Green Action Week 2024 Events Programme

Wild Art 

Join the Pembroke Biodiversity Project in making beautiful nature art! This will be a relaxed event where you can be creatively inspired by the nature around you - Art materials will be supplied for you to use. No experience is needed – everyone is welcome to try their hand at nature art. There will also be a nature themed poetry competition for any keen writers.

Please note that to access the site you will need to cross a sports pitch. There is a small step at the entrance which we can help people with. However, if it rains heavily on the day, the area could get water-logged in places. 

• Audience: Students and staff 

• Offered by: Pembroke Biodiversity Project  

• Pembroke Biodiversity Site, which is the field adjacent to the Pembroke Sports Grounds  

• Thursday, 22 February 12:00 – 14:00  

Register now 

Tour University Park 

Join University Parks for a walk with Sam Prior, the Park’s arboriculture manager. The tour will relate to the diverse collection of 1,700 trees in the park, their value for sustainability and the conservation management actions led by the Parks team. 

• Audience: Students and staff and members of the community

• Offered by: University Parks  

• Thursday, 22 February 13:00  

• University Parks, OX1 3RF, Keble Gate

No registration required.

Accessibility note: The tour will stick to paths so it is accessible to wheelchair users. Read more about accessibility in University park.

Biodiversity Assessment training  

Join our training session for anyone interested in learning how to use iNaturalist to engage citizen scientists in surveying gardens and grounds. 

Joseph Boyle (Worcester College’s Sustainability Research Assistant) will bring his engagement expertise from his previous role with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and support Worcester’s biodiversity assessment through transferrable activities which monitor wildlife, foster community, and promote student and staff wellbeing. 

This training event is a chance to get to grips with iNaturalist before our City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Assessment in Trinity Term. The session will be outdoors so we ask you to dress for the weather and bring a phone or tablet with internet access and iNaturalist downloaded. All students and staff welcome. 

• Audience: Staff and students 
• Offered by: Worcester College Sustainability 
• Thursday, 22 February 16:00 – 17:30 
• Worcester Gardens 

Register now

Climate Assembly  

Oxford SU Climate Assembly: Bridging Communities for Environmental Action 

Oxford SU presents the Climate Assembly on Friday 22 February, 5:00-7:00pm, at Oxford Town Hall. This transformative event brings together local activists, organizations, and the community to collectively address urgent climate challenges. Highlights include panel discussions with influencers, a community expo showcasing initiatives, hands-on workshops on sustainability, a keynote speaker, open mic session, and networking reception. Open to all, this inclusive assembly encourages collaboration, offers inspiration, and provides actionable solutions for a sustainable future. Join this movement transcending boundaries to build a resilient Oxford and beyond. RSVP to secure your spot at the Oxford SU Climate Assembly! 

More information about the event is available on the Oxford SU webpage.

• Audience: Students, staff and Oxfordshire community  

• Offered by: Oxford Student Union 

• This event has been postponed. Please follow Oxford SU for a new date. 

Planetary Health and legal ramifications 

Join this fascinating talk by Jojo Mehta, Stop Ecocide co-founder and Executive Director with perspectives from Thom Wetzer, Associate Professor of Law and Finance, University of Oxford, as part of this year’s flagship lecture series exploring intersections between planetary health and the stability of global financial systems, economics beyond growth, and new legal processes for ecological protection. 

Series convened by: Dr SanYuMay Tun.

• Audience: Staff and students 

• Offered by: Green Templeton College 

• Thursday, 22 February, 17:00 

• EP Abraham Lecture Theatre at Green Templeton College   

Register now 

Wildlife artivism: how conservation can be creative 

Wildlife conservation and driving behavioural change is an interdisciplinary endeavour, and an important aspect is communication of information and objectives to the wider public. In this talk, wildlife artist and filmmaker Alicia Hayden (https://aliciahayden.co.uk/) will share her experience in using art as a medium for activism, introducing her work and highlighting related future work and career paths. 

• Audience: Students and staff   

• Offered by: Oxford Nature Conservation Society 

• Thursday, 22 February 19:30-20:30 

• Christ Church College, Lecture Room 2

Register now 

Green Templeton College Sustainability-Themed Bar Night 

Join Green Templeton College on Thursday the 22nd of February at Green Templeton College Bar for a sustainability-themed bar night. Think fun environmental cocktails, good music and a chance to chat to your friends and others about the environment. Bonus points for themed dress! We encourage students from all colleges to attend. 

