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Arcadia | We are the Forest: Marketplace, Workshops + Gardening
April 7 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free
Join a marketplace of free community activity: explore local climate and nature groups as they take over our main hall, wider venue and yard with a variety of eco activities for you to get involved with and learn about.
Led by Sustainable Thornton Heath’s Pop Up, the day will be filled with workshops on climate science and eco anxiety, vegetarian and vegan treats, tips on food growing and gardening and the opportunity to even have your bike repaired.
In the Main Hall, from 10am – 1pm
Sustainable Thornton Heath:
A group committed to learning, sharing and supporting each other to live more sustainable lives and to help make Thornton Heath more sustainable. We’ll be hosting one of their regular pop-ups which will include a kids zone of games and art activities; an electrical repair party helping you repair your faulty or broken electrical items; a refill station for household laundry and washing products (bring your containers!), a terracycle waste drop-off and free Ethical Consumer Magazines.
Croydon Beekeepers Association:
Learn about pollinators, buy some local honey and do some candle rolling with beeswax. The Croydon Beekeepers have been going since 1879 and know everything you need to know about bees!
Croydon Climate Action:
Find out how you can get active in local solutions to the climate crisis, from campaigns to planting more trees in areas of green space deprivation to achieving a Pesticide-Free Croydon. Everyone is needed!
Croydon Community Energy:
Get some free energy advice, tips and skills from Croydon’s first renewable energy cooperative. Their vision is to develop renewable energy projects and deliver energy education to empower our community to get to the nation’s net zero goals.
Go Wild With Us:
Reconnect with nature, your own wildness and wellness with seasonal craft and find out more about the Heartwood site project and upcoming outdoor activities for all ages.
Red Kite Plants:
Learn about nature friendly garden design for city spaces and bring seeds to swap and plant, including sunflowers to take home with you.
‘Burning World’ exhibition by photographer Gideon Mendel. Fire. Flooding. Destruction. Pictures from around the world exposing the destruction inflicted upon our precious and beautiful natural environment by man- made climate change.
Tanio Pizza will be selling pizzas for lunch in the Yard between 12.30 – 3.30pm.
Bookable events:
Climate Fresk Workshops, 10.30am – 1.30pm: The Society Room
Want to help tackle climate change but don’t have the time to become a climate scientist? In just 3 hours, the collaborative Climate Fresk workshop will teach you the fundamental science behind climate change and empower you to take action. The workshops will teach you how climate change works and empower you to take effective action as a citizen. Refreshments will be provided.
Spaces limited, pre-book for free HERE
‘Meadow’ Book Reading for 2 – 6yrs, 10 – 11am: The Boundless Box, The Yard
Join theatre-maker and artist Rachel Lincoln who will be reading her new Picture E-Book Meadow, to an original score. It’s a silly, playful and colourful story about biodiversity in a wonderful slither of Meadow in Croydon. Then we will create our own stories about our love for local nature. Expect some movement, and lots of fun words and drawing! Aimed at Ages 2-6.
Spaces limited, pre-book for free HERE
Climate Cafe, 11.30am – 1pm: The Boundless Box, The Yard
A space to reflect and discuss the climate crisis and our relationship to the Earth. Come for a chat, a biscuit, and a welcoming smile.This event is facilitated by practitioners from the Climate Psychology Alliance alongside young producers of Arcadia, bridging creativity with conversation.
Spaces limited, pre-book for free HERE
Introduction to Permaculture with the Hip Hop Garden, 4 – 5.30pm: The Boundless Box, The Yard
Learn the basic principles of permaculture, how to design with and for nature. Led by Ian Solomon Kawall, aka KMT Freedom Teacher, a musician, community activist and gardener, whose May Project Gardens in Morden in south London includes a herb spiral, growing beds, water butt system, compost toilet, cob oven, insulated treehouse, forest garden, ponds, an orchard and eco-built outdoor classroom.
Spaces limited, pre-book for free HERE
Outdoor events
Dr Bike, 10am – 1pm: Outside the front of the venue
Outside the front of the building get your bike a free roadworthy safety check, have minor repairs fixed for free (excluding parts) and get advice on best practice on how to wear a cycling helmet.
Let’s Get Gardening! 11 – 12 Gazebo, The Yard
Get your hands in the soil with Tracy Holtham, our Gardening Volunteer Leader at Stanley Arts. Tracy is an interdisciplinary artist, gardener, and mental health advocate. She has always been curious about nature and its restorative properties, and has a particular interest in the interplay between historic architecture and green spaces. She’ll introduce you to the plant life we have here in our Yard and will lead some gardening activities for all ages to enjoy.
