Wouldn't it be amazing to see into the future? What if you could just have a peep through some magical binoculars to get a look at what's ahead?

Well, it's become possible to do just that at the new Environment Zone at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, recently opened by Professor David Bellamy OBE.
However, the outlook is alarming to say the least. One view of the future has the East Lothian coast vanishing under water as sea levels rise due to climate change. But the citizens of the pretty seaside town don't need to think about packing up their possessions and heading for the highlands just yet. It is possible to stop awful flooding - and other environmental catastrophes - from happening. There is still time.

Tom Brock OBE, chief executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: "My dream for the new Environment Zone is to persuade people that it's not someone else's job to do something about pollution, conservation and sustainability, it's everyone's. Our hope is that the Environment Zone will encourage people to begin making changes in their lifestyles and to take seriously the warnings that environmentalists have been highlighting for many years."

The Environment Zone, partly supported by ScottishPower's Green Energy Trust, is certainly very persuasive. Linked by the new Migration Flyway, the Environment Zone is a physical and symbolic link between the Seabird Centre, with its focus on wildlife, and the threatened environment that wildlife exists in.

Professor Bellamy, a long-standing supporter of the Seabird Centre and its non-intrusive approach to observing the bird life, was typically enthusiastic as he cut the ribbon and led the crowd through the Migration Flyway. His support of the Environment Zone, and its focus on climate change as the most critical issue of our time, is significant given the controversial position he took on the issue in recent years. It seems that even the great botanist is starting to worry about the future and the damage we have caused to the climate.

Rich marine life

As he opened the £700,000 new attractions, he said: "Morus bassanus, the great diving gannets of Bass Rock, their friends the puffins and the rich marine life of the Firth of Forth have allowed a growing number of visitors young and old to get close to nature without disturbing it in any way. The new Environment Zone and Migration Flyway will continue to enthral, entertain and educate visitors of the wonder of it while posing pertinent questions about our futures."

The exhibition includes discussion of alternative power sources and other measures vital to ensuring the future of all our natural habitats.
 
Alison McKean, head of environment at ScottishPower and trustee of ScottishPower's Green Energy Trust, said: "We are delighted that the trust has been able to assist with this project. Not only does the Environment Zone highlight the vital issue of climate change and its effect, but it explores opportunities to do something about it."

This isn't the first time ScottishPower's Green Energy Trust has thrown its weight behind the work of the award-winning visitor centre.

In 2003, the trust supported the centre when it installed solar powered interactive cameras. These cameras enable birdwatchers to make ‘virtual' visits to the islands in the Firth of Forth to observe the wildlife. The solar units replaced existing diesel power.