Day 6-Student Perspectives

Today we toured the Center for Alternative Technology and Powis
Castle. I thought the presentations were interesting; however, I loved
the tour of the grounds we received. The most interesting thing I
learned was how they utilized sand as a filter for the water in their
reservoir. I never realized how effective sand is to trap unwanted
bacteria and minerals found in water. It also makes me question
whether or not the acid rain we get in the US could be filtered and
utilized the same way.

The grounds at Powis Castle were beautiful and I wish we had more time
to adventure through them. The castle itself was interesting; it felt
much more personal than Edinburgh Castle did in Scotland. It was
really cool that the family still lived there. I thought it was really
interesting that there are certain staircases we could and could not
use. Our group dinner was lovely and it was really nice hanging out
with everyone afterwards. Overall, I thought it was a great day.

-Sam Harris

The day began at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT). Surrounded by breathtaking views, the CAT focuses on environmental sustainability. Low carbon building, renewable energy technology, and educational courses for all ages are just a few elements of CAT. The courses and hands-on learning are offered through a visitor education center and the Graduate School of the Environment (GSE).  Examples of the educational courses offered in the GSE include wind turbines, transformation politics and economics, energy provision, urban sustainability, and energy sustainability. All of the courses provide experience and knowledge for careers in sustainability, consultancy, eco-building, planning and policy, and many more. A lot of students graduate from CAT's GSE and set up their own businesses.

Our tour began with informational sessions about CAT and agriculture in the United Kingdom. We were then lead on a tour of the grounds and saw various ways that CAT applies environmental sustainability. The areas we visited consisted of eco housing for guests to stay in, classrooms, a vegetable garden, and a water filtration site. Guests can reside in the eco housing for a period of time and experience a low carbon and ecologically sustainable lifestyle. By the end of their stay, the guests will have completed various activities within the forest and can measure how much resources (water) that they used.

After the CAT, we drove to Powis Castle. The grounds of the Powis Castle consist of a cafe, gift shop, main house, and the gardens. The historic landmark contains numerous exhibits to view inside and outside. Before entering the main house, we saw pairs of peacocks walking around and resting on the stone walls. Within the Powis Castle, we saw various living quarters and artifacts. The gardens were closed during our visit, but in the warmer months the landscape is in bloom and open for visitors to explore.

-Sarah Jackson

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