Helen Tandy, Eco Communities, Director
Communities across the UK hosted thousands of events for this year’s Great Big Green Week (GBGW), with people from every corner of the country coming together to show just how massive and mainstream support for climate action truly is.
Towns, schools, places of worship, businesses, and neighbourhood groups organised everything from clothes swaps and repair cafés to nature walks, skill-sharing workshops, art shows, eco-fairs, and fashion shows—all proving that everyday choices can ripple out into lasting, collective impact.
What Happened in Chester?
This year, we celebrated our second Chester Green Weekend. While Eco Communities has been involved in Great Big Green Week since its launch, we’ve now grown the Chester event from one to two days as Chester Green Weekend, linking up with a wide range of local organisations and businesses.
The Climate Coalition wrap-up video even features two of our own moments—Wellness Yoga with Soul Space Chester and the Fashion Show from oH Foundation. Huge thanks to Elle Brotherhood for photography and Spotlight Socials for capturing the weekend on social media.
We took over Chester Town Hall/ Exchange Square and Deans Field with stalls, activities, workshops, and conversations, all aimed at engaging people on sustainability, the nature crisis, and the climate emergency. Local groups and businesses hosted activities that drew in hundreds of residents over the weekend.
Event feedback showed:
- 17% of attendees were taking part in a climate, nature, or sustainability event for the first time.
- 100% reported feeling more motivated to act on these issues—41% strongly agreed, and 59% agreed.
We couldn’t have made it happen without the financial support of:
- Cheshire West and Chester Councillors
- Sykes Holiday Cottages
- The Townhouse Chester
- Aviva (via staff donations and matched funding)
Why It Matters
GBGW isn’t just about feel-good moments. It’s about turning grassroots energy into public mandate. When communities come together, they demonstrate to policymakers that climate and nature are shared priorities. Small actions—when multiplied—become a loud, unified call for systemic change.
Looking Ahead: Great Big Green Week 2026
Dates confirmed: 6–14 June 2026
We’ll confirm Chester Green Weekend dates soon.
Ongoing Chester Green Weekend Activities – by Eco Communities
In the meantime, you can find us at Chester Town Hall Square as part of the Chester Farmers Market on the third Saturday of August, September, and October 2025, with generous support from Taste Cheshire. We’ll be back again in 2026—mark your calendars!
Climate & Nature Lobby Week – 13–20 September 2026
We’re also planning a local event as part of the UK-wide Climate & Nature Lobby Week (13–20 September). Our goal is to bring communities and MPs together for meaningful conversations and to strengthen the case for bold climate and nature legislation.
Closing Thoughts
Great Big Green Week 2025 was a resounding reminder that climate action blooms when communities come together. Chester’s contribution, through Chester Green Weekend and our Farmers Market presence—highlights the power of local, tangible engagement.
As we look towards Chester Green Weekend 2026 and Lobby Week in the autumn, our community is ready to inspire new swaps, spark fresh conversations, and generate policy-worthy momentum. Let’s keep growing—for climate, for nature, and for community.
Some of the Event Feedback
What did you enjoy most?
- The collaborative effort from models and designers creating a warm, family-friendly atmosphere, even with the challenging weather—real community spirit.
- Camaraderie and everyone pulling together for the Earth, getting the word out to bring more people on board.
- Evidence of different groups, each with their own angle on the climate crisis, all coming together—the festival vibe.
- The fashion show, Morris dancing, and repairing a garment.
Anything else you’d like to feedback?
- Helen, you and your team of volunteers are amazing! Keep up the fantastic work.
- Great event—despite the weather, it showed real community spirit.
- Please book better weather next time
- This is a great event which should be supported by all communities.
