Getting involved with what is going on Bristol outside of university life can be a great way to become more established in the city, meet new people and try new things!

If you are interested in sustainability, there's so many opportunities to combine the two! In this article, sustainable organisations and businesses in Bristol will be broken down into the following four categories:

• Purchase sustainable products
• Get involved in change, projects and campaigning
• Environmentally-friendly days out
• Learn sustainable skills

Purchase Sustainable Products

• Windmill Hill City Farm, Bedminster - buy organic produce grown at the farm, or enjoy a meal made from seasonal produce in their cafe. Visiting the farm is a really nice day out, with gardens and a number of events, e.g.- animal husbandry for wellbeing, ceramics etc. What's On - Windmill Hill City Farm
• Refill Reduce App - reduce packaging by finding places near you where you can refill water, hot drinks, takeaway food and groceries using your own containers. You can also filter by places that provide reusable containers that you can return or reuse, and places that deliver groceries to your home. If you find somewhere new, you can add it to the map for others to enjoy. Introducing Refill Return - Refill
• Children's Scrapstore - this one is a must-visit for art students! UWE School of Arts students have access to rescued scrap and surplus stock in their warehouse and receive 20% off art and craft supplies in their art shop. Make sure you take along your student ID and the UWE barcode, which is available on Blackboard. Children's Scrapstore
• Better Food - buy organic, ethical and local food, cleaning products and beauty products. There are branches in St Werburghs (next to Scrapstore), Wapping Wharf, Whiteladies Road and Gloucester Road. Our Better Food stores - Organic groceries, health and beauty

Get Involved in Change/Projects/Campaigning

• Submit a strategy to the Climate and Just Transition Community Leadership Panel. This is a panel made up of people from a range of backgrounds, to try and create sustainability solutions that work for everyone in Bristol. The panel runs in eight-week cycles. Link to submit a proposal: Climate and Just Transition Community Leadership Panel: Strategy Submission
• Volunteer at Heart of BS13 – an organisation focussed on improving health in BS13, including through a closed-loop recycling system. Volunteering opportunities available include at the closed loop compost programme (two days a week) and the sustainable flower farm at Hartcliffe City Farm (Wednesdays for 16 weeks – new places available in Feb, May and July). Link to volunteering details: Community Volunteering | Heart of BS13 - Volunteering Bristol 
• Green Mingle – monthly meet-ups for people working in or interested in the environment to discuss what they are working on in an informal environment. These events are open to all. First Thursday of every month, 17:30 – 19:00. Upcoming events page link to reserve a place: News & Events - Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership

Environmentally-friendly Days Out

• Travelling to an event on foot if you are able or using punlic transport makes it far more sustaiable! An example of this is the Bedminster Secret Gardens trail – usually held in June, so a very pleasant day out in good weather, with a friendly atmosphere. Some of the garden owners will also have homemade food and drinks for sale, helping you to reduce your plastic waste.  This year: 8th – 14th June. Bedminster's Secret Gardens

• The Wave inland surfing lake – powered by onsite solar panels. Located not far from Cribbs Causeway. The Wave: Bristol's inland surf destination 

• SUP Bristol – Stand Up Paddleboarding. See Bristol’s Harbourside from the water. Located in the Centre, so easy to walk to/take the bus to. No experience required. Home Page - SUP Bristol

Learn Sustainable Skills

• Also at the Heart of BS13 flower farm: two carpentry and maintenance volunteering opportunities available. Includes setting up water harvesting systems, working with timber etc. Community Volunteering | Heart of BS13 - Volunteering Bristol 

• Learn woodworking and tool sharpening skills at the Makershed, St Pauls Learning Centre. Courses – The Makershed 

• Share and Repair Workshops -  learn a range of skills such as sewing, using power and hand tools and how to maintain your bike. Most operate on a donation basis (suggestion £10), or have a reduced student rate, e.g. £5. How to Workshops - Share and Repair