A WEEK-long programme of environmentally-friendly initiatives kicks off in Rugby next month with a free Community Climate Fair in Caldecott Park.
The fair will mark the start of the town’s Great Big Green Week celebrations by bringing together community organisations taking action to combat climate change and protect the environment, and aims to inspire visitors to join Rugby’s journey towards net zero.
Visitors to the climate fair on Saturday June 7 can learn about innovative ideas to cut carbon emissions and find out about volunteering opportunities, while the council’s Play Rangers have a range of natured-focused, fun activities for children.
The fair runs from 10.30am to 2.30pm and launches a packed programme of Great Big Green Week events, with Rugby Eco Hub opening its Repair Cafe at Betts Hall, at the top of Bath Street, on Saturday June 7 to repair broken bikes, electricals, toys and textiles from 10am to 1pm.
Rugby Eco Hub returns the following Saturday (June 14) to reveal the secrets of growing your own vegetables and herbs in limited space, with training sessions taking place every hour from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Betts Hall.
Garden Organic also joins the Great Big Green Week celebrations that day, hosting a ‘grow your own fresh herbs’ workshop from 12.30pm to 2pm at the Hill Street Youth and Community Centre, where visitors receive herbs to take home and plant.
At the same event, Garden Organic holds a Community Champions training session from 10am to 12 noon for volunteers who want to promote organic growing in order to support biodiversity and the environment.
Places at the training session must be booked in advance at www.rugby.gov.uk/GBGW
Open days take place at Newbold Glebe Allotment Association’s allotments in Egerton Close (10am to 12noon on Sunday June 8) and Whinfield Community Allotment Association’s allotments in Clifton Road (11am to 3pm on Sunday June 15), where visitors can learn how to ‘grow your own’ and make gardens nature-friendly.
And residents can join naturalist Ed Drewitt on a Dunsmore Living Landscape morning bird walk through Diamond Wood at 7am on Sunday June 15, followed by hot drinks and pastries.
Places on the walk, priced £5, must be booked in advance at www.rugby.gov.uk/GBGW
Throughout the Great Big Green Week, Rugby Borough Council’s (RBC) Play Rangers will bring nature-inspired outdoor activities to Millennium Green (4pm to 5.30pm, Monday June 9), Criss Cross Park (3.30pm to 5pm, Tuesday June 10), Dunchurch Community Library (5.30pm to 7pm, Thursday June 12) and New Bilton Recreation Ground (4pm to 5.30pm, Friday June 13).
And Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s Mini Explorers (10am to 11am) and Mini Makers (1.30pm to 2.30pm) workshops on Tuesday June 10 go green in the Percival Guildhouse Gardens next door to the venue, offering creative play sessions for two to five-year-olds.
Places, priced £2.50 per child, must be booked in advance at www.ragm.co.uk/family
Coun Alison Livesey, RBC’s spokesperson for operations and traded services, and chair of the council’s climate emergency working group, thanked the council’s parks and open spaces team for organising the event.
She said: “Our first Great Big Green Week celebration aims to promote the wonderful work taking place across our communities to respond to the climate emergency and encourage others to play a part in protecting our environment.
“There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, whether learning new skills, sharing knowledge or simply enjoying and exploring the great outdoors, so we’re looking forward to starting the ball rolling at the Community Climate Fair.”
Coun Jerry Roodhouse, leader of RBC’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “It’s great to see this happening in Rugby and demonstrates the hard work of staff and volunteers.
“We will need to adapt in an ever-changing world and this event supports the work of volunteers along with statutory organisations.”
The Great Big Green Week was launched by the Climate Coalition four years ago in a bid to celebrate community action on climate change and the protection of green spaces, and encourage others to get involved.
Across the UK, 600,000 people took part in Great Big Green Week events and activities in 2024.
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/GBGW for more information about Rugby’s Great Big Green Week.
