This post is for the Great Big Green Week in 2021. For the list of events happening in 2022, go to this page.
Great Big Green Week is a nationwide celebration of action on climate change, taking place across the UK from 18 – 26 September.
The aim is to collectively celebrate all the positive grassroots actions being taken to tackle climate change and protect green spaces, and encourage others to get involved too.
Great Big Green Week also calls on politicians to raise their ambition and champion action on climate change, ahead of November’s crucial COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.
CAfS has been supporting environmental groups across Cumbria, who are planning a series of exciting Great Big Green Week events here in their local communities. Plans range from public engagement events, tree planting workshops, Penrith Freegle Give & Take, and film screenings, to CAfS’ own online events including virtual open home visits plus a 2 hour Climate Change Crash Course.
As these events are confirmed we’re encouraging the organising groups to add to the national Great Big Green Week website, building up a combined programme across Cumbria which we’ll help to promote.
All events we’re aware of are listed below. Have we missed any? Let us know and we’ll add them to the list!
Seed and Plant Swap | All week | Big Onion stands, Mill Yard, Staveley | Bring your surplus seeds and plants, swap for others.
Staveley Bioblitz | All week | A self-led search of your own or public green spaces. The aim is to record as many species of plants/birds/bugs and beasts throughout the week to understand better what is in the village and enable the community in the future to help & sustain this wildlife.
Carlisle’s Great Big Green Week – Opening Event | 18 Sep, 10am | Carlisle City Centre | A variety of local organisations and artists will join Sustainable Carlisle for a fantastic day of engaging information, hands on workshops, and creativity about tackling the climate crisis.
Litter Pick | 18 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Meet outside Staveley Chippy | Bags and litter pickers provided.
Green Information Stand | 18 Sep, 11am – 1pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Books & Information, Competitions, Campaigns & Pledges, Advice, FREE refreshments
Millom Without Parish Council Environment Day | 18 Sep, 1pm | Thwaites Village Hall, The Green, Millom | Activities for children from 1pm, activities for adults from 7pm. Followed by reception to launch campaign to form a Community Environmental Group.
Penrith Freegle Give and Take | 18 Sep, 2pm – 4pm | Please bring small items to give away – and take what you want! Any items left over will be freegled or given to charity shops to sell.
Green Sparks Event | 18 Sep, 2pm – 4pm | Spark Bridge Village Hall | The launch of Green Sparks, a new community action group interested in helping nature and caring for the local environment.
Ambleside’s Picnic in the Park | 18 Sep, 5pm | Rothay Park (Parish centre if wet) | Drumming home a message about climate. You are invited to write and draw a message to send to the prime minister. Speakers and Taiko drummers will begin at 5.45pm.
PEAT Film Night: A Life on our Planet | 19 Sep, 7pm | Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands | The broadcaster David Attenborough recounts his life, and the evolutionary history of life on Earth, to grieve the loss of wild places and offers a vision for the future.
Green Film show | 19 Sep, 7.45pm – 9pm | Ginnel between Hawkshead Brewery & More Bakery | Be entertained by Staveley’s very own Samba band. Enjoy a series of short films, made by local film makers about living and working in Staveley. Take part in a discussion about how we can make Staveley more climate resilient.
Let’s create a Staveley Seed Bank | 20 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Cumbria Wildlife Trust wants to collect any local seeds, from the
vegetables that you are growing. Come and talk to Danni about how to collect/store seeds.
Science, Glaciers and Outrage | 20 Sep, 7.30pm | Pencil Factory, Keswick | Talk with Professors Terry Sloane and Mike Hambrey, and Jo Alberti.
Staveley local guided walk | 21 Sep, 10am | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Come and see our own Craggy Wood and the work being done to link Staveley Woodlands together, plus a visit to the old parish council allotments to see how their restoration is taking shape.
Let’s create a Staveley Seed Bank | 21 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Cumbria Wildlife Trust wants to collect any local seeds, from the
vegetables that you are growing. Come and talk to Danni about how to collect/store seeds.
