In the summer of 2003 Ben Moss and Nicola Padden met a great man with a great idea. Richard Mehmed had founded the Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project in 1998 – a self funded social and environmental project, working with volunteers, saving resources and generating its own income. His idea was to roll out his business model to other towns and cities around the country. Ben and Nicola leapt at the opportunity, knowing that Bristol was fertile growing ground for such environmentally and socially progressive ideas. Bristol Wood Recycling Project was born.

Since then they have weathered the downturn in the construction industry and the departure of their founders; they are now a workers’ co-operative in bigger premises with 7 staff, and in 2012, 49 people had the opportunity to volunteer with them.  So popular has volunteering with them become that they have to operate a waiting list for the chance to volunteer (and wear one of their coveted BWRP hoodies!).