Trust for Sustainable Living

Our history

The Trust for Sustainable Living is a global education charity, based at the Living Rainforest centre in West Berkshire, UK.


1993

For many decades, our site was home to one of Europe’s leading orchids nurseries. In 1993 it was converted into a rainforest visitor centre by philanthropist Keith Bromley and a top-notch horticultural team.

2000-2001

The Living Rainforest became a sustainability education charity, led by Karl Hansen (the charity was later renamed the Trust for Sustainable Living).

2005

The Human Impact Building opened at the Living Rainforest, featuring demonstration sustainable materials and technologies such as passive ventilation, timber from well-managed forests, recycled newspaper insulation and a biomass boiler.

2011

TSL International Schools Essay Competition & Debates launched.

2015

TSL Schools Sustainability Challenge video competition launched.

2016

Small Islands Glasshouse opened.

2018

Sustainable Futures exhibit opened.

2019

British Columbia government hosts the 2019 International Schools Debate on SDG 15 (Life on Land), following the 2018 Debates on SDG 14 (Life under Water) hosted by the Seychelles government.

2020

The 10th anniversary Debates & Summit focus on PARTNER PARTNER and go online to help broaden engagement and reduce participation barriers globally. The event attracts over 1 million participants.

2021

The Living Rainforest centre wins top prize at the School Travel Awards for Best Geography Learning Experience in the UK.

2022

In follow-up to the UN COP26 summit, the TSL Competitions focus on Climate Justice.