A Greener Future for West Cumbria | 21 Sep, 2pm | Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth | An afternoon of activity from 2pm onwards on the theme of COP26 and climate change: there will be two talks on how climate change affects us and carbon literacy awareness, together with artwork, crafts and sustainability workshops, and a youth poetry event. Free evening screening of the climate change film ‘2040’ at 7pm with discussion afterwards.
Tree Planting | 21 Sep, 2pm | Fitz Park, Keswick | Sustainable Keswick are asking gardening groups and others in Keswick for any trees that they have grown in pots. They will take these and plant in an existing tree area within Fitz Park.
Making your home more energy efficient | 21 Sep, 6.30pm | Reducing your home energy use – 10 things to think about that aren’t insulation. Followed by a Q&A session to talk about your home energy efficiency questions and guidance on how to switch to a green energy supplier.
Keswick Tree Walk | 22 Sep, 3pm | Meet at Museum |
River Dipping Session | 22 Sep, 4pm – 6pm | Meet at Jack’s corner | Come and explore our beautiful River Kent. Find out what wildlife exists below the surface!
Open Green Homes | 22 Sep, 6:30pm | Hear from two Cumbrian residents who are opening their homes virtually to show you the energy saving changes they’ve made.
Green Film show | 22 Sep, 6.30pm – 8pm |Ginnel between Hawkshead Brewery and More Bakery | In a series of short, engaging documentaries, listen to David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and a series of environmental experts talking about climate change – explaining what is happening and what can be done to protect our planet.
The Climate Emergency | 22 Sep, 7pm | Threlkeld Village Hall | Speakers providing a scientific, environmental and political viewpoint followed by a discussion on what we can do to help. Booking not required.
Re-Energising Sustainable Brampton Part 1 | 22 Sep, 7.30pm | Brampton Community Centre | A preliminary live discussion of Mike Berners-Lee’s book ‘There is no Planet B’ will be used to help the group identify personal and community actions that will make a difference. Apply to [email protected] or phone 016977 48833.
Ambleside climate action day | 23 Sep, 11am – 7:30pm | Be part of Ambleside’s ambition to reach zero carbon by 2030. Businesses from 11am – 1pm. Residents from 1:30pm – 7:30pm.
Keswick Tree Walk | 23 Sep, 3pm | Meet at Museum |
Litter pick / walk up Kentmere (6.2km) | 23, Sep 6pm | Meet at Abbey Square | Bring a Torch.
Green Information Stand | 24 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Books & Information, Competitions, Campaigns & Pledges, Advice, FREE refreshments
Keswick Tree Walk | 22 Sep, 3pm | Meet at Museum |
Kendal Torchlight Carnival | 24 Sep – 26 Sep | Simply Repair will be having a stall in the ‘Green Town’ section of Kendal Torchlight Carnival on Sat 25 Sep from 10am – 6pm where they will be doing electrical repairs and darning demos. Future Fixers will also have a stand and will be giving out green business advice
Great Big Green Week: PEAT Twilight Picnic | 25 Sep, 6pm – 8pm | Allithwaite community centre | PEAT are celebrating their peninsula-wide success with Greening Cartmel Peninsula. Bring a picnic, chairs or a rug, warm clothes and a perhaps a tea-light lantern.
Sustainable Keswick Market Stall | 25 Sep, 8.30am – 3.30pm | Recycling, questionnaire and petition, Fairtrade, PV mapping and more.
PACT stall in Penrith | 25 Sep, 10:30am – 3pm | Drop in to see PACT in person at the bandstand in Cornmarket in the centre of Penrith. Find out what they’re doing and what you can do to turn the tide on the climate and ecological emergencies.
Re-Energising Sustainable Brampton Part 2 | 26 Sep, 11.30am – 3pm | Brampton Community Centre | A supporter’s workshop including lunch on the theme ‘Together we have the Power!’ to re-energise and expand volunteering opportunities within Sustainable Brampton. Apply to [email protected] or phone 016977 48833.
Duddon Greening | 26 Sep, 11am – 3pm | Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness | Displays, entertainment and refreshments, fun for all the family.
Biodiversity in Staveley | Various dates and times | Staveley | Encouraging community involvement in biodiversity projects through a variety of interactive activities, including a series of walks, talks and events.