Climate emergency action – BUMP roller disco to replace Millennium Square ice rink

17 October 2019

As part of We The Curious’ climate emergency declaration earlier this year, and pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030, there will not be a temporary seasonal ice rink this winter; BUMP roller disco will instead run on Millennium Square from 15 November – 5 January.

Following the extensive warnings on the risks of rising global temperatures in the 2018 IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and on the back of the overwhelming body of scientific evidence the venue was the first science centre in the world to declare a climate emergency. With this in mind the charity has taken the decision to stop running a seasonal ice rink.

We The Curious has been leading the science centre sector in reducing its impact to the environment since 2010, which saw the venue winning several West of England Carbon Challenge awards. Since then it has continued to work with various partners in the city and internationally to both reduce its operational impact and play a part in encouraging positive behaviour change in its staff and visitors.

The Millennium Square ice rink was first run in 2013 when We The Curious was known as At-Bristol Science Centre, with an average of 30,000 people taking part each year – bringing visitors and income to the educational charity, and harbourside area. A lower-energy skating alternative will instead be running throughout the winter season; as part of the ‘Winter on the Square’ offer from Pure Spaces, BUMP roller disco will return to Millennium Square 15 November – 5 December.

The BUMP team will be running a series of roller skating sessions for all ages and abilities, including lessons, ‘Skate with Santa’ sessions, weekly accessible skating sessions, and a charity roller contest for those keen to show off their skating skills.

The Pure Spaces team will also be returning to Millennium Square with their Apres Bar for the fourth consecutive year, with a warming selection of drinks and food, along with live music events and DJs.

Lydia Ladbrooke, Head of Operations for We The Curious said:

“Since the IPCC report we have our been reviewing all our activity, and by making changes we are on track to meet our commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. After reviewing the energy consumption of running an ice rink, we took the decision to remove it going forward, but we are keen to continue to create a positive fun seasonal offer for our city.

So we’re really excited to be welcoming back the Pure Spaces and BUMP teams to Millennium Square this winter; it’ll provide a really fun, festive and exciting destination for the holiday period. It was great having the BUMP team on site over the summer, so we’re confident that any would-be ice skaters will be happy with a roller skating alternative.

We can’t achieve all of our aims in one go, so it’s a step-by-step process that we need to work on with our partners, but by evolving the activities and replacing the ice rink with a more energy-efficient alternative, we’re heading in the right direction.”
 

As part of Fair Saturday on 30 November, We The Curious will be launching the ‘Earth-friendly festivities’ season of winter programming – to explore fun ways to make celebrations kinder on the environment. There will be a free film screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on Big Screen Bristol and the launch of a new wave of ‘climate action’ programme of activities – including Santa’s Eco Workshop, festive feasts in the Kitchen and winter planting in the Greenhouse.

We The Curious is the first science centre in the world to declare a climate emergency; with the pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030. Along with Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol, We The Curious is one of the first organisations in Bristol to make this public declaration, which aligns with the city’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030. The aim of the declaration is to inspire both organisations and individuals to take action.

All electricity to the We The Curious site is supplied by 100% renewable energy from Bristol energy, and is supplemented by electricity from solar panels on the roof of We The Curious.  

For more information, visit www.wethecurious.org or https://www.thesquarebristol.co.uk/ for information on BUMP and the Apres Bar.

-ENDS-

For further information, images, or to arrange a press trip to We The Curious, please contact Jen Forster – PR Manager, on 0117 9157 152/07967 334 152 or jen.forster@wethecurious.org

You can also follow We The Curious on Twitter (@wethecurious_) Facebook (wethecurious) or Instagram (@wethecurious_). For more information, please visit www.wethecurious.org

Editor’s Notes :

About We The Curious:

We The Curious was previously known as At-Bristol Science Centre; an educational charity with an aim to “make science accessible to all”, it opened in 2000, and welcomed over 5 million visitors in the past 17 years. At-Bristol relaunched as We The Curious in September 2017, with a new vision that is committed to creating a culture of curiosity.

We The Curious is an idea and a place for everyone. Our venue on Bristol’s harbourside is a bit like an indoor festival, with all sorts of different experiences, where you can interact with exhibits, test stuff out and participate rather than just visit.  We’re all about empowering everyone to ask questions and get creative - with boundaries removed between science, art, people and ideas - a culture of curiosity.

We The Curious – sustainable futures:

• Since 2010 We The Curious has reduced energy consumption by 28%
• We The Curious is home to large photovoltaic solar panel array - big enough to power 13 UK households
• The rooftop of We The Curious is also home to a colony of honeybees
• We The Curious has played host to art installations including the Bristol Whales, Tap into Bristol,  the Energy Tree on Millennium Square and Cause by Jody Thomas. In 2018 Luke Jerram’s Inhale sculpture was installed in the building, and artist Anna Higgie worked with University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute to create a climate change mural for the exterior of the building.

About Pure Spaces:

The Après Ski Bar is brought to you by Pure Spaces, the same people behind the successful Bristol Beach Bar, offering yet another pop-up destination perfect for a date night or any special occasion. The company is created by two local Bristol guys (Jon Sexstone and Ross Blake) who have a passion for doing things a little differently and want to provide Bristol with new and exciting ideas.

With sustainability at the forefront of Pure Spaces minds’, using reconditioned shipping containers, local food traders and fruit from local greengrocers, their aim is to create the new from the old by pushing the upcycling movement forward.