22 Jun 2024
The environment took centre stage earlier this month as the Alban Arena hosted the district’s first ever Sustainability Festival Expo.
The event, which was organised by Sustainable St Albans, hosted more than 40 different sessions in five dedicated ‘zones’, and initial comments are that it lived up to the promise of having ‘something for everyone’ with networking sessions, fashion shows, live music, speakers, workshops, exhibitors, panel discussions and craft activities filling the two and a half day calendar.
Jill Watson, who was part of the events team said how pleased they were with the attendee feedback at the event: “The team worked really hard to have a range of sessions that were interesting for lots of people and everyone that came in said they were glad they did!”
Newly appointed Mayor of St Albans,Cllr Jamie Day, officially opened the Expo on tje Friday as a bustling foyer of volunteers, VIPs and SustFest supporters were invited for the networking launch event, followed by a sustainable fashion show organised by Luxe Leopard Lifestyle.
The following day saw doors open to the general public, with talks covering such topics as education, biodiversity, resilience and climate action taking place on the Arena stage while 30 planet- onscious organisations from around the country helped fill the auditorium floor for a unique networking and shopping experience.
The St Albans Arts Team provided the weekend’s entertainment, commandeering the circle bar area and offering an array of craft opportunities, accompanied by 15 local musical acts who entertained the crowds in the early summer sunshine.
The larger crowds appeared on Sunday for the likes of Rupert Read (Climate Majority Project Chair), Mark Avery (former director of the RSPB) and Erica McAlister (curator for the National History Museum), and the buzz in the Arena continued right up until doors closed at 4pm.
Success for the Expo will be measured in a number of ways, as it was designed to include community initiatives, including Sustainable St Albans volunteer sign-ups, St Albans Greener Together Take the Jump initiative and The Green House Q and A so residents can see the ongoing activities they can get involved with.
“It’s very much the end of the beginning,” explained another of the organisation team, Lee Wood.
“This was about providing a platform for change. Hopefully all those who attended the Expo were able to come away with an action that they can implement into their lives to improve sustainability on some level.
“The message to promote sustainability shouldn’t be restricted to just one event. Sustainable St Albans have a year-round calendar of events and initiatives to help those within the district to learn more about the topic.”
Visit www.sustainablestalbans.org for more details on how you can get involved.
