Eco Communities

Chester Green Festival Launch Day – Sunday 7th June
2026-06-07 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ, United Kingdom
We will be in Town Hall Square and Exchange Square
From 10am on Sunday 7th June
Lots of family friendly free activities. Dogs welcome.

Kick off the festival with a bustling outdoor market and a day packed with community spirit!
– Shop Local & Sustainable: Browse an incredible line up of stalls featuring sustainable businesses, local producers, charities and passionate community groups.
– Learn & Engage: Discover practical ways to make a positive impact with loads of interactive information on the circular economy, active travel and tackling the climate and nature emergency.
– Free Family Activities: Keep the little ones entertained with plenty of fun, free and eco-friendly activities running throughout the day.
Ticket booking at the button to give an idea of numbers
Chester Townhall Square
Stalls from sustainable businesses, local producers, charities and community groups.
Come along and connect with organisations like Chester Zoo, RSPB and others to discover how you can help protect nature locally and globally. Family friendly activities to support nature.
Exchange Square
Active travel is about choosing healthier, low-carbon ways to get around, like walking, wheeling or cycling. Chester Cycling Campaign will be on hand to help you with all bike related questions. Discover how easy it can be to travel across Cheshire without relying on the car, with advice, local routes and support to help you get started.
Have some fun and make a smoothie with peddle power. Plus free bike checks. Badge making, Bike Wheel Decorating….
Plus the display and voting of the School Bike Wheel Creative Project.

Helsby Litter Pick - 8am & Refill Hub Open Morning from 9.30am
2026-06-13 08:00 - 11:00 | Helsby Library, Lower Robin Hood Lane, Helsby, Cheshire, WA6 0BW
Join Helen from Eco Communities and some volunteer with the Rapid Relief Team for a very early morning litter pick in Helsby
8am until 9.30am- Litter Pick
RRT will then service refreshments.
After which Helen Tandy will be opening the Eco Communities Refill Hub inside Helsby Library to view and ask more about the project and the products.

All Equipment Provided.
If you want to do a litter pick at a later date, Helsby Library can support the community with litter picks which can be taken out on your library card.

Chester Green Festival 14th June- Shaping Chester's Future
2026-06-14 10:30 - 16:00 | Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ, United Kingdom
Chester Town Hall & Chester Picturehouse
Time: 10.30am-4.30pm
Ready to dive deeper? Our second weekend shifts the focus to hands-on solutions, inspiring ideas and community connection.
Ticket booking at the bottom.
Inspiring Talks & Workshops: Head to the Town Hall and Chester Picturehouse for engaging, interactive workshops and expert talks
Live Entertainment & More: Stick around for fantastic afternoon entertainment, browse an expanded range of stalls at the Picturehouse and connect with like-minded locals.exploring real-world solutions to the climate emergency.
Line Up

Chester Townhall Opens 10.30am
Chester’s Repair Cafe – 10.30am-12.30pm – Chester Townhall.

Don’t bin it, fix it! We are thrilled to host the very first Repair Cafe session in central Chester. Bring your broken items and let our experts help you give them a second life.

Range of Free workshops – see events listing
Talks & Q&A – Picturehouse

Nature, Wildlife & Positive Action – 11am
Everyday Actions for a Greener Life – 1pm
The Future of Chester – 3pm

The Climate Cafe 3.00-4.00pm- Chester Townhall

Pull up a chair, grab a hot drink and join the conversation in our welcoming, open-forum Climate Cafe.

Preloved Market Place @ Chester Green Weekend
2026-06-14 10:30 - 16:00 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
Sunday, 14th June
10.30am – 4.00pm @ Chester Town Hall
Cost: Only £10 per table to sell
Free: for buyers

CALLING ALL SELLERS
No packaging, no post office, no returns Sell all your items in a day
What Can You Sell?
We welcome high-quality second-hand goods, including:
Vintage & preloved clothing/accessories
Books, vinyl, and games
Homeware and small decor items
Children’s toys and baby gear

Pay Now ×

WORKSHOP - Circular workshop @ Chester Green Festival
2026-06-14 10:30 - 16:00 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
Join our Circular workshop with the fantastic artists Emma Summerscales and Suze Schneider.

