EcoLocal

22/09/2026

Perhaps the stage is not for you, but you still fancy joining the spectacle? You are most welcome to don your finest fancy dress, turn up on the day and promenade around the fair in character. Victorian dress, old-fashioned hats, festive finery and wonderfully imaginative creations will all help bring a little extra magic to Carshalton.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE—A CALL TO LOCAL PERFORMERS!

Would you like to bring your talents to the Carshalton Frost Fair?

On Saturday 5th December 2026, from 1pm to 6pm, our much-loved fair returns to the picturesque setting of Carshalton Ponds. We are seeking merry performers of all kinds to help fill the afternoon with music, dancing and good cheer.

The fair has two performance areas: an amplified stage and a separate choir and demonstration area. We would be delighted to hear from:

• Choirs and singing groups
• Street dancers and dance groups
• Morris, folk and other traditional dance sides
• Acoustic musicians and small musical groups
• Family entertainers
• Unusual, creative and curious acts

Perhaps the stage is not for you, but you still fancy joining the spectacle? You are most welcome to don your finest fancy dress, turn up on the day and promenade around the fair in character. Victorian dress, old-fashioned hats, festive finery and wonderfully imaginative creations will all help bring a little extra magic to Carshalton.

All performances should be suitable for a family audience and in keeping with the friendly, traditional spirit of the Frost Fair. Loud rock bands and other high-volume acts would, we fear, be better suited to another gathering!

All who take part do so as volunteers. The Frost Fair is brought to life by a wonderful band of volunteers, and our performers play a very special part in making the occasion memorable for the whole community.

If you or your merry troupe would like to be considered, pray complete our short performer application form:

https://forms.gle/2NGLvp7WqJyopnjR8

Please spread the word far and wide—or tag a talented local performer who might wish to join the festivities!

www.ecolocal.org.uk

22/09/2026

Calling all local gardeners!

Join us in Carshalton this Friday 25th Sept for an inspiring evening talk on “Flowers for Urban Wildlife”.

Discover how to grow beautiful flowers while providing valuable food, shelter and habitat for local wildlife. From choosing wildlife-friendly plants to making the most of the space you have, the evening will offer plenty of practical ideas and inspiration.

Whether you have a large garden, a small plot, a balcony or just a few pots, you’ll find useful suggestions for creating a more colourful and welcoming space for bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

The talk will be presented by Sarah Foss, whose talks are always enjoyable and informative.

Friday 25th September
7.30pm–9.00pm
Garden Hall, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton SM5 3NX
£4 entry—cash or card on the night

There’s no need to book, so simply come along. Your entry fee includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Arrive circa 7.20pm for a 7.30pm start. Limited parking on site - see link below.

While you’re here, why not take a quick look at our secret Walled Garden too?

https://www.ecolocal.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Garden-Hall-map-with-parking.pdf

We look forward to welcoming you!

14/09/2026

There's still time to book on our Gardening Fundamentals Evening Class - starts Thursday this week - https://mailchi.mp/ecolocal/ecolocal-news-4877743

09/09/2026

EcoLocal September News - https://mailchi.mp/ecolocal/ecolocal-news-4877667

09/09/2026

She had come to Wallington Farmers’ Market for tomatoes. Nothing more.

Then she saw him across the stalls, holding a loaf of sourdough as though he knew exactly what she’d been missing.

“Something sweet?” he asked.

She glanced at the cakes, pastries and artisan chocolate. This was no time for restraint.

As live jazz drifted from the bandstand, she wandered past freshly harvested microgreens, aubergines, cucumbers and sweet peppers. New-season apples and pears caught her eye; foraged and locally grown mushrooms promised dinner possibilities. There were Kent cobnuts, UK walnuts and fresh fruit juices—and she was only getting started.

She lingered over jams, marmalades, jellies and chutneys, fresh sauces, passata and chilli sauces. Local honey offered sweetness; peanut butter promised a lasting attachment.

Then came the free-range, grass-fed meat, poultry, game and eggs, followed by biltong, pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Artisan cheeses and butter stole her heart. Quiche, Middle Eastern baked goods and handmade crackers persuaded her to buy a little more.

Among the local artists’ handmade baskets, jewellery, handmade candles and aromatherapy skincare, she found the perfect candle for dinner.

By the time she returned to the bread stall, her basket was full.

“Just tomatoes?” he asked, smiling.

“Plans change,” she replied.

Find your own market romance at Wallington Farmers’ Market, this Saturday 12th September, 9am–1pm, outside the Old Town Hall & Library Gardens.

Fresh food, handmade treasures and live jazz in the bandstand. Come for the tomatoes. Leave a little smitten.

08/09/2026

Want to become a better gardener? Start here.

Why does one plant thrive while another struggles? When should you prune – and what happens if you get it wrong? How do you take cuttings, deal with pests, choose the right plants or turn a collection of plants into a garden that really works?

Our 10-week Gardening Fundamentals evening course starts on Thursday 17 September and is a brilliant opportunity to build your gardening knowledge from the ground up.

Led by our expert tutor, the course takes you through the skills and understanding that make gardening so much more rewarding – including pruning, propagation, pests, planting and garden design. You'll begin to understand not just what to do, but why you're doing it.

It's ideal if you're relatively new to gardening, want to fill in the gaps in what you've picked up over the years, or are thinking about taking your horticultural knowledge further. And because the course is taught indoors, you don't even need to have a garden of your own to take part.

But don't leave it too long. This is one of our most popular courses and it normally fills up, with no spaces left once it gets underway. If you've been thinking you'd like to know more about gardening, now's the time to book.

10 Thursday evenings from 17 September 2026, 7pm–9pm
The Garden Hall, EcoLocal, The Lodge, Carshalton SM5 3NX

By spring, you'll be looking at every leaf, flower and border with fresh eyes.

Places are limited – book yours while they're still available.

https://www.ecolocal.org.uk/food-growing/growing-training/gardening-fundamentals-10-week-evening-course-2/

27/08/2026

How much can you fit into one Bank Holiday Monday?

27/08/2026

PIMM’S IN THE PARK – AND ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

Surely a summer Bank Holiday, Carshalton Park and a glass of Pimm’s were made for each other?

This Monday at the Carshalton EcoFair, volunteers Joe and Kerry will be running our Pimm’s stall – serving up a suitably summery glass while raising money for EcoLocal’s Inclusive Cycling project.

Our inclusive cycling sessions give people of different ages and abilities the opportunity to enjoy cycling in a safe, supportive environment, using our fantastic range of adapted cycles.

So when the sun is shining, the music is playing and you’re wondering what might make your EcoFair afternoon just that little bit better, you know where to head…

Buy a Pimm’s, raise a glass and help support Inclusive Cycling at the same time.

A huge thank you to Joe and Kerry for volunteering to run the stall and raise funds for the project.

Carshalton EcoFair Bank Holiday Monday 31 August | 10.30am–8pm | Carshalton Park

Music, food, 120+ stalls, three solar-powered stages – and now you know where to find the Pimm’s!

www.ecofair.uk

Know someone who might fancy a Pimm’s in the park? Share this with them and make a date for Monday.

26/08/2026