Cymru/Wales news
News from your region
The Gwledd Conwy Feast - food festival - is one of the biggest and best on the festival calendar for North Wales. Originally having been established with Co-operative support in 2004, it has grown and developed - not least in its focus on promoting fair trade and ethical standards generally.
The highlight of the co-operative presence in 2009 were cookery demonstrations by our chef - Mark Earnden from Expochef. Altogether around 300 people watched Mark cooking up some delicious dishes - and tasting the results. Co-operative food retail operated a stand at the event - taking around £2,000, and there were samplings of cider and fairtrade wine.
A membership stand at the event did brisk trade - with information on a range of issues from membership, to campaign like climate change and fairtrade. Co-operative members in the area were invited to apply for a limited number of free tickets (usually £4) for the event, and there was a huge response - with over 1,000 applying for the 700 tickets on offer. The co-operative in North Wales expects to be at Conwy again next year - look out for us !
Thousands of people thronged the National Trust gardens at Erddig Hall, near Wrexham in October, for the annual Apple Fair - with a myriad of apple related products on display.
The Co-operative Membership trailer was present, and around 1,000 people were able to sample a drink of the Co-operative own brand Tillington reserve dry cider - made using apples grown on our own farms near Hereford.
Membership and campaigning material was also promoted, and as well as recruiting new members, there were also a steady stream of people asking when their nearby Somerfield stores would be rebranded as Co-operatives.
Co-operative members from around Wales visited the Co-operative Farms fruit orchards at Tillington, near Hereford in early autumn. The 270 members present enjoyed a packed day - with cookery demonstrations (featuring apples and cider of course!), a hog roast, fruit smoothie making, face painting and a chance to tour some of the orchards - in which apples for co-operatives stores, and for making the co-operative premium Tillington cider are grown.
The Co-operative membership trailer - designed to showcase Co-operative best practice in responsible retailing was also on display.
A group of young people from the Wales Youth Forum on Sustainable Development, including members of the Woodcraft Folk (Gwerin y Coed) - a co-operative supported young peoples organisation, cycled 130 miles in August 2009 to promote sustainable transport in Wales. Cycling from Machynlleth to Cardiff, via Builth Wells and Brecon, the journey enabled the group to network with many groups and individuals on sustainable transport issues - including meetings with Sustrans volunteers, and local youth and community groups.
In addition to providing financial backing for the ride, co-operative stores and staff in Machynlleth, Brecon, Pentrebach, and Taffs well helped out along the way - while the Co-operative membership team in Wales was involved in helping with logistical support. From this event, a petition will be presented to the Welsh Assembly government - supporting their strategy document on sustainable transport and pressing for further initiatives in that area.
Since September 2008, The Co-operative has sponsored MCS beachwatch activities in Wales, organised educational workshops for our members, and is now part way through a series of activities in 2009 to help secure a better future for seas, shores and marine wildlife in Wales.
The results of the annual “Beachwatch survey” conducted by volunteers from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), show that Welsh beaches have an average of 2,550 items of litter per kilometre of beach compared to the UK average of 2,195.
A regionally supported `Coastal Challenge’ walk took place to mark International Co-operative Day on 4 July. The five mile walk, along the spectacular coast between Aberystwyth and Borth raised funds for MCS through walkers getting sponsored, and also enabled people to do some wildlife spotting. Basking sharks, dolphins and turtles are among the marine animals which can be seen off this coast – primarily during summer months.
The Marine Conservation society (MCS) is the only UK charity dedicated to working to protect our seas and wildlife – which are increasingly under threat - from pollution and exploitation by a variety of human activities.
For more information please visit www.mcsuk.org
Love Food, Hate Waste?
Co-operative Members in Wales were recently treated to food demonstrations by our Co-oeprative Chef, Mark Earndon. The events were organised by the Co-operative Membership to raise awareness of the amount of food waste we have here in Wales - 40% of the food thrown away that could have been eaten is fresh fruit & vegetables. Events took place in Llandudno, Machynlleth , Swansea and Penarth.
In Swansea and Penarth staff from Waste Awareness Wales, a national campaign established to promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling amongst all sectors of the community, were on hand to advise members about what they could do to help reduce the amount of waste which would not only help the environment but also save the average household £430 a year.
In Machynlleth our chef showed how left over’s could be put to use making mouth watering soups and fruit crumbles which members then got to taste. An additional talk made us aware of just how far our food travels and persuaded members that buying locally really did have advantages. After the demonstration members in Machynlleth had the opportunity to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology and see how they dealt with waste food & packaging.
The events proved popular and were a great way of raising the profile of what is a very important issue not only in Wales but across the UK as well.
Find out more by visiting:
www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
Fairtrade was on the menu at a special event in Pembroke Dock, organised by St John’s Church and The Co-operative, which helped raise £520 for a local good cause.
Over 75 people attended St John’s Community Hall for a Fairtrade cheese and wine event which aimed to encourage more people to choose Fairtrade and raise much needed funds for St John’s Church Tower Fund.
Peri Thomas, organiser and member of St John’s Church said: “This event was a mix of education and entertainment and brought together people of all ages to celebrate the harvest season and raise awareness of our individual roles in both local and global communities.
“The support of The Co-operative, which supplied all the food and wine, was most welcome and many people commented they had learned much about Fairtrade and the different products available. I hope it has raised awareness of the little things we can all do to make a difference to the lives of others.
“I am also really pleased that we managed to raise over £500 for our fund. The tower is in desperate need of repair and we are worried the beautiful church organ could be affected by damp and rain damage. I would like to thank all those who donated prizes for the raffle.”
The Co-operative’s Ailsa Logan added: “The Co-operative has been a leading supporter of Fairtrade since 1994 and we were delighted to team up with St John’s Church to hold this event. We want even more people to realise that there is a huge range of Fairtrade products available and choosing Fairtrade greatly helps farmers in developing countries.”
Find out about our regional events in change the world
For further information on events or activities near you, please contact your Regional Office below:-
The Co-operative Group
Cymru/Wales Region
Membership Department
Glansevern Hall
Berriew
Nr Welshpool
Powys
SY21 8AH
Tel: 01686 640779
Email: membership.wales@co-operative.coop