Big Lunch in Newtown, Powys to bring people together

The upcoming free event at Hafon yr Afon invites community-minded people to meet with each other and share creative ideas through practical workshops. The interactive afternoon from 10am to 3pm forms part of eco-charity Eden’s flagship Big Lunch campaign, which is all about encouraging people to share friendship, food and fun where they live.

This year, organisers are calling on the nation to make June 1 and 2 the greenest Big Lunch yet, with resources and tips for planet-friendly cooking and activities on offer.

Guests will hear from guest speaker Stuart Owen and his team of volunteers at Open Newtown, a trust established in 2017 to make better use of Newtown’s 130 acres of green spaces through community ownership of assets including parks, open spaces and river frontage.

Community Network Developer at Eden Project Communities Samantha Evans at a Big Lunch event. (Image: Eden Project Communities)

As well as offering opportunities to meet and share ideas, Newtown’s event on Saturday will provide practical workshops and plenty of creative ideas for injecting community spirit.

Also on the agenda is a workshop teaching attendees how to make their own beeswax wraps, in line with Newtown’s ambition to become a bee-friendly town, as well as a hands-on workshop from food-focused cooperative Cultivate, who work alongside the community and local businesses to on planting, growing and cooking activities.

For green-fingered guests, a further workshop offers the opportunity to find out more about creating a buzz in the community with wildflower seeds, with attendees also invited to join in with a community walk and site visit led by Keep Wales Tidy to local spots including Ponthafren Community Garden, the local Church pollinator bed and developed projects in Dolerw Park.

Topping off the day will be a mini Big Lunch, with attendees sharing locally sourced food and getting to know each other better.

The free event will take place at Hafan yr Afon on Saturday. (Image: Open Newtown)

Samantha Evans, Community Network Developer at Eden Project Communities, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to bring our passion for community connection to Powys. With some wonderful projects already in place, we hope more local people will be inspired to chat to their neighbours, volunteer where they live or embark on their own community activity.

“Whether you have a burning idea for a project, or you fancy organising a Big Lunch on your street and seeing what comes from it, we hope all our guests leave feel motivated to make a difference in their neighbourhood!”

The afternoon aims to showcase simple and fun ways to bring people together and hopes to encourage more people to get something positive started in their communities on The Big Lunch weekend on June 1 and 2.

OTHER NEWS:

• Powys man admits harassing former partner
• Powys golf club says green damage possibly caused by remote control cars
• In pictures: Recognise any familiar faces from Powys life during 2008?

Stuart Owen is Chief Executive at Open Newtown and is looking forward to joining local people on Saturday. He said: “We’re excited to meet community-minded people from Powys at this very special event this April.

“Here at Open Newtown, we know the powerful things that can happen when people come together to try and make positive change in their community. We’ll be sharing more about our own journey getting to where we are today, focusing on volunteering, green spaces and working collaboratively with partners.”

The Big Lunch, an idea from the Eden Project made possible by The National Lottery, is the annual nationwide celebration for neighbours and communities, with millions taking part each year to create happier and healthier communities.

Places are limited and booking is required. To book your place visit: https://events.more-human.co.uk/event/creating-a-buzz-in-powys--creu-bwrlwm-ym-mhowys-with-eden-project-communities-events