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Market Drayton Climate Action brings together local people with the desire to make a difference. Explore our website to find out more.
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See below for latest news.
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MP joins in activities at local climate event
Helen Morgan MP and Rowan Cookson, Chair of MD Climate Action, added their own leaves to pledge an action to support sustainability at the launch of Climate Action Stations stickers on 15 May.
Other featured activities included sharing concerns on the ‘Worry Wall’, and talks by both Rowan and Helen.
Pledges from local schoolchildren followed talks by group members at Market Drayton Junior School and the Grove school, and many passers-by stopped to share their concerns and make their own pledges.
To see a video of Helen Morgan explaining her pledge, click here.
She stressed that climate change is not a threat for the future, but is already here, and urged people to press government to take the steps needed. Click here to hear her.
MDCA Chair Rowan Cookson spoke powerfully about her own fears for her future, and how she has moved on to take actions to protect her own well-being as well as the future of the climate and biodiversity.
Click here to hear her describe the big issues and how she is dealing with them, and here to learn about the personal steps she is taking.
Launching Climate Action Stations — Come along!
Join us on 13 May for fun activities, plus talks by Helen Morgan, MP, and our new Chair, Rowan Cookson.
Cutting down on carbon through food choices
On Wednesday 1 February, MDCA invited market shoppers to play ‘Food Wordle’, and then to consider whether the food on the answer card had high, medium or low carbon impact. Overall, food accounts for a quarter of our carbon emissions. Despite the gusts of wind risking sending everything flying, it was a good opportunity to raise awareness in Market Drayton and have some thoughtful conversations.
Shropshire farmer shares changes to benefit climate and environment
We were pleased to hear from a north Shropshire farmer who is changing farming methods to reduce the impact on climate change and benefit the natural environment, who shared his approach at a talk on 23 January. You can read about Rory Lay’s experiences and insights here.
North Shropshire MP launches petition in support of rural bus services bill
Helen Morgan is taking her battle for rural bus services to Parliament, with a bill to ensure that rural towns with a population of 10,000 get the bus services they need. For more information and to sign a petition in support of the bill, click here.
Transport survey responses give mandate for recommendations
Market Drayton’s Transport Sub-Committee has completed analysing the 195 responses to the transport survey — read the details and conclusions here.
MP Helen Morgan has launched
We marked COP 27 in a local gathering — Clang for the Climate, 12 November
As government leaders from around the world met at a UN climate summit in Egypt, Market Drayton Climate Action joined a global day of action with a local ‘Clang for the Climate’. At 12 noon a ‘Clang’ rang out from the centre of town as church bells rang, calling for an end to fossil fuel expansion and for help for the poor and vulnerable who are most affected by the climate crisis.
UN reports say current policies are nowhere near what is needed to meet targets, while the targets themselves are too low to prevent catastrophes around the world. We are calling for real progress in the face of the climate emergency.
Councillor vent Ian Nellins, who is both a Town Councillor and Shropshire County Councillor with responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, spoke at the event, and signatures were gathered on a letter to the Prime Minister outlining steps for the government to take to address the crisis.
Market Drayton students show the way with sustainable fashion
On the day the House of Lords’ climate change committee said, “The prime minister urgently needs to set out her vision of a country where low carbon choices and behaviours can flourish,” students from Grove School gave her a good lead.
They put on an entertaining fashion show featuring only pre-worn clothes sourced from the Market Drayton Cancer Research shop.
Shocked by learning that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions, and that over 90 million tonnes of clothing are thrown away each year, the students used their fashion show to highlight an alternative to fast fashion. With cat-walk presentations featuring both formal wear and casual wear all the way from ‘gangsta’ to ‘going to the races’, they proved there was no shortage of choice from a second-hand shop on their own high street.
Year nine student Daniela Sirsnina said, “I like to buy used clothes and books too – and I use social media to encourage others to do the same.”
Ambs Dewey said, “I use the town shop for shirts especially, but I’ll go in looking for one thing and find others I like. They have such a huge range.”
Evie Cook wanted to model 80’s retro and ended up buying for herself most of the clothes she wore for the show. “I’ll try and sell the rest to my friends,” she said. “Giving clothes a second time around is a good way to raise awareness of sustainability.”
Write a letter to the future for Great Big Green Week
Write a letter to a loved one, send it in, and share it. It will be published, plus every day a letter will go to the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, to keep climate change at the forefront of their minds. Read letters, and submit your own, by clicking here.
