REDDITCH has reached out across the globe with a powerful message to protect Planet Earth.
It happened at the Redditch Recycles Rubbish event at the Town Hall on Saturday which turned into an inspiring day of hope as young and old united over a common message: More has to be done to save our environment.
The event featured a host of activities – from speeches and video presentations to an orchestra from Birchensale Middle School playing instruments made of rubbish.
There was a recycling competition, a fashion show featuring upcycled clothes and recycled rubbish, a photographic competition, loads of stalls and much more.
Not only that but it also featured a live link up with Ocean Secondary School in Redditch’s twin town Mtwara in Tanzania.
The keynote address was from Dr Alan Dixon from the University of Worcester who spoke on the need to protect the environment.
A delegation was also there from the Birmingham and Black County community of Tanzania and they brought with them a delicious selection of tasty traditional food.
Tanzania has taken the drastic step of banning plastic bags with hefty fines for anyone found selling them.
Mel Vaughan, a teacher at Birchensale and a member of Redditch One World Link who helped organise the day said: “It’s been phenomenal – beyond my wildest expectations to see so many people in the Town Hall and they have all been really positive.
“The next step is to visit Mtwara and take some of our ideas out there and bring some of theirs back with us.
“We’ve put our heart and soul into making this work and to see it come off makes it all worth while.”
Councillor Matt Dormer the leader of Redditch Borough Council said: “It’s fantastic that we have these links with Mtwara and this level of community activity at a really well attended community event.”
Coun Anthony Lovell, who opened the event, added: “This has all been about sustainability and how we can reduce our waste not just here but around the globe and getting ourselves to the stage where we are not creating any waste in the first place.”
