FREE GREEN COMPANION 2011 EDITION BRISTOL New TRANSPORT RECYCLE FOOD GARDENING HOME FAMILY MONEY WORKPLACE GET INVOLVED RESOURCES Bristol’s essential green directory 2 WELCOME Green Companion 2011 Welcome James Russell welcomes you to the new edition of the Green Companion to Bristol, a directory of local green organisations and businesses… Welcome to the new, updated edition of the Bristol Green Companion. These Ware tough times, with fears over job security adding to our long- term environmental concerns, but exciting times too. Bristol’s claim to be the UK’s Green Capital is being re ected in real change, and is contributing to the city and region’s growing reputation as a centre for the development of new, greener technologies. It’s great to be able to report that, after a slow start, the Cycling City project is having an impact, with improvements being made to the infrastructure of bike lanes, parking facilities and signs. More importantly, the message is getting through to all kinds of people that These experimental zones have but what kind of bread do we you don’t have to dress in yellow been greeted with almost universal buy, and where from? The easiest, lycra and ride an expensive bicycle; enthusiasm by Bristol people, who cheapest option might be a generic almost anyone can ride a bike and, feel safer with slower tra c, and supermarket loaf, but use a little if you look at what’s happening more inclined to walk or ride. It’s up more imagination and your choice out on the city’s streets, you’ll see to us to convince the city council could be in uential. You might help people out in their ordinary clothes, that these zones should not only the local bakery stay in business. You or smartly dressed for work, treating be made permanent but also be could buy organic and ensure that a ride from A to B as a part of extended throughout residential birds and wildlife have countryside everyday life. areas of the city. habitat that isn’t sprayed with The more people abandon four pesticides. wheels for two, of course, the more Bread and circuses Organic products may be normal riding a bike becomes – and Relatively simple changes like more expensive, but not when the more pleasant it becomes too. this can transform everyday life. you consider the full value of what In this respect another exciting And, in the same way, the simple you’re getting for your money. And development is worth mentioning decisions that we make can have a good shopping doesn’t always here (there’s more about this on the far greater impact than we imagine. have to cost more. Go along to Transport pages): the trial of 20mph Take something as basic as a loaf the farmer’s market in Corn Street zones in central areas of the city. of bread. Most of us eat bread, on a Wednesday and you’ll nd GBR11_pp02-03_Intro.indd 2 26/11/10 13:12:57 Green Companion 2011 WELCOME 3 FREE GREEN Contents COMPANION 2011 EDITION BRISTOL New 4 TRANSPORT TRANSPORT RECYCLE FOOD GARDENING HOME FAMILY MONEY 6 RECYCLE WORKPLACE GET INVOLVED RESOURCES Bristol’s essential green directory 7 FOOD excellent bread, vegetables, meat, generated at home is making sh and dairy products, much of solar panels look a much better it reasonably priced and all of the investment than in the past. As 11 GARDENING highest quality. If you can’t get there, with other major improvement why not try a box scheme? works you should seek expert The central message in advice from the companies we list, this edition of the Bristol Green to see what the costs and bene ts 12 HOME Companion is that greener living will be in your particular case, but is not a luxury to be dumped this is undoubtedly a time of new along with exotic foreign holidays opportunity in small-scale power when times are hard. In fact the generation, with solar panels 13 FAMILY opposite is true: the best response appearing on the roofs of houses, to challenging times is to adopt a o ce buildings – even churches. greener lifestyle. One important We’re lucky to live in a city with long-term strategy is to reduce bills a long history of innovation and 18 MONEY by cutting your energy use, whether creativity, which has taken a lead in by taking the simple step of turning the process of transforming our lives the heating down a few degrees or for a low-carbon future. One small by retro tting your home. but signi cant step was the decision 19 WORK to heat the new secondary school Retro tting buildings constructed over the This might sound slightly alarming, past few years with wood-burning but retro tting – that is, bringing boilers. Thousands of the city’s an older home up-to-date – covers young people