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Change your lifestyle
You don’t need to change your life completely! Just a few changes though will make a big difference (and you’ll probably enjoy it too)!
Walk and cycle
Try walking or cycling to work or when taking the kids to school, rather than driving a car. It will help reduce carbon emissions, make the places we live more pleasant and make you fitter and healthier. Rather than driving to the gym, why not go for a run or cycle?
Links on walking and cycling
Where you live …
Forest of Avon - Walking and Cycling
Forest of Avon - News & Events (details of forthcoming walking and cycling events and activities)
Walking and Cycling in Bath & North East Somerset
Walking and Cycling in Bristol - click on the walking & cycling link
Bristol City Council - Countryside Walks
Cycling in North Somerset
South Gloucestershire Council - Promoted Walking Routes
South Gloucestershire Council - Walking to Heath
South Gloucestershire Council - Organised Walks
Other links on walking and cycling …
Sustrans
The Ramblers Association (includes information on local walking groups)
Walking the way to Health
Directgov - Walking and cycling
Visit local sites
Rather than driving miles if you want to go for a walk or visit the countryside, why not walk or cycle and visit places close to where you live.
There are many great places to visit closer than you think!
Links on local sites to visit ...
Forest of Avon - Places to go
Bath & North East Somerset Council - click on the Parks and Open Spaces link.
Bristol City Council - click on the Parks and Open Spaces link
North Somerset Council - Parks and open spaces
South Gloucestershire Council - Parks and open spaces
Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Keep it local!
Shop locally and buy local produce. When you buy food, there’s a carbon cost in ‘food miles’ incurred by transporting that product. Shopping and buying locally also means you’re supporting local shops and local producers.
Act locally. Support or get involved in local events and with local groups to help make the place you live a better one for people and the environment.
Where you live …
Forest of Avon Wood Products Co-operative - buy local products and BBQ charcoal from timber from local woodlands.
BTCV Forest of Avon Tree Life Centre - buy native trees and wildlfowers grown from locally collected seed.
Tobacco Factory Sunday Market, Bristol
North Somerset Local Food Directory
South Gloucestershire Local Food Initiative
The Southville Centre
The Southville Centre is a social enterprise in Southville, Bristol which aims to create a thriving community and improve the quality of life for all in the area. Take a look at the Centre's Sustanable Southville Project to see how you can get involved in improving the local environment and making the area a better place to live.
Other links …
Farmers' Markets – find you closest Farmers’ Market
Directgov - Environment and greener living - click on the Greener food and drink link
Every Action Counts
Every Action Counts is an initiative supported by Defra and delivered through a consortium of voluntary and community sector organisations. Every Action Counts is about how groups of people can have a bigger impact for a better future by working together. Lots of information on how to help with climate change and improve the environment.
Reduce
Reduce what you buy – only buy things you really need or will actually use. Think about taking your own bag when you go shopping, avoid junk mail coming into your home, don’t waste food or cook too much for a meal and then throw it away, avoiding buying products with unnecessary packaging.
Re-use & repair
Many items can be re-used. Even if you have finished with something then someone else will often be able to use it. Try to repair things when they are broken rather than throwing them away and buying a new one. Every time you throw something away it gets burried in the ground and energy is needed to make a new one.
Recycle
Nearly two thirds of all household rubbish can be recycled. A range of things can be recycled including paper, metal cans, glass, garden waste, wood, engine oil, fluorescent light tubes, textiles, batteries and TVs. Recycling saves energy and raw materials and avoids waste going to landfill.
Links - Reduce, Re-use, repair & recycle
Where you live …
Bath & North East Somerset Council - click on the Recycling, rubbish and waste link
Bristol City Council - click on the Recycling, rubbish and waste link
North Somerset Council
South Gloucestershire Council
Other local organisations …
Bristol Wood Recycling Project
Bristol Wood Recycling Project aims to rescue, re-use and recycle some of the tonnes of wood going to landfill locally. They create volunteer, training and employment opportunities for Bristol's social economy through doing this; as well as providing affordable timber to the local community.
SOFA Project
The SOFA Project is a furniture and electrical appliance reuse charity based in Bristol. SOFA collects unwanted items free of charge from across the west and sells them at affordable prices to low income households.
Other links …
Don't Dump That
Don'tDumpThat is all about helping people reduce the amount of perfectly useful but otherwise unwanted household items going into landfill sites.
Freecycle
The Freecycle® Network is made up of individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving stuff for free. Find a local group here and give away the things you don’t need or find something you do!
Recycle now
Recycle now aims to help you to recycle more stuff more often. Most people already recycle to some degree - this campaign is designed to help and encourage everyone to do a bit more.
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