A big thumbs up for Aylsham’s second Green Day

Aylsham’s second annual Green Day proved yet again that residents have a hunger to find out more about climate change, and what we can all do to protect our warming planet.

Organised by ACE (Aylsham Climate Emergency) and the Town Council’s Events Officer, there were stalls and activities both inside and outside the Town Hall to suit every age and interest. The musical backdrop to the event was provided by local trio Threescore and Aylsham’s own Paul Towson, singing both traditional and contemporary folk songs and popular ballads.

ACE’s five groups provided activities, games, and information. The Waste Group were busy offering ideas about how to dispose of household items, while the Energy Group attracted interest demonstrating where we lose heat in our own bodies with ACE’s thermal imaging camera. They gave residents the opportunity to have their own houses surveyed with the camera to indicate where heat loss is occurring, thus allowing householders to insulate accordingly as winter approaches.

The Transport Group were on hand to talk to visitors about the Town Council’s upcoming Traffic Plan for Aylsham and its implications, and a foraging walk was organised by the Food Group for people interested in finding their own food in woods and hedgerows.

Alongside food stalls, there were ideas on how to regenerate clothes, artwork by local artist Jessica Perry, candles made from soya, a creative game for children using natural items from beach and woodland, and lots more. ACE’s Treasure Tree for children proved popular, offering prizes kindly donated by the Co-op. Anyone disappointed not to win the Treasure Tree’s main prize of a bee house could learn from ACE’s Nature Group about how to make their own bug house from natural materials.

Cheryl Bould, Chair of ACE’s Communications Group, said ACE’s second Green Day event was “a truly wonderful day when the Aylsham community came together to celebrate our beautiful planet and think about what we can all do to reduce our carbon footprint and combat the effects of climate change”.