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Unsung Hero

Environment

Beyond Bricks and Mortar: ‘That Hempcrete Guy’ Reveals the Carbon-Negative Building Solution We Already Have!

Regular readers here know I’m passionate about exploring sustainable solutions, from the food we eat to the energy we use. In the UK, we’re facing a dual challenge: creating warmer, healthier homes and significantly reducing our carbon footprint. The good news? We have the skills, tools and materials readily available to achieve both, particularly through sustainable building practices. The frustrating part? For some reason, we’re still not utilising these incredible resources, especially when it comes to larger-scale housing developments.

I recently had a fascinating conversation that opened my eyes and really brought this home. My guest, Will Stanwix a.k.a. ‘That Hempcrete Guy’, a pioneer in the world of natural building, shared his journey and insights, highlighting just how much potential we’re sitting on. Another unsung hero quietly championing the use of carbon-negative hempcrete to revolutionise eco-friendly construction and reduce humanity’s environmental footprint.

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Environment, Travel

An Evening of Antarctic Inspiration: A James Caird Society Dinner to Remember

Last week, I had the immense privilege of attending the bi-annual James Caird Society dinner, at Dulwich College, an event that always promises a deep dive into the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. This year, however, felt particularly special, leaving me filled with inspiration and a renewed sense of awe for those who braved the frozen continent.

The air bubbled with anticipation as members gathered around the James Caird, many of whom have their own incredible stories connected to polar exploration. The evening’s speaker in the Great Hall at Dulwich, was Bob Headland, a renowned writer and polar historian whom I had had the pleasure of sitting next to at the previous dinner. His address was, as expected, a masterclass in storytelling, ‘Non-existent Islands & Rocks of the Southern Ocean’, bringing to life incredible marine tales of endurance and resilience that define the era of Shackleton, Scott, and their contemporaries.

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