Page 27 - Allotment Gardener Issue 2 2024

Great Big Green Week 8th – 16th June, 2024
From spinach to skills, what will you swap?
The UK’s biggest celebration of climate change action is happening this summer and everyone’s invited. This year’s Great Big Green Week is all about swaps, whether that’s skills, ideas, fashion or fruit! Here’s what’s happening – and how you can get involved.
These days, you can’t escape the impact of extreme weather. It’s here and happening now. But, if you’re anything like us, it’s tough to find the time to roll up your sleeves and do something.
The Great Big Green Week is your chance to get involved. Taking place between 8th and 16th June, it’s a country-wide festival of fun, practical events, organised by communities for the good of everyone. Whether you take part with your family, your community, your place of worship, your school or your business, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Last year had some brilliant allotmenteers taking part and we would love to see many more putting on events.
“We know actions speak louder than words. So by coming together across the country, we can show politicians what’s really possible,” said Helen Meech, Executive Director of the Climate Coalition.
Let’s swap together for good
From neighbours swapping skills to businesses trading fossil fuels for solar panels – small changes can add up to a big difference. By
taking action together at the same time, we can show politicians that communities across the country care about climate change and the natural world. Here’s how:
#1Allotment skills swap
Open up your allotment and give tours to
local people. Share your growing knowledge or arrange hands-on workshops. You could even volunteer to help create a greener community by planting or pruning in your neighbourhood.
#2Eat something green Food has a huge environmental
impact. You could swap meat for plant-based feasts. Share surplus produce with other local gardeners. Or host a local food event with farmers and foodies from your areas.
#3Switch indoors for outdoors Switch the boardroom for walking
meetings. Coordinate a nature trail or walk. Or think about ways to help people who aren’t able to get outside to experience nature. It’s about walking the walk, after all.
#4Set up your own repair shop Embroidery. Mechanics. Electrics. Do you
– or others you know – have a skill you could share? Host or connect with a repair café or shop where people can swap skills and bring old items that need fixing.
#5Get closer to nature
Walk. Run. Wild swim. Or try ‘forest
bathing’. Getting moving in nature is great for the mind and body. And, arranging an event strengthens community roots, too.
How to organise an event
Visit greatbiggreenweek.com for all the help you need for your event. Make
sure to add your event to the website so that others in your local area can find it. What’s more, when you register it on the website, you’ll receive a FREE pack of handy resources.
WHAT IS THE GREAT
BIG GREEN WEEK?
The Great Big Green Week is all about fun ways to bring people together to tackle climate change and protect nature. It’s the UK’s biggest celebration of positive action and last year over 250,000 people got involved.
To find out more and get involved, visit
greatbiggreenweek.com.
Allotment Gardener | Issue 2 2024 | 27