GREEN activities were held to promote sustainability at Go Green week at the University of Worcester.

The annual event, an initiative led by students, was themed around a different sustainable living topic each day.

Thirty external organisations and student societies contributed to the week by hosting events and stalls at the St John’s campus.

One day focused on food and health saw students trying to encourage staff and students to buy locally sourced produce to reduce food miles – the distance food has travelled between producer and consumer.

They also aimed to highlight and reduce the amount of food waste that gets thrown out and showed people on campus how to create cheap, healthy and tasty meals.

Students were also encouraged to donate excess food to the food bank to help out those in the local community in need.

The week also included a community litter pick, distribution of free poppy seeds, a repair café offering repairs on clothes and free bike safety checks.

Another day focused on energy, with a talk on a power station run on waste and a display of climate change art work, while a transport themed day included free bike security marking and stalls promoting more sustainable transport methods, such as car sharing.

There was also a swap shop, a campus nature trail puzzle, photographic competition, bake off, sustainability quiz and marathon pancake making with locally sourced ingredients.

Following on from Go Green Week, the University is piloting a second week in April, where students will work with City and County Councils, Heart of Worcestershire College, the Worcester Business Improvement District and local businesses to promote awareness of sustainability in the High Street.

Katy Boom, the university’s director of sustainability, said: “This has been a very engaging week, with some really great ideas from our students.

"We are particularly impressed with how many people have changed their own behaviours based on the information and activities provided during the week.

"It was not only an informative week, which built up the confidence of our students, who organised activities and were able to measure their impact, but also one in which everyone had fun."