Our News
Big Plastic Count 9th-15th March
The Big Plastic Count takes place again this year from 9th -15th March. This is when you count how many pieces of plastic you use over a 7 day period. Several people in the village and also pupils at WSG school have taken part in the past. On average those who took part managed to reduce their usage from 30 items in 2022 to 24 items in 2024 and hopefully in 2026 we will see an even greater reduction. Please join us and send your results to info@shamleygreenenvironment.co.uk. Let’s see how low we can go!
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Everyday plastic will be running the count so go to their website to join in : https://thebigplasticcount.com/
In trying to cut down on plastic we are lucky in Shamley Green for two reasons, firstly because we have the wonderful plastic free shop For Earth’s Sake in Upper House Lane (open Wed-Sat) where you can buy a huge range of goods free from packaging, including cereals, seeds and nuts, pasta, rice, grains and oils, and a whole host of other products all loose and packaging free. If you haven’t been do give it a try - take a few containers or use their paper bags. And we also have our brilliant village shop where you can buy a range of loose and unpackaged fruit and vegetables.
Back in 2024 WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) recommended a ban on primary packaging for whole, uncut fresh produce items sold in amounts less than 1.5 kg by 2030. They recommended starting with 21 items, apples, aubergines, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, garlic, ginger, lemons, limes, mangos, onions, oranges, parsnips, pears, peppers, potatoes, salad tomatoes, squash and swede.
Plastic-free shopping - a huge range of dry foodstuffs as well as washing and cleaning products - bring your own container or use their paper bags.
Last August the latest round of UN Global Plastics Treaty talks ended, again, without a treaty. Over 234 fossil fuel and plastic industry lobbyists crowded the negotiations, outnumbering scientists by four to one! World leaders failed to reach an agreement, and once again, limits on plastic production - the most crucial step to ending the plastic pollution crisis - were blocked.
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Joe Public to Act - The best thing we can all do is cut down our usage dramatically and take advantage of any help available!
Shamley Green Woodland Working Party
Spring Cottage Green 14th February
On Valentine's day our Shamley Green Woodland Working Party took to their hand tools and had a go at improving the habitat on Spring Cottage Green. Over recent years parts of this common have become dominated by brambles (and holly). This is of course great for wildlife but, if left unchecked, in our view it would no longer be a green, with all the benefits that a seldom mown wildflower rich habitat can bring, so we cut back a proportion of the brambles, making sure that we left huge margins around the edges.
We also tackled some 'gone bananas' hazel and a few fallen branches near to the footpath and other nearby paths. All the cut wood was left in situ for insects and small mammals and amphibians and invertebrates. Fortunately for us we picked the sunniest morning of the year so far.
Thanks to everyone who took part and in particular to Alison and Katie for the biscuits and coffee. If you would like to take part next time do email us on info@shamleygreenenvironment.co.uk - the morning was a lot of fun and has been much appreciated by locals.