Local business committed to progress on climate impact
Palethorpes Bakery, a major food producer in Market Drayton employing around 650 people, has a history stretching back to 1852. But under the new umbrella of The Compleat Food Group (TCFG), attention is focussed clearly on the future with a commitment to take action on climate to deliver a better, fairer future for all.
‘To deliver on our ‘Food to Feel Good’ promise we know we need to tackle the big issues. These include climate, health and affordability. We’re doing this through a clear roadmap to achieving Net Zero across our business and our supply chain and increasing the social value we create in the communities we’re part of,’ says TCFG’s website.
Plans include achieving Net Zero in carbon emissions across the business by 2035 and across its supply chain by 2040. The company has also committed to scaling its social value tenfold within the same period. It’s all part of the group’s wider mission to create food in a sustainable way and deliver a positive impact on the world.
As well as sponsoring the Market Drayton Climate Action website, Palethorpes is active elsewhere in the community. At this September’s Ginger and Spice Festival of food, drink and heritage in Market Drayton, Palethorpes Bakery and TCFG were the headline sponsor for the Children’s Cookery Theatre.
Leanne Massey, Senior HR Manager at Palethorpes Bakery and a member of Market Drayton Climate Action has said: “Market Drayton has developed a thriving community of food producers and manufacturers and so it’s important that we take time to inspire the next generation whilst educating them on the importance of healthy eating and sourcing sustainable ingredients.”
During this year’s festival, a team of chefs from Palethorpes led a series of cookery workshops for children, focusing on healthy eating and with an emphasis on the importance of choosing seasonal and local ingredients.
Market Drayton Climate Action is grateful for Palethorpes Bakery’s sponsorship and looks forward to more news as they reduce and balance their bakery carbon emissions and help consumers make lower carbon footprint food choices. https://www.compleatfood.com/impact/
Last chance to complete bus survey
People in and around Market Drayton would travel more by bus if more services were reliably available, according to bus users arriving for Wednesday’s market last week. The bus users were met by members of Market Drayton Climate Action, which is running a survey to document local people’s experience of public transport and what they would like to have available. The survey will close at the end of September.
The survey is intended to provide evidence of area demand for bus services. ‘Market Drayton is increasingly cut off from the rest of the world for anyone not in a car as more bus services are cut,’ said Belinda Sprigg from the climate group. ‘It’s a downward spiral, because without regular services people won’t use the bus, and then more routes are cut because of lack of demand. We want to provide evidence that this could be turned around if bus timetables were planned to meet people’s needs.’
Market Drayton’s bus service is one of the worst in the UK, according to an analysis by the House of Commons Library. Market Drayton has only a fraction of weekday bus departures compared to similar sized towns, and there are no buses running on Sundays.
The survey seeks responses from across the community, and is available at Market Drayton Library or can be completed online at https://mdclimateaction.uk/transport-2/ until the end of September. ‘We urge everyone to fill in the form, so we will be stronger in arguing for the services the town needs,’ Belinda Sprigg said.
The local climate group has already published recommendations for the minimum bus service needed which include hourly buses to Whitchurch to provide links to a rail station as well as medical care.
The issue has been taken up by Helen Morgan MP, who has tabled a bill in the House of Commons which would make the Government responsible for ensuring that every town with a population of over 10,000 has bus services that connect people with hospitals and GP surgeries running each day of the week.
Helen Morgan MP said: ‘It is staggering that it is 2022 and yet the people of North Shropshire are forced to fork out for a taxi to access something as basic as a GP appointment if they do not drive. If you live in a rural area and need to get to hospital there are no buses and no trains to get you there.’Posted bynancystewartstewartgmail.comPosted inUncategorizedLeave a commenton Support sustainable fashionEditSupport sustainable fashion
Have your say on improving transport, travel and public spaces in Market Drayton
Shropshire Council are consulting on proposals for Market Drayton, including walking and cycling routes and bus services. No funding has yet been allocated, but it will help to secure funding if public support is shown through their consultation. Read more and register your views here.Posted bynancystewartstewartgmail.comPosted inUncategorized1 Commenton Have your say on improving transport, travel and public spaces in Market DraytonEditHave your say on improving transport, travel and public spaces in Market Drayton
Shropshire and Telford Councils launch environmental support scheme for SMEs
Cool Shropshire and Telford is a sustainability initiative that provides free environmental support to local micro businesses and SMEs. Sponsored by Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council, the initiative will be supporting up to 1,000 micro and SME organisations in its first year (500 in Shropshire, 500 in Telford and Wrekin). The scheme will open in mid-May, and will be accessible online via the council websites, and the Zero Carbon Shropshire website.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage micro businesses and SMEs to understand their individual environmental impact and set some goals to reduce it over the coming year. Carbon reduction is a long-term ambition for the county; however, the scheme also covers energy use, recycling and waste management, water use, transport, biodiversity, and procurement. This offers a plethora of areas in which businesses can make small improvements such as switching to a renewable energy provider, using smart plugs, or using water saving devices in toilets.
