Sustainable Sawbridgeworth scheme launched with noticeboard at Budgens supermarket

A new initiative has been launched to promote improvements to the natural environment in Sawbridgeworth and encourage a sustainable lifestyle for the community.

Sustainable Sawbridgeworth was kicked off with Gravelle’s Budgens providing a permanent space for a dedicated noticeboard outside the London Road store.

Started by seven local residents, it aims to promote improvements to the environment and sustainable living practices through working with local businesses, schools and community groups. It will also provide information on recycling and reuse opportunities, and the avoidance of single-use plastics.

Sustainable Sawbridgeworth will act as an umbrella organisation for other local environmental and sustainable living groups, including the Plastic Free Sawbridgeworth Facebook group, the Brownies’ Refill Scheme and Tidy Up Sawbridgeworth, which runs regular litter picking events. The group is affiliated with Surfers Against Sewage and is working towards getting the town accredited as one of SAS’s Plastic Free Communities.

A Sawbo Fix-it Café is planned for the town, where residents will be able to take items to be mended once social distancing rules allow. The refill scheme, set up by local Brownies, is already in place, with several businesses taking part.

Corinne McCrumm, who set up Tidy Up Sawbridgeworth and the Sawbo Fix-it Café, said: “It makes sense to bring these initiatives together. Each is focused on a different element of sustainability but together the message is the same – how we can all live in a way that is less wasteful and is kinder to our environment.”

The group is keen to work not just with businesses and community groups but also local councils.

David Royle, another founding member and a town councillor, says: “We're already working closely with Sawbridgeworth Town Council following its Eco-Audit and are reaching out to both district and county councils where we can.” He added that funding for the noticeboard had been provided by Herts county councillor for Sawbridgeworth Eric Buckmaster through his locality budget.

Annelise Furnace, Mayor of Sawbridgeworth, said: “This is a super initiative for the town and the support from residents and retailers has been fantastic. It's more important than ever to exchange ideas on how we can live more sustainably and reduce single-use plastics in our daily lives. Having this space for information in such a central location in the town will really help with this.”

Michelle Gravelle, co-owner of Budgens, said: “We are pleased to be working together to create a more sustainable Sawbridgeworth and are constantly looking for ways we can help to do this.”