Green Lonridge

Longridge Environment Group.

It all began with a child’s letter to the Longridge Mayor in September 2019 asking that Longridge be plastic-free. So following a launch at Longridge Does Christmas,  the Longridge Environment Group is now over 90 strong and growing.  The Constitution is agreed.  The Committee is in place.  Schools, churches and many local organisations are represented to spread the word and gather volunteers.   Everyone is welcome to join our non-partisan community effort to make a difference.

There is an enthusiastic Plastic Free Team of volunteers working with the organisation Surfers Against Sewage  to help Longridge businesses ditch single-use plastic.  The Health shop is now becoming a refill station for personal care products and Swifts Hardware has become a refill station for water and hopefully cleaning products in the near future.  Butlers Cheeses has become our first plastic champion by making great strides in reducing plastic throughout the business and by the staff.  Booths supermarket continues to make efforts to reduce plastic and we will be actively working with all the supermarkets to get less plastic message across. Recycling is the last resort but we want better recycling practice too as Longridge and the Ribble Valley have a poor record compared to other areas in Lancashire.

Meanwhile the Ecology Team has collaborated with local schools in planting 400 trees, with many other activities planned to make the Longridge area more resilent to the affects of climate change by supporting plant diversity and pollinators through wildflower areas. There is guidance for gardeners on planting for bees and butterflies and helping to provide pathways for hedgehogs.   It is important that we involve children and their parents in all we do as it is their future we are working to protect and maintain in the beautiful surroundings of the Ribble Valley which we all Iove.

We will also be running a campaign to reduce the use of pesticides.  The Ecology Extravaganza on 18th April to celebrate Earth day later that week will be a focus for activities and workshops for adults and children with trees and bee friendly plants available to work towards a greener community.

Hashtag everywhere #Green Longridge.