The Burgess Park Climate and Nature Festival is a community-led, open-air climate event that brings climate action directly into the heart of local communities. Held in one of South London’s most historic and diverse green spaces, the festival offers a compelling example of how place-based engagement can drive meaningful climate action.

Formerly a bomb-damaged landscape of devastated homes, factories, lime kilns, canals, and lumber yards, Burgess Park has evolved phoenix-like from the ashes. Today, the 56-hectare park—stretching between Old Kent Road and Walworth Road is home to a wide range of community assets, including sports clubs, gardens, open-air gyms, cafés, and arts and culture organisations. From its popular angling lake and the Chumleigh World Gardens to England’s oldest boxing club and the Olympic medal-winning Peckham BMX track, the park stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, regeneration, and community life.

Organised by INDUS Advisory as part of London Climate Action Week (LCAW)—one of the world’s largest city-wide climate festivals—the event convenes residents, grassroots organisations, and climate leaders to explore practical responses to the climate crisis. It raises awareness of the impacts of climate change not only at a global scale, but also on the park itself, its visitors and surrounding communities, as well as its wildlife, biodiversity, amenities, and physical environment.

Through a dynamic programme of free, community-led activities including workshops, talks, guided walks, clean-up initiatives, and cultural engagements, the festival showcases community responses and motivates climate action.

Ultimately, the festival creates an enabling environment for localized, inclusive, and community-driven climate action, demonstrating how global climate ambition can be translated into meaningful action at the neighbourhood level.