by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Regents Park, London, June 1, 2008 – While the weather was threatening with dark clouds and very little sun only was in evidence every now and then this did not dampen the spirit of the people attending and those exhibiting and the event was, I would like to think, very well attended indeed. Even ardent green folks, like yours truly, could come away with some additional knowledge, in addition to some of the other things that we could take home with us.
The first thing hoisted, in the most friendly manner, upon me was a tree, a Wild Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera), from the Land Restoration Trust – thanks guys. I just hope it has survived the day OK in my backpack and the journey home on public transport. We shall see that in a few weeks or so as to whether it has rooted all right in the tub where it was planted back home in order for it to get established well before, in the end, being planted out, I should think, in some public open space. If not there then it will be in a nice corner in my garden.
A great number of interesting stands and stall were assembled of organizations, as well as crafts people and businesses with environmentally conscious products and services, amongst which was Pedalite, an old friend of this publication, and Green Oil UK. The latter being a new product; an environmentally friendly bike oil that is not petrochemical based and neither does it use Palm Oil. A review of this is to follow in due course, as we were kindly supplied with a sample.
Waitrose attracted a rather large queue to its stand where they were giving out “bags for life” and other information, as well as the Ham & High local newspaper and the “A Very Useful Bag” branded "Go greene" (www.greene.co.uk).
Greene & Co, whence the “Very Useful Bag” cometh, are an Estate Agents local to the North London area, who seems to have a very green – pun intended – conscience (see their website here and here).
One can only hope, and this is where the cynic in me keeps coming through again, that those companies are serious about their green credentials, and I am referring here as much to the likes of Waitrose as I am to Greene & Co Estate Agents, and other companies, and it is not just all a marketing ploy. Being seen to be green in order to attract the ethical and environmentally conscious shopper and customer.
The Bikefest, of which I must admit I did not see all that much as it took me a long while to get across the Green Fair, to be honest, also was a part of the event that looked quite well, to a degree, attended though one could have, I am sure, wished for more people being seriously interested in making a switch from car to bike.
© M Smith (Veshengro), June 2008
Camden Green Fair & Bikefest 2008
