VILLAGE GREEN FAIR

Sunshine brought an influx of visitors to a village event to rethink waste and how to live a more sustainable life and prevent climate change.
The Sustainable Living Fair at the village hall in Woodhouse Eaves proved popular with people wanting to find out more about how to reduce, reuse and recycle items in their day–to – day lives.
Held by environmental group Woodhouse Eaves Plastic free, accredited by Surfers against Sewage, organiser Gemma Andrews from the village was on – hand to welcome visitors and residents.
“We were inspired by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and with the U.K. second only to the States in producing more plastic waste per person we decided to invite other residents and businesses to come together to share tips,” said Gemma.
A team of women from Quorn and Mountsorrel held a stall of the popular Morsbags stitched from recycled fabric and used to replace plastic in the local greengrocer Apple and Pears and the Agora.
Gemma said many of the businesses and villagers already have plastic–free habits and the group estimates they have so far prevented 2,465kg of CO2 emissions and 330kg of waste with the fair the latest promotion.
Leicestershire County Council waste initiative team led by technician Sallie Butt was on hand to advise on the most effective ways to cut waste and recycle.
She said the council and districts use materials recycling facility Casepak in Leicester to sort the kerb – side collections and have agreed a single list of items that can be taken.
“Otherwise take stuff to the council tip, charity shops or ideally take things to be repaired if you can or use a clothing swap to get more out of something,” she said.
“Engagement amongst visitors today is good. They’re already involved. We’ve been having really good conversations with people sharing ideas and asking questions,” said Mrs Butt.
With an emphasis on reusing to reduce landfill a repair cafe was “overwhelmed” with well over 60 people keen to give everyday household items a new lease of life sharpening tools, fixing lamps, toasters and coffee makers and even printing out new parts.
Retired Rolls Royce engineer Joe Costello demonstrated how 3D printing can make new components for items often chucked out immediately they break.
“Printing out small parts such as a handle on a toaster can extend the use of an item for years,” said Mr Castello.
Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire collected signatures for two campaigns, #LeicsDivest and United for Warm Homes.
Group member Alex Smith said #LeicsDivest is campaigning for no local government pension schemes to be invested in new fossil fuel production.
“We are collecting signatures from residents to ask the people in charge of local government pension schemes withdraw fossil fuel producers from their pot, their mix of investments instead promoting more sustainable businesses,” said Mr Smith.
He said a lot of organisations have divested and morals aside, expensive, insecure energy production makes less economic sense with increased risk from stranded assets in the future; worthless and unsellable with fossil fuels losing to renewable energy.
“We ask all the local MPs and prospective MPs going to be in parliament to make these promises in their election manifestos,” he said.
Other organisations on show included homeless charity Exaireo which takes paint cans with unused paint for their reuse projects to sell in their shop and community interest company B- buddies, accepting old bikes to do up or use as spare parts, re – planters of disused community spaces Incredible Edible and Dr Joanna Helcke’s Zest for Life offered vegan food.
Village resident Lauren Foster attended and said she’s been trying to reduce her use of plastic and single–use items for years.
“I discourage people from giving me them to me as well and this nice event widens the number of people making a difference. I ‘ve bought a couple of things to eat like homemade jams and chutney,” said Lauren.