A letter from Philippa Gibson, The Great Big Green Week

Dear Editor

Groups and organisations throughout Wales and the UK are busily preparing events which will be part of the Great Big Green Week (GBGW), from 8th to 16th June 2024.

The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature.

Last year, Great Big Green Week had a quarter of a million people taking part in over 4,000 events across the country, ultimately putting pressure on the government to up its game on climate change. 

The GBGW is organised by the UK-wide umbrella group, The Climate Coalition. Here in Wales GBGW is being supported and promoted by Climate Cymru, and the West Wales Climate Coalition are helping to promote the event locally in West Wales.

"A cleaner, greener, fairer future"

Mass participation in Great Big Green Week will show decision makers that the public want to see more action by the Government to create a cleaner, greener, fairer future.

Marj Hawkins of the West Wales Climate Coalition explained: “Many groups have already organised events. It’s likely that these will include litter-picking, film showings, seed and plant give-aways, singing for life, information stalls, open days, community garden events, and so on. Many are still in the planning stages.”

She added, “There are so many groups working in different ways locally to deal creatively and positively with the climate and nature crises. We’re hoping that many of them would like to organise an event at some time during the 8th - 16th June period.”

Another WWCC volunteer Lynda Dyffil said: “It doesn’t need to be anything complicated - it might be a matter of bringing a regular event into the Great Big Green Week and putting it on to the GBGW event calendar.

"Let's swap together"

"The official theme for this year is ‘Let’s swap together for good’ and that can be interpreted in various ways, but absolutely does not exclude you putting on an event that doesn’t have a swap interpretation.

"You might hold a ‘seed /plant/ book swap’, a presentation on swapping fossil fuel energy to renewable energy, or a beach clean, swapping a littered beach for a cleaned one. Or it might be something else - a nature trail, a picnic, a musical event, a walk or a run etc. It can be kept simple!”

How to take part

If any groups would like information on how to take part, they can phone or text 07787 197630 to find out how to access resources to support their event, and how to register the event on the Great Big Green Week website.

This will enable the public to get information about activities in the area. Last year, one third of those who attended local events said they knew out about them from the Great Big Green Week website. So, by adding an event to the website, this raises awareness of the group and its activities generally, as well as showing how many different groups are committed to working towards a better future.

Yours sincerely

Philippa Gibson