Explore the use of waste, visible mending and crocheting techniques.
Sessions AM – 11am-1pm and PM 2pm- 4pm
Learn the basics to give your clothes and accessories new life.

Bring your own garment to fix it or upcycle it with a help from the expert in a creative way

You can also bring the old T-shirt and turn it into a yarn and crochet a mini bag

Explore waste materials in a creative way: wall hangings, bags, belts and handles made of recycled climbing rope, offcut textiles and other wonderful materials.

TALKS Nature, Wildlife & Positive Action – Panel Q&A
2026-06-14 11:00 - 12:30 | Picturehouse, Hunter St, Chester
Talk’s with a join Q & A Session
How everyday actions, awareness, and participation can help protect wildlife and restore nature locally and beyond.
Alex Ross and Kalila Lalljee, Chester Zoo Networks for Nature
A landscape-scale nature recovery project has started around Chester. Discover why connecting people and places matters for wildlife and communities and explore how you can get involved.
Iona Cowell, RECORD Wildlife Recording:
Making Your Observations Count for Nature,What if your everyday wildlife sightings could help shape the future of nature in Cheshire? Find out how to get involved.
Dr Christian Dunn The Chester Wetlands Centre
Explore the vital role wetlands play in climate resilience, biodiversity, and water management, and discover how projects like Chester’s wetland landscapes are helping to restore and protect these essential ecosystems.
Howard Pimborough, Forestry and Woodland Officer, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Trees: Their Management For Resilience

WORKSHOP - Wristband Making Session with Robyn, Nature Makers Cheshire
2026-06-14 11:00 - 16:00 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
FREE ACTIVITY – thanks to funding via Eco Communities
Did you know you can make natural beads using branches from an Elder tree??
You can find out how to do this natural craft and make your own beads for a wristband or necklace with Robyn from Nature Makers Cheshire.
Read about Robyn – Cheshire Mid & Chester | Nature Makers
Robyn is running sessions from 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm.
Book so we can prioritise you and any children, select AM or PM sessions.

WORKSHOP - Fashion Repair and Repurpose with Elise, The Jolly Upcycler
2026-06-14 11:00 - 16:00 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
As part of Great Big Green Week, save your old clothes from landfill and come repair them or make accessories with them using a sewing machine.
You’ll learn techniques like patching to repair your own clothes and how to upcycle them into accessories if they are beyond repairable.
You’ll acquire skills that you can later use for your entire wardrobe!
All materials are provided but you need to bring your own clothes. Bring clothes that have holes in them, or stains, or that you don’t wear anymore and let’s give them a new life!
Join us in the slow fashion movement and help the planet by reducing air, soil and groundwater pollution caused by clothes thrown in landfills.
The workshop will be led by Elise, creator of The Jolly Upcycler, an artist upcycler and former marine ecologist.
Session are FREE thanks to support from Eco Communities and you can book AM or PM drop in sessions.
11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Elise Van Meerssche (she/her)
Artist & Creator of The Jolly Upcycler
Ceramic and textile upcycling
www.thejollyupcycler.com
@thejollyupcycler

TALKS - Everyday Actions for a Greener Life – Panel Q&A
2026-06-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Picturehouse, Hunter St, Chester
14th June – 1.00pm – Picturehouse Practical ideas for making more sustainable choices in everyday life — from what we wear to how we reuse, repair and reduce waste.
Helen Tandy, Eco Communities Circular Living in Practice: Refill and Reuse Exploring how everyday choices around refill and reuse can reduce waste and support a more circular way of living within our communities.
Monika Swindells, Open Home :Fashion shopping: why we can’t say NO.
Hannah & Kerry, Chester Repair Café The Importance of Repair in Communities – Discover how repair culture is bringing communities together, reducing waste, and extending the life of everyday items.
AJ Capewell, Peckforton Dairy Cow Calf Dairying and Circular Farming – A local circular dairy system
Jonathon Titmus, Greenpeace Eco Empowerment: Finding Hope Through Everyday Action An inspiring look at how small, everyday actions can create meaningful environmental change and build collective momentum.

