EMERSONS Green’s Earthfest celebration is back this month.
The annual celebration of our relationship with the Earth includes 13 different events, culminating in the Picnic in the Park at Emersons Green Park on June 21.
New events include a fine dining demonstration led by vegan chef Rachel Mills, an introduction to creative art using natural materials, with artist Phil Bunce, and a creative listening workshop by professional musician Emily Andrews, all of whom live locally.
Earthfest will also feature a presentation on community energy by not-for-profit company ELCoE (Emersons and Lyde Community Energy CIC), set up by residents last year to encourage the growth of renewable energy in the area by developing green power supplies.
This year will be the fifth time the festival has been held. Founded by the Friends of Emersons Green Park in 2021 as the Three Greens Festival, it was renamed Earthfest in 2023.
This year’s lead organiser, Graham Johnson, said: “We have been delighted by the number of local people offering their skills. People have said they have benefited from Earthfest in the past, and they would love to get involved.
“It is remarkable what talent and creativity exist in Emersons and Lyde.”
Also in the line-up is a return for naturalist Ed Drewitt, who is leading an event called ‘Planning for Nature’ on June 12 about how to use our gardens to encourage wildlife, and a morning nature discovery walk in Lyde Green on June 18.
A ‘Wellness Afternoon’ will be held in Emersons Green Park on June 8, from 2-4pm, including yoga, mindfulness meditation and poetry, followed by an hour of music.
Walks with a guide from Westonbirt Arboretum and with wildlife photographer Nick Wilcox-Brown are also on the programme.
The Picnic in the Park, on June 21 from 11.30am to 3pm, will include music from the choirs of Emersons Green and Blackhorse primary schools, as well as a Ukrainian choir, Brazilian music from Clube de Choro, and the Locked Horns Jazz Band.
The full programme, including dates, times and locations of events, along with links for events that require advance booking, can be found online at friendsofemersonsgreenpark.com.