This year saw the continuing success and development of the Community Green Fair, held in its third year in South Petherton, South Somerset.
 
Throughout the day an estimated 1,000 people visited the event, the weather stayed dry and the stalls holders and public alike gave positive feedback, with lots of interest in the displays on recycling, renewable energy, sustainable building, local food production and sustainable communities. Interesting features from this year included Pedal Power interactive workshops, wandering Mermaids, an environmental mandala, and the Blackdown Hills Samba band workshop and procession. A welcome new event was the youth bands line up and mixed media & music events held in the David Hall, down in the village. This saw the involvement of over 100 young musicians and their supporters. It is hoped that in 2005 we will obtain a License to enable us to run youth music activities on site. The Green Craft area continues to expand with a wide variety of rural crafts demonstrations all situated around the central Peace Yurt, a quiet oasis in the middle of the festive atmosphere. Kids activities included the SSDC Playbus, mask making, and clay modelling.
 
Feedback from the South Petherton Parish Council was good and they are happy for us to hold the event again on the recreation ground in 2005. We continue to receive support from the South Petherton Scouts, who kindly give us the use of their hut and facilities, and the Pavilion Sports Club who liase with the Cricket club, help with storage and open their licensed bar to the public for the day. More local groups were involved this year, taking up the opportunity to have a stall and raise their own funds, while contributing to the sustainable communities theme.

The Green Fair started with funds from a lottery grant, which covered the first 2 years. 2004 was the first year the event was run without grant aid. Sponsorship money was obtained by 4 local businesses and money was collected on the day, through stall fees, donations, raffle, the bouncy castle, adverts in the programme and the Green Info Café. The surplus amount raised will enable us to provide the basic infrastructure (tents, toilets, insurance etc.) in 2005.
 
Fundraising is already underway for further activities and further grant applications are being made, to run workshops in the wider community (across south Somerset) on environmental arts themes, and a windmill project in the South Petherton Primary School.  The Community Green Fair is building a good reputation as a creative, fun day out which brings together people from all walks of life together to find out about and support local sustainable initiatives of all kinds. Our thanks go out to all the people who give their time and energy to making the event the success it is. We continue to rely on the goodwill of volunteers and welcome any offers of help. If you think you could help in any way, from fundraising to running a craft activity or performing a show, or if you would like to run a display on recycling, renewable energy, or sustainable communities, please contact us in the first instance by e-mail.