Green Fair 2006 Report

The following report was written by a member of Redditch Friends of the Earth. For many more, larger photos from the event, please see our Gallery

On Saturday 3rd June 2006, the Redditch Green Fair was held at St Stephens Church in the town centre, timed to coincide with World Environment Day on Monday 5th June. It was the first grassroots organised event of it`s kind in Redditch, providing residents with a mixture of green, organic, ethical products and eco-friendly information. A hot, summers day ensured a steady flow of visitors throughout the fair, all of them made aware how simple changes to their daily life can make a real difference to the future of the planet.

As you would expect, Redditch FOE had a stall. We distributed many copies of our latest newsletter and lots of people signed up to be kept informed of future events. Other stalls at the fair included virtually every Redditch environmental/social justice group - Redditch Vegetarians & Vegans, Green Party, Freecycle, Trade Justice Network and the recently formed anti war group, Redi4Peace. Also there, were several local green businesses, including Red Kite Health Foods and the real nappy supplier - Real Nappiness (both from Bromsgrove) and Organic Solutions, the shop planning to open in the area very soon. Members of Redditch Vegetarians & Vegans served organic, vegan, fairtrade refreshments throughout the event.

Stalls boasted a wide variety of products and information, including fairtrade goods, waste reduction solutions, organic food, renewable energy supplier info, ethical cleaning products, free vegan food samples, campaign materials, eco-baby products, info re Mooncup - the environmentally friendly sanitary protection for women, lots of recycling freebies courtesy of Worcester County Council and lots, lots more....

Free alternative therapy was on offer all day, as was facepainting and hair braiding to keep the children amused. On top of all that, a local teenage band played peace songs etc on the green outside. And with the big green fair banner flying in the wind, Redditch shoppers couldn`t fail to notice the event. The fair succeeded in showing the general public that sustainable, eco-friendly living is something we can all achieve.

Along with Redditch Vegetarians & Vegans and Redditch Freecycle, members of Redditch FOE were instrumental in helping to organise & promote the fair. We formed the Redditch Green Alliance, which now plans to stage the Redditch Green Fair on an annual basis.