Mélanie Élouise Bennet PhD Student

University of East Anglia, School of Biological Sciences John Innes Centre, Dept. Molecular Mircobiology

Chairman, UEA Gardening Group m.bennet@uea.ac.uk

The gasification + combined heat and power generator at the University of

East Anglia

My work at UEA:

I test the potential toxicity of biochar

from the UEA combined heat and

power gasification unit on plant growth.

The aim is to ultimately develop a pilot

field trial in Norkolk and begin

delivering bespoke support to farmers

and environmental/land managers.

The On-Farm Carbon Cycle for biochar in agriculture

CO 2

CO 2

C

Biomass C

CO + H

Syngas

10%

90%

10%

90%

10%

90%

10%

90%

10%

90%

10%

90%

Generation 1 Generation 2 Generation 3

• Harvest

• Top up

• Add BC +

Nutrients

• Grow G2

• Harvest

• Top up

• Add BC +

Nutrients

• Grow G3

• Harvest

• Top up

• Add BC +

Nutrients

• Grow G2

• Harvest

• Top up

• Add BC +

Nutrients

• Grow G3

Pla

nte

d

Unpla

nte

d

My work at JIC Soil biodiversity – microbial community analysis

My work at JIC Soil biodiversity – microbial community analysis

UEA Gardening Club In May 2011, the university have

opened the first campus allotment-

type gardening scheme for staff and

students. The site contains approx.

55 plots (5 m x 10 m), shaded

polytunnels, industrial glasshouses

as well a shed and kitchen facilities.

We are all very excited about this

new development!

I am very excited about my new role as

chairman of the UEA Gardening Group. I

hope that we can develop biodiversity

conservation, beekeeping and

potentially small biochar trials on-site in

the near future.

SAPling School Allotment Project

In 2008, during my undergraduate

studies, I wanted to do something that

would really help my local community. I

was regularly volunteering to teach

science activities at Chapelbreak Infant

School and felt the would benefit from

developing this further by buidling a

playground allotment.

The school was very happy to start work

on the project. We managed to get

funding, build the allotment and win

several Lord Mayor awards within the

space of 8 months.

The allotment provided opportunities for

art-based learning in conjunction with

community groups, and further “green”

development of the school land.

A biodiversity forest, several outdoor

classrooms, duck enclosure and were

created following the success of

SAPlings.

SAPling School Allotment Project

SAPling School Allotment Project