Plumpton College - leading the way in sustainability

Last Friday, a lucky group of Chamber members ventured out of the city and into the fascinating world of Plumpton College, for our latest Net Zero Champions event. This 2,500 acre sustainable ecological campus is home to 4,000 students (and many more plants and animals), offering vocational courses from entry level all the way up to Masters level.

We were given an introductory talk by Chris Knell, Plumpton’s Finance Director, who explained that Plumpton is the largest educational farm in the country, and that by September, all 19 of their courses will have sustainability built into their curriculum. This was followed by a tour of Plumpton with Sarah George and Alex Waterfield, exploring the old church, the animal management buildings and, importantly, the winery!  

Students and sustainability

From the moment we arrived, it was obvious that sustainability is at the heart of everything going on in this expansive campus. It is a refreshingly logical operation, where decisions are made according to the ‘conditions of the soil, not the recommendations of the accountant’. The focus is not simply on reducing emissions, but making sustainability come alive for students. By implementing logical practices in their daily life on campus, students will carry forward these positive changes into their future careers and be able to make good changes for the rest of their life. This proves that sustainability is not just an environmental concept, but a social one too: every choice made at Plumpton College is intentional and designed to last.

The campus incorporates both old and new techniques to ensure the survival and protection of its natural landscape. The ancient woodlands provide 95% of the carbon sequestration for the whole area; regenerative agriculture techniques are used to ensure the sustainable quality of topsoil; and all new buildings have their own energy hub (with excess being siphoned off onto the National Grid). What’s clear at Plumpton is its flexibility: all practices are explored and appreciated, meaning students get the most well-rounded education possible. 

Wine production at Plumpton College

Speaking of well-rounded, it’s only logical that wine is one of the main priorities on campus! Students can obtain Masters-level certifications, which at Plumpton is both a vocational course and a commercial outfit. They describe themselves as ‘semi-commercial wine makers with an academic approach’, producing 25-30,000 bottles each year.

The winery has adapted to the natural (although changing) landscapes, using lab grown PIWI grapes which are more suited to our cooler temperatures. Even the winery’s wavy roof reflects the rolling hills of the Downs that the farm sits in. One poignant fact we learnt was that Sussex’s vine-growing belt now matches temperature records of the Champagne region of France 50 years ago, so local winemakers must remain flexible to the ever-changing weather patterns and temperature increases. 

Some take-aways from our visit:

• We are right to feel optimistic about the future of our planet. We are surrounded by people who are prioritising sustainability and ecological understanding, and we can be sure that the students graduating from Plumpton will be leading the way in spreading fact-based hope about the future.
• Don’t just rely on one technique to guide your work and discredit the rest. Plumpton has shown us the advantages of exploring every avenue, in order to create a well-rounded student and a happier landscape. As Sarah George said; “it’s not about one big change, but 50 smaller changes - that’s how you make a difference.”.
• Social sustainability and ecological sustainability go hand-in-hand, and an environment where both are prioritised will be one of the healthiest around. So, thank you Plumpton College! 

Our Net Zero Champions are the people in business who are driving the journey to Net Zero, with sustainability at the heart of what they do. You can find out more about our Net Zero Champions, and how to join, on our website.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk