Great Big Green Week to inspire everyone to do their bit for the climate

HENLEY’S Great Big Green Week will be the most ambitious to date, say organisers.

Now in its fifth year, the initiative will run from Saturday, June 7 to Sunday, June 15 and will feature a series of events organised by environmental campaign group Greener Henley and its partners, including Henley Town Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

The programme features talks from experts, pre-loved fashion sales, poetry, film screenings and hands-on workshops.

Kate Oldridge, executive director of Greener Henley, said: “Great Big Green Week is a chance for our community to come together and show their support for climate and nature.

“Henley has the potential to be a leading example of how towns can thrive by building resilience, reducing pollution and protecting and restoring nature.

“This year, we’re offering an exciting programme of events tackling key environmental issues and featuring inspiring and influential speakers.

“We’re also collaborating with new partners across the town, strengthening our collective impact.

“Whether it’s by taking part in one of our campaigns, joining an event, or calling on local decision-makers to act, everyone has a role to play. Let’s make this our most ambitious and inspiring Great Big Green Week yet.”

The week is part of a national initiative run by the Climate Coalition which celebrates community action to tackle climate change and protect the environment.

The main event will be held in the Market Place on Saturday, June 7, from 10am to 4pm.

Greener Henley will be running a “bee-friendly” stall giving away pots of mini meadows as well as advice on how to build bee hotels.

An interactive science stall will be run by students from the eco club at Gillotts School and Henley’s new Repair Café will be helping residents to fix household items that might otherwise be thrown away.

There will also be stalls from the group’s pop-up swap shop and the Henley Toad Patrol, along with local conservation and nature stalls, children’s games and more.

A Big Green Preloved Fashion Fair selling second-hand clothes, vintage fashion and accessories will be held in Henley town hall from 11am to 2pm.

On Sunday, June 8, a Plasticblitz will be held by Henley Rotary Club. The litter pick will start at 10am and will cover the area between Marsh Lock and Hambleden Lock.

The resulting litter will be used to help lobbying on plastic packaging reduction.

On Monday, June 9, a poetry reading featuring entries from the Greener Henley poetry competition will take place at Henley library in Ravenscroft Road from 6pm to 8pm.

This theme of this year’s competition is “Reflections on the river'’ and the deadline for entries is tomorrow (Saturday).

On Tuesday, June 10, Honeyland, an award-winning, immersive documentary about beekeeping in North Macedonia will be shown at the Regal Picturehouse in Boroma Way.

The film follows the life of Hatidže Muratova, the last wild beekeeper in Europe. A panel discussion and question and answer session will be held after the film.

On Wednesday, June 11, a Climate Café will be held in the Chantry House, next to St Mary’s Church in Hart Street from 4.30pm to 6pm. This will promote discussion around the climate crisis and its effects.

In the evening a question and answer session with Professor Christopher Merchant, a climate scientist from the University of Reading, facilitated by former Olympic rower Greg Searle, will be held at Leander Club from 7pm to 9pm. On Thursday, June 12, a Greening Your Business workshop for local business owners will be held at the River & Rowing Museum café from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

From 7pm to 9pm a panel and question and answer session will be held at Henley Rugby Club in Marlow Road on the topic of “Flood Question Time: Rising Waters and Resilience”.

The panellists will include David Rochester, head of reserving at Flood Re and an expert in climate risk and flood insurance, and Pete Sudbury, former cabinet member for climate change and environment at Oxfordshire County Council.

On Sunday, June 15, a paddleboard river clean is being organised by Lynne Lambourne, founder of Warriors on Waste and Go With The Flo paddleboarding. A location and time is to be confirmed.

From noon to 2pm, Greener Henley will host a Henley’s Big Green Picnic in Mill Meadows by the bandstand.

Henley councillor Rory Hunt said Great Big Green Week was a powerful reminder that every effort, big or small, counted and urged people to get involved.

He said: “Our river is the heart of the town, so protecting it, restoring it and helping it must be a priority if we are to continue to enjoy it.”

For more information, visit www.greenerhenley.org.uk/
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