In photos: Bristol’s climate news – April 2025

Scores of members of Bristol’s permaculture community turned out to celebrate its 25th anniversary and the work of its founder, community gardener and organiser extraordinaire Mike Feingold – photo: Mark Simmons

Mike was given a handmade cloak to mark his years of service to regenerative land networks home and abroad, in a gathering that took place at the Haven in Eastville – photo: Mark Simmons

Patrick Hart, a GP based in south Bristol, was released from prison after serving four of a 12 month sentence for climate activism, the first working doctor to be sent to prison for this activity. A human rights expert, UN special rapporteur Michel Forst, said the sentence was “blatantly disproportionate” – photo: Just Stop Oil

Mrs Megan Avon, poet and member of the Conham Bathing group who married the river as part of their campaign to improve the health of waterways, appeared on This Morning to talk about the Rave on for the Avon film of their campaign which is currently on tour – photo: Conham Bathing

The Climate Choir met at the top of Cascade Steps to sing ‘It’s Too Darn Hot’ in reference to the recent unseasonal heatwave – photo: Sofia Lambis

They were joined by members of Bristol Stop Rosebank to protest the licensing of Rosebank oil and gas field, in response to energy company Equinor submitting a further application – photo: Sofia Lambis

Prior to being elected as metro mayor on May 1, Labour candidate Helen Godwin joined Avon Needs Trees, who spearheaded the Nature is Lush campaign, at the site of the new Lower Chew Forest to plant seeds for Earth Day. Godwin has promised to use her role to support nature’s recovery – photo: Alex Turner

Artist Farrah Fortnum commemorated Earth Day with a new mural in Windmill Hill which she hopes will inspire people. “You literally have to paint your own vision of the planet you want,” she said – photo: Farrah Contemporary Art

And the harbour clean up group marked the occasion with a special Earth Day event which saw volunteers taking to the water to collect and clear the rubbish around the Arnolfini and beyond. Their next clean up is on May 18 – photo: Clean Up Bristol Harbour

There’s also a new mural on Dove Street, Kingsdown, co-created by the community and designed on a climate change theme – photo: Edie Earle

The mural depicts the damaging effects of climate change on the local population and the power of challenging it with community-run collective action – photo: Tom Whitson

Ashley Community Housing and Eastside Community Trust celebrated their community’s contribution to Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s Community Climate Action Project with a wreath making workshop – photo: ACH

Extinction Rebellion members protested Howden’s role in insuring oil, gas and coal projects outside their office on Whiteladies Road – photo: Extinction Rebellion

“Insurance lets oil companies destroy our planet – and you pay” their leaflets said, explaining extreme weather events have been pushing up insurance premiums in the UK – photo: Extinction Rebellion

The first session of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s Getting Started programme, supported by Redcliffe & Temple and City Centre Business Improvement Districts, took place this month – photo: Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership

Avon Wildlife Trust has made its most significant purchase to date, acquiring a 44 hectare former dairy farm in north Somerset that they intend to return to nature – photo: Avon Wildlife Trust