PRESS RELEASE

Local Project

is

National Showcase

Suffolk’s Allotment Forestry Project is one of 80 community projects from across the UK selected to be part of the Shell Better Britain Campaign’s 2002 Project. The 2002 Project is the first national event to showcase the work of diverse communities to build a more sustainable future. It has been timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit, and the development of the Agenda 21 Framework.

The Allotment Forestry Project was set up by volunteers in Ipswich to promote the use of locally grown beanpoles and peasticks by gardeners. As Geoff Sinclair from the Projects says “There can be no better indicator of how remote we have become from our environment than the widespread use of twigs, in the form of bamboo, from China to support plants in Britain’s gardens” adding “If we cannot supply our own twigs without going half way around the world, it is difficult to see us combating some of the bigger environmental challenges facing us today”

On Friday May 17^th people from around Britain will be meeting at the Project’s Community Tree Nursery and demonstration site at Sidegate Lane Allotments in Ipswich to discuss how the ideas developed in Ipswich can be duplicated elsewhere in Britain. Already over the last year similar projects have been started in Cambridgeshire and Oxford and more locally in Leiston and Wickham Market. The Shell Better Britain Campaign will collate the information from all 80 events to provide a series of case studies of the work undertaken under the umbrella of Agenda 21. Anyone or organisation wishing to attend the event on May 17^th can do so free but must book ahead through the telephone hotline 0121 248 5906 quoting the reference number ‘39’

Ben Proctor, co-Director of the Shell Better Britain Campaign, added “Agenda 21 has been a quiet revolution, impacting on thousands of people lives across the UK. The Allotment Forestry Project is one example of how communities can really benefit from working towards a more sustainable future. The 2002 Project offers us a unique opportunity to further strengthen community sustainability projects and to create a wider awareness of sustainable development”

The Allotment Forestry Project in Ipswich attempts to foster a local wood consumer culture by encouraging gardeners to use local beanpoles and peasticks In addition gardeners are encouraged to grow their own beanpoles and peasticks on disused allotments. We also produce a local and national internet woodland product directory and factsheets on growing and using local wood products in the garden, see www.allotmentforestry.com.

Notes For Editors

1.      For further information on the 2002 Project visit www.sbbc.co.uk/the2002project or call Margaret Riley on 020 7763 5995

2.      The Allotment Forestry Project is a joint project by Ipswich Wildlife Group and Ipswich Organic Gardeners Group. For further information see www.allotmentforestry.com. Or call Geoff Sinclair from IWG (01473 327 720) or Karen Kenny from IOGG (01473 718 874)

3.      The Allotment Forestry Project has been working since 1995 to encourage the use of sustainable beanpoles and woodland products generally in the garden and allotment. The Forestry Commission in 1998 promoted this work in a leaflet 'Allotment Forestry on your patch' which resulted in a still ongoing response across the country for more information on the role of allotments to promote sustainable woodland management. As a consequence an Internet based project was devised and supported by Forestry Commission, Countryside Agency, Shell Better Britain Campaign and Suffolk Environment Trust, see www.allotmentforestry.com.

4.      The Shell Better Britain Campaign is one of the UK’s longest-running independent, community support campaigns. For over 30 year the Shell Better Britain Campaign has been supporting community action and building a networks of 26,000  community groups.