From Monday 9 March to Sunday 22 March, students, colleagues and local community members came together for Go Green Salford Spring 2026, the University of Salford’s biannual Festival of Sustainability.
Across two weeks, the festival brought our community together through workshops, talks, outdoor activities and creative events designed to inspire sustainable action and highlight the work taking place across the University.
The programme offered something for everyone — from exploring wildlife in Peel Park and learning about sustainable careers, to hands-on creative workshops and conversations about global sustainability challenges.
Connecting with nature on campus
A major theme of this year’s festival was biodiversity and nature on campus, with several events helping participants explore the natural spaces around the University.
Participants joined a wildlife photography walk through Peel Park to capture images of nature while learning photography techniques for wildlife. A hedgehog-friendly litter pick, organised with the Salford Ranger and Sustainability Team, helped remove litter from local green spaces while supporting habitats for wildlife.
The festival also featured a series of BioBlitz activities, encouraging people to discover and record the wildlife living on campus. Guided walks explored the signs of spring in Peel Park, while an amphibian walk and talk, led by Teaching Fellow Alice Pawlik, introduced participants to local amphibian species and their role in biodiversity.
Participants also joined small mammal monitoring sessions with expert Tony Parker, learning how to survey mammals using humane live trapping techniques before safely identifying and releasing animals the following morning.
The festival concluded with evening and weekend nature activities, including a bat walk through Peel Park using bat detectors to listen for nocturnal species, and a Nature Society trip to Worsley, where students explored woodland and country park habitats together.
Creative and community activities
Go Green Salford also created opportunities for people to get involved in sustainability through creativity and community action.
Students took part in upcycled plant pot workshops at both the Frederick Road and MediaCity campuses, transforming reused materials into plant pots while learning about sustainable reuse.
A creative collage workshop, inspired by the exhibition at New Adelphi, encouraged participants to explore sustainability and creativity through art. Meanwhile, the community gardening session at the University’s Community Growing Space gave participants the chance to plant, garden and spend time outdoors together.
The festival also included a Climate Café, providing a supportive space for students to discuss their feelings about climate change and connect with others in the University community.
Learning about sustainability and global challenges
Alongside hands-on activities, the festival offered a range of talks and workshops exploring sustainability topics and global environmental challenges.
Sessions included:
- Colonialism and climate, examining the historical and present-day drivers of the climate crisis and how decolonisation and sustainability can work together.
- Waste and recycling, where Zoe Pegg explored the journey of waste and the real impact of recycling while challenging common myths.
- Sustainable labs, highlighting how laboratories across the University are improving sustainability through the LEAF accreditation programme.
- Biodiversity collage, an interactive workshop helping participants understand the biodiversity crisis and the actions that can help restore nature.
These sessions supported the University’s wider commitment to embedding sustainability across learning, research and campus life.
Sustainable skills and careers
Several events focused on helping students understand how sustainability connects with their future careers.
Workshops included career planning for green and sustainable careers, exploring opportunities within the growing green economy, as well as an employer information session with H&MV Engineering, highlighting pathways into the energy transition sector.
The festival also celebrated initiatives supporting students beyond sustainability itself, including the Salford Business School Workwear Wardrobe launch, which provides free access to professional clothing for students preparing for interviews and employment.
Getting active and travelling sustainably
Go Green Salford also highlighted the role of active and sustainable travel.
Participants joined a heritage run through Salford and Manchester, combining physical activity with learning about the city’s history and built environment.
Throughout the festival, bike repair drop-in sessions at MakerSpace helped students and colleagues keep their bikes safe and roadworthy, supporting more sustainable ways to travel to campus.
Bringing people together
The festival also provided opportunities to connect and collaborate with others interested in sustainability.
The Sustainability Fair at New Adelphi brought together campus teams and organisations to showcase sustainable initiatives and practical ways to reduce environmental impact.
An open discussion session, Green campus: get your voice heard, invited students and colleagues to share ideas for improving sustainability at the University.
The People Planet Pint networking event also brought members of the University community and the wider public together in an informal setting to discuss sustainability.
Thank you to everyone involved
Go Green Salford continues to grow thanks to the enthusiasm and collaboration of students, colleagues, societies and partners across the University.
Thank you to everyone who organised events, shared their expertise and took part in this year’s festival. Your ideas and actions help move the University community towards a more sustainable future.
Share your feedback
If you attended an event or have ideas for future activities, we would love to hear from you. Your feedback helps shape future festivals and ensures Go Green Salford continues to grow and improve each year.
If you have a few minutes, please complete our short feedback form:
Go Green Salford Feedback Form – Fill in form