Thousands of people came together in Nottingham’s Market Square on Saturday 1 June for Green Hustle to enjoy a day of creativity and inspiration to create a lasting green legacy.
With 50 organisations and 100 artists involved, the free festival featured everything from live insects, plant printing and puppet making along with a pop up garden, talks and workshops, circus skills, seed bomb-making and live entertainment on the main stage curated by Cultural Vibrations bringing a vibrancy to the city centre.
Green Hustle said: “Wow – so much joy on show in Old Market Square for Green Hustle Festival 2024! A huge thank you to everyone who came, and especially to all who created and made possible this epic communal journey into our Common Ground.”
Thanks to the Lords Roberts pub and Castle Rock Brewery stepping in with some last minute fundraising, more than 500 nature-friendly plants have now been planted in the permanent beds in the Market Square. Lots of plants were given away by the community and pop-up gardens for people to nurture at home, and 13 new locally created commissioned artworks now decorate city centre planters.
The community kitchen led by food bank Himmah providing pay-as-you-feel food, ensuring the festival was accessible to all, served 550 meals on the day raising £1,500.
Ben Welch, Green Hustle director, said:
“It was great to see people from all our communities come together to enjoy music, dancing, food and ideas.
“There are so many different organisations and community groups doing great work in the environmental space, and Green Hustle gives them an opportunity to share ideas with all our festival goers.
“We hope the thousands who came take away an idea or two of some positive change they can make, as well as having had a great time coming together bringing life and joy to the heart of our city.”
Organisers also thanked festival sponsors It’s in Nottingham, University of Nottingham Institute for Policy and Engagement, Nottingham College and Savoy Systems.
Green Hustle 2024 featured:
A main stage hosted by Cultural Vibrations Unity Through Music
A community cafe from Himmah’s Shalom Salaam Kitchen, providing pay what you feel meals
Creative workshops from Dizzy Ink, Right for Flies
Street Entertainment from Capoeira Nottingham, Circus Hub and artists Laura Decorum and Honey Williams
Pop-up accessible garden showcasing University of Nottingham research
A market featuring independent sustainable retailers, including skin care, zero waste, mushrooms, vegan treats and clothing
Activity and Information stalls from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Keeping It Wild, the Environment Agency, Connecting Notts, Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2028, Bikeworks and more
A talks tent featuring talks about gardening, de-paving the city, bee-keeping and more
An After-Party at Saltbox Bar run by Acoustickle
