Great Big Green Week -the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature – kicks off this year with an event hosted by us and opened by local MP Tim Farron at the National Trust’s Footprint Building at Windermere on Saturday 7 June.
The free event will showcase a wide range of community-led initiatives tackling food and clothing waste, promoting local food growing, and using the role of the arts in environmental action.
MP Tim Farron said “This is a fantastic event which brings together lots of brilliant community groups who are playing their part to tackle the climate emergency and protect nature. It’s also a really good opportunity for people to find out about all the great environmental projects going on in Cumbria and how they can get involved with a group in their community – or maybe even inspire them to start their own project!”
Contributors include Fruity Windermere who aim to increase the amount of fruit grown and made freely available and Riversmeet from Cockermouth who will show how caring for people, nature, and sharing fairly can help create a garden that’s full of life and purpose. On the art front, Mycelium Thinking based in Ulverston, and Sounding the Elements from Barrow will demonstrate creative green projects. Growing Well, who have centres in Tebay, Kendal and Egremont, will coordinate a seed swap and sale of local wildflower plug plants.
Karen Mitchell, CEO of Futureproof Cumbria said “Groups across Cumbria, many of which have been supported by National Lottery funding, are working to tackle climate change through a huge range of projects and activities. The speakers at this event are all keen to share their projects in the hope that will trigger even more community action across the county.”
John Pring, Countryside Manager for Central and East Lakes at the National Trust, added: “Change happens when we work together. We’ll share our experience of creating a new apple orchard of rare varieties at Common Farm in Windermere with Dick Palmer from South Lakeland Orchard Group, and how the National Trust is creating wildlife-rich habitats that support biodiversity in the local area.“
A vegetarian and vegan lunch will be provided by Waste into Wellbeing from Kendal, who will prepare a menu using surplus food that would otherwise go to landfill.
The event, which runs from 9:45 – 3pm and is free to attend, can be booked online via www.futureproofcumbria.org.uk/events.
A wide range of events for Great Big Green week – which runs from 7th – 15th June – and the rest of the year organised by community groups across Cumbria are listed on the Zero Carbon Cumbria website.
