Great Big Green Week is underway, with communities across the UK coming together to celebrate action for climate and nature.

Running from 6 to 14 June 2026, Great Big Green Week is a national moment for people, groups and organisations to take action for their communities, for nature and for the climate.

Here in North Yorkshire, Community First Yorkshire is using the week to highlight how climate action can start close to home. Through Village Green, a three-year project led by Community First Yorkshire and funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, communities are being supported to take practical, meaningful steps towards a greener future.

From saving energy in community buildings and creating more space for wildlife, to growing food, sharing skills, travelling differently and starting conversations, Great Big Green Week is a reminder that small steps can make a big community difference.

Climate change can feel huge, but many of the most powerful changes begin locally. For communities in North Yorkshire, climate action can mean warmer village halls, lower energy bills, healthier places to walk and cycle, more resilient green spaces, stronger local connections and better preparation for flooding, heat and drought.

Take the next step at the Community Climate Conference
Great Big Green Week is about celebrating action. The Community Climate Conference 2026 is about helping people build on it.

The free one-day conference in York will bring together community climate groups, village halls, VCSE organisations, community anchors, change makers and others from across York and North Yorkshire. It will explore practical climate action, with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, local success stories and a marketplace where people can meet groups already taking action in their communities.

Patrick, from the Village Green project, is helping to organise this year’s conference. He said:

“We’ve got some great community groups who are going to be leading workshops and are also going to be part of our brilliant marketplace session.”
He added that the marketplace will give people the chance to “sit down, talk to them and understand how we can do community climate action back in our own communities.”

Patrick also highlighted that the event will include lunch and that tickets are free, encouraging people to book their place and get involved.

Small steps. Local action. Big community difference.
Community First Yorkshire’s Great Big Green Week page brings together practical ideas, local stories and simple actions communities can try. It also links to the Community Climate Conference, where people can meet others, ask questions, share ideas and leave with inspiration to take back to their own community.

Whether your group is already taking action, just starting out, or looking for the next useful step, Great Big Green Week is a chance to celebrate what is possible when communities come together.

Find out more about Great Big Green Week in North Yorkshire and book your place at the Community Climate Conference.