are being educated 21 GET INVOLVED everything from the installation of in these new schools, which are solar panels to having your attic designed to high eco-standards. insulated. In some cases there may The new buildings are light, airy and be grants or low interest loans neither too hot nor too cold; they’re 24 RESOURCES available for particular projects; not just more e cient than what in others the investment in, say, went before, but better in every way. double-glazing may reward you immediately with substantially lower bills. The inaugural Bristol Green Doors weekend in September 2010 Publisher: Steve Faragher enabled people to see just what Words: James Russell, Steve Faragher, Gideon can be done with Bristol’s ageing James Russell is a local journalist Kibblewhite, Mark Wheatley buildings (see the Home section and author of many books Design: Joe Burt, Alex Dimond for details). including How To Turn Your Ad sales: Rhiannon McNamara, Claire Morgan It’s worth bearing in mind Parents Green and The Naked To advertise in next year’s guide: Contact that the new tari for electricity Guide to Cider. our sales team on 01225 319799 GBR11_pp02-03_Intro.indd 3 26/11/10 13:13:08 4 TRANSPORT Green Companion 2011 Transport Get on the right track for a greener and healthier city here are many local bewildering to the newcomer. Atmosphere’s Be Seen to be Green concerns only to happy to website has reviews of the best electric bikes, ✆ 0117 963 2525 help you transform your FAQs and other information, or you can go The Green Garage, Lucky Lane, Bedminster, transport experience… along to the shop and see for yourself. Bristol BS3 1BN T Converts vehicle engines to run on LPG. Better By Bike www.betterbybike.info Bristol and Bath Railway Path Walk It An information website covering Bristol, Bath, www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk http://walkit.com North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Ride or walk off-road from St Philips, Bristol, to The urban walking route planner set up as part of the Cycling City project. You’ll Pulteney Bridge in Bath. Campaigners fought to Ever wondered how many calories you burn find tips on how to start cycling and where to stop Sustrans’ first cycle route being turned into walking to work? Or how much CO2 you save ride, with free maps available to order and a a bus corridor. Enjoy! going on foot to the shops? Now you can find trip planner. Also news, events, competitions out, by visiting the Walk It site and entering and more. Bristol Bike Workshop details of your walk. You can plan routes too, ✆ 0117 926 8961 anywhere in the UK. Walking will never be The Cycle Therapist 88 Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5BB quite the same again. ✆ 0117 3270079 www.bikeworkshop.co.uk www.cycletherapist.co.uk Long-established shop offering sales and repair. Walk to School A fully mobile cycle repair and maintenance Buys and sells used bikes too. ✆ 0207 377 4900 service that can save you a trip to the bike shop. Walk to School Campaign, Living Streets, Go online to find out when the cycle therapist is Bristol Cycling Campaign 4th Floor, Universal House, 88-94 free, or phone the workshop direct. Box 60, Booty, 82 Colston Street, Bristol Wentworth Street, E1 7SA BS1 5BB www.walktoschool.org.uk Chaos Cycles www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk www.stepup.org.uk ✆ 07966 430534 Pressure group promoting cycling and walking. Living Streets wants to see more schoolchildren Corn Exchange, Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1LA Organises rides for beginners and pros. The walking to school. Walk to School is designed http://chaoscycles.co.uk website has a gallery of poor cycle ‘facilities’. for primary and Step Up for secondary pupils. Stall in the award-winning St Nicks Market There’s a national Walk to School Week in May that keeps getting bigger. Reliable, affordable Bus Rapid Transit that has had a tremendous impact in getting source of spares and repairs, with top brands www.westofengland.org/transport/ children and parents out of cars and on to their and friendly, no-nonsense service. rapid-transit feet. Have a look and see what you can do... It’s the future of public transport in the city, and Green Car Site it’s coming soon.POSSIBLY! Atmosphere Electric Bikes (West) www.greencarsite.co.uk ✆ 0117 9087153 Comprehensive listings of electric, hybrid City Car Club 137 St Georges Rd, Hotwells, and alternative fuel cars for sale and hire ✆ 0845 330 1234 Bristol BS1 5UW nationwide, as well as information on greener 86 Colston St, Bristol BS1 5BB www.electricbikes.org.uk taxi services.