Mayor Opens Haywards Heath’s First Eco Fair

Haywards Heath took an exciting step towards a greener future on Saturday 28th February, as residents gathered for the town’s very first Eco Fair, held from 9.30am to 12.30pm. The event brought together local people, community groups and sustainability champions for a lively and inspiring morning focused on practical climate action and environmental awareness.

Town Mayor, Cllr Duncan Pascoe, opening the Haywards Heath Eco Fair

Town Mayor, Cllr Duncan Pascoe, with a representative from the Plant Based Treaty

A stall at the Haywards Heath Eco Fair

Attendees at the Haywards Heath Eco Fair

Attendees and Stall Holders at the Haywards Heath Eco Fair

At the heart of the celebrations was the attendance of Mayor Duncan Pascoe, who officially opened and closed the fair with short speeches, marking the importance of the occasion for the whole town. His presence highlighted the growing local commitment to supporting environmental initiatives and working together as a community.

The fair was organised and hosted by the Haywards Heath Baptist Church Eco Team, whose hard work created a welcoming space for residents to explore ways to live more sustainably. Their vision for a collaborative, informative and friendly event was clear from the moment the doors opened.

A wide range of local environmental and sustainability groups hosted stalls, offering advice, resources and plenty of inspiration. Throughout the morning, each group also gave a short talk upstairs, inviting residents to:

• learn more about local environmental projects

• discover practical ways to reduce their impact

• find out how they could get involved

From conservation and recycling to energy saving and wildlife initiatives, the fair showcased the depth of passion and expertise already present in Haywards Heath.

With 260 residents coming through the doors, the event had a wonderful atmosphere. The steady flow of visitors created a real buzz, with conversations, new connections and ideas being shared across the venue.

As the first Eco Fair for the town, the event felt like the beginning of something special. It demonstrated the strong appetite within the community for positive environmental action and collaboration.

The morning closed with a sense of optimism and momentum. If this first fair is anything to go by, Haywards Heath has an inspiring and sustainable journey ahead - and the whole community will be eager to see what comes next.