Bedford is taking part in a week-long nationwide campaign, under the umbrella of the Climate Coalition, to highlight the need for urgent action on climate and nature.

Taking place between 18-26 September, the Great Big Green Week will see thousands of people across the UK organising a variety of events and activities aimed at engaging local people with the environment in different ways as well as highlighting the work that groups are doing. Bedford has got involved and has a calendar of 27+ events lined up from virtual talks by campaigners and authors on subjects as varied food waste to carbon fee and what would happen if the world stopped shopping, and activities including wellbeing litter picks, sustainable farming tours and a vegan food fair on Saturday 25th which will include information stalls from Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum, Refill Bedford and Bedford Borough Council.

The Great Big Green Week is being organised by The Climate Coalition, the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change, whose members include the National Trust, WWF, Women's Institute, Oxfam, and RSPB. Coordinator for the week in Bedford, Cory Walker, said, “We’ve seen how climate change can affect us directly. We need to confront it now and we need our MP to lead the way. We have produced a schedule of over 27 events, a mixture of both virtual and face to face, running throughout the week and we want to encourage others to get involved where possible in taking action on tackling this important issue”

Lucy Bywater, Chair of Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum, said she was encouraged by growing interest in the environment and people wanting to play their part. “The challenge of climate change and destruction of the natural world are already upon us but there’s a lot we can do to turn this situation around as individuals, but especially if we work together. November’s COP26climate conference, hosted by the UK, is the most crucial time to be raising awareness about the very real challenges we face and the ambitious solutions we need from governments globally”.

It’s not too late for local community groups, schools, charities or businesses to arrange their own activity or event, whether it be a pledge, a talk or something creative that highlights their community involvement. For more information and to see what’s already organised, see www.greatbiggreenweekbedford.co.uk