And more local businesses come on board to make festival even more eco-friendly
Relaxing at last year's Green Days
If you’ve ever watched Antiques Roadshow and wondered whether that old vase/painting/silverware in the attic might just be worth a fortune, wonder no longer. Next weekend, at the Bedford Park Festival’s annual Green Days Fete, two of the experts from Chiswick Auctions will give you a valuation – as well as running a ‘Guess the Value’ game in which you could win a £100 voucher for a forthcoming auction.
Head of valuations Liz Winnicott and general valuer Toby Roberts will bring their specialist knowledge to the Chiswick Auctions stand, opposite Turnham Green tube station, on Saturday 8 June (from 11am to 4pm) and Sunday 9th (from 12 noon to 4pm). Read more on the Festival website.
Chiswick Auctions is one of several local businesses that have become diamond partners of the Festival this year, underwriting the costs of the event and helping raise money for the Festival’s charities – The Upper Room, The Amber Trust, WaterHarvest and St Michael & All Angels Church, which organises and hosts the Bedford Park Festival.
“We’re delighted to welcome Chiswick Auctions and their valuers” said Torin Douglas, who will be on the microphone as usual over the weekend, introducing acts on the Bandstand. “The bric-a-brac stall is always one of the most popular on Green Days and people will now have a chance to ask the experts, before deciding whether to part with – or buy - an item there or not!”
Another new diamond partner, Powerday, the west London recycling and waste company, is heading this year’s Keep Green Days Green campaign, helping the Festival recycle all the waste on the Green, as it has done since 2005. The Festival organisers are encouraging people to ‘Make Every Day a Green Day’ – by promoting cycling and electric cars at the Cycle Zone and Electric Vehicle Zone, and reducing single-use plastic with their drinks partners Sipsmiths and Fullers. A new eco company, DoddleBags, will be demonstrating its recyclable products at the Children’s Corner. Read more on the ‘Make Every Day A Green Day’
Fun for children at Green Days
Torin says: “We were ahead of the game 15 years ago in trying to make Green Days more sustainable, thanks to people like Livia and Colin Firth, whose Eco-Age company was set up in the Chiswick High Road and was one of our first sponsors. Natalie Bayliss, whose Turnham Green Ethical Hampers company was a pioneer in sustainability – and who ran a ‘Green Dads’ competition on the Green - is helping us work with Ealing and Hounslow councils, as they extend the number of vehicle charging points in Chiswick.
“Another local resident who keeps us up to the mark is David Shreeve, who set up the Conservation Foundation with David Bellamy, and is environmental adviser to the Archbishops Council of the Church of England. We are doing our best, but we know there is always more we can do, and we welcome all suggestions.”
A third new diamond partner is the estate agent Kinleigh Folkard and Hayward, which has become the sponsor of the refreshments tent, alongside the Festival’s major sponsor Savills, which supports the children’s 5-a-side football, and continuing Green Days partners - John D Wood at the beer tent, Chestertons on the BBQ and Bown Design & Build on the book stall.
“We get terrific support from local businesses and many of them really feel part of the community in Chiswick” said Douglas. “Trotters and Disney sponsor the Fancy Dress competition and the Turnham Green Terrace Treasure Hunt; Whitman & Co supports the Cycle Zone and donates a bicycle to be raffled; Blue City and BMW will be showing their electric cars; and Home Instead Senior Care is again supporting the first aid service.
“Many local restaurants generously donate a meal for two to be raffled in our Win A Meal Competition, other companies donate prizes to the High Roller Tombola- and we also get great support from schools, from Arts Ed and Stagecoach Chiswick to Orchard House, Chiswick & Bedford Park School and Falcons Pre-Prep.” See the full list of Festival partners .
This year’s village Green Days Fete and Craft Fair will be opened at 11am on Saturday June 8th by Andy Nyman, the star of Fiddler on the Roof. The weekend attracts thousands of people of all ages and includes a bandstand with live music and entertainment, fairground rides and games, food & drink, a craft fair with 20 exhibitors offering a wide selection of high-quality craftworks, and many different types of stalls and competitions.
But that’s just the start of the Festival. Douglas says, “People sometimes forget that after Green Days there’s a whole Festival fortnight of arts and community events – and our partners support those too. Horton and Garton sponsors the Artists at Home weekend, Thorgills sponsors the Bedford Park Open Gardens and Walk, and Hubbard Pegman & Whitney supports the Serenade & Supper. Killik & Co will sponsor Kevin McNally’s conversation with Susannah Simons, Ballet4Life sponsors some of the concerts and there are many others. We also get terrific support from local media such as ChiswickW4.com, for which we’re very grateful!”
The Bedford Park Festival is run by St Michael & All Angels Church, supported by dozens of local people and businesses. It was set up in 1967 to foster a sense of community, celebrate the arts, and raise money for urgent repairs to the Church. Since then it has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities.
See www.bedfordparkfestival.org for full event and booking details.
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June 1, 2019
