STAFF and students at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester are being encouraged to make sustainable pledges this week.
 
A number of events including a clothing and book swap, a no print day, a park run, a beekeeping talk and a foodbank collection have been organised to mark the RAU's first ever Go Green Week 2024, which starts today, Monday, April 15.

Other student-led events taking place this week with a green agenda include a mending workshop and a litter pick along Chesterton Lane in Cirencester. 

Meanwhile, vice chancellor professor Peter McCaffery and vice president of the RAU Students’ Union Alexandra Godfrey will plant a tree on campus to commemorate Go Green Week. 

This initiative has been organised by the university's Sustainability Action Group which involves staff and students who meet monthly to discuss different ways to raise awareness about climate change. 

Graham Pollard, chair of the action group, said: “The purpose of this inaugural Go Green Week is to raise awareness of climate change and help the university reduce its carbon footprint, as well as to learn about the RAU’s strategy around sustainability, encourage behaviour changes, discuss the environment, and look at sustainable options for the future.”

RAU students and staff are also being encouraged to make a sustainability pledge this week towards climate change in 2024.

Go Green Week organiser Sara Papps said: “A sustainability pledge could be something major or just a small thing – perhaps walking, cycling, or taking the bus on a route where you would normally drive, turn off the lights when you leave a room, or eat sustainably at least once a week.”

In addition, two second year students Laura Finch and Immie Jones have arranged for an exclusive screening of Six Inches of Soil to take place at university's Boutflour Hall on Friday, April 19.
 
The film will be followed by a Q&A session with a panel which includes the film’s producer Claire Mackenzie, professor Tom MacMillan, and Tom Herbert from The Long Table. 
 
Tickets for the screening, which cost £10 each and include a light supper and drinks, are available at bit.ly/RAU-SIOS.