In December, students and staff gathered in the cosy ground-floor lounge of the Michael Smith Building for an afternoon of creativity, sustainability and seasonal treats. 

Organised by the Michael Smith Quad Team in collaboration with the FBMH Social Responsibility Team, this year’s Winter Warm-Up built on the success of last year’s eco-crafts event, offering even more festive activities. 

Wreath made using natural material sourced from the Firs.

Quad Manager Bred Beckett foraged natural material from the Firs and other campus green spaces to host a wreath-making workshop, which quickly became the highlight of the afternoon. 

Sara Shaqiri, MSci student and Eco Champion Co-ordinator, encouraged attendees to repurpose old Christmas cards and scrap paper into new cards and gift tags, giving discarded materials a second life.  

Chelsea Sawyer, Research Associate, led a bug hotel-making station using leftover pots, hay and paper straws from a previous event, sparking conversations about biodiversity.  

Alongside the various eco-crafting stations, a small choir led by Dr Joanne Pennock was warming up for a short performance to close the event. Their selection of non-denominational festive songs captivated the audience and even inspired some to join in with the singing. 

Attendees were treated to mince pies alongside mulled cider and apple juice made from medlars and quinces harvested from the Quad Garden. The seasonal drinks proved so popular they ran out quickly! 

The Winter Warm-Up wrapped up on a high note, with most attendees leaving with at least one handmade creation. More than a festive gathering, the event promoted wellbeing ahead of the busy holiday season and highlighted how small changes can support you to be more sustainable. 

Find out more about the Quad.  

To stay up to date with all the latest news from the FBMH Environmental Sustainability team, you can follow @FBMH_SR on X (Twitter) or sign up to our quarterly ES Newsletter by emailing srbmh@manchester.ac.uk.   

Related