THE NEWLY-elected mayors of Bewdley, Kidderminster and Stourport came together for one of their first engagements this week – to launch the Wyre Forest’s 2025 Sustainability Festival which takes place next month.
Mayor of Kidderminster, Coun Doug Hine, Mayor of Bewdley, Coun Nicole Harper, and Mayor of Stourport, Coun John Thomas, were welcomed by Mark Hambling, the chair of Sustfest.
As part of the unveiling of ‘Sustfest’, it was announced there would be a major event in each of the Wyre Forest’s three towns.
In Kidderminster on June 7, there will be a Fun Family Eco-Day at the Old Magistrates Court and in Bewdley, a week later, on June 14, there will be a series of talks and workshops on ‘Positive Futures for our Towns’.
Bringing the curtain down on Sustfest will be a Family Eco-Day in Memorial Park, Stourport, on June 29.
Important issues
Mr Hambling said: “We need to recognise nature itself has rights and that we humans benefit from and depend on the environment.
“We must promote living today in a way which does not endanger the future.”
This is the fourth year of Sustfest, during which organisations are encouraged and supported to put on special events for their local communities.
Peter Miller, from the Wyre Forest Green Alliance, said: “We aim to inspire, educate, and empower our community to take meaningful steps towards a sustainable future.
“Throughout June, dozens of other events will be popping up around the district.
“They range from talks to walks and from markets to marches.
“The one thing that all the events have in common is that they will encourage local residents to live more sustainably.
“They will all help people become greener or happier or healthier and preferably all three.”
Coun Hine said: “It is heartening to see this festival growing from strength-to-strength over the last four years.
“The three town councils and the district council are fully behind efforts to promote healthier and happier living.
“We support environmental recovery, climate action and carbon reduction and this festival is a fun and educational way to promote that”
Other Sustfest events
As well as the headliner days, other events will include family bike ride, open gardens, allotments and farms, craft workshops, markets selling eco-products, Repair Cafes and even a ‘Chess Mind Gym’.
There will also be several walks including butterfly and general wildlife walks.
Local civic societies will lead local history walks.
In Bewdley on June 15, CARP (Communities Against River Pollution) is organising a procession to mourn the death of a healthy river.
This year several churches are organising special Eco-services, ‘Rake and Cake’ wildlife gardening sessions in churchyards and discussion groups on eco-themes. Schools have also been invited to participate, with eco-themed assemblies, recycling projects and wildlife features in their school grounds.
CLICK BELOW TO READ THIS WEEK’S E.EDITION
People can visit: sustfestwyreforest.org for the full calendar of Sustfest events and activities with new ones being added daily.
