Held as part of the Great Big Green Week, the UK’s biggest celebration of community-led action on climate and nature, organizers are inviting the community to meet their neighbours, and learn how small, local ‘swaps’ can help protect the environment.
Just minutes from the bustle of Camden Market, Castlehaven Green Week promises something for everyone — from litter-picking and guided nature walks to hands-on community gardening sessions.
The theme of this year’s Great Big Green Week is ‘Let’s Swap Together For Good’, which encourages support for positive ‘swaps’ that empower people to take meaningful action in addressing climate change.
“We’re swapping knowledge to link everyone up a bit better in the community setting in Camden Town,” says Ollie Shribman-Hollings, Environmental Project Coordinator at the Castlehaven Community Association.
The charity is partnering with other organisations including the Fixing Factory, Clean Up UK, London Climate Action Week, the Canals & River Trust, and the Royal Parks to encourage knowledge sharing in a series of activities over the week.
The week’s events are a reflection of Castlehaven’s commitment to providing safe and inclusive spaces for all ages and abilities – including a membership programme for over 60s, free afterschool and weekend activities for young people, health and well-being sessions, environmental and horticulture sessions, an emergency food bank and more.
A recent initiative includes the installation of 30 diffusion tubes around the park – small devices that measure nitrogen dioxide levels to monitor air pollution.
“Our regular citizen science volunteers help us change the tubes, and we send the results to a lab. It helps people understand the air they’re breathing in real terms,” says Shribman-Hollings.
As well as practical environmental work, Castlehaven plays a vital role in local wellbeing through social prescribing – a growing approach in which GPs refer patients to take part in green activities. “We get a real mixture of people,” says Shribman Hollings. “Students, retirees, people referred for mental health reasons – they all come together through gardening, crafts or nature sessions.”
Castlehaven Green Week is open to all, especially those who might not have a garden of their own. “We’re looking for people who live nearby, maybe in flats with balconies, who want to learn more about biodiversity, food growing, or pollinators,” says Shribman Hollings. “These events help people realise they’re climate and nature experts in their own right.”
To learn more about the week’s activities visit the Great Big Green Website https://www.greatbiggreenweek.com/castlehaven_green_week
