GreenFest West Berkshire 2025
Saturday 5 April, 10.30am to 3pm, St Bart's School in Newbury
West Berkshire Green Exchange is thrilled to announce that we are bringing you GreenFest 2025.
This follows on from the very popular GreenFest 2022, which was held in Hampstead Norreys and brought together people from all over West Berkshire. We are bringing GreenFest to a brand new venue: St Bart's School in Newbury.
GreenFest 2025 will inspire, educate, excite and enthuse, with engaging stalls, hands-on activities*, and fascinating talks, as well as sustainable food & drink vendors, and great music from Kennet Radio. Best of all, entry and all our activities and talks are free and it's for all the family.
This follows on from the very popular GreenFest 2022, which was held in Hampstead Norreys and brought together people from all over West Berkshire. We are bringing GreenFest to a brand new venue: St Bart's School in Newbury.
GreenFest 2025 will inspire, educate, excite and enthuse, with engaging stalls, hands-on activities*, and fascinating talks, as well as sustainable food & drink vendors, and great music from Kennet Radio. Best of all, entry and all our activities and talks are free and it's for all the family.
*Activities include:
🪱 wormery demonstration 🌱 vegetable & wildflower seed planting 🚜 from field to plate display 🍃 local foraging advice 🫛 low-energy & Mediterranean cooking demo’s 🍓 pedal-your-own-smoothie bike 🪴 peat-free compost 🥭 vegan & other low-carbon food tasters ☀️ ask a heat-pump owner 🧦 draught-proofing & insulation 🏡 professional home-energy advice 🍁 thermal camera display 🚙 ask an EV-owner 🏎️ solar-powered scalextric 🔋Kerbo charge 🚌 demand-responsive bus 🚲 bicycle ‘hoopla’ and maintenance demos 🛍️ plastic-free, pop-up shop ♻️ council recycling 🐑 have-a-go spinning wheel 🍵 St Bart’s Kintsugi club 🧵 visible mending 🖌️rock painting 🐸 animal-mask making 🐝 local wildlife corridors 🪲 ecologist-led bug hunt 🦇 book a bat-walk 🍏 apple-tree pruning 🌻 plant & seed swap 🦡 caring for wildlife 🦔 citizen science 🌸 Newbury in bloom ❄️ fuel-poverty support 🎨 art in activism 🥁 drumming workshop 💦 flood resilience 📢 campaigning 🐦⬛ bird-feeders from recycling.
💚 As of February 2025, but subject to change.
💚 With huge thanks to the many local groups and volunteers who are so generously sharing their time and expertise.
💚 The list of our brilliant local groups putting on the above activities will be shared here soon.
🪱 wormery demonstration 🌱 vegetable & wildflower seed planting 🚜 from field to plate display 🍃 local foraging advice 🫛 low-energy & Mediterranean cooking demo’s 🍓 pedal-your-own-smoothie bike 🪴 peat-free compost 🥭 vegan & other low-carbon food tasters ☀️ ask a heat-pump owner 🧦 draught-proofing & insulation 🏡 professional home-energy advice 🍁 thermal camera display 🚙 ask an EV-owner 🏎️ solar-powered scalextric 🔋Kerbo charge 🚌 demand-responsive bus 🚲 bicycle ‘hoopla’ and maintenance demos 🛍️ plastic-free, pop-up shop ♻️ council recycling 🐑 have-a-go spinning wheel 🍵 St Bart’s Kintsugi club 🧵 visible mending 🖌️rock painting 🐸 animal-mask making 🐝 local wildlife corridors 🪲 ecologist-led bug hunt 🦇 book a bat-walk 🍏 apple-tree pruning 🌻 plant & seed swap 🦡 caring for wildlife 🦔 citizen science 🌸 Newbury in bloom ❄️ fuel-poverty support 🎨 art in activism 🥁 drumming workshop 💦 flood resilience 📢 campaigning 🐦⬛ bird-feeders from recycling.
💚 As of February 2025, but subject to change.
💚 With huge thanks to the many local groups and volunteers who are so generously sharing their time and expertise.
💚 The list of our brilliant local groups putting on the above activities will be shared here soon.
What is GreenFest?
Run entirely by volunteers, it is an inspirational, interactive and fun festival, helping you make a positive impact on nature and climate in West Berkshire and beyond. All in the indoor spaces at St Bart's School, so you (and we!) don't need to worry about the weather.
