Eco home show is back to inspire the future

The Kinder Living Home Show was cancelled last year due to the pandemic – but it is back and promised to be bigger and better this year.

The event was free to attend and allows small business owners and organisations with a goal of ‘going green’ to put themselves out there.

The show consisted of workshops, stalls and demonstrations from eco-friendly companies as a way to promote sustainable living to help the planet.

Horsham District Chairman, Cllr David Skipp, said: “I was very impressed by the show this year and spent nearly three hours visiting stalls and talking to people who are keen to enhance the environment, from a sheep owner whose flock provides wool that can be used as a peat free alternative, can be added to compost or as a deterrent against slugs, to a couple who upcycle old pallets into new wildlife habitats, and eco-friendly churches supporting the Horsham Community Fridge and Food Bank.

“I was impressed by the enthusiasm and determination to tackle the challenges of reducing our carbon footprint. Exhibiters also included wooden floor restorers, a small business lending tools for home improvements, seed exchange stalls and furniture restoration experts. And even a farmer from Devon who runs a vegetable delivery service free of charge!”

Cabinet Member for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Cllr James Wright, said: “Great to meet all the exhibitors at the Kinder Living Show this year, especially Sussex EVs as we are rolling out our network of electrical vehicle chargers in Horsham District car parks to encourage the adoption of low and no-emission vehicles.

“Thank you to the organisers for putting on a great event with exhibitors from across the District and beyond, not just telling people to how to live better but also providing them with the tools and practical knowledge to do so.

“There was an incredible amount of knowledge and tools on how to make better decisions in every aspect of our lives whilst maintaining our living standards and without breaking the bank. I encourage all those interested in protecting our planet to keep an eye on their future events.”

The Kinder Living Home Show was founded by Jeanette Mercer in 2015 after she noticed a gap in the market for a sustainable craft show.

Jeanette has her own interior design business upcycling and remodelling furniture to resell. She said of the show: “It’s not about hard sells, it’s about giving information and inspiration. It’s a safe space to ask questions.”

Jeanette said the team were nervous about this year’s show as it had been cancelled last year, however there had been a positive response from businesses about getting involved.

This year there was also be the added wellbeing section as the team linked positive mental and physical wellbeing to a person’s ability to create a more sustainable future.

As part of the wellbeing section there were teen yoga sessions by Tracy Harris at Summerhouse Yoga.

Yoga has been proven to improve physical and mental health and so Tracy began hosting charity teen yoga sessions after the spike in teen suicide around Horsham.

Other demonstrations and workshops on offer at the home show include: Weald Chiropractic Acupuncture and self help for stress; Kate Batchelor of The Yoga Batch helping sportspeople; and a talk on the Royal Horticultural Society Wellbeing Gardens with Ben Brace.

There were stalls for local businesses to promote their work and answer questions including: Tropic skincare; Friends of Chesworth Farm; Prakruti Creations, Scouts; Rotary Club; and more.

The aim of the show is to provide knowledge as to how to be creative with products you already have, such as upcycling and recycling, rather than buying new.

The donation station was on site to help those who need it most. Rather than asking for money, the donation station accepted old, but still usable, items such as glasses, sleeping bags, inkjet cartridges to be passed on to relevant charities.

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