WORKSHOP - Nature Inspired Song and Singalongs with Ashley Fayth
2026-06-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
Award-winning family folk musician and children’s author Ashley Fayth (Newfoundland, Canada / Chester, UK) presents a nature-inspired, all-ages acoustic concert from 2–4pm featuring original songs, storytelling, and interactive singalongs celebrating imagination, sustainability, and community.

Ashley has collaborated with Chester Zoo, EAZA, RSPB, and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and her conservation-themed songs have been translated into multiple languages and taught in schools around the world.

Website: www.ashleyfayth.com
Instagram: @ashleyfayth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyfaythofficial
“Gingersnap” new album streaming: https://ditto.fm/gingersnap-ashley-fayth

TALKS - The Future of Chester – Panel Q&A
2026-06-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Picturehouse, Hunter St, Chester
14th June – 3.00pm – Picturehouse Big-picture thinking on the choices shaping Chester’s future — from climate action and policy to healthier, more connected ways of living.

Dr Dale Tromans (The Climate Doctor) Chester Chooses: The Green Road or Business as Usual? A thought-provoking look at the choices facing Chester and what they mean for the city’s environmental future.
Chris Copeman Better Buildings, Lower Carbon: Why Passive House Standards Matter Exploring how stronger building regulations and Passive House standards could dramatically reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and create healthier homes for the future.
Cathy Harrington, Get Going on Cycling Cycling: What You Need to Know to Get Started A practical introduction to cycling — from building confidence to understanding the basics and getting out on the road.
Alex Ross, Chester Zoo Palm Oil: Why Sustainability Matters Should we use products containing palm oil? Discover the truth behind this controversial ingredient and how Chester Zoo supports communities in both Chester and Indonesia to champion sustainable palm oil.

Chester People Planet Pint
2026-06-18 19:00 - 21:00 | That Beer Place, 116 Foregate Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1HB, United Kingdom
Pop down to your local People Planet Pint meetup to find more about what’s going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved.
No pitches, powerpoints or panels. Just People, Planet, Pint/s.
Your local meetup is a great place to start your journey or continue learning, and meet diverse people to chat about life and how we can sustain it. Every job is a climate job, so come along and learn about how you can take action, as well as what is going on locally.
We welcome everyone, regardless of their experience or background. People Planet Pint is a space where everyone can feel comfortable learning about sustainability and sharing their ideas.
After all, creating a sustainable future requires connected communities. And what better way to bring everyone together than over a drink?
Booking via Eventbrite is a must….

Savages Film via Friends of the Earth
2026-06-20 15:00 - 17:00 | Private: Chester Little Theatre, Gloucester St, Chester, CH1 3HR
When: Saturday 20 June, 3pm – 5pm
Where: Chester Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Chester, CH1 3HR
Register: https://actionnetwork.org/events/savages-film-screening-2/

Hannah, Chester FoE Coordinator, writes ….

On 20th June we’ll be hosting a special screening of Savages. This beautiful and heart-warming PG-rated film is about a young girl’s quest to rescue a baby orangutan from loggers in the jungles of Borneo. The film explores themes of deforestation and Indigenous land rights.

This screening is part of our ongoing Planet Over Profit campaign – pushing for a new UK law which would hold UK companies legally responsible for preventing harm to forests, wildlife, and communities in their supply chains.

Following the screening we’ll have a short discussion, and the theatre bar will be open throughout the event for drinks and snacks.

