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THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
  • About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Green Fair Poster Pack
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Feedback
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Therapeutic Storyworking with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Stay With Us
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Picnic Bench Fund
    • Smoothie Bike Fund
    • Cast Off
    • Friends
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
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      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop & Book
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  • Visit Us
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oUR History

HMS Mercury 

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Mercury Day

Saturday the 14th March saw the return of over 150 former Naval personnel to unveil a Blue Plaque to celebrate the history of HMS Mercury. The 55 acres which is now the Sustainability Centre, was once part of the 120 acre Leydene Estate. This was home to HMS Mercury, the Royal Naval Communications and Navigation School between 1941 and 1993. Over half a million personnel served or trained at Mercury during the 52 years of its existence.

Phill Humphries welcomed everyone before the blue plaque was officially unveiled by Commodore Tony Morrow, who was Captain of Mercury from 1988-1991.

Since 1993 there has been another season of change as the site has been transformed from one which educated so many in the technology of communication to one where communication is our means of educating people today, and especially young people, in the ways of sustainable living.

David Smith and his committee worked alongside our staff to make it a day to remember. 

Launching the Blue Plaque Trail

The aim of the Blue Plaque scheme is to commemorate HMS Mercury Communication and Navigation School and its place in history. Further blue plaques are being placed at other locations which had a special association with Mercury and which are fondly remembered by those who served at Leydene. 
​
​​This little ditty tells the story of all the HMS Mercury Blue Plaques written for the launch by Ollie Butler.
​

A Blue Plaque Ditty

After all the nitty gritty, I just have a little ditty.
It’s to thank the Blue Plaque Team, for the great success of this worthy scheme.

Thinking back when it begun, first and launch was the Rising Sun.
Bat and Ball hit number two, the Mercury site, was quite a coup.

The Pinkie wrapped up number four, the BCC the next to score.
Isaac Walton netted number six, the Hurdles took a while to fix.

Number eight The Bird in Hand, Red Lion Chalton, nine as planned.
The Heroes made it half a score, next stop found us at the door.

Of the Hampshire Hog, the eleventh place, this worthy scheme did embrace.
The penultimate there was no flagon, it’s merely the site of the old Green Dragon.

The thirteenth and final one of all, Adorns the Mercury Museum wall.
Now, with all plaques on display, there’s only one thing left to say.

Who’ll be left with the final chore, of planning the route for the run ashore.

BCC Broadhalfpenny Down Cricket Club
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Find Other Blue Plaques

Earthworks Trust & Earthworks Foundation

​The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866).
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.


​Charity Number ​​ 1079866

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Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR

Reception

01730 823166
​info@sustainability-centre.org

South Downs Eco Lodge
​& Camp Site

01730 823549
accommodation@sustainability-centre.org

Cafe

01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com  

Burials

​01730 823425
​burials@sustainability-centre.org

Education

​education@sustainability-centre.org

Courses

​courses@sustainability-centre.org

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  • About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Green Fair Poster Pack
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Feedback
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Therapeutic Storyworking with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Stay With Us
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Picnic Bench Fund
    • Smoothie Bike Fund
    • Cast Off
    • Friends
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop & Book
    • Shop At The Centre
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us >
      • Map
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Guided Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List