Bedford Borough Council is announcing a series of events throughout April 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:
- Easter Holiday activities at The Higgins Bedford
- Bedford Corn Exchange Illumination
- Free Climate Fresk Community Workshop
- 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.
Free Climate Fresk Community Workshop
22 April (in-person)
On Earth Day evening (22 April 2025), the Council hosted a Climate Fresk Community Workshop at Committee Room 1, Bedford Borough Hall, 6-9pm.
Funded the National Lottery Awards for All and delivered by Climate Clarity, this interactive session helped 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.
2 July (online)
Wednesday 2 July 2025, 6-9pm via Zoom. The event is free and open to anyone living or working in Bedford Borough, with a particular focus on those in public service, education, volunteering, or community roles. No experience is necessary - just a willingness to learn and share ideas.
Visit the Climate Fresk Community Workshop registration page for more information and to book your place.
Become a Certified Climate Fresk Facilitator
Please note that as part of both sessions there will be an opportunity to express interest in attending a second funded workshop where you can receive the necessary training and resources to become a certified facilitator. This will enable you engage others in meaningful climate education, if you wish to pursue the facilitator route – however, this is optional and not a prerequisite for attending the community workshops.
Easter Holiday activities at The Higgins Bedford
As part of the Easter school holidays, The Higgins Bedford is offering a range of interactive activities, designed to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, as part of the build-up to Earth Day 2025.
These workshops, taking place from Tuesday 8 April to Thursday 17 April, are specifically crafted to encourage children aged 5-12 years to think creatively about reducing waste, reusing everyday items, and recycling.
Each workshop costs £5.50 per child and there will be three workshops a day from Tuesday-Friday and then Tuesday-Thursday.
Visit The Higgins Bedford to book online or phone the box office on 01234 718044 for more details about the activities.
Bedford Corn Exchange Illumination
To mark Earth Day on Tuesday 22 April 2025, the Council will illuminate the Bedford Corn Exchange in green from sunset until 1am.
This simple, yet meaningful gesture aims 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 will host a dedicated Business Morning event at the Harpur Suite, bringing together local businesses, sustainability experts, and organisations to build a sustainable future for Bedford Borough.
The Earth Day Bedford Business Morning event will feature:
- An Introduction on Inspiring a Strong Local Circular Economy delivered by Eleanor Karklas, Manager for Economic Growth & 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.
Visit the Business Morning registration page for more information and to book your place.
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 2025 website for more information and how to get involved.