Celebrating Bristol’s sustainability legends
On Friday 6 March the Bristol Legends awards celebrated the individuals, organisations and initiatives that make Bristol special. The sustainability category acknowledged some of the brilliant people and organisations in are city who are shaping Bristol’s greener future. At Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership we know that every day our membership network is working together towards a fast and fair transition, so it was brilliant for some of that hard work to be showcased by Bristol 24/7.
“The list of nominees put forward by Bristol 24/7 readers and the panellists was rich with brilliant people and projects. You can see they contribute to the city’s movement for climate, nature and people in such a range of ways. This made our decision really tough but our winners really stood out for the ways they are shifting mindsets and practical action in Bristol. Their recognition today is well deserved – huge congratulations to the winners and nominees – who are all Bristol Legends really.”
Lizzi Testani, CEO of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership and a member of the decision panel for this category
Here is the full list of nominees and winners of each sub-category for Bristol’s Sustainability Legends:
Nature and biodiversity:
- Heart of BS13/Jenny Liggitt
- Festival of Nature
- Black2Nature
- Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust (Really Wild Lockleaze)
Winner: Festival of Nature is the UK’s largest annual free celebration of the natural world. In 2025 over 21,000 people got involved. This year’s festival will take place from 6–14 June and will be all about trees and forests. Festival of Nature won for their work helping people to discover wildlife on their doorstep and take action for nature.
Energy, home and transport:
- Life Cycle
- Centre for Sustainable Energy
- David Tudgey
- CHEESE Project
Winner: The charity Lifecycle transform lives and the environment through cycling. They work with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds at every stage of their cycling journey: From learning to ride, to building a career in the cycle industry. Lifecycle won for their practical work to get more people cycling, having a positive impact on public health, community wellbeing and the natural environment.
Activists, campaigners and volunteers:
- Emma Geen
- Gnisha Bevan
- Mark Jacobs
- Nature Youth Connection Education (NYCE)
Winner: Emma Geen is a climate activist and creative practitioner. She is a climate and disability advocate for Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership and coproduced the world’s first community climate action plan by and for Disabled people. Emma won for her ongoing work championing the needs of Bristol’s community of Disabled people in climate action.
Other:
- Mark Leach
- Share Bristol
- Sparks Bristol
- Bristol Food Network
Winner: Sparks Bristol is a vibrant hub for creativity, sustainability, social impact and education in Broadmead. They bring the themes of the Sustainable Development Goals to life in their alternative department store, support Bristol’s creative community with much-needed affordable artist spaces, and educate young people on the climate crisis and inequality. Sparks won for their work to make sustainability accessible on the high street through easy, money saving actions.
Overall sustainability legend: Mark Leach
Mark Leach works as a Project Manager at Bristol City Council. He has been part of Bristol’s sustainability scene for over 20 years. His recent work focusses on making climate communications more effective and inclusive, and advocating for community-led climate and nature action to councils across the UK.
Mark was selected as the overall Bristol Sustainability Legend for his long term and impactful contribution to Bristol’s movement for climate and nature. Mark has a track record of actively listening and taking proactive steps to support new ideas, collaborations and initiatives at very early stages, with often transformational later impacts. Mark lives and breathes best practice in coproduction and community development, often choosing to platform and create opportunities for others to lead and shape action in the city, over himself. His humility, generosity, commitment, optimism and kindness are the powerful ingredients needed to bring about the future and this is our chance to thank Mark and recognize the strengths of his approach.
The Bristol Legends sustainability category was sponsored by Bristol Waste and the decision panel for this category comprised of Sarah Burns, Sustainability and Engagement Manager at Bristol Waste, Lizzi Testani, CEO at Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, Savita Willmott, Chief Executive at the Natural History Consortium, Martin Fodor, Bristol City Councillor and co-chair of the Bristol One City Environment Board, Manu Maunganidze, Nature Youth Connection Education (NYCE) and Helen Bell, Director of Greenhouse PR.
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