Swindon & Wiltshire News
Reading and Bristol among Britain’s greenest cities, according to new report
Reading has been named the UK’s greenest city, with Bristol coming in at third place in a new report.
The Co-operative Bank’s Greenest Cities index ranked settlements on air quality, green space, recycling rates, green jobs, funding for conservation projects, and cycle routes.
Reading topped the chart thanks to its high air quality (72.22) and large areas of green space (42.04 per cent). It also boasts 700 cycle routes and a strong recycling rate at 44.79 per cent.
Bristol has the highest recycling rate in the top 10 at 47.25 per cent. It also stands out for its commitment to cycling, with an impressive 2,611 routes available across the city – 23.7 per square km.
In 22nd place, London scored the worst, receiving poor scores in air quality (2.68), recycling rates (1.35), and funding for conservation (1.00). Birmingham was second from bottom with an overall score of 2.94, with particularly low scores for recycling (1.00) and cycle routes (1.61).
Kathy Richter, sustainability lead at The Co-operative Bank, said: “At The Co-operative Bank, we are committed to driving positive change and making a lasting impact on the environment.
“In fact, protecting the natural world has been at the heart of our customer-led Ethical Policy for over 30 years, proving that it’s something we know is important to our customers, too.
“This latest research highlights the cities leading the way in sustainability and those that still have work to do.
“It’s encouraging to see Reading, Sunderland, and Bristol making strides toward greener, more sustainable communities, but there’s still much to be done, especially in larger urban centres like London and Birmingham.
“Through initiatives like our Postcode Gardeners project, in partnership with Friends of the Earth, we aim to help restore nature and wildlife in areas across the country, fostering healthier environments for all.
“Our hope is that this research sparks conversation and action, inspiring cities across the UK to take bold steps towards a more sustainable future.”
Main picture: Forbury Gardens, Reading published under Creative Commons licence
