Bedford Borough Council is announcing a series of events to mark Earth Day 2025, centred around the theme "Our Power, Our Planet". This year’s theme champions the potential of renewable power generation, while empowering communities to contribute towards a greener planet.
The Earth Day Bedford Event Series will feature:
- Free Climate Fresk Community Workshop
- Easter Holiday activities at The Higgins Bedford
- Bedford Corn Exchange Illumination
- Free Business Morning event
These sessions aim to inspire local action on climate change and promote sustainable practices across the borough.
This series is part of the Council’s broader commitment to decarbonising its own operations and lead by example, including working on award-winning local generation projects and match funding energy efficiency projects that have a positive impact on local resilience building.
See more information on Bedford Borough Council’s sustainability strategies and climate initiatives.
Upcoming events
Free Climate Fresk Community Workshop
Wednesday 3 September 2025, 6-9pm in Committee Room 2, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford.
Following the successful uptake and interest in attending Climate Fresk, we are holding a third Climate Fresk community workshop.
This workshop offers the local community a chance to deepen their understanding of climate science in an interactive and supportive environment, empowering participants to take meaningful action and foster conversations around climate change.
Book your free place via Eventbrite here – no prior knowledge required, just curiosity.
Becoming a Certified Climate Fresk Facilitator
Tuesday 23 September 2025, 6-9pm in Committee Room 1, Borough Hall, Bedford.
People who have attended a Climate Fresk community workshop either with us or other delivering organisations, can join this free Climate Fresk facilitator training session. This session certifies attendees to lead future Climate Fresk workshops within their community or workplace for free.
Register to attend via Eventbrite here.
Past events
Free Climate Fresk Community Workshops
On Earth Day evening (22 April 2025), the Council has hosted a Climate Fresk Community Workshop at Committee Room 1, Bedford Borough Hall, 6-9pm.
Funded the National Lottery Awards for All England and delivered by Climate Clarity, this interactive session has helped (to date) about 20 community leaders, volunteers, and educators to gain a deeper understanding of climate science and explore ways to untangle their emotional response to climate change, walking away with actionable insights.
To extend this opportunity to more people living and working in Bedford Borough, we hosted an online community workshop on 2 July at 6-9pm via Zoom.
Please check out upcoming events section for future Climate Fresk workshops, and for more information about becoming a facilitator running your own workshops.
Easter Holiday activities at The Higgins Bedford
As part of the Easter school holidays, The Higgins Bedford has offered a range of interactive activities, designed to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, as part of the build-up to Earth Day 2025.
These workshops took place from 8-17 April, and were specifically crafted to encourage children aged 5-12 years to think creatively about reducing waste, reusing everyday items, and recycling. Each workshop costed £5.50 per child, with three workshops running per day from Tuesday-Friday and then Tuesday-Thursday.
The Higgins Bedford has other events on offer throughout the year to help residents engage with nature and learn more about the environment. Visit The Higgins Bedford to book online or phone the box office on 01234 718044 for more details about upcoming activities.
Bedford Corn Exchange Illumination
To mark Earth Day on Tuesday 22 April 2025, the Council illuminated the Bedford Corn Exchange in green from sunset until 1am.
This simple, yet meaningful gesture aimed to raise awareness about climate action and remind residents of the potential of small actions for a sustainable future through collective efforts.
Free Business Morning event
On Wednesday 30 April 2025, the Council hosted a Business Morning event at the Harpur Suite, bringing together local businesses, sustainability experts, and organisations to build a sustainable future for Bedford Borough.
The event featured inputs from experts in sustainable business strategies including:
- An Introduction on Inspiring a Strong Local Circular Economy delivered by Eleanor Karklas, Manager for Economic Growth and Development at Bedford Borough Council.
- A free 2-hour interactive workshop on Sustainability in Action: Strategies and Practices in Greening Your Business, delivered by the Green Business Network at Cranfield University.
- A Networking Showcase to Leverage Local Opportunities, connecting with local experts to find out about the support available to make a positive environmental impact.
- A Closing Statement on The Local Path to Net Zero, delivered by Cllr Nicola Gribble, Environment Portfolio Holder at Bedford Borough Council.
Email Energy.Team@bedford.gov.uk if you would like a copy of the resources shared at the event.
About Earth Day
Earth Day, first celebrated in 1970, is a global movement that unites people worldwide to raise awareness about environmental issues and to promote actions that protect the planet. With more than 1 billion people taking part annually, Earth Day continues to inspire positive environmental change.
Visit the Earth Day website for more information and how to get involved.