European Environment

Europe is the smallest continent in the Northern Hemisphere. Its 40 independent countries give rise to a rich variety of history and culture. Europe has over 700 million people representing 15% of the world's population and covers 10 million square kilometres of land from high mountain ranges to lowland areas below sea level. Despite the complexity of historical relationships, the second half of the 20th Century has seen progress towards the formation of the European Union (EU). In 1991, the signing of the Maastricht treaty extended the economic and political alliance across a total of 12 countries, with 3 further countries admitted in 1995. Several countries from Eastern Europe are also seeking membership.

The four mills featured in the project are embedded in the physical and human geography of Europe. Their locations are a result of interplay between the economic, technological and environmental forces that pertained at a particular time in history. None of these forces are static, and all the mills have been overtaken by progressive developments. The natural environment around each site has also undergone changes. The water that provides the power to turn the machinery is the key to the richness in flora and fauna of each area. The species mixture has been altered by Man's industry and subsequently by his abandonment. At the dawn of the 21st Century, we can describe the current position and examine the further consequences of local and global changes.