Events across the North East are set to celebrate environmental sustainability as part of a national Great Big Green Week taking place over the next seven days.
This year’s Great Big Green Week began today (Saturday, June 8), with the Darlington Eco Fair, kicking off a series of events taking place across the region to promote the protection of nature and tackling climate change.
In 2023, 250,000 people were involved in activities all over the country during Great Big Green Week, and this year even more people are expected to be joining the eco-events.
Swapping is the theme of 2024’s community action celebrations – this might involve neighbours swapping advice on household repairs, swapping gardening tips on making compost or even pushing big businesses to abandon fossil fuels and adopt solar panel technology.
Organisers are hoping to nudge politicians to appreciate the public’s growing concern for the climate crisis as the General Election on July 4 fast approaches.
The Climate Coalition, an organisation dedicated to tackling climate change, is calling on all political parties to commit to cutting emissions and protecting nature.
Executive Director of The Climate Coalition, Helen Meech emphasised the impact Great Big Green Week could have.
She said: “Great Big Green Week is an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people to show how much of a priority nature and the climate is to them, and to swap ideas on what we can all do to lead greener lives."
She added: “It is also a reminder to politicians campaigning in the lead up to the General Election that public support for action is both massive and mainstream, and that the next Government will be held to account to do more for climate and generations to come.”
Activities in the North East for the Great Big Green Week are take place everywhere.
Here is a round-up of events to get involved with near you:
Darlington
Over the weekend of June 8 and 9, Darlington Borough Council’s Eco Fair will bring stalls and a marquee with fun family activities including building sustainable model cars and testing out Sustran’s ‘Smoothie Bike’ to the market square. There will also be interactive performances in the market hall, animals to meet, and a Fixit Café repair workshop in the Dolphin Centre.
Bishop Auckland
At Bishop Auckland Baptist Church on Westfield Road refreshments, crafts and plant-based activities will take place as part of their Green Garden Gathering on Saturday, June 15.
Stockton-on-Tees
In Stockton-on-Tees, the Environment Fair will be held on Saturday, June 15, promoting sustainable living and the preservation of our natural environment.
Middlesborough
Tuesday, June 11 will see Climate Action Middlesborough and The Other Perspective give furniture and clothing a new lease of life as they give it away for free at the International Community Centre.
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In Hemlington, Climate Action Middlesborough will be back again, this time with Tees Valley Together on Wednesday, June 12 for a Sweed Swap. They will also be discussing how to keep chickens, with bird drawing activities and a flower exchange.
Gateshead
On Saturday, June 8 and Saturday, June 15, Plant a Pizza activities are taking place, with gardeners showing visitors how to grow their own pizza toppings in plant pots decorated by themselves. Gibside Chapel will also host Plant a Salad on Saturday June 8, Thursday, 13 June, and Saturday, June 15.
Gateshead’s own Great Big Green Week group will also pull together to carry out litter picking, clothes swapping, and host school events.
Great Big Green Week takes place from today and ends Sunday June 16. More information about the project is available here - https://greatbiggreenweek.com/
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