TWO GREEN community projects are helping residents to reduce their carbon footprint in Fordingbridge.
Wendy Reid is involved in both the Fordingbridge Greener Living Group and Green Gram - a shop selling dried foods and products.
Fordingbride Greener Living began as a Facebook group helping people to respond to the climate emergency.
It is entering into collaborative projects which include Hampshire Swifts to install nesting boxes on private and public buildings in the town.
Wendy said: “We plan to have about 50 boxes up this year before the swifts return.”
In May, the group will be opening up a community garden as part of a collaborative project with Fordingbridge Town Council which will be dedicated to the community gardens becoming a wellness and social space as well as growing food and flowers.
Wendy said: “There are seats and an apple tree for shade, and we have raised beds for those who would like to do some gardening but who may find it difficult. It will be a good place to socialise, and food grown is donated to the community.”
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In addition to the garden, Greener Living will be holding events. The first talk is about combatting artificial light pollution, and this will take place on Saturday, March 25.
Other events on the agenda include regenerative growing, learning how to garden for wildlife and visiting an eco-home.
Green Gram is a community benefit society shop so it is owned by its shareholders, but is open to all. It is about service and helping the community to shop in a less-expensive way.
Wendy said: “It’s not quite a ‘not-for-profit’ as profits are ploughed back into the community and is an ideal shop for those who wish to reduce the amount of plastic they purchase.”
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The Green Gram stocks dried foods including pasta, dried fruit, herbs, spices, nuts and seeds, Bombay mix and chocolate, but household products are also available.
Wendy added: “People come along with their containers, and we just fill them up. People can have as much or as little as they want. We also have some spare clean containers for those who come to have a look but do not bring a container to refill.”
Volunteers are needed for both projects. Email: volunteers@thegreengram.org
For more go to Greener Living, or the Green Gram
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