Peoples Emergency Briefing - Chester
2026-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Wesley Church, St John Street, Chester, CH11DA
📢 A special community screening: The People’s Emergency Briefing #PEBuk
What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it mean for everyday life in the UK?
Join us for a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing – an eye-opening 50-minute film bringing together nine leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like:
🌧️ Extreme weather
🍞 Food security
🏥 Health
💷 Cost of living
The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK.
After the film there will be a facilitated discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally.
We will be inviting local MPs and councillors to join us.
Seats are free but limited so please book in advance.
If after booking you are unable to attend, we’d be very grateful if you could let us know so that we can re-allocate your ticket to someone else.
Bring a friend, neighbour or family member: everyone is welcome.

Walking and Cycling to a Better Future? via Festival of Ideas
2026-07-02 14:30 - 15:30 | Picturehouse, Hunter St, Chester
Cycling is well known as an essential part of sustainable transport planning. This public lecture from Peter Cox, Emeritus Professor at the University of Chester and internationally acclaimed writer on cycling and sustainable travel, will explore the implications of taking walking and cycling as the starting point of thinking about movement; not just including them in travel plans.

See booking link

Sustainability Walk – Energy - via Festival of Ideas
2026-07-03 11:00 - 12:30 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
This led walk, which is also “wheels accessible”, is one of four themed routes staged as part of the 2026 “Festival of ideas” that uses examples from the existing cityscape to demonstrate various aspects of the overall theme of ‘Sustainability’.
This walk focuses on the Sustainability dimension of ‘Energy’ visiting various sites in and around Chester City Centre to illustrate live examples of what are demonstrations of energy conservation or renewable energy production.

With Simon Brown

How to Feel Hopeful
2026-07-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
Young people are growing up hearing that the world is in crisis – from climate change to political instability and constant alarming headlines. This interactive session creates space to pause and look more closely. Are things only getting worse? What does the evidence really show? Through open discussion and reflective activities, we’ll explore how to sit with uncertainty without losing perspective. A welcoming, inclusive space for secondary age and above thoughtful, honest and hopeful.

Una Meehan and Mary-Anne McCarthy

Sustainability Walk – Travel - via Festival of Ideas
2026-07-04 11:00 - 12:30 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
This led walk, which is also “wheels accessible”, is one of four themed routes staged as part of the 2026 “Festival of ideas” that uses examples from the existing cityscape to demonstrate various aspects of the overall theme of ‘Sustainability’.
This walk focuses on the Sustainability dimension of ‘Travel’ visiting various sites in and around Chester City Centre to illustrate live examples of what are demonstrations of sustainable low carbon travel.

Led by Simon Brown

Living ROOTS, Moving FLOWS: Field narratives of environmental care and resilience - via Festival of Ideas
2026-07-04 11:00 - 17:00 | Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ, United Kingdom
This exhibition invites you into a living lab where the roots of indigenous knowledge meet the flows of water, soil and climate change. Through photographs and voices from wetlands and mountains, the exhibition shows how long standing traditional practices – from reading soils and water levels to shaping wetlands and planting patterns – are active, evolving tools for environmental management today.

Speaker

Namrata Bhattacharya-Mis

Climate catastrophe – where are we heading?
2026-07-04 11:30 - 12:30 | Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
He has gone from Chester Green Festival and his next talk is part of Festival of Ideas.

