A 12FT TALL replica of the Royal Pavilion made from plants went on display to encourage solutions to climate change.

The giant structure in Ship Street, Brighton, was created by conservation group Plantlife and eco-friendly cleaning company Seventh Generation.

Seventh Generation’s brand manager Mathieu Desbrandes said: “We know that plants have the power to help fight climate change and protect the future of generations to come, and we are fighting to give them a place on the Government’s agenda.”

The “Plant Pavilion” was made to encourage people to sign a petition asking the Government to invest more money in plant-based solutions to climate change.

The cleaning company commissioned a report by Mark Maslin, professor of earth system science at University College London. It said planting on two per cent of the UK’s land would have the same impact as 75 per cent of the country switching to a vegan diet for a year.

Professor Maslin said: “Not only are we not currently using plants to their full potential but we have among the lowest rates of forest cover in Europe at 13 per cent. Japan has the same number of people per square mile and has 67 per cent forest cover.”

Plantlife’s Jenny Hawley said: “Biodiverse landscapes like peat bogs, ancient woodland and species-rich grassland have a powerful role to play in helping fight the effects of climate change.

“Yet they remain vulnerable to destruction because of ineffective legal protection.

“We need to restore, protect and love them, urgently.”

The model was on show for one day only. It has now been given to the Forest Garden Wildlife Project which is distributing the plants to schools and community schemes in Moulsecoomb.