A community is coming together for a free event about sustainable living.

Edith Reeve, from Saltburn-based community interest company The Cut Back and Jemma Joy, from Guisborough Eco Group, have combined to organise Cleveland Green Gathering, a free eco festival on June 8.

It will provide an opportunity for businesses, charities, campaign groups, and artists striving to make the area more sustainable to join forces under one roof.

Edith, who is involved with many causes including encouraging young people to learn more about the environment, said: “The latest scientific reports about the state of our planet can be pretty terrifying, but we mustn’t underestimate the power and influence we have as individuals. Especially when we come together as a community.”

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Jemma, a Guisborough councillor who founded Guisborough Eco Group two years ago, added: “We have some amazing businesses and organisations doing things to bring positive changes, not just to our local area, but the planet as a whole, so why not put them all under one roof, add some gorgeous food and music to make a day of it and find out what is going on locally?”

Edith and Jemma have curated a varied set of stalls and workshops.

“We have stalls from local businesses from slow fashion and beautiful handmade organic skincare to jewellery made from repurposed material, Whitby Lobster Hatchery showing the work they do, a pop up art exhibition, a choir, info stalls on nature groups, renewable energy, local councils plus vegan fish n chips and brownies,” said Edith. “Plus some incredible sustainable prizes from reusable baby wipes, haircuts and eco friendly goodies.”

Jemma set up the Repair Cafe in Guisborough last year where volunteers repair bikes and clothes to keep things out of landfill and also runs monthly talks on subjects from bats to bees, recycling to rewilding.

“I wanted the event to reach as many folk as possible,” she said. “Sometimes there can be a bit of a bad press for climate activism today, but we wanted to show how, when people come together, there are so many creative and enjoyable ways you can make a tiny change and bit by bit, start making a big impact on our planet to protect us in the future."

  • The Cleveland Green Gathering is on Saturday, June 8 from 10am to 2pm at St Nicolas Church Community Hall in Guisborough, and is free to attend.