Events launched across Wales in over 12 communities to show they care about the future of our planet.

WWF’s Earth Hour is a global movement, which brings hundreds of millions of people together across the world to unite and show that they care about the future of our planet, our one shared home.

This year Earth Hour took place on Saturday March 25th 8:30-9:30pm. Thousands of people, businesses, landmarks and communities across Wales showed their support by switching off their lights and through inspiring, innovative local projects.

Welsh landmarks which switched off this year included The Senedd, Cardiff Castle, City Hall, The Pierhead and Ty Hywel!

Today at 8.30pm we’ll be switching off lights at Cardiff Castle, City Hall and the Barrage for an hour, in support of the @wwfcymru #BiggestHourForEarth #EarthHourWales

Find out more here: https://t.co/2cWPMMjWyj pic.twitter.com/NoqQ7ZpH4s

— Cardiff Council (@cardiffcouncil) March 25, 2023

Thanks to a community grant from WWF Cymru, groups throughout Wales took action for people and planet, including:

Orchard Cardiff organized a series of creative workshops at Railway gardens on the 25^th of March from 2 to 4 in the afternoon, raising awareness of fruit trees’ important contribution to biodiversity. During 3 free family friendly workshops they would like to celebrate and creatively explore our relationships with fruit trees and their place in the urban ecosystem.
Llantilio Pertholey Primary School in Abergavenny will be renovating an overgrown area of their school grounds to restore the school pond. They are hoping it will have a wonderful impact on the biodiversity of the local community by kick starting their endeavor on the 24^th of March where they celebrated Earth Hour while at school!
Is-Bwyllgor Eco Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni’s eco subcommittee for Earth Hour this year worked very hard to ensure that everyone is aware of the importance of saving energy as a result of the effect on the environment as well as recycling! They did so by having their prize event take place on the 24^th of March to celebrate Earth Hour during school hours!
BAME Mental Health Support in Swansea purchased sewing machines, sewing and quilting kits with the help of the grant to celebrate Earth Hour by building and sewing their first quilt on the day to have ready to use for the hour in the evening. They held an event on the evening of the 25^th of March from 6-10.
Pwyllgor Ardal NaN in the villages of Nebo and Nasareth, are a voluntary group that used the grant money to install fences, picnic benches and orchards to not only help improve the social area of the park but to also help maintain its biodiversity. On the 25^th of March evening from 5 to 10, they held an opening party for all the residents to reflect on what this project will bring both for the environment and their well-being.
Tanio held an all-day Earth Hour event on the 25^th of March, to celebrate the day and the hour with the local community in Bettws, Newport! They hosted a family workshop in the afternoon to create shadow jars using recycled paper and donated jars which was then followed by an environment and conservation focused storytelling session on the hour of Earth Hour wherein all the lights where switched off and the shadow jars where switched on! The day will finally ended with a disco powered by the shadow jars too!
Friends of Dunvant Park used Earth Hour to kick off 12 months of community activity in Dunvant Park based around improving its biodiversity and engaging the local community. For Earth Hour they hosted a ‘’Pizza in the park’’ evening with hot drinks, torches and blankets on the 25^th of March from 6 to 10 in the evening. They held conversations around Earth Hour, what it means to them and what actions they can take locally to tackle climate change and improve the flora and fauna of their park!
Pele Rocket– a production house from Bridgend made a film for Earth Hour this year called ‘Cycle Path’ (to be released on Earth Day) which highlighted climate frustration and the importance of it and will hopefully encourage people to take more action towards improving the environment and the climate! While the filming only took place on the 1^st of April, the group showed their support for Earth Hour via social media on the day!

Rhian Brewster, Head of Communications at WWF Cymru said:

“It’s heart warming and inspiring to see so many people across Wales come together to support Earth Hour and help shape a better future for people, nature and climate in Wales and the World.

Many of these communities, individuals and businesses have bought their own interpretation of how to mark Earth Hour – but are all united in the belief that we can all make positive changes to bring our world back to life.”