...And Relax!

Months of planning and preparation paid off in the success of our very first EcoFestival. When you've never done something before it's amazing how daunting it can feel; but on the day everything went to plan, the team pulled together an amazing event and to top it all off, the sun shone over Ampthill.

We had over 200 visitors and a raft of exhibitors located around the church and out in the garden. This being Ampthill Baptist Church, no event goes without children's activities and food! The bacon rolls, cream teas and soup - all from local suppliers, were snapped up! There were face painting and craft activites for the children, and later some of them were enthusiastic contributors to the recycled fashion show.



The church garden provided a really relaxed environment to hang out in, to listen to some brilliant music provided by local musicians, such as the Peter Webster Band (above) and The Gary Wood Jazz Experience. It was also the perfect backdrop to chat at leisure to the exhibitors, such as A Rocha, The Energy Saving Trust, Central Bedfordshire Recycling and Bedfordshire Climate Change Forum, just to name a few of the people who were there.




We had guest speakers from World Vision and Water Aid amongst others and demonstrations on recycling and composting which were all well received and well attended. One attendee left a comment on our feedback board saying ' the "rubbish" talk was fantastic'.


Some of our young people threw themselves with gusto into the challenge of creating a whole outfit for no more than £10 using either local charity shops or our own Swap Shop at the festival, where they could pick up clothes, books and toys for free.

The photography competition run in conjuction with Ampthill and District Camera Club attracted a good number of entries and yielded some stunning images, just going to show that there are some talented photographers in the town.

It was a day of great fun and some special memories, perhaps none more so than a wonderfully welcome visitor from New Zealand. Diane Pope and her family who were all part of Ampthill Baptist Church, emigrated to New Zealand nearly ten years ago now, but on a flying visit from the other side of the world she was able to drop in on us. It was really fabulous to see her again.

Diane (centre) flanked by her Mum, Marion and Patrick Joiner (right)

We've got every intention of making this an annual event and demonstrating that, as Christians, we're responding positively to the impact that modern life has on this beautiful planet, and that we're committed to doing our bit here in Ampthill to care for it and be the good stewards that God asks us to be.