Green Saturday for Cambridge's first eco festival
Focus on sustainability and cutting single-use plastic - and music!
The team behind the first-ever Cambridge Eco Living festival, which will take place in Lion Yard on Saturday, assembled in the shopping centre this week ahead of the big day.
The event has attracted a wide range of supporters keen to promote a sustainable and plastic-free future. Organisations and firms who congregated for a photo shoot, briefing and visit to the pop-up shop included:
- AmaElla: organic cotton ethical lingerie
- Wildlife Trust BCN: Creating/recreating living landscapes
- Queue Here: Upcycling/plastic-free goods
- Leafoware: Bowls and plates made of palm leaves
- South Cambs District Council: Run ‘Recycling Champions’ project
- Octopus Electric Vehicles: UK electric car leasing experts
- The Ecoed app: Green living app is part of environmental programme for schools
- Veolia UK: Global waste management firm whose plastic education wall was installed last night (Tuesday) at the Fisher Square entrance of Lion Yard
- Cambridge Motorcycles: Sells Super Suco electric two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles
As well as these retailers who will have stands and displays in the main shopping area, Lion Yard has donated a shop for the day. The shop is on Church Walk by St Andrew’s Church, and will be staffed by organiser Shaheera Asante and an art collective fronted by Jill Eastland.
“The artists – Cathy Dunbar, Jane Hellings and myself – have created a plastic costumes installation, an upside-down rainbow of waste dedicated to ecologist and writer Rachel Carson, which depicts the plight of ocean-borne plastic on one wall of the eco pop-up shop,” says Jill.
There will also be mid-afternoon music courtesy of Mbilla Arts, featuring Gambian-born master drummer Seneke Sillah with fellow world musicians and drummers sharing the spirit of the ancient African Djembe drum.
“It’s a landmark moment in the town,” says Bee Bee Wraps’ founder Kath Austin of the event, which is free to attend.
You’ll also see some electric transport options in the vicinity, courtesy of OctopusEV.
“We are looking forward to helping Cambridge move to zero-carbon transportation and cleaner air, as part of our commitment to better health for the next generation and an outlook for more sustainable living,” said the firm’s CEO Fiona Howarth.
“Most of the event will take place upstairs but there will also be some particpants downstairs,” said Roger Allen, centre manager for Lion Yard Shopping Centre. “We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors between 10am and 6pm,” said Ms Asante. “I’m really excited about the support for the Festival and am looking forward to Saturday – all are welcome!”
