The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle Climate Change and protect nature.
The week is from Saturday, June 10th until Sunday, June 18th. We are holding an opening gathering (with bike ride) on the Bridport Orchard on the 10th. Details below.
Saturday June 10th
Opening gathering (10:30-1:30) at the Community Orchard. Stalls, music provided by Squeezebow, and our annual AROUND TOWN BIKE RIDE. More details here.
Bridport’s First Fashion and Textile network– Beach and Barnicott 6pm, Speaker Ria Burns: Growers, spinners, weavers, dyers, sewers, tailors, menders, knitters, pattern cutters, collectors, traders, vintage junkies, curators, historians and fashion and textile enthusiasts of West Dorset welcome. Limited spaces, see booking info at sustainablebridport.org‘
Monday June 12th
Bridport Water Recycling Centre Tour: 10.30-11.30 at Burton Road Bridport DT6 4PS. Come and see what happens to your waste water explained by one of the Wessex Water Education Officers. This is a Bridport Community Connectors event but there are a few places left for anyone else interested. Book through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bridport-water-recycling-centre-tour-tickets-635341091307
A talk by Dr Kevan Manwaring – “Co-designing the eco-community of the future”. Doors open 7pm for 7:30 start at the Town Hall. Please contact us if you need special access. Refreshments provided. To get a flavour of this, look at “Writing the Earth” :changing the world one word at a time. Donations up to £10 are welcome
Monday Movie, Meal and Mingling, has been moved to this Friday night.
Tuesday June 13th
A talk by Alasdair Moffett about the Upper Axe Landscape Recovery Project – A community interest company formed to unite farmers in a combined strategy for land use change, habitat creation and river restoration. The project aims to demonstrate that productive agriculture, the natural environment and a will to counter climate change can co-exist. At St Swithins Church Hall 4-6pm, refreshments provided.
Wednesday June 14th
A walk to learn what makes a healthy hedge and how to plant more hedgerow with Joe from Bridport Tree Planting Group and Julie from Dorset CAN’s Great Big Dorset Hedge project. Meet at 2pm in the carpark at Felicity’s Farm Shop in Morecombelake and walk for an hour looking at hedges with learning materials, then back to the shop for a free cuppa. Children welcome if accompanied. Sorry, no dogs. http://www.DorsetCAN.org/hedge
Exploring the state of our rivers and how you can help, Town Hall. 7:30 start. Refreshments provided. Interested in the state of our rivers? Find our more from Dorset AONB Ian Rees of the AONB, West Dorset FoE and Dorset Wildlife Trust about the work of Citizen Scientists and the techniques they use to monitor the state of our rivers. We are always on the look out for more volunteers! Contact info@westdorsetfriendsoftheearth.co.uk
Thursday June 15th
A walk to Happy Island on the Asker to check out the Himalayan Balsam and discuss what to do and take action. Nick Gray from Dorset Wildlife Trust will lead the troops. 5pm, meet at the Coop car park (finishes at 6 for the next item)
‘BACSCREEN presents The End Is Nigh! 6pm at the Arts Centre. Local young people have been working with local filmmaker George Earwicker and Sustainable Bridport to produce a short film illustrating their thoughts on climate change. To be shown with Kiss the Ground, an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. Tickets booking at bridport-arts.com
Friday June 16th
A St. Mary’s Primary School Food Fayre from 2pm-4:30 at the school. “Companionship and Connection”. Connection in terms of the commonality of the earth and food and the need to take care of this/ourselves/others. Queries contact Jon.
the Great Big Blue Swim: 4 to 5:30pm at East Beach (the Black shed). Possible beach clean to be followed by a quick chat about the problems facing sea swimmers. Then a swim followed by a hot drink (please bring your own) and some cakes which will be shared. We will consider what actions swimmers could take collectively to get our voices heard. Further details from Claire.
Friday Film, Food & Fun, 7:30 – 10:30pm at The Chapel in the Garden White Room, entry via Rax Lane. Film being shown will be confirmed soon. Tickets will be available at https://ud.coop/mmmm United Diversity Bridport.
Saturday June 17th
Bridport’s annual Food Festival in Asker’s Meadow: 9:30 until 5pm. Food, drink, entertainment etc. WD FoE will share a stall with Sustainable Bridport. We will be focussing on onshore wind power; FoE will ask the question: Should Bridport put themselves forward as an area for onshore wind? Food Festival details.
Julia Hailes Wilding Weekend: garden open to the public, with plants for sale, stalls from wildlife and conservation groups, food and talks. Open at her garden in Hooke (near Kingcombe) on both Saturday and Sunday. Details are https://juliahailes.com/our-wilding-weekend-in-june-2023-mar-update/