The Royal visits will highlight some of the best examples of sustainable living – by individuals, community groups and local businesses – and inspire everyone to make positive changes to their lifestyles.
HRH will also host a series of meetings and receptions on the train and between station stops.
Tuesday 7 September
In Bristol, HRH and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will officially open the Start Living Advice Centre, located in Cabot Circus. The community partners involved include:
- Sustrans - establishing national and regional cycle networks to encourage fitness and improved health benefits as well as to reduce traffic congestion in the City.
- Centre for Sustainable Energy - advising over 60,000 residents on how to reduce their energy costs and provided advice to over 250,000 people on energy savings.
- The Dartmoor Circle - announcing their work on a low carbon employment and travel strategy for Dartmoor National Park.
- The University of Bristol - showcasing a wind-driven car that is currently in production.
- The Green Capital Group - uniting a range of community partners who are working with BITC to create a greener city.
- Representatives from BT, Bristol Zoo Gardens, John Lewis Partnership, MITIE, Carbon Advice Group, Project Graphics and others who helped to set up the Start Living Centre will outline their involvement with the project.
- HRH will also meet with clients and coaches from Business Action on Homelessness and The Prince’s Trust.
Wednesday 8 September
In Newcastle, HRH will visit Newcastle’s Ouseburn Farm which has been revitalised by the local community and now houses a new environmental and heritage centre which lets youngsters learn about environmental issues relevant to their lives. Whilst on his visit, HRH will launch the farm’s first beehive which is part of the Council’s recently adopted city-wide strategy for bees.
In Todmorden, HRH will visit Incredible Edible, Eco Kids and a community volunteering programme.
Incredible Edible Todmorden was set up two years ago and aims to increase the amount of local food grown and eaten in the town. Businesses, schools, farmers and the community are all involved. Vegetables and fruit are springing up everywhere and public flower beds are being transformed into community herb gardens and vegetable patches.
In Manchester, HRH will attend a Civic Dinner for guests from across the North West, hosted by Gorton Monastery and supported by Manchester City Council, the North West Business Leadership Team and Foundation. It will showcase many successful projects from across the North West, including:
- A sustainable fashion show, sponsored by Brother Sewing Machines Europe, showcasing sustainable designs by students from The Manchester College and Manchester Metropolitan University.
- REEL Manchester, a social enterprise supported by Manchester City Council working with residents in the Higher Blackley and Charlestown wards of Manchester to script, produce and premiere a film about climate change.
- A Retrofitting Alliance convened by Business in the Community bringing together businesses, the public sector and community groups to work collaboratively and share best practice to make the places we live and work more sustainable.
Thursday 9 September
In Nottingham, HRH will visit the Meadows Area in Nottingham. The Prince will start his day at the Bridgeway Centre where he will meet with business leaders, he will see Arkwright Meadows Community Garden, meet a 73 year local resident who has benefited from solar panels in her home, and visit two faith centres.
In Birmingham, HRH will visit the Working towards a Smarter Future event is being organised by Business in the Community (BITC), BT, Sustainability West Midlands (SWM), Smarter Working West Midlands and Thinktank. As part of his visit, HRH will:
- Tour a Smarter Working and Living Exhibition with Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor of Aston University and the UK’s Low Carbon Business Ambassador, where he will see a display of green vehicles and stands from 25 business and community groups from across the region, showing how people can live more sustainably in their workplace and community.
- Hear the views and opinions of 70 young people about the future at a Preparing for a Smart Future event organised by BT, which will be video-linked to a parallel Mayday Network event taking place at BT Tower in London.
- Be introduced to some of the activities and exhibits at Thinktank which relate to the Start Initiative by a group of young people. Thinktank is a busy, vibrant and successful science museum and family attraction, welcoming over 250,000 visitors each year.
The full itinerary, including the stops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wales and London can be found on The Prince of Wales’s website.
