Since the end of Lockdown, a small group has been meeting every month to make ecobricks - a joint endeavour between MCA and the Quaker Friends.
The project is nearly complete and we will be building a planter in the Meeting House garden. The structure is to be built with the ecobricks and held together and protected from the elements by cob. We aim to have it completed by the end of August.
We all know how bad the fashion industry is for the planet, with high carbon emissions and pollution, so we held another Clothes Swap in May (this time with media included), encouraging people to wear ‘preloved’ clothes instead of buying new. Good for the planet as well as people’s purses. We plan to hold another on Saturday, 23 November.
Also planned for the Autumn is a Fashion Show for Buxton and Leek College, organised by New Mills Fashion Activistas and supported by us. It will consist of upcycled and altered clothes, showing the students what can be done with a little imagination and a needle and thread! Each piece will have a story behind it and an environmental message. The show will be in college, for the students, but we are looking for anyone who has sewing skills and can create wonderful outfits to add to the show – please get in touch if you can. If you don’t want to model it we will find someone who can!
If you feel you can get involved in any way please get in touch!
You will probably be aware that Leek is now a Plastic Free Community. It took two and a half years of hard work but we did it! Thanks to the Sus Con team and all the businesses and organisations who have supported us. Apart from encouraging people to use less single use plastic, it’s been a great way to get to know people and make friends in the community.
We are still working hard to keep the momentum going, looking for new businesses and allies to continue the fight against plastics. So, if you know of any businesses or organisations who are interested in reducing their single use plastics, please get in touch.
Businesses that are already Plastic Free Champions can apply for the Silver and Gold Awards too by making more changes, including avoiding using plastics from the ‘Top Offenders List’ – such things as plastic bottles, plastic carrier bags, bathroom plastics, plastic packaging and balloons. They are also asked to support a local plastic free initiative, spreading the plastic free message in the community.
I’m thrilled that Homeward Studio has been officially recognised as a Plastic Free Champion as part of Plastic Free Communities, an ambitious community initiative designed to unite and empower organisations to reduce their collective plastic footprint.
I joined the Sustainable Consumer Group in September 2023 and was immediately invited to apply to become a Plastic Free Champion as part of the Surfers Against Sewage national Plastic Free Communities scheme.
The group aims to raise public awareness of how overconsumption is affecting our planet and how simple lifestyle changes can alter that. I was particularly interested in how it was trying to help people and businesses in our area consume less and recycle, repair and repurpose more. It also champions buying locally sourced, seasonal and organic food from local butchers and greengrocers, and encourages people to buy locally sourced and produced items to cut down on the transport needed to get the items to the shops.
As you will hopefully be aware, the Sustainable Consumer group has been working towards Leek becoming a Plastic Free Community and we are finally there.
We needed 12 local businesses to become Plastic Free Champions and now we have reached our target!
We also needed 30 Plastic Free Allies. These are clubs, organisations, churches, Scouts, etc. In fact, anything that isn’t a business. Until very recently, we had 29 of these and NOW have just had the 30th sign up.
We have also promoted Plastic Free through stalls, talks to groups such as WIs and U3A, litter picks, a Plastic Free harvest festival and plastic free picnics. More events will be held going forward to keep plastic firmly in the public eye! The Town Council have also given us their full backing.
It’s really exciting to have reached Plastic Free Status. It has been three years of hard work. I am hoping to hold a celebration event for everyone when we have earned it. Watch this space!
Back in 2021, our Sustainable Consumerism group started a campaign to get Plastic-free status for Leek. Sally Perry has been beavering away at this, largely behind the scenes, but is now very close. Here’s an update from her:
Most of you will hopefully be aware that we need at least 12 businesses to become Plastic Free Champions and actively reduce their use of single use plastics, and 30 Community Allies who try to use less and encourage others to do so.
I am very pleased to let you know that we now have 11 businesses and 27 Allies!! We are nearly there. I am very keen to have a final push and if we could achieve Plastic Free Status for Leek before Christmas it would be amazing!!
If you own a business or work for someone locally, in ST13, and think you might like to become a Plastic Free Business Champion, please get in touch. Twelve is our target but I’m not stopping there!