In 2010, as well as revamping some old favourites such as the ever-popular Bikefest visitors will enjoy quite a fresh feel to the event.

For 18 months we’ve been exploring the fascinating history of the event and, to celebrate, the Camden Green Fair is going back to its roots. Come and visit the team in the CGF exhibition and add your own Camden Green Fair story to this on-going project tracing our heritage.

There will be more emphasis throughout the fair on community groups, with nearly 100 local, national and international organisations to visit in the campaigns area. A brilliant new village green will be the heart and soul of the event, and the children’s area has been re-jiggled to include even more to inspire the eco-champions of the future.

Thanks to Maria Smedstad

The Village Green

The Village Fete brings the community together in the spirit of fun and frivolity, and celebrates the simple pleasures in life. Our own Village Green will play host to the first CGF village games with teams competing for glory in traditional sports. Come and cheer for your favourites or even enter a team to test your skills in the…

 

to register a team contact

…tug-o-war challenge, wellie-wanging contest, free-range-organic-locally-sourced-happy-egg and spoon races, Morris dancing and loads more! And real ale and cider appreciation (ok, so it’s not technically a sport but we’re in talks with the Olympic Committee to see if we can have that overturned by 2012!) Prizes will be awarded by Miss Green Earth.

There will be a dog show (check back nearer the event for entry requirements). Expect stalls, live music, dancing and the unexpected!

 

Green Children’s area

This year we are extending our children’s area to provide loads of great stuff for the little (and not so little) environmentalists amongst us.....activities will include Felting, Knitting, Bread making, Willow weaving, ‘Wishing Tree’, Crown Making, Story telling, Puppets, Circus, Healing, Herbalists, Yoga, Meditation, and some shaded areas for families. There will also be growing workshops, Poi making, Wigwam building, Forest School Sessions and some Indian classical music workshops. Children are invited to bring or make a costume for the children’s parade at 5pm. 

We will also feature real nappies, comfortable changing and breast-feeding areas, and some chill out spaces for the grown-ups!

 

'Your Camden Green Fair' area

Bring along your old t-shirts, photos, stories and memorabilia; stitch or paint a square for the memory quilt and add your story to the others that make up our 20-year history. Watch our short film in the intimate setting of the back of a black cab with CineCabaGoGo, take your photo in the daisy picture frame and visit the GreenHouse for tips on making your own home a bit greener.

 

Also give your feedback about the event, find out about becoming a volunteer or talk to us about ways to support the fair in the future. The Camden Green fair is run almost entirely by volunteers and your time and views are very welcome!

 

LCRN’s skills market

Green living is more than one day, it’s for life. These free workshops and drop-in sessions offer practical ways to make your life greener; pizza dough & pizza making, sewing, darning, furoshiki-ing, real nappy making, urban beekeeping, rainwater harvesting, making musical instruments from rubbish, upcycling tetrapak into wallets, bicycle powered music and more!

 

http://www.lcrn.org.uk

 

Sustainable Fashion Zone

Our popular fashion area returns this year, organised by Sustainable fashion students from the London College of Fashion.

 

Features include:
Drop-in workshops; including knitting, crochet, quilting, customising, bag-making and t-shirt printing.

Short films and talks from industry professionals illustrating issues concerning the fashion world and sustainability
And finally… a catwalk exhibiting work from students and established ethical/sustainable brands.

Swap Shop
Enjoy the new way to shop. Swap! Search you wardrobe for good quality garments you never wear, bring them along to the Ethical Fashion Area at the Green Fair, and join the buzzing clothes swap shop where you can exchange them for items you will wear and love!

 

Please don’t bring clothes that are really tatty and old that are not wearable as this defeats the whole idea, and then we get left with piles and piles of waste that we have to deal with! Not good at a green fair!

 

Transport Zone

Showcasing greener options for getting about town.

This year including the launch of Transport for London’s Cycle Hire Scheme, displays from green car hire companies, electric scooters to try, and exhibitions about London’s Waterways and pedestrian footpaths.

 

The Bird Table Debates & Eco-Futures

Talks, discussions and debates throughout the day. Pop in and find something inspiring and challenging brought to you by some of the UK’s leading green writers, scientists and politicians.
Contributors include:

Reb Williams
Reb's family gave up the rat race to live the Good Life. Only they weren’t very good at it...
The author of Grow Your Own Cows will be joined by illustrator Maria Smedstad.

Alexis Rowell
from the 10:10 campaign will discuss the rise of the Transition Town movement and its place in David Cameron’s Big Society and deep green thinking

Gwyn Prins
Professor from the LSE and author of the Hartwell Paper sets out a radically new direction for climate policy and action after the crash in 2009 – be inspired!

Simon Maddrell
from the award-winning charity Excellent Development explains why you should ‘Give a dam: Excellent Development in Africa’

Natalie Bennett
from the Camden Green Party on ‘Turning parliament Green - how the election of Caroline Lucas MP changes national politics’

Mark Wright
WWF UK’s conservation science advisor explores what nature gives to us and why it’s worth preserving: “Nature – why bother?”

Godfrey Boyle
Renewable Energy professor from the Open University on how wind farms and solar cells actually work
...and many more, including how to measure the carbon footprint of your strawberries!

Eco-Futures

Exhibitions & talks on greening your job or career
Advice and inspiration from the Universities of Hertfordshire and Newcastle and LEEF, the London Environmental Education Forum

Green Job Q & A

How to have an eco-job without actually hugging trees…
Meet people from a range of different environmental careers and jobs: what do they do and how did they get there?

 

Incorporating the BikeFest

Celebrating 10years of bike-related joy, this year we will be doing it in style with loads of unusual and / or old-style bikes to try, free fix-it sessions, free workshops and how-to sessions, accessories and info stalls and loads more...