Excitement is building in Kenilworth as the town prepares for its first Clean Air Day event on Sunday 16 June.

Taking place from 10am to 3pm at Abbey End, this fun family-friendly event will bring the town together with the aim of raising awareness of air quality as a health and environmental issue, empowering residents to take action.

A traffic-free one-mile 'active travel loop' will set off from Abbey End at 11am, led by various well-known Kenilworth faces.

The loop encourages everyone to walk, wheel, cycle, or scoot along the route, promoting the positive effects of active travel for both physical and mental wellbeing, and air quality.

Free bike hire will be available on the day with adapted bikes, Brompton bikes, e-cargo bikes, kids bikes and a variety of other adult bikes of all shapes and sizes, allowing anyone to enjoy the traffic-free loop.

The event will also feature music from 'Chaos', a pedal-powered band who will also give you the chance to take part in a lightbulb challenge by generating electricity through pedalling.

Lots of local businesses are taking part in Kenilworth Clean Air Day (image supplied)

Local businesses will be providing food and refreshments, including:

• Burgers and more from local plastic free champion Albion Street Kitchen
• Samosas, crepes, waffles, and gelato from Milk & Mocha
• Halloumi wraps, cakes and more Greek specialties from My Greek Station
• Thai curries and lots more from Nur Nur Paradise
• La Ari will be opening for the day (usually closed on Sunday)
• Freshly cooked pizzas will be available from the Wedding Pizza Company.

Cllr Zoe Leventhal, one of the organisers of the event alongside Cllr Alison Insley, said: "I'm really excited for Kenilworth's first of hopefully many Clean Air Day events.

"We'll have plenty of information stalls on improving air quality and lots of support available for people looking to take that first step with active travel.

"You can buy a second-hand bike from The Cycle Recycler, learn some new cycle skills from Cycle Infinity and then try them out on our active travel loop, all in one day!"

Cllr Insley added: "We're really pleased to be bringing this event in to the heart of the town, bringing residents together to unite in improving our air quality.

"This is a low carbon event, with no single use plastic so we're encouraging residents to bring their own water bottle to refill at our free water stations and bring a reusable cup for any hot drinks!

"We look forward to seeing everyone from 10am on Sunday 16 June, where our event will be opened by the Bicycle Mayor, Simon Storey, the Mayor of Kenilworth, Cllr Alan Chalmers, and the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Rajvinder Kaur Gill."

Clean Air Day is set to be a fun-filled family day (image supplied)

Further information about the event can be found on Kenilworth Town Council's website.

The event organisers would like to thank the sponsors:

• KidVelo
• Brompton
• Bunji
• Talisman Theatre
• Careys
• Educaterers
• The Lion
• Medic Air
• The Almanack
• Budgens, St John's

The Clean Air Day event takes place on the same day as Kenilworth Open Gardens, now in its 14th year.

Sixteen gardens in Kenilworth, including the new community garden on Station Road, will be open from 10am to 5pm to raise funds for the National Garden Scheme.

There are two new gardens on Spring Lane and Vicarage Road together with many others who have opened before. Tickets will available at all the gardens and teas will be provided at St Nicholas Church Hall on High Street. Look out for the posters round the town or visit ww.ngs.org.uk.

The National Garden Scheme provides long term support for nursing and health charities like Hospice UK, Marie Curie, Macmillan and the Carer's Trust. In 2023 it donated £3.4 million to these and other charities from the money raised at garden openings.