The SU are taking part in Greenpeace' Big Plastic Count!

To take part, track all of your plastic waste for the week using the tally available on the Big Plastic Count Website or on the SU's webpages.

Submit your results by the 31st March to ensure they're included in the survey.

To celebrate St. Teilo's Day, pupils from 3 primary schools around Aberystwyth helped to plant a heritage orchard, with traditional Welsh variety apple trees to line up with Aberystwyth University’s Living History Garden project. Read more about the event here. 

In November 2023, the SU and university staff organised a tree planting volunteer day to plant a mix of oak, silver birch, hazel and hawthorn next to our Fferm Penglais campus. 

In total, 400 trees were planted, and volunteers learned how to plant trees safely, and ensure the trees have the best chance to thrive. 

Read more about the day here: Tree Planting Action Day

We want to promote transparency around our sustainability efforts, as allowing students to be involved and understand decision-making processes is essential to any environmental goal. 

This is why at the start of the academic year, Pro Vice-Chancellor Neil Glasser delivered a talk accessible to all students, discussing Aberystwyth's net zero ambitions and plans. 

Read the PDF version of the Net Zero Ambitions and Plans.

EuroBioBlitz is an annual wildlife recording event that takes place across Europe. In 2023, we joined the challenge and helped to record research-grade wildlife data around Penglais Woods through a leaded walk, supporting other academics and encouraging students to learn how to identify native wildlife. We helped add many observations to the staggering 50,000 made across Europe! View the observations on the EuroBioBlitz iNaturalist Project Page 

Students' Union and Societies 

The Students' Union have achieved the highest Green Impact standard in 2022-23, through initiatives such as promoting the use second-hand clothing/cookware through the Free Hub, environmental awareness training and through setting up an active working group 

Aberystwyth Conservation Volunteers (ACV) is a student union society and practical conservation volunteer group. If you want to get outside more and help the local area, come join us on a Saturday or Wednesday afternoon on task! ACV Conservation Volunteers (abersu.co.uk)

Penglais Community Garden began as a student initiative, supported by Aberystwyth University. The objective is to create a space for people to grow, to learn about growing food, planting in a wildlife friendly manner, and to provide a quiet space for people visiting the university and Arts Centre to just sit and enjoy their lunch! A variety of produce is grown in the garden, and surplus is shared amongst volunteers, sold through the Food CO OP, or donated to the Aber Food Surplus. Home | Penglais Community Garden (aberystwyth.wixsite.com) 

Tyfu Dyfi is an Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRaW) project. Starting in Sept 2021, the project will run until the 30th of June, 2023. The partner organisations are: ecodyfi (lead), Aber Food Surplus, Mach Maethlon, Centre for Alternative Technology, Aberystwyth University, Penparcau Community Forum, Garden Organic. This pilot project is about demonstrating how communities can be involved in their local food systems and enumerating the multiple benefits that accrue. Tyfu Dyfi | dyfibiosphere