Green Arts Festival ‘a joy’ in town’s inaugural event
HUG saw a record number of visitors to Leek’s Foxlowe Arts Centre last week
THE first Green Arts Festival held in Leek has proved highly successful.
Moorland Climate Action held its first annual festival, HUG, bringing in a record amount of people to Leek’s Foxlowe Arts Centre. The event was held in accordance with Covid regulations.
“HUG Green Arts Festival was a joy,” said MCA committee member and organiser Teresa Pattison.
“It brought together positive, active, committed and passionate people with a common purpose: re-connecting with the health of the planet.”
The festival was opened by Leek town mayor Lyn Swindlehurst, who unveiled the Foxlowe’s new dragonfly sculpture.
On a sunny day, visitors were then able to watch a range of performers from poets to drummers and take part in activities from yoga through painting classes.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Woodlands Trust, the RSPB and Friends of the Earth were among the many organisations which had a stall.
“It was fantastic to see the Foxlowe really busy again,” said Vicky Heath, manager at the Foxlowe Arts Centre and cafe.
“The HUG event was incredibly well organised, and it was a pleasure to work with the team from Moorlands Climate Action.
“Proceeds from a raffle raised over £500 towards insulating the Foxlowe.”
Town and district councillors from all political parties attended the festival and discussed ways of advancing the climate cause in the Moorlands.
“It was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative event,” said Councillor Ian Herdman.
“I would definitely suggest repeating this and perhaps taking it to a different location.”
Councillor Tony Holmes said that the
presence of so many young people at the festival was important. He added that his experience showed that on issues like car use outside schools, “if you train the children, the children train the parents.”
Chairman of Moorlands Climate Action, Nigel Williams, said: “It is hard to overstate just how important this year is for action on climate.
“Here in the Moorlands, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is finally due to deliver its plan to make the
district carbon neutral by 2030.
“What all Moorlands residents deserve is what they were promised two years ago, a costed, measurable, achievable plan to get there.
“And crucially, milestones along the way, so that councillors and voters can measure progress.”
Moorlands Climate Acton aims to take that message, as well as the need to reconnect, protect and nurture nature, around the Moorlands in coming months.
It has been invited to take part in Cheadle’s July 17th festival, having already been present at Biddulph market.
In August, MCA hopes to be back at the Foxlowe with an event centred around the mowing of the centre’s mini meadow.
Moorlands Climate Action member, Alison Mccrea added: “This is all about community action.
“That’s what we believe in and that’s what we do best.”