After the recent ban on single use plastics a Salford eco-church hosted a eco-friendly festival to demonstrate environmentally friendly practices.
On Saturday September 30, Clifton Neighbourhood Centre in Salford held an eco-festival showcasing eco-friendly stands and fair trade produces in a bid to help members of the community make “small, but significant changes.”
The festival took place in St Anne’s church hall and focussed on ways to help the environment by simple changes in lifestyles. This included opting for fair trade options such as walking, cycling and even eating eco-friendly ice-cream. Another one of their initiatives is to inspire members of the community to use the power of pedals by offering bike services for attendees and a book swap stand.
Jon, who works across St Anne’s church and St Thomas’s church, in Clifton, said that he wants “the community to be actively involved in this, we want to do it with the community rather than for the community.”
Jon is running a community garden initiative in the grounds of St Thomas’s church. With lots of enthusiasm about his gardening and wildflower project. He similarly mentioned that a whole range of people were involved with their youngest volunteer being seven years old.
The parish has earned a bronze award for being an eco-church, because of the changes that they have already made, including the progression of the garden. They decided to open a space where the community could get to know one another, spend time outdoors (which would also benefit their mental health) and even grow their own fruits and vegetables.
By having their own fruit and veg plot, the group can also provide a food bank and food boxes. The centre also provides free lunches, which boosted their investment into the garden.
Jon and the church community are hopeful about the greener choices they want to make: “We have applied for funding through the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund, but people have already donated towards the project and a lot of people are donating their time as well.”
Both St Anne’s and St Thomas’ aim to make changes little by little and to become an “eco-church.” Some of the changes they made to earn their bonze status were changing the lightbulbs to eco friendly, life long versions. It is something that all the members were focussed on, but not all at the festival were regular members.
Speaking to Gary Brooks from Antonelli ice cream, he explained that the Salford based company is the only one who make their own ice-cream cones. With a strong eco ethic, they preserve food and also ensure that there produce is recyclable and biodegradable.
All of Antonelli’s ice cream tubs and spoons are recycle friendly and come local in Irlam, Salford.
This is especially important, as this week all single use plastic has been banned in the UK. Antonelli’s are already setting a good example of moving towards plastic free living.
In addition to the environment focussed activities, Councillor Chioma Mgbeokwere visited the centre, of Clifton and Pendlebury, and gave us insight on how events are also beneficial to community spirit.
St Anne’s and St Church and the positive spirit within Salford have proved that not all changes to help the environment have to be expensive, or drastic. By running a small event, using very little money, the community of St Anne’s church have already made a very good example of eco-friendly living.
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