Soham “Greener Together” Initiative Launch at the Pumpkin Fair

The East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network is working in partnership with Soham Town Council to develop and run the “Soham Greener Together” Initiative to inspire, educate and persuade the people of the town of Soham and the surrounding areas to work together on projects that create a greener, lower carbon community that reduces the impact of climate change and increases the biodiversity of their community.

The Initiative will be launched at the Pumpkin Fair on the 28 September 2024 by local MP Charlotte Cane – who will also announce the winner of the Logo Competition. The East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network (the Network) will have a Gazebo at the Fair with display boards listing many of the activities that local people could get involved. The purpose of being at the event is to engage with as many local people as possible, sign them up to wanting to know more and encourage them to get involved and organise any activities and events under the umbrella of the Initiative.

The 1^st phase of the Initiative will run from the end of September till the end of December 2024. With a 2^ndphase from January till April 2025 ending with the “Greener Together Fair” on Saturday 26 April at The Pavilion, Soham. From May 2025 onwards it is hoped that various activities will be run by Soham people supported by the East Cambridgeshire Climate Action Network.

During the 1^st Phase there are plans for the following activities: –

• Awareness raising stand at the Pumpkin Fair
• Swishing Event (clothes swop)
• The inaugural Soham Earth (Climate) Café – informal discussion group stimulated by a speaker – 20^th October 2024
• An activity focused at younger adults
• Various events and displays at Soham library
• A display at Soham Sports Hall
• At least one talk to a community group

According to a newspaper report of the time, the first event in 1975 was intended as a contest between allotment holders and Village College pupils, but it attracted many entrants from outside Soham with more than 80 Pumpkins being entered altogether.

The heaviest pumpkin of the day was grown by Mr L Setchell of Witcham with a weight of 62lb 14oz. Mr George Smith of Bushell Lane won the Soham prize with his pumpkin weighing 61lb 5oz.

There was also a flower-arranging competition and a decorated vegetable competition. Susan Taylor won the Flower arranging and Anita Mann won the Best Decorated Vegetable. Judges included A.E.Lawrence (Headmaster of Soham Village College) and Walter Gidney (Town Councillor and Fruit and Vegetable business owner).

Money was raised by stalls in the Church Hall that were run by various organisations such as the Brownies, Scouts and Over 60s to name a few, but also by individuals like a young chap called Jeremy Lane who sold books and games (he would have only been 12 at the time!)

Just over £170 was raised for the church roof restoration fund by the first fair.