Stables Bar is wheelchair accessible from the McAlpine Quad, however, please note that the doors are quite heavy and so would need to be held open. This door issue is also the case for the disabled toilet. Please contact kelsey.monteith@gtc.ox.ac.uk if you require any accessibility assistance ahead of the event, or you can speak to staff or volunteers on the night.

• Audience: Students 

• Offered by: Green Templeton College 

• Thursday, 22 February 20:00 – 23:00 

• Stables Bar, Green Templeton College 

• Open to non-Green Templeton College students 

No registration required.

Larkins Lane Green Space Volunteering 

Join the Oxford Preservation Trust to work on a range of tasks to continue opening up the beautiful green space at Larkins Lane. Please bring your own gardening gloves, hydrating drink, a snack, sturdy shoes/boots, and suitable weather-related layers. No experience necessary and tools will be provided. You can register your interest for this event beforehand or just turn up on the day. 

For more information, please visit the website or contact: info@oxfordpreservation.org.uk. 

• Audience: Students, staff and members of the community 

• Offered by: Oxford Preservation Trust

• Friday, 23 February 09:30 – 12:30  

• Larkins Lane Field, Headington, Oxford 

No registration required 

Jubilee Walk: A Green Trek through Oxford's Natural Splendour  

Join this invigorating journey through nature during Oxford's Green Action Week!  

Embark on the Jubilee Walk with the Oxford University Walking Club, a 15-kilometer trail offering serene views of pastures, woodlands, and lakes. This hike is designed to connect you with the environment while promoting ecological awareness. Welcoming to all skill levels, it's a perfect blend of leisure and learning. Don’t miss this chance to explore Oxford's natural beauty and enrich your understanding of our planet. It will surely be a walk to remember. 

Please note: The route will take around 4 hours to complete. Please make sure to dress for the weather, have suitable shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks.  

• Audience: Students and staff   

• Offered by: Oxford Walking Society 

• Friday, 23 February 10:00 – 14:30  

• Meet at Osney Bridge 

Registration link will be updated shortly 

CLOC (The Climate League of Oxford and Cambridge) in Conversation with Colleges 

Join this action-oriented panel of sustainability experts and college bursars coming together to discuss and showcase sustainability initiatives in colleges. It is a great opportunity for students to find out more about CLOC and importantly, what their college is doing on climate. 

• Audience: Students and staff   

• Offered by: CLOC 

• Friday 23 February, 12:30-14:00pm  

• Jesus College Digital Hub  

Register now

Oxbridge Sustainability Hackathon 

Join this exciting opportunity which bring together enthusiastic young minds from different academic disciplines and provides the setting to learn from experts and each other.  

We are looking for students from a range of degree courses - from undergraduate to PhD and from Psychology to Bio-engineering - to brainstorm ways to tackle sustainable issues. The event will involve an interdisciplinary problem-solving task centred around climate change and related sustainability topics. Participants will be working in small groups and there will also be key-note speakers and several networking opportunities.  

• Audience: Oxford and Cambridge students from all disciplines and all degree levels.  

• Offered by: Oxford and Cambridge Sustainability Hackathon 

• Friday, 23 February, all day 

• Location: Central London (specific location to be sent to successful applicants)

• Oxford and Cambridge Sustainability Hackathon 2024 is no longer accepting applications. 

All Souls College book and seed swap 

All Souls College encourages colleagues and fellows to bring their books and seeds on 19 February for a book and seed swap. The stall will be running all week, with an option to make it a permanent fixture if successful. 

• Audience: Staff and students at All Souls College 

• Offered by: All Souls College, staff coffee room 

• Monday 19 – Friday 23 all day 

No registration required.

Coffee morning and plant swap 

Get ready for Spring with an opportunity to swap plants and cuttings (house or garden), plant pots, small gardening equipment, seeds, gardening related magazines or books.  Tea, coffee and cakes will be provided. This event is free of charge. 

