Guest Blog: a weekend of nature, creativity and connection
The much-loved Festival of Thrift returned to the beautiful surroundings of Kirkleatham Museum and Grounds on 4 and 5 July 2026, bringing together thousands of visitors to celebrate sustainable living, creativity, and our connection with the natural world.
Members of the Young Rewilders Networking Group (YOUNG) committee, alongside Climate Action North CEO Sharon Lashley, and Marine Associate Georgina Fuller joined the festival to offer opportunities for visitors to connect with nature through hands-on activities, creative workshops, and conversations about rewilding and environmental action.
Across the weekend, around 600 people visited the stall to take part in willow weaving, create artwork using natural materials, and explore ocean-themed activities.
Daniel Harrison, Vice Chair of the Young Rewilders Networking Group, shares his highlights from the weekend below.
Day one of the Festival of Thrift with the YOUNG group
Last weekend, Bonnie Chapman, Sharon Lashley and I attended the Festival of Thrift at Kirkleatham Park, Redcar. Our first day was filled with fun, nature-inspired arts and crafts, where visitors could create their own willow mandalas using eco-friendly wool, while families also had the chance to colour in animal masks.
The workshops proved to be a huge success, with over 260 visitors stopping by our stall! We received some fantastic feedback, with many participants saying the willow weaving was calming and could be a beneficial activity for their mental wellbeing.
We also had some lovely conversations with visitors about rewilding and the North East Rewilding Network. It was inspiring to see so many families sharing a passion for nature.
It was a fantastic and busy first day, and a great success for both the YOUNG group and the North East Rewilding Network.
Day two of the Festival of Thrift with the YOUNG Group
Bonnie Chapman and I joined Georgina Fuller for another busy day, this time filled with marine-themed activities.
Visitors took part in an interactive seaweed workshop, where they learned how much of the world’s oxygen comes from the ocean. Throughout the day, oxygen collected in the measuring cylinder, demonstrating just how quickly seaweed produces oxygen.
Alongside this, families engaged with ocean-themed arts and crafts. Participants created their own sand art using seashells and pebbles, while others enjoyed some ocean colouring activities. It was fantastic to see so many families expressing their creativity in different ways.
We also promoted ocean literacy by sharing a range of resources designed to encourage visitors to learn more about ocean science.
Overall, the Festival of Thrift was a great success for the YOUNG Group and the North East Rewilding Network.
Across the weekend, we had the opportunity to engage with hundreds of visitors, inspire conversations about nature, and share our passion for rewilding. It was brilliant to see so many people getting involved, learning new skills, and discovering different ways to connect with the natural world.
We would like to thank everyone who visited our stand and took part in the activities, and we hope to see you again at future events!
YOUNG is supported by National Lottery funding through Awards for All England – Environment. This enables young people aged 18 to 30 across the North East to lead community rewilding activities, develop practical skills, and explore opportunities in the green sector.
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The time for talking is over, today we need to act.