On Saturday 28 September, North East Climate Action Network (NESCAN Hub) organised thhe first Envirolution Aberdeen– a community based, free festival dedicated to increasing understanding, connection and engagement with the natural world, helping communities transition towards a more sustainable future. SCCAN Story Weaver Lesley Anne Rose, went along to find out more and get in the climate action festival spirit.
“I want to do something, but don’t know where to start.”
“I can’t just sit back anymore.”
These were the words that met me as I entered Envirolution Aberdeen, part of a passionate conversation taking place between a couple standing by the festival’s information desk. They went onto explain to each other that it was the first time they’d ‘come to anything like this,’ but the need to ‘do something’ for both of them was now greater than the inclination to do nothing. They’d come to the right place to find out more.
Envirolution Aberdeen was hosted in the city’s Seaton Park, a large green space that sprawls across the north end of Old Aberdeen and the banks of the river Don as it widens on its approach to the North Sea. Its mix of riverbank and formal and informal green spaces are a favourite haunt of otters and haven for local wildlife. The park was bustling with families, joggers and dog walkers as I made my way across the grass towards the festival area – following the sound of its music and party atmosphere. The park was starting to turn towards autumn and a late September sun came out to warm the day and the festival goers who were all keen to find out more about local climate action and what they can do to make a difference.
The opening conversation I overheard as I entered Envirolution Aberdeen echoed many taking place across the festival between couples, families, stall holders and workshop leaders from all walks of life and all saying the same thing ‘we need to do something’.
The idea for creating a Envirolution Aberdeen was all about sharing information about what people can do to address climate action in a fun and informal way. It all started when Alison Stuart, NESCAN’s CEO, attended a workshop at COP26 in Glasgow delivered by Bob Walley from Envirolution Manchester a community benefit society and cooperative whose members put on large scale community engagement festivals in Manchester and work in collaboration with other similar events across the UK. Bob’s workshop focused on both Envirolution Aberdeen and community assemblies, so when NESCAN was drawing together partners for their Just Transition Communities Project, which included community assemblies, Alison got in touch with Bob.
“The first three community assemblies we ran in Tillywoodsea in early 2023 as part of the Just Transition Communities Project, were based on the model that Bob had used in Manchester” Alison explained. Participants of these community assemblies were keen for an Envirolution to happen in Aberdeen so “we decided to follow up on that desire and brought together partners to form a steering group, with Bob advising and project managing from afar.”
The festival they created was filled with an array of colourful interactive stalls covering issues such as local climate action awareness, climate anxiety and nature games, as well as selling handmade jewellery, second hand clothes, plants, cakes and local produce. The day was filled with a programme of workshops offering everything from rag rug weaving and community filmmaking to bike repair and upcycled art. As well as a schedule of talks covering topics such as farming, food waste, land rights and community growing, and tours including LED bike rides, Eco-Feminism and walks to a local community energy project. All celebrated through a day long programme of performances of poetry, music, drumming and storytelling. A pretty impressive line up for a first festival and fulfilling its obligation to make available and accessible information on the wide range of ways people can sit up and start taking action, and the host of places to start when it comes to making a difference.
For the full programme of the day see:
https://www.nescan.org/envirolution
Alison was keen to acknowledge that although the NESCAN Hub was the initiator of Envirolution Aberdeen, the festival was a group effort and shared huge thanks to Ainhoa, the University of Aberdeen’s Student Union (AUSA) , Earth and Worms and Bob from Envirolution Manchester all of whom “who went above and beyond.”
“it was great fun and brought over 1,000 people from Aberdeen and beyond together to contemplate climate change and what we can all do to make a difference. Here’s to next year now!”
The result of their hard work was a fantastic festival which exceeded expectations for year one. As Alison concluded, “it was great fun and brought over 1,000 people from Aberdeen and beyond together to contemplate climate change and what we can all do to make a difference. Here’s to next year now!”
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