• Audience: Staff and students 

• Offered by: Department of Statistics Green Impact Team 

• Tuesday, 20 February 10:30 – 11:30 

• Ground Floor social area, Department of Statistics 

Register now

Litter Pick Walk 

Join the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine to walk around Bury Knowle Park, picking litter en route. Help clean up this beautiful natural area whilst getting some exercise and fresh air and making friends along the way. 

• Audience: Students and staff   

• Offered by: Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM) 

• Friday, 23 February 13:00 – 14:15 

• Meet outside the WIMM 

Register now 

Bring and share vegan lunch and launch our new beauty bank 

A vegan lunch for Registry, Events and Facilities staff at the exam schools on a bring and share basis. Diners are invited to bring recipe books and books on food and the environment for others to browse. 

• Audience: Registry, Events and facilities staff at the Exams Schools  

• Offered by: Student registry  

• Tuesday, 20 February 12:30 – 13:30  

• Exams Schools staff room  

• No registration required.

Dunn School Green Festival 

Join the Dunn School Green Festival for a range of exciting events throughout the week. From tours and talks to clothes and plant swaps, there’s something for everyone. 

• Clothes swap 

• Bake and cook sale 

• Plant and seed swap 

• Flying Green group flag 

• Refill station- Sesi and Ecover 

• Sustainable Suppliers exhibition 

• Green Initiative tours 

• Bike doctor – 19 February  

• Audience: Staff and students 

• Offered by: Dunn School 

• Monday, 19 February – Friday, 23 February 09:00 – 19:00 

No registration required 

Recycling Laboratory plastic 

Join the Dunn School for an enlightening session with the experts from Recycle Labs, as they lead a talk on pioneering methods to recycle laboratory plastics not currently processed by traditional systems. Discover innovative solutions and practices that can revolutionize the way laboratory waste is handled. This event is a must-attend for all seeking to contribute to a more sustainable scientific environment. Embrace the opportunity to learn from the forefront of recycling technology and be part of the change. Let's pave the way to a greener future together! 

• Audience: Staff and students working in labs 

• Offered by: Dunn School Green Group 

• Date and time to be confirmed.

• EPA Seminar Room, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, OX1 3RE 

Registration link will be updated shortly 

"All for one, One for all" 

OUCRU Vietnam is part of Nuffield Department of Medicine's Global Health programme, in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. They are hosting a 1-day event to raise awareness amongst OUCRU staff of positive, personal actions that can benefit the environment and climate. They are inviting local businesses with sustainable products to have a display stall in their canteen. They are also encouraging staff to cook plant-based foods for a potluck lunch. Finally, there will be a speaker from a Vietnamese environmental organisation to give a lunchtime lecture on local initiatives that staff can get involved with. 

• Audience: OUCRU staff 

• Offered by: OUCRU 

• 25 March, 11:00 – 15:00 

No registration required.

Birdwatching Walk at Wytham Woods and Farmoor Reservoir (16 km) 

A medium-length birdwatching walk roughly following the Thames upstream from Port Meadow. We'll make our way up to Wytham Woods and see what creatures are about over there. After that, we'll join the river again at Swinford and head up to Farmoor Reservoir, where we'll sit in the bird hides for a bit. Expect a stop at the café on the other side of the reservoir (nice cake). Once we're done we'll head back to town on the E1 bus. 
 
This trip is explicitly a slower paced wildlife walk. Please bring binoculars should you have some in your possession! There will be long stretches of being still and waiting for wildlife to happen. If you like a walk where you keep moving, this might not be the one for you. 
 
Make sure to dress up warm and in waterproofs! The weather might not be so handsome. Wear boots that you don't mind getting muddy (there will be mud 100%). 
 
And don't forget your lunch, snacks and water, too!

• Audience: Staff and students 
• Offered by: Oxford University Walking Club 
• Date: Saturday, 24 February
• Meet: Port Meadow (Walton Well Road Car Park) at 9:00am 
• Back in town (Osney Island) by 4:30pm, maybe earlier. 

Exploring the intersections of Health, Technology and the Environment 

This panel discussion aims to bring together three panellists from the Medical Sciences Division who work at the intersection of health/technology and the environment to give short talks about their work in this area; reflect on opportunities and challenges; engage in discussion with the audience.  

