'Love Your Weymouth' environmentally themed family festival

The free event, Love Your Weymouth. took place on the second floor of the Weymouth Town Council Chambers on Commercial Road yesterday.

This is the first time the event has been held. It aims to bring people together from across town to get tips on energy-saving, healthy eating and what can be done to tackle the effects of climate change.

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To this end, the town council-organised festival featured a main hall full of stalls from the likes of Dorset Nature, The Ranch, Friendly Food Club, Greenpeace and the Weymouth Repair Café as well as presentations throughout the day.

Children made hanging water catchers, and windmills whilst a face painter did nature-themed face paints including butterflies.

Andy Venning was visiting the town on holiday from Southampton with his family.

He said: "It was a rainy day and we saw this was on so we popped in.

"We have done the nature stuff in the other hall, saw some kids with painted faces so we have done that."

Andy's daughter Lucy had her face painted (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Gemma Hughes, from Weymouth, attended with her daughter Dorothy.

Gemma said: "It is always good to see these about being greener, and it is nice they have done something for the children. Dorothy wants to see the bugs as well."

Gemma Hughes with her daughter Dorothy (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

The Ranch gave visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with some unusual animals, including a bearded dragon, and a snake named Potato.

Tree Graham holding Potato the snake (who was named by children) (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Lizzie Williamson, from Weymouth, said: "There is something for the kids to do and the climate interests me.

"I have spoken to a few people at the stalls and taken some leaflets. It is the little things like the spaghetti measuring tool and how to set up ponds that interested me."

There was also an opportunity to enjoy a cycle-powered smoothie courtesy of Sustrans, the sustainable travel charity.

Ants On A Rock also appeared to give a talk about invertebrates and how to look after them.

In response to the climate threat, Weymouth Town Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and is committed to making the council’s activities net zero carbon by 2030.