There are various benefits for businesses registered with the scheme. By completing the process, business owners can identify ways to become more energy and resource efficient. This means companies can save money on bills, reduce supply chain risk, and move away from fossil fuels where possible. In addition, guidance is tailored to local businesses and will signpost to the relevant tools and support provided by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils.
The county of Shropshire (which also includes Telford) is principally a small business economy, with more than nine out of ten of the 15,870 enterprises having fewer than 10 employees in 2020 (source: Shropshire Economy snapshot). For Shropshire and Telford to make progress, businesses need to behave as a collective; each taking small steps in the right direction to make a significant cumulative impact.
The scheme is powered by Kanopi, an award-winning software service created by E4environment Ltd. Users can register their business, complete a straightforward two-step process, and will then have access to a Green Regulations Review, a Green Goals suite, and achievements record.
For more information email info@e4environment.co.uk
http://www.e4environment.co.uk/blog/coolshropshireandtelford/
Posted byleannemasseyPosted inCommunity AwarenessLeave a commenton Shropshire and Telford Councils launch environmental support scheme for SMEsEditShropshire and Telford Councils launch environmental support scheme for SMEs
Morrisons Plastic Packaging
Market Drayton Climate Action’s Responsible Consumption team recently asked local supermarket Morrisons about their plastic packaging on fresh fruit and vegetables. Although the store is unable to pursue local suggestions for how to present produce that is UK-grown, their national sustainability policy includes a win for the climate.
With a large investment into the world-first Yes Recycling flexible food packaging recycling facility in Fife (https://www.yesrecycling.org/), Morrisons, the first supermarket to own recycling facilities in the UK, intends by 2025 to be recycling the equivalent quantity of hard-to-recycle soft plastic packaging as it puts on the market. The facility can currently process 15,000 tonnes per year.
Morrisons also intends to have an average of 30% recycled content in its own plastic packaging, a 50% reduction in own brand primary packaging (versus a 2017 baseline), 70% of all plastic packaging to be recycled, and 100% of all plastic packaging to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable, by 2025.
Recycling soft plastics ensures that the materials are not lost to landfill or incineration but rather are able to continue being a useful resource for making new plastics. This ensures the carbon in the plastics is not lost to the atmosphere, so won’t contribute to climate change, while supporting a circular economy, which is also better for our planet.
Until the local Morrisons store has a collection point for (clean) soft plastics such as fruit and vegetable bags or wrappers, biscuit and crisp packets, bread bags, and pet food pouches, you can take them along to the local Lidl supermarket near the bus station, which has a collection point after you go through the tills.
Responsible Consumption TeamPosted byleannemasseyPosted inResponsible ConsumptionLeave a commenton Morrisons Plastic PackagingEditMorrisons Plastic Packaging
MDCA at Morrisons 7th May
On Saturday 7th May a team of volunteers from Market Drayton Climate action will be at Morrisons to start the conversation around climate change.
The team would love to hear your views.Posted byleannemasseyPosted inCommunity AwarenessLeave a commenton MDCA at Morrisons 7th MayEditMDCA at Morrisons 7th May
Action group calls for Market Drayton schools to focus on climate crisis
A climate action group in North Shropshire has urged school officials to ensure that young people are taught about the climate emergency and ecological crisis.
Read the full article published in the Shropshire Star by clicking herePosted byleannemasseyPosted inLobbyingLeave a commenton Action group calls for Market Drayton schools to focus on climate crisisEditAction group calls for Market Drayton schools to focus on climate crisis
Group Launch
Check out this article from the Shropshire Star covering the launch of Market Drayton Climate Action
Protecting our planet for a better future
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