Natural Cumbria is Cumbria’s first eco and holistic directory, which aims to bring visibility to businesses in Cumbria that focus on people and planet, as well as profit. Started by Hatti Burt in July 2019, the directory has quickly grown, has over 60 members and now runs events around The Lake District, to bring a like minded community of business owners together.
Networking Events
Natural Cumbria runs networking events for like-minded businesses which value working in a sustainable and ‘kind’ way. The idea is to bring the businesses owners together to support and inspire one another to work in this direction. Working in this way is not always easy and it’s great to work together and share experiences, rather than from a place of competition.
The first networking event in November was a big success where Amy, from Another Way Charity, came to do a talk and over 30 business owners from all around the county attended.
The second event is on 12th February and will be held at Kat’s Kitchen in Keswick. James from The Square Orange will be talking about his new Eco Cups scheme, which he is launching this month to provide alternatives to the throw away compostable cups and the bamboo refillable cups, which he has found to not be as good as they seem. There will then be an open discussion about sustainable packaging and informal networking and ‘magical connections’ being made.
Natural Cumbria prides itself on building a supportive local community within its members and since it has started many connections have already been made. There will be more networking events around similar themes throughout the year, also based in The Lake District.
Eco Markets
Natural Cumbria is running eco markets in both Keswick and Windermere starting from the end of February.
The Keswick market will be carrying on from the Keswick Plastic Free Market. The aim is to provide locals and visitors with a place to buy eco essentials and other eco, local and ethical products. Both markets focus on minimum plastic, local, ethical and fair trade. Stallholders from all over Cumbria will be attending.
- Keswick Plastic-Free Eco Market – 23rd Feb 1pm – 4.30pm Keswick Methodist Church Hall, Southey Street
- Windermere Eco Market 1st March 1pm – 5pm Marchesi Centre, Holly Road, Windermere
Weddings Fair
Natural Cumbria is also supporting a Natural Weddings zone at the Lake District Wedding Fair on 22nd and 23rd of February. Annabel Chandler from Weddings by Annabel is running this zone. It is great that there is becoming a trend for ‘eco weddings’ and that this air will have a whole zone of it’s own to raise awareness of this.
