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Bristol designs sow the seeds of environmental change
Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ Residents of the Knowle West estate in south Bristol are taking steps to prove the truth of this statement, by using an interactive community-led website to encourage others to join them in tackling climate change and sharing their passion for home-growing.
Following in Mil Lusk's green footprints
Graphic and web designers based at Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) have assisted local resident Mil Lusk in setting up a website for her project Green Footprints, which acts as an online portal to promote and facilitate home-growing on the estate.
Through the Green Footprints website, Mil provides advice and guidance about sustainable living, as well as managing orders from budding gardeners, cultivating seedlings for them to grow at home. Mil commented, “it’s all about having fun and enjoying yourself”, and she encouraged prospective gardeners, saying: “keep growing until you find out what works for you […] everyone has a plant they can grow.”
Green Footprints developed out of the Carbon Makeover project run by KWMC, which saw 70 homes across the neighbourhood pledge to reduce their carbon emissions by making manageable alterations to their lifestyles. Mil is one of four Community Campaigners and, with the support of KWMC, she has become empowered to continue her work beyond Carbon Makeover.
All campaigners attended a Digital Media workshop to help them utilise available digital technologies. Green Footprints is one of three websites that KWMC Design have developed for the project. With the help of a digital strategist, they have created websites that address the specific needs of each campaigner.
The Green Footprints website has provided Mil with a digital platform to manage her project and enabled the local community to access a range of services and information about healthy, sustainable living. As the result of her collaboration with KWMC Design, Mil has seen her website evolve from an idea into a vital resource that benefits both the environment and the Knowle West community.
For more information please contact Romy Purshouse (Design Programme Manager) on 0117 3532746 / romy@kwmc.org.uk or visit www.green-footprints.org.uk
