RELEASE DATE 15 May 2008
TITLE SUNKEN GARDEN, NOTTINGHAM - one of the first ‘greener living spaces’ supported by funds from M&S CARRIER BAG charge
 

Marks & Spencer and environmental charity Groundwork are delighted to announce that the Sunken Garden, Nottingham is one of the first five ‘Greener Living spaces’ to be funded by money raised from the Marks & Spencer carrier bag charge.

On Tuesday 6th May M&S introduced a 5p charge for food carrier bags in all of its UK stores*, to encourage customers to reduce the amount of plastic bags they use and bring a reusable bag for life with them each time they shop. All profit** from the charge will go to Groundwork to invest across the UK in ‘Greener Living spaces’ like the Sunken Garden.

Groundwork Greater Nottingham will use the support provided by M&S to realise its vision for the garden in Hyson Green. A previously unused and unattractive area of land will be completely regenerated, raising it to ground level and giving it a new lease of life with inspiring landscaping. A seating area will be installed and an art installation created from images of local residents. It is hoped that the garden will improve the local environment for residents and visitors alike.

Jane Hartley (40), a resident of Hyson Green, said: “This area has been misused in the past by some, making it a no-go area for most of us. Local residents have waited a long time for investment here and will really value the green space.”

Valerie Dwyer, Chair of Groundwork Greater Nottingham, said: “We are delighted to be able to respond to the wishes of local residents and greatly welcome the support of M&S. We’re particularly pleased that the garden was selected as one of the first ‘Greener Living projects’.”

Tony Hawkhead, Groundwork Chief Executive, added: “We’re very pleased to be working with M&S on the first five projects, which we hope will give children exciting places to play and adults somewhere to meet, relax and exercise.”

Ahead of nationwide charging M&S handed out over 15 million free reusable bags for life, made from 100 per cent recycled plastic. These have now reverted to their original price of 10p and will be replaced free of charge and recycled by M&S when worn out.
M&S has also made two other changes on to help reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags even further:

  • M&S customers can return any unwanted or used carrier bags to any till point or customer service desk at M&S stores for recycling.
  • M&S is now the first major UK food retailer to begin to use a new standard food carrier bag made from 100% post consumer waste in all of its stores nation-wide.  This move will reduce the amount of virgin plastic M&S uses by 3,400 tonnes per year.****
 
ends
 
Further
information

For more information on M&S, please contact:
Lucy Kelly                                M&S                                                    0208 718 1980

 For more information on Groundwork, please contact:
Daisy Powell                           Groundwork                                        07703 535841
Caron Boulghassoul               Groundwork Greater Nottingham        0115 978 8212

 
NOTES TO EDITORS
  • *Excluding M&S stores in the South West of England and Northern Ireland where charging is already in place and M&S Outlet stores.
  • **1.85p from each single use food carrier.
  • *** M&S has successfully trialled charging for food carrier bags in over 50 M&S stores in Northern Ireland and the South West of England in the last twelve months. The trials resulted in customers’ use of food carrier bags reducing by over 70% and raised over £80,000 for Groundwork. This money is now being invested in six projects across those regions including the development of the Daisy Hill Woodland in Newry, the creation of a play area at the Old Warren Community Centre in Lisburn and improving a green space at Woodhay Road in Plymouth.
  • ****Based on current M&S standard food carrier bag usage. This is in addition to a 3,300 tonne annual saving that M&S made by converting its Bag for Life, clothing and home carrier bags to 100% recycled post consumer waste in April 2007.
  • The national roll-out of carrier bag charging is a major step towards M&S’ Plan A commitments to aim to reduce carrier bag usage by a third and send no waste to landfill from its operations by 2012. Plan A, M&S’ business-wide, £200 million ‘eco-plan’, was launched in January 2007.
  • The 5p charge does not apply to mini food bags and horticultural bags which will be available free of charge on request.
  • In the first wave of projects, investment will also be made in four other ‘greener living spaces’ in Scarborough, Wigan, Hammersmith and Edinburgh.
  • The new M&S 100% recycled post consumer waste food carrier bag has been developed in conjunction with Papier Mettler.
  • See www.marksandspencer.com/plana for more information.

 About Groundwork

    Groundwork UK is a national umbrella charity for over 40 local Groundwork Trusts working with partners to improve the quality of people's lives and the places where they live, work and play.  
    • Groundwork's projects help local people get practically involved in making decisions and managing improvements in their neighbourhood and encourage people to make healthier and greener lifestyle choices. This ranges from working with children and young people to create sports facilities and ‘outdoor classrooms’, to providing training and jobs for the long-term unemployed as they regenerate major areas of derelict or waste ground.
    • Last year Groundwork supported nearly 6,000 projects across the UK supported by central and local government, businesses, charitable trusts and the National Lottery.  As a result of those projects more than 80% of people involved felt their neighbourhood was a better place to live and felt more able to influence decisions affecting their community.
    • Groundwork will use the money raised from the carrier bag charges to support local projects in towns and cities across the UK.
    • See www.groundwork.org.uk for more information.

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Groundwork Greater Nottingham
Denman Street East
Notingham
NG7 3GX

T: 0115 9788212
F: 0115 9787496
E: gn@groundwork.org.uk