Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, gave the opening speech at the Schools Sustainability Conference held at Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT) on 17 May.

The Sustainable Basingstoke Forum, which Maria set up in 2012, had suggested the idea of involving school students in an event to look at sustainability issues and its members were delighted that BCOT had taken up the challenge.

Many of the Sustainable Basingstoke Forum’s members were also guest speakers at the conference, including representatives from Greening Chineham, the Smart Future Centre, Old Down and Beggarwood Conservation Society and the Basingstoke Alternative Action Group. Other speakers included representatives from the Borough Council and Inspiro Grow to Eat.

Maria said: “We are so lucky in Basingstoke in having wonderful green spaces around us as well as the River Loddon. We need to look after our environment and all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to protect and improve it.”

Maria applauded the students’ interest in sustainability issues and giving up their time to come together to learn and share ideas. She particularly congratulated Spencer Brown, President of the BCOT Students Union, who had taken the lead in organising the conference.