✨ Be inspired to take meaningful action for the planet.
✨ Discover local organisations and services making a difference.
✨ Connect with local environmental groups and like-minded changemakers.
✨ Enjoy music, crafts, cooking demo's & nature-inspired activities.
✨ Build lasting relationships and support networks to continue making an impact beyond the event.
GreenFest is all about celebrating community, creativity, and the power of collective action. Find out more by listening to our recent podcast with 4legsradio Local Eco Show.
Let's come together to create a brighter, greener future!
✨ Be inspired to take meaningful action for the planet.
✨ Discover local organisations and services making a difference.
✨ Connect with local environmental groups and like-minded changemakers.
✨ Enjoy music, crafts, cooking demo's & nature-inspired activities.
✨ Build lasting relationships and support networks to continue making an impact beyond the event.
GreenFest is all about celebrating community, creativity, and the power of collective action. Find out more by listening to our recent podcast with 4legsradio Local Eco Show.
Let's come together to create a brighter, greener future!
Our Talks and Workshops
One of the highlights of GreenFest is the range and in-depth knowledge of our speakers, and this year we will have:
To help us plan the correct-sized venues, please book the talks and workshops you plan to go to on Eventbrite.
Finally, we hope you will join us on the day in giving a heartfelt thanks to each of our speakers, who are all attending voluntarily, allowing GreenFest to be a free event for all.
- The Nature Friendly Farming Network, with speakers from Montgomeryshire and Lincolnshire.
- Berkshire Young Farmers' Club on the effect of climate change on farming in West Berkshire.
- Stokerpix Wildlife Photography.
- The Heat Pump Federation talking about the fossil fuel transition and the implications for homeowners over the coming twenty five years.
- Hungerford Environmental Action Team talking about how to get started driving fossil fuel free in an electric vehicle.
- 'The World We Want', and 'Why and How to become a 1.5 degree, Nature-positive Citizen'.
- An update on Berkshire's Local Nature Recovery Strategy by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Local Authority.
- 'How can residents influence politicians?' by Ridgeway Ward Councillor, Carolyne Culver.
- 'Cold-war warrior to eco-warrior: airman to activist' by Steve Masters.
- A Bug Hunt in St Bart's nature area led by Dr Chris Foster, and a drumming workshop led by XR drummers.
- And more!
To help us plan the correct-sized venues, please book the talks and workshops you plan to go to on Eventbrite.
Finally, we hope you will join us on the day in giving a heartfelt thanks to each of our speakers, who are all attending voluntarily, allowing GreenFest to be a free event for all.
Food & Drink
A festival wouldn't be a festival without delicious food and drink! So that's what we will have.
- Coffees, teas, & cookies
- Ewhurst Park beef burgers, and Mexican and Middle Eastern street food
- vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and everything in between
Travelling to GreenFest
GreenFest is being held at St Bart's School, which champions sustainable practices and has some aspirational goals for the future. The site also has some nature and wildlife areas that we will use on the day.
St Bart's School is on Buckingham Road, between Andover Road and Enborne Road, Newbury, Berkshire. RG14 6JP.
Help create a healthier environment by walking or cycling, or travelling by train and bus. Or, why not try "Park and Stride"? Park a short distance away (please park considerately) and get some steps in by walking to the venue. Not only will this ensure good air quality and visitor safety, but also that parking spaces are available for those who need them most. Let's work together for a more sustainable and inclusive event - if possible, leave your car at home.
St Bart’s has undercover storage for 144 bicycles.
Buses to GreenFest
Bus route 2, operated by Newbury & District, is scheduled to depart Newbury Wharf bus station (Bay B) at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00.
Bus 2 also serves Market Street (Stop M) close to Newbury Rail Station approximately 2 minutes later.
Travel time approximately 6 minutes.
Alight at the ‘St Barts School’ stop in Enborne Road beside Buckingham Road, from where it is a short walk along Buckingham Road to the school campus.
There is also one departure on bus route 7, operated by Stagecoach, scheduled to depart Newbury Wharf bus station (Bay D) at 12:30, setting down in Andover Road opposite St Barts School around 6 minutes later.
