WHAT’S ON – JULY 2026
Plastic Free July
This July, the Plastic Free Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to ending global plastic waste, is encouraging people to avoid single-use cups, plastic drink bottles and plastic food wrap in a collective effort to combat plastic pollution.
“The significance of preventing waste before it enters our ecosystem cannot be stressed enough,” says the campaign’s founder, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz. “Simply choose one item to pledge to avoid during July and give it a try.”
You can sign up for the challenge on the Plastic Free July website.
Alcohol Awareness Week (6-12 July)
Our thinking about drinking, as a society, is wonky. Drinking is not inevitable. Or compulsory. We don’t need a doctor’s note to excuse us from swan-diving into wine”, writes Catherine Gray in The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.
The theme for Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 is Alcohol and me.
“It’s time for alcohol to stop playing such a centre-stage role in our lives and in our society. We don’t need to be surrounded by alcohol marketing everywhere we go”, says Alcohol Change UK, the force behind this annual campaign.
The message is upbeat: alcohol harm is not inevitable and change is possible. During the week, there’s a focus on tools to help you understand how alcohol might be affecting your health and wellbeing, top tips for cutting down and stories of change.
More info and support details are available on the Alcohol Change UK website.
> Ditch the Hangover: Is it time to examine the cultural and commercial forces that shape our drinking?
> Women & Wine: Kate Muir explores the science and how changing our drinking habits can bring new joy.
The Big Butterfly Count (17 July – 9 August)
This nationwide citizen science survey, run by Butterfly Conservation, was launched in 2010 and has grown into the world’s biggest survey of butterflies.
Butterflies are sensitive indicators of environmental health, so tracking them matters for biodiversity more widely too.
The Big Butterfly Count 2026 reopens on 1 July, ahead of the main counting period between 17 July and 9 August.
The project has received backing from Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham, Nick Baker, Joanna Lumley OBE and Alan Titchmarsh MBE, alongside other prominent conservation voices.
Find out how to take part on the Big Butterfly Count website.
National Marine Week (25 July – 9 August)
Coastal walks, rockpool safaris and beach cleans are some of the events planned for The Wildlife Trusts’ nationwide celebration of marine life and coastal environments.
The charity’s website has details of upcoming events and includes a guide to reducing plastic use, with tips like choosing bars of soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles.
Lead picture credit: Lee Jeffs on Unsplash
