What is Green Weekend?

In 2021, the first Great Big Green Week took place. It was the largest event for climate and nature ever seen in the UK. Across the country, 5,000 events were held in that first year alone. In 2024, 600,000 people took part. Communities - including Sustainable Overton - national organisations, institutions, businesses and media outlets have joined in with a goal of putting pressure on the government to up its game on climate change.

In Overton, Green Weekend has had multiple focuses over the years. We’ve tackled single-use plastic, promoted reusable nappies, put the spotlight on fast fashion and looked closely at the miniature world of what lives in the river and in Little Meadow.

This year Green Weekend is on the 14th & 15th of June.

Clothes Swap

We are returning to fast fashion, and will be hosting a clothes swap event. Or rather we will learn “how to break up with fast fashion” as in the title of the book by Lauren Bravo of which there are 4 books up for grabs for the first 4 swappers through the door. The event will take place on Saturday the 14th June in St. Mary’s Hall.

Bring your best - but sadly left in the cupboard - clothes along and swap for someone else’s best - but woefully ignored - clothes. The aim is to reduce our reliance on fast fashion, reduce textile waste and bring some joy back into our wardrobes.

The swap will start at 12pm, but you can bring in your clothes to swap from 11am and browse from 11.50am. The event will finish at 2pm. Look out for social media posts on our Instagram and Facebook feeds or take a picture of the posters in the village to remind yourself of the details of the swap.

The Overton Guides will kindly be helping us run the event and will be selling cake and tea to raise money for Cancer UK.

Nature Fun

On both days, there will also be something for the younger demographic. On Saturday the 14th, we will be joined by Junk Jodie at the Community Centre at 10am-11am. She will be giving us her very best TreeTastic experience.

From 1pm-4pm on Sunday there will be bug hunting and bee keeping at Little Meadow and river dipping at Flashetts.

At the Community Kitchen Garden you will be welcome to stop by both Saturday and Sunday from 11pm-2pm. On Saturday you will be able to taste some of our super-fresh veg (radish, anyone?) and on Sunday there will be rock painting for the children.

Pollinator Pledge

On the Saturday, in the Community Centre forecourt (inside if it’s raining) we will be bringing our Pollinator Pledge map out. Here, you will be able to pin your own garden on the map and pledge a patch for our local pollinators. Come along and hear all about what that entails.

You will be able to read all about it on our website and pledge your garden before the event too - but wouldn’t it be fun to stick a pin in the map and show everyone you’ve pledged a patch for our pollinators?

We would love to see you at one or all of our events at Green Weekend. Fingers crossed for a bit of sunshine!

Follow us on social media for much more Green Weekend information.

Instagram: @sustainableoverton or Facebook: facebook.com/sustainableoverton