• Audience: Students and staff   

• Offered by: Ethox Centre/Big Data Institute 

• Date and time to be confirmed 

• Location to be confirmed 

Registration link will be updated shortly.

Green Templeton College events 

Allotment-themed 'Student Supper' 

A low-carbon menu designed by the college chef using allotment produce. 

• Tuesday, 20 February  

• 18:00 – 19:00 (family welcome) 

• 19:00 – 20:00  

• Open to Green Templeton College students only (unless attending as a guest with a student) 

Environmental movie night 

• Wednesday, 21 February  

• 20:00 – 23:00 

• Open to Green Templeton College students only 

Sustainability formal 

A speaker will introduce the evening followed by a low-carbon, sustainable menu. After the formal, enjoy an environmentally themed bar night, including themed cocktail and costumes which all students are welcome to attend.   

• Thursday, 22 February 

• 19:00 – 23:00 

'Sustainabili-tea'  

Plant seeds and discuss environmental concerns and questions with friends. 

• Saturday, 24 February 

• 14:00 – 16:00 

• Open to Green Templeton College students only 

Sustainable brunch and allotment visit 

Enjoy a plant-based brunch with friends before visiting the college allotment.  

• Sunday, 25 February 

• 10:30 – 14:00 

• Open to Green Templeton College students only 

Christ Church College events 

Enjoy a Green cocktail, local whisky and local ale 

• Green cocktail: House Gin, elderflower, apple juice, fresh Mint - all produced in England 

• Christ Church Rye Whisky - produced 1.7 miles from Christ Church and rye farmed in Oxfordshire 

• Christ Church Ale produced 4.4 miles from Christ Church and their wastage is used in allotment in the village. 

• We will also be serving soft drinks made in the UK. 

Green-themed food and drink 

Enjoy Twist Green Tea in the shop and in Café Pod along with home-made soup

Watch Tom Tower become a green spectacle 

Tom Tower will be lit up in Green during the week, look out for this beautiful spectacle! 

Waste not, want not: The connection between food injustice and environmental neglect

Join Mary Mawhinney from Oxford Mutual Aid in a talk which explores the connections between food injustice and environmental neglect. 

• Audience: Staff and students working in labs 

• Offered by: Dunn School 

• Wednesday, 21 February 14:00 – 15:00 

• EPA Seminar Room, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, OX1 3RE 

Register now

Not the end of the world: how we can be the first generation to build a sustainable planet, with Professor Sir Charles Godfray & Dr Hannah Ritchie (Author) 

• Audience: Staff and students 

• Offered by: Oxford Martin School and The Future of Food 

• Monday 26 February, 12.30 – 13.30 

• Oxford Martin School Lecture Theatre 

We are bombarded by doomsday headlines that tell us the soil won't be able to support crops, fish will vanish from our oceans, that we should reconsider having children. But in this talk, data scientist Hannah Ritchie, author of Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet will discuss with Professor Sir Charles Godfray, Director of the Oxford Martin School, that if we zoom out, a very different picture emerges. They will discuss how the data shows we've made so much progress on these problems, and so fast, that we could be on track to achieve true sustainability for the first time in history and we can build a better future for everyone. 

This is a joint event with the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food. 

• To register to attend in-person in Oxford: https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/events/not-the-end-of-the-world/ 

• To register to watch live online on Crowdcast: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/not-the-end-of-the-world 

• To watch later: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTdT1uKx_VA 

Sydlings Copse Nature Reserve Walk 

Embark on a sensory journey through this secluded wildlife gem - once described as one of the richest habitats in middle England." Join the Oxford University Walking Club on a visit to Sydlings Copse, a nature reserve just outside the city. 

• Audience: Students and staff 

• Offered by: Oxford University Walking Club 

• Saturday, 24 February, 13:30 – 17:00 

• Meeting place - outside Examination Schools 

Register now 

Exploring the intersections of Health, Technology and the Environment 

This panel discussion aims to bring together three panellists from the Medical Sciences Division who work at the intersection of health/technology and the environment to give short talks about their work in this area; reflect on opportunities and challenges; engage in discussion with the audience.  

• Audience: Students and staff   

• Offered by: Ethox Centre/Big Data Institute 

• Date and time to be confirmed 

• Location to be confirmed 

Registration link will be updated shortly