• Henley’s shops, schools and more go green for Great Big Green Week 2023
• Running June 10-18th 2023, the UK-wide GBGW is the largest event for climate and nature ever seen in the UK.

Henley will transform into an eco hub for Great Big Green Week, with shops, venues, schools and churches going green to celebrate the nationwide event running June 10th to 18th. The whole week will see events and activities, bringing the community together to show how Henley is taking action to tackle climate change and protect nature.

Shops throughout the town will be turning their window displays green and taking part in a family scavenger hunt called ‘Spot the Bees in ‘23’. Look for shops with special ‘Green’ windows and find the bee. Collect a token in each shop.  For anyone finding 15 bees we will give you a packet of Wildflower seeds and one lucky winner will get ice cream for all the family.

Henley Library will display entries from the Greener Poetry Competition, the River & Rowing Museum will display artworks by local primary school children; and schools will be participating in a variety of activities with a ‘green’ focus.

Greener Henley’s Great Big Green Week organiser, Diana Barnett said: “Following on from the tremendous success of last year, Greener Henley are teaming up with Henley Town Council and a host of local groups to put on a week long series of events under the banner ‘Henley’s Great Big Green Week’ – a true community effort in the making!”

Kicking off the week on Saturday June 10th, The Town Hall will host a Green Fair with stalls and family craft activities. On Sunday June 11th, local churches are dedicating services to the environment, and on June 12th, a Green Gardeners’ Question Time will answer all your green-fingered needs.

13th June sees ‘Green Tactics 2’ event exploring how local businesses can work towards sustainability. The Regal Picturehouse Cinema will be turning its screen ‘green’ on June 15th, with a screening of Fashion Reimagined, followed by a live Q&A on sustainable fashion and the newly opened The Green Room hosts ‘Swaparama Razzamatazz’ on Friday 16th for swapping and shopping of preloved fashion with bar and music.

Great Big Green Week culminates on Sunday 18 June, with the Paddleboard River Clean – come and get involved in the big green clean up, getting our stretch of the Thames ready for the Regatta!

Find more info on events and how to take part in Henley’s Great Big Green Week, visit: greenerhenley.org.uk.  If you would like to join in with Henley’s Great Big Green week, please email greenerhenley@gmail.com.

Big Green Week Event line up

Saturday 10 June
Henley’s Great Big Green Fair 10am – 4pm at Town Hall with Environmental Science Challenge awards presentation and ‘Plant vs Beef Taste Test: Which Burger’s Best?’ outside Pavilion Foods, 12-2pm

Sunday 11 June
Local church participation, services dedicated to the environment. Badgemore School Gardening Club: grounds open to visitors for a ‘National Trust style’ scavenger hunt, along with children’s art making with natural leaf pigments, 10-2pm

Monday 12 June
Green Gardeners’ Question Time: panel discussion around wildlife-friendly gardening techniques with a panel Q&A session, at Henley Rugby Club, 7-9:30pm
Guided Wildflower Walk at Marsh & Mill Meadows with wildflower expert Sally Rankin, 10-12pm

Tuesday 13 June
Allotment Guided Tours: explore Greencroft Allotments with experienced plot holders, 10-1pm
Greener Poetry Competition readings at Henley Library, 5:30-7:30pm

Wednesday 14 June
‘Green Tactics 2’ Business seminar & networking event with speakers, at D:Two, 5-7pm
Wildlife Group working party, Mill Meadows, all welcome, 9:30am-12:30pm
Henley Garden Buddies: caring for the Fire Station garden in a green and sustainable way

Thursday 15 June
‘Fashion Reimagined’: Greener Henley in collaboration with Picturehouse present their latest Green Screen film, followed by panel & live Q&A, at Regal Picturehouse Henley, 7-9:30pm

Friday 16 June
‘Swaparama Razzmatazz’ preloved fashion swap & shop, music and bar at The Green Room, 48 Market Place, 6-9pm

Sunday 18 June
Paddleboard River Clean with Warriors on Waste, at River & Rowing Museum Jetty, 10-12pm