New Leaf Alresford’s first event – an Eco Fair – was a resounding success. Despite a rainy start, people turned out in their hundreds to find out more about saving energy, reducing household waste and protecting precious local habitats and wildlife. The event was made possible by a grant from Winchester City Council.
There were a variety of games and quizzes to try, plants from the Hairy Plant Pot Company and delicious plant-based food from Jo’s Plant Kitchen. The Bike Doctor offered free safety checks on children’s bikes. Stallholders from a variety of local groups including New Alresford Town Trust, Alresford Men’s Shed, Cycle Winchester and WinACC, chatted to people about repair, greener transport and retrofitting.
Audiences listened to a series of talks, on solar panels and heat pumps, protecting our chalk streams, wildlife friendly gardening and sustainable fashion.
Happy fair goers left clutching beautifully wrapped, free children’s books from The Book Fairies, goodies bought from Alton-based refill shop FillUp, newly discovered ‘pre-loved’ jumpers from the Sweater Swap and wildflower seed packets, collected on nature walks and decorated by children from Sun Hill Junior School’s Eco Club.
Jo’s Plant Kitchen.
The Bike Doctor
It was truly a collaborative, community focused event. Signs for the fair were made from repurposed materials by the Alresford Men’s Shed. We purchased second hand display boards and borrowed clothes rails, hangars and plastic tokens to run the sweater swap. Soup bowls were borrowed from Party Kit Winchester.
Volunteers were key to the success of the Eco Fair, with local entertainer ‘Juggling Jake’ bringing extra vibrancy and fun to the day! Representatives of Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust Watercress & Winterbournes said that “the event provided many opportunities for inspiring and thought-provoking conversations with a wide range of people” and concluded that it “had a real ‘buzz’ of motivation and positivity”.