Our Work So Far

COMING UP!:

Watch out for details on our social media… 

Past Projects

We love designing innovative projects based on what our communities tell us they want! Here’s a sample of our work so far: 

Our Exhibition at We The Curious

We love nature and we want to look after it. We were delighted to partner with We The Curious to celebrate the successes of Nature Rising, our Global Majority communities, and ask how we can work together to care for nature and each other. Representing St Pauls and Easton for the first time in this way, our ground-breaking, 6 month long exhibition, celebrated our diverse expertise and experience at the heart of everything we do. 

Our muralists were Keyan Nwakalo-Allman assisted by Nadia James and Rosina Al-Shaater and assisted by Dan (SUIGEN) Thomas. Michelle Pascal was Creative Director with Gnisha as Executive Producer.

Nature Rising Film Screenings

Nature Rising at Forwards Festival 
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f32j_D3RnZ4

12x Film Screenings and counting….

We’re honoured to be working with the legendary Michelle Pascal (former BBC director on Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow)! Joined by Tracey Miller (former BBC Senior Broadcast Reporter), together they are Fam Films CIC and have made a film all about Nature Rising. We’ve held 12 screenings so far, from WECA Bee Bold Awards to Forwards Festival. Get in touch to host a screening with us!

Nature Rising 2024 Programme

Nature Rising featured an impressive lineup of Bristol’s most energizing community leaders! Throughout the 2024 programme, we connected with, and learned alongside Global Majority environmentalists in Bristol creating a platform to share their knowledge.

We designed the programme in response to community feedback, led by our amazing Global Majority leaders. 

Wildflower Playgrounds: Amrish Pandya and Priya Sheth

Amrish and Priya planted wildflowers with children and teachers in 4 nursery schools to attract insects. The children watered and cared for the wildflowers over the Summer and are now less scared of bees!!

Wild Medicine: Elsie Harp

We look after nature, and nature looks after us!

Elsie from Divina Botanica shared the power of healing herbs with asylum seekers and refugees. Together the group shared skills and knowledge of herbs like dandelions, elderflower and nettle.

Wildflowers & Wellness Day

Elsie Harp and Tara Miran led a magical community gardening day with St Pauls Community Garden. In golden sunlight we planted a medicinal garden, made healing balms and celebrated our cultures and heritage. Almost every person had different heritage!

Nature Rising Celebration: Ian Solomon-Kawall/ KMT and BSN

A world-class September showcase to celebrate the fruits of all our hard work ! We connected through music, art, storytelling, food and nature with a line-up of Bristol’s most talented artists!

Bridging Across Difference

Black Seeds Network are passionate about finding ways to bring people together across difference to heal and work together for environmental and social justice. With Roger Griffith, MBE, Gnisha Bevan, Mike Birkin, Fabia and Jeddere-Fisher, we trained our volunteers in anti-racism and community engagement skills.

Building on our successful Skills for Inclusive Environmentalism course, we embedded these vital skills into our programme, to truly allow us to work together well. 

Community Skills 

Tara Miran focused on Assets-Based Community Development for equitable solutions and Tay Aziz gave our volunteers a strong introduction into community engagement, power and participatory methods. We focus on ‘what is strong, not what is wrong’!

Action Research: Lynn Ooi

Lynn has researched the successes of Nature Rising from an assets-based approach. 

We’re moving the conversation on from the question ‘what are the barriers and what are the solutions?’ to “What works about our solution and why?” 

Using appreciative enquiry techniques, 

Lynn was supported by Fabia Jeddere-Fisher, Elahe Karminia, Gnisha Bevan and Jemillia Powell

Programme Team

Nature Rising would not be possible without our fantastic team, working behind the scenes!

Gnisha Bevan, Roger Griffith,MBE, Fabia Jeddere-Fisher, Tara Miran and Chantal Alemai work tirelessly behind the scenes to secure programme funding, open up opportunities and keep things running smoothly. Mike Birkin organised an amazing screening of the Plant Power film to recruit volunteers. Azélie Bourassa from Creative Connex also supported with business development and fundraising.

We’re grateful for the superb organisational and event organising skills of Azaria Roshkani, Nicolle Hanselmann and Zephyr Gidding. Thanks to Matthew Cornish and Dumebi Mkpuluma who lent their skills to reporting.