Free Green Week events bring Derby communities together

Great Big Green Week will bring a run of free climate and sustainability events to Derby this June, with residents, schools, community groups and environmental organisations taking part across the city.

The programme runs from Saturday 6 June to Sunday 28 June 2026 at locations including St Philip’s Church in Chaddesden, Cathedral Green, St Peter’s Church and QUAD. Events are free, although some parts of the wider programme require booking through the relevant venue or organiser websites, including the QUAD screening and some city centre activities listed by the BIDs.

The events are aimed at Derby residents, families, schools, community groups and anyone interested in greener living, local climate action, food, recycling or neighbourhood projects.

Free events across Derby in June

This year is the sixth Great Big Green Week, with the national theme of Together for Good. Derby City Council said the aim is to bring people together around practical action for nature, climate and stronger local ties.

In Derby, the programme has a local shape: church halls, city centre spaces, school workshops, a food festival, a market and a public film screening. The Council’s Recycling Team will join several activities, while Derby Climate Coalition and Greener Littleover are also part of the wider local programme.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said the week was a chance to celebrate climate action already happening in Derby and encourage more residents to get involved.

“Many residents are already making small changes in their daily lives, whether that’s recycling more, reducing food waste, using public transport or supporting local community projects,” she said. “Together, these actions make a real difference.”

Dates, venues and times to note

The Ecofair at St Philip’s Church opens the listed Derby activities on Saturday 6 June, giving residents a weekend entry point into the programme. The Warm Welcome Café session follows in Blagreaves on Tuesday 9 June, with the Council’s Recycling Team also involved.

Saturday 13 June is the busiest date in the source programme. Cathedral Green will host the Regenerative Food Festival, while St Peter’s Church will host the Great Big Green Week Market from 11am to 4pm.

Schools, food and climate science on the programme

Alongside the public events, workshops will be delivered with schools in the Normanton and Arboretum areas. The source says these sessions are intended to help children learn early about the importance of community action.

The food and market events give the week a practical city-centre focus. The Regenerative Food Festival and the Great Big Green Week Market are the clearest options for residents who want to drop into a public event linked to food, stalls or everyday sustainability themes.

After the main Great Big Green Week activity, Derby Climate Coalition will hold a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing on Sunday 28 June at QUAD. The public film covers current climate science and solutions for impacts already being seen in Derby, including extreme heat and flooding. Tickets are free and can be booked through QUAD.

Greener Littleover also organised a Great Little Green Week during the May half-term holiday, designed to help more children and families take part in daytime activities. That programme included special guests Gemma Hunt and the Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire.

How to take part

Residents can attend the free public events listed across Derby, with the first confirmed activity taking place at St Philip’s Church in Chaddesden on Saturday 6 June from 11am to 3pm.

For the QUAD screening on Sunday 28 June, tickets are free but booking is required through QUAD. For the Great Big Green Week Market and other city centre activities, residents are directed to check the BIDs website and social media channels for more events.

The confirmed locations named in the programme are St Philip’s Church, Blagreaves, Cathedral Green, St Peter’s Church and QUAD.

Source: Derby City Council