This week at The University of Roehampton we're celebrating Go Green Week – an annual week of environmental awareness in schools, colleges and universities around the nation. This year our line-up of events was conceived by student representatives – our environmental and fairtrade officer and campaigns president. Demonstrating impressive and inspiring initiative, these two energetic and passionate young minds have brought together an engaging and educational array of events to encourage students on campus to participate with green issues.

On Monday we promoted the Meat-Free Monday mantra and supplied either discounted or only vegetarian options throughout all catering outlets on campus. Monday concluded with a cosy film screening in The Hive Café of Voices of Transition – a documentary about food sustainability, peak oil and climate change.

Tuesday was Travel Tuesday and we ran our Bike Hub with bike mechanic and free serving for students and reconditioned bikes also for sale. We also ran a very special Race Across London event where two student teams competed in a bike vs bus challenge tweeting themselves in various locations all around London. A very special congratulations to team bike who successfully navigated the 19 mile route in 135 mins beating team bus who finished the route 45 mins later (not to mentioned at the cost of day pass!).

Today is Water Wednesday with the launch of the Water Is Free campaign to discourage single use plastic water bottles and encourage free access to water for all with reusable bottles. We have stainless steel water bottles for sale the profits of which go toward supporting water projects in Africa.

Tomorrow will see Thrifty Thursday roll around where an upcycling workshop will take place within our regular Market Day which happens every Thursday 1-2pm in Digby Square. The workshop will be making lovely little lampshades out of plastic cups and will be integrated with our regular Thrift Shop stall where we have old clothes and home wares from previous students being recycled to current students.

Lastly, Fracking Friday will see a social media campaign open a door of dialogue regarding the emerging fracking industry here in the UK. 

On behalf of the Growhampton team, I’d like say a very special thank you to the students involved with organising this wonderful week of events and to all who participated in the activities.

Stay Green, Joel

Joel Williams is the Grower for the University of Roehampton Students’ Union’s Growhampton project