Ludlow Green Festival 2024
Navigating the storm – finding our way through the climate crisis
Shropshire’s largest annual green festival opened in Ludlow on Sunday July 14, bringing arts and crafts, sustainable businesses, entertainment and education to the town’s iconic Castle Square.
With ‘Navigating the Storm’ as this year’s theme, the Ludlow Green Festival showcased sustainable living, local businesses, community campaigns and conservation initiatives.
A wide array of sustainably-produced food and drink, as well as live music – including folk, country, disco and Americana – helped to generate a vibrant atmosphere.
“It’s a celebration of sustainable options and an opportunity to learn more about the choices we face,” said Tish Dockerty, of organisers Ludlow 21 ahead of the day.
“There’ll be lots of stuff for adults and children to do, including guided foraging walks around the castle walls for families and opportunities to dabble in a range of arts and crafts.
“A great attraction for young visitors is a giant snakes-and-ladders game, developed by Ian Urry. It’s based on the festival’s central theme and will take children on a stimulating journey of discovery.
“We’ll have 40-plus stalls selling sustainably-produced products, and local environmental and conservation groups will be there to provide tips and information on sustainable lifestyle.”
Participating groups included Restoring Shropshire’s Verges Project, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the Ludlow Men’s Shed and the Herefordshire Hunt Sabs. Powerfully, the festival also featured the pop-up exhibition Letters From the Global South, through which communities on the climate frontline described in their own words the urgent need to address the climate crisis.
Such a dialogue is central to the event, said Ian Urry. “Visitors will have the opportunity to pose their questions, have a rant at the Speakers’ Corner and share their hopes for the new government’s environmental programme, so we really hope you can join us on July 14.”
Ludlow 21
Ludlow 21 is a local voluntary group established in 1998 to promote sustainable living in the Ludlow area within a fair and just global society. We are an independent body with no political or council ties.
We are the principal independent voice for local sustainability, with very active groups that focus on fair-trade, recycling, transport, education, food & farming, swifts and more – not least organising the Green Festival!
Green Festival 2024: Navigating the storm
