The hot topics will be climate change and a range of environmental issues, when Ripon Together holds its first-ever Green Fair in the city on Sunday June 25.
Running from 10am until 4pm, the event will be held at Ripon Town Hall and on Market Square, where city councillor Jackie Crozier, owner of Little Bird Artisan Markets, has allocated space for a number of environmentally-focused organisations to have stalls.
Ripon Together director David Ingham, said:
“We picked the date to coincide with the market, knowing that several regular stall holders are green businesses and we hope to attract a similar or overlapping audience.”
Ripon Cathedral, the National Trust at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, are also involved in organising the fair.
A key aim of the event is to raise awareness of the environment in Ripon and the surrounding area and how to help to look after the city’s three rivers, canal, local wildlife and green spaces, through reducing waste, collecting litter and limiting the use of plastics.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, there will be a focus on public transport, electric vehicles, walking and cycling more, while looking at how homes and businesses can reduce their energy use and save money.
Advice will be available on retrofit, renewable energy and insulation and visitors will be able to find out how making small changes in their daily lives can make a difference.
Mr Ingham, pointed out:
“We’d like to see what people, and especially young people, are interested in, to give or find them reliable advice and to help to achieve change.
“We are trying to provide information and opportunities and must all work together to reduce carbon emissions, have cleaner air, rivers and seas, warmer and greener homes, save money and help reverse climate change.”
Separately from the Green Fair discussions have been held with local schools about solar projects to reduce their massive energy bills.
Ripon Together has a good range of contacts with people who are involved in many established organisations and is well placed to help make the environment a priority in Ripon.
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Sharow school plants tree in honour of Queen
Sharow Church of England Primary School is playing its part in marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee by planting a tree.
The Queen, who is already the UK’s longest-serving monarch, will celebrate 70 years on the throne in June.
The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative is inviting everyone across the UK, from individuals and organisations to schools and businesses, to get involved
With October seeing the start of the tree planting season, the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, invited children at St John’s Sharow, to plant a hazel sapling in the school’s grounds.
Sharow CE Primary School
Executive head teacher Jacqui Palmer and the Revd. Ruth Newton, parish priest at St John’s Sharow, joined Dr Hartley at the planting ceremony, which was also attended by pupils who are members of the school council.
Before the planting, the children impressed the bishop with their knowledge of the importance of trees to the environment and prayers were said after the sapling had been put in place.
Dr Hartley told the Stray Ferret:
“The school grounds provide such a fitting setting for this special tree and I hope that the children, their parents and staff enjoy seeing it grow and flourish.
“It will be a reminder to them and future generations, of the service that the Queen has given to this country.”
The Woodland Trust, one of the organisations involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, said:
“The Queen’s Green Canopy will create a network of individual trees, avenues, copses and whole woodlands in honour of the Queen’s service and the legacy she has built.
“This will create a green legacy of its own, with every tree planted bringing benefits for people, wildlife and climate, now and for the future.”
The photo shows members of the Sharow CE School Council at the planting with, from left: The Revd Ruth Newton, headteacher Jacqui Palmer and Bishop Dr Helen-Ann Hartley