Climate Emergency and Creativity in Northumberland

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by Elizabeth Anderson

Trustee WaWW Trust

I had been aware of the growing climate crisis for some years but while listening to Mike Berners Lee launching his book ‘There is no Planet B’ at Hay Festival in 2018, I was struck by his positive approach to finding ways through the problems. I started to wonder if I could use my background in the arts to raise the level of awareness across our community on the thorny issues of climate crisis and bio diversity loss. In discussion with my husband and friends we developed the idea of a festival of arts, science and nature that could build hope, instigate conversations and stimulate action in our local area.

Covid struck early in 2020 just as we were getting ready to launch our first festival. So we began with a one-day Climate Action Day in Alnwick’s Northumberland Hall in October 2021 in the lead up to Cop 26. Over 200 people turned out to hear expert speakers, music, drama, film, top tips for action and the then MP. A key to getting established was bringing strong ‘pillar organisations’ on board to bring ideas and resources to the party. The first of these was Friends of the Earth Alnwick, who had been active in this field for years. The Duchess Community High School were an essential and willing partner as were several primary and middle schools, Alnwick Playhouse whose new boss was a super-enthusiastic supporter and Alnwick Garden. Funding was raised from the Lions, Alnwick Town Council and Northumberland County Council and private donors. What a Wonderful World Trust, named after the inspiring song by Louis Armstrong, was registered as an educational charity in August 2021.

The first 4-day festival took place in 2022.

2022

• Tom Heap, Countryfile journalist and presenter of Radio 4 environmental programmes
• Poets at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, including students from the high school Poetry Society
• Musicians, including classical violinist Bradley Creswick and indie band star, Paul Smith of Maximo Park
• A climate cabaret with Kate Fox
• A debate, Food and Farming: the Future, got to grips with some key issues, an idea we have followed up in later years
• Local bands of all ages performed at the Alnwick Garden

2023

• Award-winning singer songwriter Karine Polwart
• Watershed - Journey of a River and Journey of an Activist, with local young performers
• Deep Dive into Water - looking at solutions to problems of water, too much or too little,
• Comedy with Tim Dalling
• Loving Earth exhibition celebrating previous objects threatened by climate breakdown

2024

• Change in the Air debate about pollution
• Debate - wind energy and how wildlife is responding to the climate emergency
• The Air We Breathe - schools production set in a future when oxygen is running out
• My Northumberland with musicians Kathryn Tickell and Amy Thatcher
• Exhibition of photographs sent in by the public to show their love of the natural world, reproduced as a calendar.
• Sing for the Planet workshop and Voices of Hope (Choir of the Year 2016)

2025

• A talk on Working Wood
• Poetry and Music in Rothbury with partners, Coquetdale Creatives
• Earth Summit, a new play with music by local primary schools and the high school
• Earth Matters debate, focusing on the purchase of Rothbury Estates by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, with International rewilding expert, Professor Alastair Driver; Mike Pratt, CEO of Northumberland Wildlife Trust; James Barber, local farmer and land manager; and David George, Reader in Precision Agronomy, Newcastle University
• Maddy Prior, lead singer of Steeleye Span, with a performance featuring her long-held commitment to the natural world

Plans are well in hand for the 2026 Festival, 25 - 28 June. We are strengthening our skills, building

on the expertise of our volunteer Organising Team and supported by our Trustees. We now have a

part-time Coordinator, Carol Whinnom. With her help we will continue to raise environmental

awareness and bring hope that solutions will be put in place in the UK and around the world to

mitigate the affects of man-made climate change and biodiversity loss. There’s a lot at stake. We

hope you will join us.

Elizabeth Anderson

Trustee WaWW Trust