Saffron Walden Eco-Market 2022
Uttlesford Green Party were pleased to be one of the stall holders at this year’s Eco-Market. We were happily and appropriately sited between CURAT - Cam Upper Reaches Action Team, which is fighting hard to maintain the viability of our world leading number of rare chalk streams in the face of irresponsible water companies. One of which dump endless amounts of sewage into them, Anglian Water Services. The other which drains the chalk aquifers to feed the ever increasing number and size of housing developments locally, including irrigating turf in the face of the driest summer with July and August being the driest since 1833, Affinity Water.
On the other side Hemspan which produces natural fibre insulation and wall materials. These natural products slash the amount of carbon released from traditional building materials particularly concrete which involves cement the production of which emits at least 8% of carbon emissions, three times the emissions of aviation.
Uttlesford Green Party were encouraged to see a very informative stall on what to and how to recycle from Uttlesford District Council and how to create a wormery. Worms are the enriching engineers of soil and soil is fundamental to virtually all of our food.
Saffron Walden Town Council’s stall was geared to biodiversity protection by providing a range of bird and bat houses that could be put onto homes and other buildings or Into trees. They also, for the second year running, organisation what was a very diverse, enjoyable and informative Eco-Market.
The Uttlesford Green Party stall provided information on protection and enrichment of biodiversity through wilding parts of gardens and providing habits for threatened species as well as methods for individuals to reduce their own carbon footprints. Visitors were given the opportunity to see what a sustainable Green Local Plan for Uttlesford would encompass, learn about the measures put in place by the Saffron Walden Neighbourhood Plan and to see a map showing the huge extent of developments without any counter balance of infrastructure or facilities for active transport. Visitors to the stall engaged in discussion with Green Party members on a variety of topics and there was a sign up sheet to get more information about what we are doing.
Anyone interested in what we are and will be doing can contact: secretary@uttlesford.greenparty.org.uk to be added to our mailing list.
