Published: Tuesday 27th February 2024 | 3.59pm
Cannock Chase Council is staging a major free event on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock, when the people of the District are invited to come along and help imagine better times ahead, by living more sustainably and responding to climate change.
`The Great Imagining Cannock Chase` is about imagining the future of the District as part of a `greener, fairer and wiser future`. It is being staged by The House of Fairy Tales, a London based person-centred arts and education organisation which has worked with the National Trust, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Tate Modern in London.
Schools and businesses will be the focus of attention on the Friday, with 15 local schools taking part in a series of interactive sessions. Preliminary workshops have been taking place with schools since January led by The House of Fairy Tales and involving a team of artists.
Then from 6pm to 8pm on the 8th it will be the turn of businesses who can join a free workshop led by Kate Copeland-Rhodes from the Uttoxeter based Globe Foundation. To sign up go to www.staffordshirecop.com/cannock-doughnut
On the Saturday we look forward to welcoming the public, between 10am and 4pm, a unique opportunity to imagine the possibilities of what a `greener, fairer and wiser future` might look, feel, smell, and taste like.
Zoned areas at the leisure centre will feature a range of fun and creative activities and exhibitions, including:
• A Cabaret and Trash-ion Show - performed by students from South Staffordshire College and Staffordshire University Academy in Hednesford
• Future ideas and inventions
• Museum of Curiosities
• Windmills and solar technology
• Games to play
• Learn about Carbon Literacy
• Mini beasts
• Film screenings
• Nature Recovery
• Poetry and pantomime including from local poet Pep the Poet
• Meet The Greenwash Fairy
• Wormeries and composting
The two-day event, and schools’ workshops, are being held in partnership with Cannock Chase Council, Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles, and the Cannock Chase Cultural Education Partnership (CCCEP). CCCEP funding is in part financing the cost of schools’ transport to the event. The event and workshops follow the Council’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and to help the wider community work towards carbon neutrality across the entire District.
Deborah Curtis, Creative Director for The House of Fairy Tales said: “The Great Imagining is a concept we began rolling out in London and which has already inspired our sister organisation, The Great Imagining Africa. This is connecting climate active networks across west and central African nations.
“We are delighted to bring our interactive and thought-provoking event to the people of Cannock Chase and hope this event may spark interest from other local authorities in due course. Visitors on the Saturday will literally find something for everyone across our zones.”
Councillor Andrea Muckley, Portfolio Leader for the Environment and Climate Change said: “The Council’s commitment to tackling climate change has seen the commissioning of a costed action plan followed by progress being made to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions. But we have a wider role to play.
“We know that the people of Cannock Chase District love our local environment and want to protect future generations from the impact of climate change. We are inviting everyone to come along and engage with the climate conversation; we want to hear opinions, to help people to feel inspired to take action in their own lives and see how we can work together for the greater good of our wonderful District.
“Whether you are a resident, attend one of the District's schools, run a business or are a community leader, we can all aim for those small changes that make big differences to help create a `greener, fairer and wiser future` for our local area. You are welcome to come for as you like on the Saturday. Whether you stay all day or squeeze it in between classes at the gym or a swim, you will be very welcome.”
On the following Friday (15 March) between 10am and 3pm, the Council will be involved in the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent COP 2024 being held at The Catalyst Building, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke. The event is the first of its kind in the county and is being organised by the Globe Foundation. Search online for further details.
Photograph:
The Great Imagining Cannock Chase public event on Saturday 9 March from 10am to 4pm at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock.