CAT stories – Nick Parsons and Mike Russell
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Our unique community continues to use the knowledge, skills and networks gained at CAT to enable positive action on the climate and nature crises. This time we hear from CAT’s Eco Refurbishment course tutor Nick Parsons and recent short course attendee Mike Russell.
Nick Parsons
Nick Parsons has worked in sustainable building and renewable energy for over 25 years, though his involvement in energy-efficient refurbishment started with a housing association back in the early 80s. It was around this time that he first visited CAT and was inspired by the innovation he saw, despite the relatively small budget.
In 2000 Nick joined an energy project in Sheffield, which became the South Yorkshire Energy Centre (SYEC), promoting and demonstrating sustainable building. Ten years later he became a sole proprietor focused on surveys, consultancy, project management and training, plus hands-on contracting. While he no longer does whole-house surveys, he still offers single-issue advice and problem solving, face-to-face and online.
In 2007/08 he developed and taught the first Eco Refurbishment course at CAT and has been sharing his considerable experience in this area with students ever since.
Nick says, “I got the gig at CAT entirely thanks to Helen Sharma, one of the brilliant team of volunteers at SYEC, who became the Short Courses technician, and later administrator, at CAT.
“People come from all sorts of different backgrounds. Sometimes they start off with no construction experience and end up being acknowledged as an expert in green building. And even if they don’t work as experts, they gain the knowledge and confidence to commission or undertake eco-refurbishment work on their own houses. We need a lot more. It’s a wide-open opportunity.
“It’s important that we make it easy to get information about our homes. People like me need to tell people what’s good practice and what’s not, and get that information out there. They can then make informed choices. If they come to CAT and learn how to do it right from the start, they’re less likely to make expensive mistakes.
“I’ve always thought CAT is a fantastic place. Not just because of the way it started, but because of the way it has carried on, because of its inspirational nature. CAT has inspired several generations so far, and I would really like to see it inspire many more.”
Mike Russell
Mike Russell runs his own eco-garden design business. He has previously worked for the National Trust as a ranger and the Wildlife Trust encouraging environmental education.
Mike spent his childhood at an Environmental Education Centre, immersed in nature. While studying art and visual studies at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) in the 1980s, he set up a wildlife gardening business with a friend.
In 1987 they made the journey from Oxford to CAT in their Morris Minor van to help in the gardens. This time at CAT inspired his philosophy for his business and continues to do so today.
Mike recently returned to CAT for the Eco Refurbishment course, having bought a house in need of renovation with his wife, Jane, in Shropshire. The couple are keen to approach the project in an environmentally friendly way that is beneficial to wildlife as well as themselves.
Mike says, “CAT is a place that inspires you and makes you think about your place on the planet. I hadn’t visited for quite a long time, but it still has that same wonderful feeling. “Nick, who ran the Eco Refurbishment course, really went the extra mile to share his knowledge. That was reflective of CAT – a welcoming and outward-looking community rather than somewhere where people want to hide away from everyone else.
“CAT inspires you when you are there and then motivates you to do something afterwards. Coming away this time, I saw that everyone has their own little jigsaw piece of the planet to look after for the benefit the whole of mankind and the universe. So we need to do the best we can with it, and maybe educate other people as well.”
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