This month sees Richard Jefferies Museum’s ‘Sustainable September’ scheme kick into gear with a message from Sir David Attenborough.
September will see dozens of activities and events being arranged by Swindon’s Richard Jefferies Museum to celebrate the small changes we can all make towards a better future. With talks at the Central Library, workshops, live acoustic music, outdoor pursuits, fairs, children’s fun, art, and lots of nature-related activities, it is promising to be a packed month, with something for everyone.
The community-run museum is calling the month of events ‘Small Change’, focusing on ideas that will help people discover and share those little actions we can take to help make us all more sustainable. After receiving grants from South West Museum Development and South Swindon Parish Council, the volunteers at the museum decided to get things going by asking people to share their own ideas for a ‘small change’ we could all make. Their first response came from the country’s leading conservationist, Sir David Attenborough, who wrote to the museum saying: “A motto I often suggest as being useful in the battle against climate change is: Don’t Waste – Anything!”
Activities include talks and workshops covering many different perspectives including, for example, Jen Gale, author of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide, and Cotswolds conservationist, Simon Smith, as well as Paul Marchant from Arval, talking about the future of car ownership, and South Swindon’s conservative MP, Sir Robert Buckland, and Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Heidi Alexander, both contributing short talks on their own sustainable ideas.
With the museum being the birthplace of Victorian writer, Richard Jefferies, considered by some to be the world’s first nature conservationist, the month also of course has many activities connected to nature. These include expert gardening advice from Sara Venn, founder of Bristol’s Incredible Edible, Food foraging from Archaic Revival’s Ross Shepard, bug-hotels, Hügelkultur, tool maintenance, and a number of art-based workshops, all using recycled and natural materials.
Following different themes there will be fairs every Sunday throughout the month, celebrating different aspects of sustainable living, accompanied by a ‘Forum Tent’ where short talks and discussions about sustainability will take place.
The days will also have live music, with Bob Bowles, Splat the Rat, Na-Mara, Monty’s Cat, and Musicalitea all sharing their talents without the usual electric equipment, and there will be the museum’s usual cream teas, cakes etc., though this month with full vegan alternatives as well.
Inside the museum, tying in with Swindon Open Studios and Heritage Open Days, a double art exhibition will be on display by Cornish artist and environmentalist, Kurt Jackson, and local nature artist, Jo Beal. Also, three new displays will celebrate the themes of the month, and the museum’s normal activities will all be focusing on making small changes, such as reduced use of plastic, switching to LED lights, nature-based activities for children, alternative food and drink in the café, better travel choices for volunteers, and even greener options in the gardens.
The Small Change month goes out in sustainable style with a weekend of apple-crushing on 24th and 25th September. The museum has been holding this event for a number of years, with Colin Hatch and his heritage engineering gang turning thousands of apples into juice with their vintage crushing gear. This year, however, the old machinery is to be powered with the very latest technology by being connected to a Hyundai Ioniq car, supplied by local car suppliers, Pebley Beach. Making the most of nature’s bounty, with a very modern sustainable message.
To view the full list of activities occurring throughout the month and ways you can get involved, visit the link here