Does it feel like you are seeing more extreme weather? The science suggests we might be heading for a 3 degree world, but action globally doesn’t suggest people are concerned.
So what is the truth? Join me as I explore the different pathways we could follow over this century depending on whether we act now or delay action to mitigate climate change.
Speaker

Dale Tromans

Improving biodiversity in your space – A Network for Nature with Chester Zoo
2026-07-04 12:30 - 13:30 | Picturehouse, Hunter St, Chester
Join Chester Zoo to discover how communities across Cheshire West are connecting habitats, monitoring wildlife, and transforming local spaces through the Networks for Nature initiative. This session reveals inspiring progress, showcases easy tools anyone can use, and invites attendees to see how small collective actions can support ecosystems and boost biodiversity.
https://www.chesterzoo.org/conservation-science-education/global-conservation-programmes/conservation-campaigns/networks-for-nature

Wildlife Quest with Chester Zoo
2026-07-04 14:30 - 17:00 | Chester Townhall, 33 Northgate St, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2HJ, United Kingdom
This event is part of our Wild Futures All-Ages Activity Drop-In session – there is no need to book in advance, just come along!
Drop in to play a game with Chester Zoo’s Youth Board and Youth Network – discover actions that you can take to help wildlife and take on a wildlife challenge!

Pop-Up Repair Café: Repair, Reuse and Reconnect
2026-07-04 14:30 - 17:00 | Chester Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ, United Kingdom
This event is part of our Wild Futures All-Ages Activity Drop-In session – there is no need to book in advance, just come along (and bring your household electrical, joinery and sewing repair jobs with you)!
Drop in to a pop-up Repair Café and see community repair in action. Local volunteers will help repair everyday household items while sharing simple skills you can use at home. Alongside the practical fixing, we’ll explore how repair café reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and build stronger communities. Come along to watch, learn, ask questions and discover how ‘repair over disposal’ can support a greener, fairer future for all communities.

From publications to protest: should scientists be climate activists? - via Festival of Ideas
2026-07-04 15:30 - 16:30 | Picturehouse, Hunter St, Chester
In 2022, nine British researchers fly-post a government building with scientific papers presenting stark evidence of human-induced climate change. They are arrested and charged with criminal damage. By turns pacy and pensive, short documentary ‘Plan Z’ explores their motivations for engaging in civil disobedience, and asks: what is the professional responsibility of scientists towards the public in the 21st century? Stay for the post-screening Q&A with local experts to form your own conclusions.
The panel for the event will be:

Vladimir Morozov – Vladimir Morozov is co-director of Plan Z and a photographer and videographer specialising in multi-camera, multi-location productions, livestreaming, and hybrid events. Alongside his filmmaking, he explores new ways to connect audiences with real-world issues through media. His work examines how storytelling, technology, and civil disobedience intersect in response to the climate crisis.
Dr Abi Perrin – Dr Abi Perrin is a research scientist turned climate and nature communicator and activist. After more than a decade studying microbial life, Abi now aims to bring science out of the lab and into the spaces it most urgently needs to be understood and acted upon. Her current focus is on creating empowering science-based trainings and workshops for a range of audiences, alongside establishing community renewable energy projects and networks for change in her home city of York.
Dr Jen Murphy – Jen is an educator and lover of the outdoors. A member of Scientists on Survival, she currently works as a secondary school science teacher bringing sustainability and climate education into all areas of her practice.

plan-z-film.co.uk
Speaker

Louisa Jones

Power Station - Film
2026-07-04 19:30 - 22:00 | St Columba’s R.C, Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1SA
Cheshire West and Chester Green Party invite you to a screening of “Power Station”, a *fantastically enjoyable* film telling the true story of a North London neighbourhood raising funds to put roof-mounted solar panels onto two terraced streets.

This community screening is on the evening of Sat 4th July 7.30-10.00pm, at St Columba’s R.C. Church, Chester.

Rob Hopkins, of Transition Networks, says… “I can’t recommend this film enough. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll kickstart a community-led renewable energy revolution”.”

This documentary follows the attempts by Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn to turn their Walthamstow street into an energy-generating collection of solar-powered Power Stations – a prototype for a new way of living, with the hope of galvanising a wider push towards sustainable alternatives.
The film documents Hilary and Dan pitching the idea to their neighbours, sleeping on the roof of their home to raise money and launching a bid for a Christmas number one single. The film will be followed by a panel discussion, and there will non alcoholic refreshments available before and after the film
