My Earth event inspires with planet-saving ideas

Date published: 14 December 2021

Hundreds of visitors to the ‘My Earth’ event in Rochdale got ideas and inspiration to help address the climate change emergency on Saturday (11 December).

The day, staged as part of the Gaia events programme and held under the replica of planet Earth on display at Number One Riverside, was designed to provide lots of practical ideas and help for anyone wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and make an impact on tackling climate change.

These included how to reduce food waste at home courtesy of Andre and Lisa from ‘Educate’ who demonstrated how to use near end-of-life fruit and vegetables to make fruity ice cream and a very tasty Christmas soup.

The council's recycling team engaged residents with imaginative ideas to increase recycling with tips to re-use items as well as showcasing their Food Heroes.

They also gave away reusable water bottles to visitors who pledged to give up buying drinks in single-use plastic bottles and showed how they made bird feeders out of empty water bottles collected from this year’s Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run Fun.

Bottle top artwork created by Holy Family RC Primary School and Rochdale AFC Community Trust added to the displays.

Groundwork staff advised on ways to make your home more energy-efficient. Colleagues from Petrus showed ways you can make a garden more eco-friendly and helped visitors’ plant pots of bulbs provided by Bowlee Nursery for them to take away and grow at home.

Representatives from Rochdale in Bloom talked about how volunteering and taking part in gardening projects in your community is good for exercise and wellbeing as well as fabulous fun.

Rochdale Youth Service and Cartwheel Arts brought their ‘wonderwall’ – an interactive piece of art made in conjunction with the Travelling Light Circus that helps you choose your own eco-challenge.

Perhaps the most eye-catching exhibit was the Pendulum Wave Machine from the Travelling Light Circus, a fusion of science and art that captivated the audience with its mesmerising mechanical movements.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, deputy leader of Rochdale Borough Council and cabinet member for climate change, said the event was a great example of how the Gaia earth artwork is being used to stimulate discussion and action to tackle the climate change emergency.

She said: “The scientific evidence is clear, human activity is causing our planet to warm at an alarming rate.

“Scientists have warned that we have just over a decade to halve our emissions to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change on our food supply, global health, extreme weather and more.

“The council has a responsibility to take action to reduce carbon emissions, alongside preparing the borough for the impacts of a changing climate and I hope this My Earth event and Gaia is inspiring us all to think about the changes we can now make.”

The exhibition and supporting events are staged in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council and Your Trust, supported financially by the Garfield Weston Foundation.  

Gaia is open 7 days a week until Christmas Eve. You can find out more here.

Gaia is created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres, with supporting partners Culture Liverpool and Liverpool Cathedral.