Sir Jonathon Porritt to open Gloucestershire's first sustainability festival

One of Gloucestershire's greenest commercial buildings will be the venue for the launch of Gloucestershire's first week-long sustainability festival, which is being opened by environmental stalwart Sir Jonathon Porritt.

Hucclecote Sustainability Festival will be formally launched on Wednesday, May 3 at Benefact House, the Gloucester Business Park headquarters of the Benefact Group, one of the event’s key sponsors.

The recently-completed HQ is acknowledged as one of the most sustainable buildings in Gloucestershire.

The topics covered include the pros and cons of solar panels and heat pumps, tips on growing your own vegetables and composting, guidance on how to save hundreds of pounds a year on home energy bills and a session on how to reduce your travel costs - and your carbon footprint.

Other speakers include former Stroud MP and Shadow Environment spokesman David Drew, Dr Peter Boait, the chair of the Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op, and Sandy Hore-Ruthven MBE, chief executive of the Severn Wye Energy Agency.

The festival is one of the key elements of the Hucclecote Climate Change Action Plan. The Plan was drawn up last year following a community engagement exercise. This revealed that local residents wanted independent guidance on how to tackle the challenges resulting from climate change.

Benefact Group Impact Director Chris Pitt said: “As a Group, we’re committed to making a positive social and environmental impact and we’re hugely supportive of the community around our office at the Gloucester Business Park.

"Since moving to Benefact House, we’ve worked with the parish council to improve the local environment including volunteering to improve the local green spaces and supporting wildflower planting.

"The festival is a great initiative from Hucclecote Parish Council, and we’re delighted to be able to support a really interested and motivated community.”

Sir Jonathon is expected to call on parish councils nationwide to organise similar initiatives to mobilise their residents to do more to protect the environment and tackle climate change.