Cardiff Met Goes Green With Size Of Wales

Students and staff across Cardiff Metropolitan University have joined forces to raise essential funds for an organisation working to protect an area of tropical forest the size of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Aptly named ‘Size of Wales’, the organisation runs an annual Go Green day – encouraging businesses and organisations across the nation to raise cash to preserve two million hectares of tropical forest in Africa and South America. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cardiff Met students and staff celebrated Go Green Day and raised the grand total of £280 through a range of events which took place in and around the university’s Llandaff Campus. Events included bag packing at a local supermarket, bike MOTs, an energy awareness stand and donations for LED light bulbs. The total amount raised on the day will be doubled by Size of Wales to £560. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jenny Rathbone AM, who made time to visit many of Cardiff Met’s Go Green activities, commented: “I am delighted that Cardiff Met is doing such a great job raising awareness of climate change, sustainability and addressing global responsibility with staff and students. Visiting the Community Garden today was fantastic and I am very much looking forward to seeing the natural dye garden later today”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cardiff Met’s Environmental Performance Manager, Rachel Roberts said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are delighted to see students and staff teaming up and raising so much money for Size of Wales – all as part of Cardiff Met’s healthy university strategy. It was particularly encouraging to arrange such a variety of awareness events and information stands – from the sale of re-usable cups, to information on Fairtrade chocolate and environmental lectures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Go Green Day was also a fantastic opportunity to showcase Cardiff Met’s successful partnerships external organisations such as Gavin Jones Group, Fairtrade, Cycle Training Wales, South Wales Police, Smalls for All, Cynnal Cymru, Tesco and Love Food Hate Waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Cardiff Met is a Size of Wales partner organisation and we hope to be involved in similar events in the future, further contributing to such an important aim.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Size of Wales was created by the Wales’ Millennium Development Goals Task Force as part of Wales’ response to the dual challenges of climate change and international poverty reduction. An environmental charity, Size of Wales unites communities, businesses, organisations and schools to help protect 2 million hectares of rainforest and forge lasting links with some of the world’s poorest people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​