Championing the need for fundamental changes in the way we live, work and interact with the environment, Working with Nature brought together an exclusive number of interactive features to educate and inspire visitors...

The Green Infrastructure Partnership Pavilion supported by Defra and DCLG will sat right at the heart of the exhibition, next to the Ecobuild Arena where ministers from DCLG, Defra, DECC and BIS and high-level industry speakers took to the stage for big debates, policy announcements and future thinking.

Natural, sustainable Delivered in association with Schumacher College, RESET Development, the Brighton Permaculture Trust, the Low Carbon Trust, the Low Impact Living Initiative and the Centre for Alternative Technology, Natural, Sustainable... focused on practical, sustainable solutions to design, specification and development, working with natural sustainable materials.

There were hands-on demonstrations of construction with straw bale, rammed earth and chalk, timber, clay, lime and cob and visitors talked to suppliers and training organisations supporting this emerging area of the low carbon construction industry.

The ever popular Biodiversity Pavilion, a selection of experts were sharing practical advice on how to create a rich biodiverse environment even in the grittiest urban environment.

Industry leaders such as CIRIA, RESET Developments, Livingroofs.org, British Beekeeper’s Association, Trees for Cities, Bat Conservation Trust, Wildflower Turf Ltd and Habitat Aid, covdered hot topics such as ‘Biodiverse habitats on and in commercial buildings’, ‘Supporting biodiversity through Green Infrastructure and onsite water management’, ‘Establishing a wildflower meadow - biodiversity wins gold at the Olympics!’ and case studies from the housing sector on ways communities are working with nature to improve local green space.

Reinforcing the importance of the natural environment in sustainable design and construction, this area also brought together the latest product and service innovations from the green infrastructure industry.