Poetry and cooking among new additions as climate festival returns
THE COUNCIL is hoping that there will be “something for everyone” when its climate festival returns next weekend.
The annual event is taking place at the Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick on Saturday 5 September from 10am to 4pm.
There will be presentations on topics such as lowering energy use, food security and community group development, while there will also be cooking demonstrations, poetry and children’s activities.
Shetland Islands Council’s (SIC) future energy and climate change manager Claire Ferguson said the festival is now in its fourth year, with organisers “taking on feedback of what are the things people are interested in and would like to see more of”.
“This year we’re going to have cooking demonstrations with local food, highlighting the local produce in Shetland,” she said.
“There’s also going to be a poetry section, and there’s going to be more of that creative element.
“We’ve also got a woodland journey set up, which is trees that have been created by bairns from across the schools in Shetland, as part of a schools roadshow project.
“On those trees they’ve put their insights, thoughts and feelings around climate change. It’s a way of representing the views from people across Shetland in an engaging way.”
With around 30 exhibitors also planned to attend, Ferguson said the festival is also a way of showcasing work being done on the issue.
These range from NatureScot, Cycling UK and Home Energy Scotland to Shetland Aerogenerators, the Arven offshore wind farm, Ocean Kinetics and North Yell Development Council.
“It is something for all the family, because we were really keen to make it family friendly,” Ferguson added.
“There will be the bairns’ zone, there will be the different bits and pieces that gets them involved, and that encourages the families too. It means it’s an inclusive space that you can come and spend a bit of time at.”
The festival will build on a new online initiative deployed by the SIC in recent years in a bid to inform the community on climate-related topics.
The ‘Climate Yarns’ series of videos produced by the council has been “really well received” so far, Ferguson said, and has also been recognised by the Scottish Government.
The videos see council staff explore topics like recycling, growing food, coastal erosion and peatland.
“The ones that have been most successful have been the informational ones,” Ferguson said, highlighting waste as a topic which receives strong community interest.
“The one around the [recycling of] pots, tubs and trays was really well received, and another one which has had lots of views is the one on energy efficiency advice from John Clarkson from Home Energy Scotland.”
More information on this year’s climate festival can be found here.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
