Eco Communities and Hoole Community Centre are building on the success of last year’s Hoole Green Action Fair to launch two exciting new community initiatives in 2026, The Hoole Green Hub and The Hoole Green Business Map. Both will be officially launched as part of this year’s Hoole Green Festival, which opens with a community event at Hoole Community Centre on Saturday 28th March. 

Hoole Green Hub is a ‘Refill, Reuse & Repair’ scheme for the community there, linking directly with Eco Communities, the Hoole based community enterprise’s online Full Circle Shop.

It will be the first location for Eco Communities offering the collection and refill for laundry and cleaning products, saving tonnes of single-use plastic bottles each year. 

The Hub will also offer reusable party and event kits to hire, a drop-off point for hard-to-recycle medical blister packs, and support for practical ways residents can reduce waste and save money.

The Hoole Green Business Map celebrates Hoole’s independent businesses and helps residents make more sustainable choices while shopping locally. The map encourages

• Shopping Local; Keeping money in the community and reducing transport emissions,

• Eating Seasonal, Local & Responsible Food from bakers and greengrocers to fishmongers and butchers; fresher food with fewer food miles.

• Eat Out Sustainably supporting cafés and restaurants prioritising local suppliers and seasonal menus, 

• Refill & Reuse bringing your own containers and using refill options where available. 

• It also Supports Local Artists by encouraging the choice of gifts and artwork from independent shops showcasing local creatives, 

• Sustainable Fashion by shopping for second-hand and pre-loved items on the high street and encourages 

• Repair, Don’t Replace extending the life of clothes and shoes using local repair services. 

Helen Tandy, Founder of Eco Communities said; “These two initiatives are about making it easy for people to live more sustainably. The Hoole Green Hub and Green Business Map give practical, local options that support both the planet and the community on our doorstep with plans to extend this concept into more parts of Cheshire.” 

She added; “The map isn’t just for the festival, it’s designed to be a lasting resource for the community. It will be updated annually by the not-for-profit team at Eco Communities, who support green projects at Hoole Community Centre and are also behind Chester Green Weekend each June.”  

Printed maps will be available in Hoole businesses, and many Hoole residents will also receive copies through their doors through April

Donna Collings, Manager, Hoole Community Centre summarised; “It’s brilliant to see sustainability made simple with the projects now in place. Having refills, repair options and local food all highlighted in one place makes it much easier for Hoole users to read about and make greener choices.”