Environment

This Week in Bristol

The ancient hedgerow at Yew Tree Farm on a sunny day

This week in Bristol: Demonstrators say council is “refusing to correct” conservation mistake

After accidentally giving a landowner permission to cut down an ancient Bristol hedgerow with protected status as a biodiversity haven, the council say there’s nothing they can do.

Eliz Mizon
Eliz Mizon

Future of Cities

Illustration: Laurence Ware

Why Bristol needs to build a sustainable food system – before disaster strikes

Bristol is recognised as a leading city in sustainable food. But with international food systems creaking and the impact of climate change on the horizon, even more needs to be done.

Louise Delmege
Louise Delmege (Bristol Food Network)

Reports

Revealed: Data tool shows extent of sewage spills at popular Bristol swimming spot – and it’s grim

As campaigners work tirelessly to document sewage spills by Wessex Water into the Avon, top bosses at the water company have earned big bonuses for meeting environmental targets.

Billy Stockwell
Billy Stockwell

This Week in Bristol

This week in Bristol: Airport expansion granted by High Court – but campaigners vow to fight on

Expansion would see the airport increase its capacity from 10 million to 12 million passengers per year.

Sean Morrison
Sean Morrison

Reports

A map of heat networks that will be created under Bristol's City Leap programme

Councillors sign off 20-year deal aimed at decarbonising Bristol’s energy networks

Councillors this week approved the two-decade City Leap partnership, paving the way for hundreds of millions of pounds to be invested into heat networks, retrofit and other renewable technologies in Bristol.

Alex Seabrook
Alex Seabrook (Local Democracy Reporter)

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Neil Maggs

Image of Just Stop Oil activist Dr Patrick Hart and Bristol Unpacked presenter Neil Maggs

Bristol Unpacked with local GP Patrick Hart, fresh from court for sabotaging a petrol station with Just Stop Oil

'A deranged criminal eco-terrorist cult' or canaries in the climate coal mine?

Neil Maggs Adam Cantwell-Corn George Colwey
Neil Maggs, Adam Cantwell-Corn and George Colwey

Area in Focus

Image of Knowle West resident Sean Casey at Belfast Walk community garden (credit: Charlie Watts)

‘A beautiful spot, crying out to be nurtured’: meet the people behind Filwood’s gardening revolution

Campaigns to save green spaces around Knowle West from developers have gained deserved attention. But residents have also taken it upon themselves to reclaim smaller plots, which are now thriving for the community’s benefit.

Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts

Future of Cities

‘Our future lies in sustainable cities’

To mark the launch of our Future of Cities series, Dr Sean Fox argues why cities like Bristol have limited powers and cash, but need to lead the way in finding a sustainable future.

Dr Sean Fox
Dr Sean Fox (University of Bristol)

Reports

Image of a barn at Perrinpit Farm, Frampton Cotterell, which would become a bat house (Image: Perrinpit Road Solar Ltd/Savills)

Huge solar farm on green belt near Frampton Cotterell set for green light this week

Vast site on farmland just north of Bristol could power almost 15,000 homes, according to developers.

Adam Postans (Local Democracy Reporter)

Features

Is Bristol prepared for even more intense heatwaves?

More green spaces are needed to protect the city’s most vulnerable from future extreme heat events, say environmental groups.

Billy Stockwell
Billy Stockwell

Features

‘No-one should control this land. Everyone should have a say over it.’

With the issue of access to green space amplified by the pandemic, can the act of trespass provide a way of reconnecting with nature and challenging the privatisation of land in England?

Jonathan Eldridge
Jonathan Eldridge

Edition 30

Should rivers be given the same legal rights as humans?

After pushback from the council, one campaigner is now looking to test the waters of British law in an effort to protect the Avon from further pollution.

Billy Stockwell
Billy Stockwell
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