings

Geodomes
Geodomes

Education buildings
Education buildings

Spiral Paths
Spiral Paths


Attention: Do you want to live more cheaply? Learn and share skills, support yourself and build community?
We need support for the takeover of the Earth Centre, we intend to transform it into a camp for sustainable living and community activism.

The Earth Centre was developed on derelict land left over from former coal pits, it was intended to be the museum for the millenium. Initial plans were for a gradual development of the site, incorporating community-led projects and with much construction work being undertaken by Mowlem, who used the site to train apprentices. The first stage of that project opened in 1994, including a sustainable aquaculture centre and a community farm.

In 1995 the Millennium Commission made an award to Earth Centre, which became one of its Landmark Millennium projects. The site was completely redesigned and virtually all existing landscaping and projects were destroyed, which lost the goodwill of the local community who felt excluded from the project. From 1996 work progressed on the remediation of the remaining polluted land and the design and construction of the many buildings and exhibitions.

In September 2004 the attraction closed to the public, and only pre-booked school parties were allowed. By the end of October, the Earth Centre, monument to Sustainability, was to the money men un-sustainable and was put in the hands of administrators. It is now in the hands of the Council who surprise surprise have made no effort to return it to its original intent. Instead the council chooses to allow access to Cerberus Airsoft a company specialising in providing war games and shooting outings to a select membership group. General public will be thrown off by the police!!

We think that this is an amazing site and the original concept behind the Earth Centre is a fantastically intelligent way of educating communities about sustainable living. It is now the time to return the Earth Centre to the people.

We need support in many forms to make this happen. To begin with we need people to come and help occupy the site, we will need tools and volunteers. This is a great opportunity for anyone that has been wanting to live in a community, in an eco village setting and a real chance to put South Yorkshire on the map for environmental education and lifestyle.

Please help contact -  thereismore2lfefolks@yahoo.co.uk



naughty pixies
- e-mail: thereismore2lifefolks@yahoo.co.uk

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Looks familiar

08.10.2009 07:47

This looks familiar - was it used as a location for the TV series "Survivors" last year?

Survivor


EAK!!! The e-mail address does not work =(

09.10.2009 16:57

Does any body know how to get in contact with the earth center???

knotty
mail e-mail: knottyboy_4@hotmail.com


Try this one?

09.10.2009 17:24

The article above looks like it has a typo?

The latest article about this:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2009/10/439548.html

Has this address:

 thereismore2lifefolks@yahoo.co.uk

Perhaps try that one...?

Chris