ASHINGTON TOWN COUNCIL CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL ECO FAIR
Ashington Town Council is delighted to announce that the town's first-ever ECO Fair, held on Friday 25th April at the Ashington Hirst Welfare Centre, was an overwhelming success. The event, which aimed to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable solutions within the local community, attracted large numbers of residents eager to learn about eco-friendly practices.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the turnout and engagement at our inaugural ECO Fair," said Sharon Parmley, Communications and Engagement Officer of Ashington Town Council. "The enthusiasm from both participants and visitors truly showcased our community's commitment to environmental stewardship."
The ECO Fair featured an impressive lineup of exhibitors, including Ashington WI who offered clothing alterations and repairs, AkzoNobel Ashington sharing their climate change initiatives, Bedlington and District Red Squirrel Group promoting conservation efforts, and Groundwork NE & Cumbria providing information on their environmental projects.
Visitors particularly enjoyed the interactive elements of the fair, including Northumberland Wildlife Trust's wildflower seed bomb making workshop, the outdoor art workshop with renowned environmental artist James Brunt, and Cycle4Everyone's free bicycle repair service.
The event was further enhanced by a stellar musical lineup provided by Guerilla PA and Event Hire, featuring performances from local talents Liam Carr, Trey Jackson, Charlie Whyte, Jo McGarry, and Daniel Burnett, who entertained attendees throughout the day.
The Local Produce Market proved especially popular, with stalls offering everything from Northumberland Seaglass creations and locally produced honey from Henley Honey, to handmade jewellery from Asma Begum and eco-friendly compost from Greenleaf Recycling Ltd.
Educational talks were also well-received, including Doug Mitchley's session on conserving energy and Dr. Wendy Fail's presentation on waste management across the North East.
Ashington Town Council extends special thanks to the Northumberland County Council Climate Change Team for their invaluable support and to the Climate Change Fund for providing the financial backing that made this event possible. Their commitment to promoting environmental sustainability across the region has been instrumental in bringing this important initiative to life.
Ashington Town Council would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all who attended the event, as well as the numerous groups, organisations, singers, and market stall holders who contributed to making the day such a success. The council's free raffle, which offered prizes including Ninja Air Fryers, Russell Hobbs Slow Cookers, and Water Butts, was a highlight for many attendees.
Following the positive response to this inaugural event, Ashington Town Council is exploring the possibility of making the ECO Fair an annual fixture in the town's calendar, continuing to build on this momentum toward a more sustainable community.
You can view the days activities in our video produced by Jimmy Fance from Luk Luk Productions below.
Ashington Eco Fair
