13th July 2023 • The HERALD • Page 19 v F @heraldpublishing v Waterside Carpet Cleaning PROFESSIONAL CARPET CLEANING! Using Prochem Equipment and Materials • SPOT/STAIN TREATMENT • Fully Insured 023 8066 0878 or 07770 337917 www.watersidecarpetcleaning.com Brockenhurst has joined a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source. e village has been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment. As an initiative of Greener Brockenhurst the campaign started last year a er the idea was put forward at a community meeting and taken forward as a way of encouraging villagers, community groups and businesses to change habits. Registering with the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement the group pulled together key organisations and businesses in the village to put in place a ve-point plan. e objectives included; setting up a community led steering group, instigating the SAS Plastic Free Schools education programme, getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, organisations and community groups to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use. e group have had fantastic backing for the campaign particularly from the community groups in the village who have all shown great commitment and support for the campaign. ey now have in excess of 12 Community groups who have signed their pledge to become community allies and consider ways to cut down on the amount of plastic they use in their activities. ey have also pledged to communicate the aims of the campaign to their members. ese include St Saviours Church, the Scouts, Brownies, Mothers Union, Allotment Association, e Village Hall, Brockenhurst Business Association and the WI. Businesses have also played their part in winning the accreditation and made pledges on initiatives they will take to cut down on the plastic they use. Businesses who become Plastic Free Champions will display a badge of accreditation, so please look out for them around the village. e group are looking forward to more businesses taking the pledge to become champions as there are many that share the same ideals …so businesses please step forward and sign up at: plasticfreebrockenhurst@gmail.com and they will guide you through, nd out more information at: plasticfree. org.uk/get-involved/business Community events to raise awareness have included a stall at the Queen’s Jubilee Fete last year, the village’s Christmas evening and litter picks around the Brockenhurst with more events being planned for the year to grow the group in the village. Plastic Free Community status is not easily won and is a great achievement for the village and illustrates that there is a want and a wish to do more to reduce the amount of plastic used given the right encouragement. Camilla Pearce from the campaign said: “It has taken a lot of effort to get the accreditation but it great to see Brockenhurst join the many other communities committed to driving down their use of disposable plastic. Of course, the village is not plastic free but this is just the start of the journey.” Follow their Journey on Facebook and their website: www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=100086949344434 or contact them at : plasticfreebrockenhurst@gmail.com Brockenhurst is Awarded ‘Plastic Free Communities’ Status as it Takes Action on Single-Use Plastic
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