With UK temperatures soaring to hit a record 40C in July, climate change is one of the biggest issues that faces us and our planet. History Saves the World at Hampshire Cultural Trust’s (HCT) Milestones Museum in Basingstoke this summer asks visitors: can we be greener by learning from our past?
With activities to discover, make and try, History Saves the World is a new, hands-on experience for the whole family to learn about sustainable practices from years gone by and how we can use them to create a more sustainable future. It focuses on what can be learned from both the war years and the Victorian era and how the skills of our ancestors can help us to protect our environment in our everyday life, from planting and growing vegetables to mending, recycling and conserving energy.
Visitors can explore what the Victorians did to make things last longer – how they reused their packaging, conserved energy and managed recycling – and have a go at repairing clothes themselves.
During World War II, many basic items became scarce. The war years were a time of great resourcefulness and resilience where people learned how to ‘make do and mend’. Visitors to Milestones can learn about the ‘Dig for Victory' campaign in World War II, how to make a recycled seed pot grow and growing their own fruit and vegetables.
Of course, the past wasn’t all good. History Saves the World also looks at some negative practices from the past and how these can be adapted for a more sustainable future. One area that is focused on in History Saves the World is how HCT is working on a greener alternative to powering the trust’s steam lorry through eco-coal, part of a sustainable steam project.
Alongside this event, Milestones has lots more to offer. Visitors can take a trip to Mr Simpson’s Teddy Bear Museum and learn about Tino the teddy and over 250 of his friends. The maze of Victorian and 1930s streets packed with shops, factories and houses based on original buildings from in and around Basingstoke, is also waiting to be explored. Visitors can experience rationing first hand in Abraham’s sweet shop where visitors can swap a ration coupon for some good old-fashioned favourites. The whole family will enjoy taking on the authentic arcade games on the Milestones Pier before settling into the family-friendly Baverstock Arms for a pint. And, with a huge collection of restored vintage vehicles, including a Victorian tram, classic motorbikes, a Romany caravan and even a 19th century steam-powered fire engine, there really is something for everyone at Milestones this summer.
History Saves the World is a family-friendly event taking place throughout the summer and is included in the museum’s admission price. For more information and to book tickets to Milestones Museum, please visit - https://www.milestonesmuseum.org.uk/event/history-saves-world.