Bristol Bears has become the first rugby club in the world to join the Sports for Nature framework. 

Bears are existing signatories to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and leaders in sport sustainability.

Sports for Nature aims to deliver transformative action for nature through sports, by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration. It provides a game plan for sports – at all levels – to accelerate and inspire others to take action for nature.​

​Sports for Nature is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

Biodiversity is one of the key impact areas covered Project Whitebeam, a joint effort from the Bristol Sport clubs – Bristol Bears men and women rugby, City men and women, Bristol Flyers basketball and Ashton Gate Stadium – recognises, measures and mitigates the Group’s impact on the environment.

In recent years Bears and Bristol Sport have:

  • Re-wilded Colliter’s Brook which runs through Ashton Gate with wildflowers, native plants and trees
  • Planted wildflowers and a vegetable garden at the Bears High Performance Centre
  • Installed a number of items installed to assist local wildlife such as bat, bird and dormice boxes, bug hotels and habitat piles
  • Began assessing our supply chain to understand and minimise any impact on the natural world from our supplied goods and services
  • Installed planters and a bench made out of recycled plastic cups near turnstiles 26-30, funded by The Robins Foundation and Ashton Gate waste provider Veolia

Bristol Sport Group CEO Gavin Marshall said: “We are aware there’s a lot more to be done but we are delighted to have established ourselves as leaders in sport sustainability and we are aiming for continued improvements.”

Head of Change and Sustainability, Peter Smith said: “We’re already aligned with the key principles of Sports for Nature so are delighted to join the framework. This will allow us to swap ideas with other clubs and organisations who are also global leaders in sports sustainability.”