The Eco Communities team have just about recovered from Great Big Green Week 2022 and are now planning our next event but we decided it was perhaps time to reflect.

Our Festival in Grosvenor Park was fantastic, thanks to Sykes Cottages, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Zoo for helping us with funds. These allowed us to purchase a small number of larger gazebos and tables which we can use at future events in the park and save the costs of hiring.

The day went by in a whirlwind, but we would like to thank all the stall holders, businesses, performers, volunteers as without everyone the festival would not have been so fantastic. Plus of course everyone that joined us on the day and supported the great projects and businesses.

We have had some lovely feedback already. Thanks to Chris Matheson MP for Chester who once against came along and chatted to lots of attendees and stall holders during his visit. “I am always delighted to be able to support Great Big Green Week, a fantastic coming together of people from across the community to take action to improve our local environment. We are very fortunate in Chester to have brilliant organisations like Sustainable Cheshire who are working all year round to keep our communities clean, green and tidy. Though Chester leads the way as an eco-community, we know there is always more to be done. It was a pleasure to join this local event, which gave us an opportunity to think about ways in which we can attract more people to play their part in responding to the climate emergency.”

We wish all the stalls would have been able to fit in the circular area we tried to create as it was a great place for the singers to perform, we hope to increase the number of entertainers next year. We have this message from Ella. Thanks for having us again at the Big Green Day to sing. It’s so wonderful to sing our songs to the Earth outdoors, surrounded by all those other stall holders, businesses, campaign groups, activists and concerned citizens. It was great to have so many people stop and listen to us and even join in. It felt like a really vibrant, busy event and was a pleasure to be part of it. Ella – Heart and Soul Community Singers

I noticed lots of great activities for the children including Incredible Edible, ‘The BGW was lovely, a great opportunity for outreach, and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting people especially the families with young kids. Many a bug hotel was enthusiastically made! Thanks so much for all your efforts. Lisa Incredible Edible Handbridge’

Other Activities

We also encouraged others to get involved and so it was fantastic to see our litter pick hubs being used during Great Big Green Week. Vivo Care Choices fully engaged with litter pick activities during the week. In The Garden Quarter, Water Tower Gardens Vivo Care were out picking in to clear the park and surrounding area.  Helen Tandy rushed pickers over to the Allotment at Stanlaw Abbey Children’s Centre, for them to litter pick on the Tuesday. Plus Meadowbank Lodge in Winsford who were out and about litter picking at Winsford United Football Club.

The Vivo Care team did some great work with press.

Litter pickers available to borrow in Winsford

Vivo services help keep west Cheshire clean and tidy

Equipment available from council to litter pick in Neston community

Plus events in Frodsham and Delamare, I wasn’t able to get to any of these as I was away but I am sure they were equally as fantastic.

Well that’s a wrap for Great Big Green Week this year but if you attended our Chester event either as a stall holder or attendee we always appreciate your feedback. All our events are arranged on a shoe string and purely on a voluntary basis, even so we still strive to improve and grow year on year.

Great Big Green Week 2022 Participant Survey with a chance to win a £50 ethical shopping voucher

Finally if you have time please help The Climate Coalition with its survey if you attended an event as part of Great Big Green Week. 

Taking a few minutes to answer this survey will help us understand the impact of Great Big Green Week and to make future events even better.  No personal details will be collected and all information is anonymous. We may use some of your comments in our evaluation of the campaign or for promotional purposes.

You can also be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher for either an eco store, charity shop or a local independent retailer. Your details will be separated from your survey answers and only used for the draw. LINK