MORE than 70 events coordinated by 50 organisations made up the fifth instalment of Winchester Green Week.
September 24 to October 2 marked Winchester Green Week 2022, part of the National Great Big Green Week. More than 3000 people took part in the city festival with events such as a swop shop, sustainable fashion show, climate cafes, art exhibitions, planting, Recycle Sunday, the mass cycle ride and Winchester Repair Café’s launch.
Winchester’s fifth Green Week carried the strapline ‘a greener future for us all’ to encourage hope amid the realities of climate change. Event organisers reported that increasingly more people and organisations are showing interest in a more sustainable future.
The organisers, made up of eight volunteers, collated responses from the public throughout the environment focussed week:
“The first thing we need to do today is sit quietly and feel the full weight of this. We’ll get there. But we must first stop being part of the problem by recognising this emergency and our share of responsibility for it. We have to change our lifestyles, attitudes and what we expect from our leaders. Then, and only then, we might be ready to live as good, global neighbours”, said David
“First year BA fashion students at Winchester School of Arts are shopping their own wardrobe... systems of value here relate to issues of overconsumption, waste and thus sustainability”, said Sharon.
Six-year-old Grace said: “Cars cause pollution, electric cars are too expensive... riding bikes is fun”
“I know my generation and yours are up to the challenge”, said Kay.
Winchester Green Week organiser and the executive director of Winchester Action on Climate Change, Jo Crocker, said: “These are not voices of complacency, these are voices of insight, vision and action. Winchester green week is about participation, remembering or relearning our connectedness, collaboration in the face of something bigger than anyone can tackle alone and an expectation that something new can and will emerge. Thank you to everyone who has been part of it.”
Winchester MP Steve Brine took part in the mass cycle and the older voices event organised by MHA Communities. The MP said: “Green Week is important, not perhaps for those of us who think about these issues deeply all the time, but because it’s a chance to involve and spike the interest of others. The whole green Winchester agenda is more important than ever in my opinion.”
Cabinet member for climate emergency, Cllr Kelsie Learney, said: “The range of events during Green Week this year was amazing, with something to interest and involve everyone. Participation was really good - a highlight for me was taking part in the mass bike ride with hundreds of other cyclists, young and old from Winchester and local villages cycling round the town.
“The strength of green week is that it shows the passion residents have for action on the climate crisis, reducing our impact on the planet and improving our natural environment. It shows that local councils, public organisations and businesses ignore green issues at their peril.”
“I’m now really looking forward to the Winchester Climate Assembly later this month and hearing how local people want us to take the green agenda forward.”
For more information go to winacc.org.uk/winchestergreenweek/.
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