Shakespeare’s New Place Goes Green For Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day

With over one week to go, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the charity dedicated to celebrating the life, work and times of William Shakespeare, has revealed further details about its free Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day, which kicks off Great Big Green Week in Stratford-upon-Avon.

On Saturday 8 June, Shakespeare’s New Place is opening its gates to the public for a free day of fun as it plays host to the launch of Stratford-upon-Avon’s Great Big Green Week 2024.

The day is part of the Trust’s wider Great Big Green Month celebrations, featuring a new series of events and activities promoting sustainability across the Shakespeare family homes.

Throughout the Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day, visitors can explore sustainability in action through a series of free, thought-provoking events and hands-on activities. Through the event, organisers will shine a light on environmentalism and showcase the efforts of local and regional groups in tackling climate change and protecting the natural environment.

"With over one week to go, we’re thrilled to reveal new details about our eagerly anticipated Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day. Our team and partners across the region are gearing up for a day full of action and fun as we come together to shine a light on sustainability.

"Sustainability is embedded in everything we do, including how we engage with our visitors. This is why this event is important – it allows us to not only celebrate sustainability but also educate others about what we can do to protect our planet.’’

Said Andrew Anderson, Environmental Health and Safety Officer at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the organisers of Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day.

What to expect

Visitors of all ages are in for a treat with a lineup of engaging activities brought to them by the Trust and partner organisations.

To start the day, visitors can walk through the Great Garden at Shakespeare’s New Place for free, as they soak in the atmospheric surroundings and engage with others in attendance.

Whilst exploring the historic garden, attendees can visit the stalls exhibiting, with confirmed stallholders including Stratford Climate Action, Stratford Wildlife Friends, Act on Energy, and Net Zero Stratford.

New for 2024, and in line with this year’s Great Big Green Week theme, the Give and Take table will be inviting attendees to bring unwanted clothes and accessories to swap with any items on the table, all for free. Volunteers from Stratford’s Repair Café will also be on hand to carry out bike repairs and mend garments.

For those interested in learning more about environmentalism at the Trust, its sustainability team will be engaging visitors with historic item handling based around sustainability. Additionally, its gardens team will be available to share their efforts in improving sustainability and biodiversity across all of Shakespeare’s family homes and to offer helpful tips on how to make wildlife spaces at home

Finally, Alex Mills of Natural England is inviting visitors of all ages to discover and learn about plants that grow around the town with two short, supervised walks around the local area, starting at Shakespeare’s New Place. Bill Wright of Stratford Wildlife Friends will also lead two guided walks with a focus on the birdlife of Stratford.

“It has been so enjoyable collaborating with Andrew and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. We hope that everyone enjoys the day and finds out something new about all the local initiatives to protect nature and tackle climate change.’’

Commented Janet Palmer of Net Zero Stratford, and Great Big Green Week organiser.

To top things off, attendees can enjoy live acoustic music from a local band and get pictures with tree stilt walkers who will be making a special appearance during the day.

"We’re thrilled to be collaborating with inspiring organisations and groups from across the region. This promises to be a fantastic day for everyone, so we invite you all to join us in celebrating all things green!"

Added Jennifer Shufflebotham, Audience Engagement Manager at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day takes place on Saturday 8 June from 10am to 4pm at Shakespeare’s New Place. Access to the Great Garden is free of charge for the event.

For more information about the event and the Trust’s wider Great Big Green Month celebrations, please visit https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/whats-on/sustainable-shakespeare-community-day/.

Full list of stalls at Sustainable Shakespeare Community Day:* (*Please not that stallholders are subject to change.)