Through these stories, we can see how even the smallest seeds of local action can grow into something bigger, with far-reaching impacts. Many of those we spoke to wouldn’t have called themselves environmentalists. They weren’t being paid to act, and nobody told them to do so; they were local people driven by a love for their community. Some wanted to provide affordable, locally-grown food for their neighbours, while others fought to ensure that their children had clean air to breathe. As local residents, parents and commuters, they wanted to make their neighbourhood, and their city, a better place to live, play and work.

Travelling exhibition in Bishopston Library

The exhibition is available to be borrowed by community centres and for public events. Please contact us to arrange this.

We heard from Abdul Tariq, an Easton resident who wanted to make his mosque a more comfortable place to pray. Abdul helped to transform the building from top to bottom, installing insulation and setting up a biomass boiler. By placing environmental concern at the heart of his plans, he helped to reduce the building’s carbon footprint while providing a warm, energy-efficient space for his community.

From each of these stories, we can see the co-benefits of environmental activism: what is good for the local community often turns out to be good for the planet as well. Anne Su, who helped to organise Bristol Meets the World, wanted to help reduce isolation in Bristol by connecting older people from different backgrounds through food. While her mission was primarily a social one, she noticed that the project had environmental potential, and used it as an opportunity to share vegan and vegetarian recipes, while starting a conversation about alternative food systems. We also spoke to Eva Fernandes, who wanted to support local families in need. She co-founded Bristol Baby Bank, a citywide charity that recycles baby clothes and equipment. Her local activism inspired similar networks in other communities, helping families across the country to access essential items in an environmentally-friendly way.

Many of these stories began with something small – like a chat with a neighbour or a post on social media – and grew as local people united to cultivate real change and make their voices heard. Tired of seeing litter in her local greenspaces, Whitchurch resident Dawn Aldred set up a small Facebook group with friends and family members, which expanded into a large network of activists dedicated to cleaning up their neighbourhood. On the other side of the city, Karen Edkins – a local mum from Lockleaze who wanted her children to have clean air to breathe – teamed up with her neighbours to prevent a diesel generator from being installed in the area. 

When we set out to collect stories, we considered approaching one of Bristol’s many well-known environmental organisations. Instead, we decided to reach out to our neighbours and friends, and uncovered an abundance of local action right on our doorsteps. Bristol is full of passionate people striving for a better future. As the climate crisis looms, their voices and actions are more crucial than ever.