Top of the City

On March 2nd and 23rd, we took our Sex & Bugs & Rock ’n Roll roadshow to a shopping arcade in the centre of Lancaster for the 2019 edition of Campus in the City.

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Shoppers discovered the hidden wonders of woodlands, identified their inner animal, and played the popular Poo Game (only plastic poo involved) to identify animals from what they leave behind. We had some really great chats about all sorts of things from dung beetles to conservation to climate change. A big thank you to everyone who dropped by – and a very special mention to the lovely visitor who returned to say thank you with a bag of very welcome chocolate eggs!

In the City… we keep it rockin’

It’s spring 2019 and Lancaster University’s Campus in the City project is back, bringing research and researchers from campus into the city centre shopping arcade to share their discoveries with the city residents.

“Because of what you do we’d like to invite you to the launch event,” they said.

“Oh, what an honour!” we thought.

“The deputy mayor will be there!” they said.

“Sounds like canapes and complimentary drinks on tap!” we thought.

“So if you could be there to set up from 9 am and have your stall and activities ready to open to the public at 10 am, then work until 3 pm, that would be excellent,”

Hang on a second…

Yes, we were part of this year’s Campus in the City launch event, and it was a great honour! We were introduced with full fanfare by Lancaster University’s champion for engagement Prof Sue Black, alongside other colleagues from Lancaster Environment Centre and other University departments. I have to say that even at Glastonbury, I’ve never talked someone about the Wonders of Woodlands with a stilt walker stood beside me!

 

Another thing we’ve not experienced before is for one of our visitors – a complete stranger – to come back to us towards the end of the day with a bag of chocolate as a “thank you for all you do”. Wow. To that lovely person we extend our thanks for making us feel that our hard work is appreciated. We’re very grateful.

Indeed we had such a lovely day on the 2nd March that we’ll be back on the 23rd! We’ll have the full woodland tent with us this time: shoppers of St Nicholas Arcade, Lancaster won’t be able to miss us! If you’re around In The City, we hope to see you there!

(NB the complimentary drinks – of the hot caffeinated variety thanks to a local cafe – were much appreciated, though oddly canapes never did materialise!)