Heading back to Newbury by bus
Hail bus 2 at the ‘St Barts School’ stop in Enborne Road opposite Buckingham Road; scheduled departures towards town at 10:48, 11:48, 12:48, 13:48, 14:48 and 15:48.
For latest updates on Newbury & District buses including live bus tracking and advance tickets, download the Newbury & District app, or visit www.newburyanddistrict.co.uk/services/
St Bart's School is on Buckingham Road, between Andover Road and Enborne Road, Newbury, Berkshire. RG14 6JP.
Help create a healthier environment by walking or cycling, or travelling by train and bus. Or, why not try "Park and Stride"? Park a short distance away (please park considerately) and get some steps in by walking to the venue. Not only will this ensure good air quality and visitor safety, but also that parking spaces are available for those who need them most. Let's work together for a more sustainable and inclusive event - if possible, leave your car at home.
St Bart’s has undercover storage for 144 bicycles.
Buses to GreenFest
Bus route 2, operated by Newbury & District, is scheduled to depart Newbury Wharf bus station (Bay B) at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00.
Bus 2 also serves Market Street (Stop M) close to Newbury Rail Station approximately 2 minutes later.
Travel time approximately 6 minutes.
Alight at the ‘St Barts School’ stop in Enborne Road beside Buckingham Road, from where it is a short walk along Buckingham Road to the school campus.
There is also one departure on bus route 7, operated by Stagecoach, scheduled to depart Newbury Wharf bus station (Bay D) at 12:30, setting down in Andover Road opposite St Barts School around 6 minutes later.
Heading back to Newbury by bus
Hail bus 2 at the ‘St Barts School’ stop in Enborne Road opposite Buckingham Road; scheduled departures towards town at 10:48, 11:48, 12:48, 13:48, 14:48 and 15:48.
For latest updates on Newbury & District buses including live bus tracking and advance tickets, download the Newbury & District app, or visit www.newburyanddistrict.co.uk/services/
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How can such a great day out be free?
GreenFest has grown out of the shared concern that many of us have for nature and climate, will bring us together to celebrate the great work being done locally, and also to support each other to become even more sustainable. All the organisers, stall-holders, speakers, and other volunteers are willing giving their time and skills for free. This event couldn't happen without the much-appreciated support of local businesses and councils, which covers the cost of venue hire, advertising and insurance, and will also allow us to plan further events over the year. The list of our sponsors will be shared here soon. Friday 14th March update: the Good Exchange donation page is temporarily offline, while we update the details of funding for follow-on events to keep the momentum of GreenFest going over the summer. Please check back later if you would like to make a donation. |
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Zones
Did you know that our impact on nature and climate can be roughly split into 4 areas:
- The food we buy,
- How we heat our homes,
- How we travel
- The products and services we use
Food
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Food and Farming
Learn more about sustainable farming practices, which diet options you could adopt to reduce your impact on nature and climate, and how to reduce food waste. |
Home
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Home: Choosing Clean and Efficient Home Energy
Learn how can you reduce your energy bills through improved insulation and draught-proofing. Find out more about the importance of good ventilation systems. Discuss if your home could be suitable for a heat pump, solar panels or battery storage. |
Travel
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Travel
Find out how to reduce your carbon footprint by making different travel choices. There will be electric vehicles to look at, and EV owners to chat to. There will also be information about charging if you don't have off-street parking. |
Stuff
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Stuff: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Every product we buy needs energy to create it. Consuming less will reduce your carbon footprint. Find out what can be repaired, repurposed and redesigned to give it a new lease of life. |
Nature
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Nature
We live in one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet. Creating spaces for, and learning how to help wildlife through wildlife gardening, will not only help them, but also your own mental health and wellbeing. |
Community
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Community
No GreenFest would be complete without 'Community'. Community underpins everything we do, including organising and being part of the event. Discover more about starting conversations, joining local groups, volunteering and more. |
Want to do more?
We need volunteers to help us organise the event and on the day itself. Can you spare some time to help out before with ad-hoc admin tasks. A few hours here and there would be greatly appreciated. We would also like help putting up posters, and sharing information on social media.
And / or on the 5th April:
Please email us at [email protected]
And / or on the 5th April:
- Help with setting up
- Help with welcoming people as they arrive
- Help with car parking.
- Help directing people to talks and answering questions
Please email us at [email protected]
