10:00pm Monday 8th June 2009
By Claire Borley
ITS the place we all call home, yet we often take it for granted. Now the South East Essex branch of the Women’s Environmental Network are holding a special day to celebrate the Earth.
Eileen Peck, chairman of the group explains: “The day is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of planet Earth and a commitment to doing all we can to help protect her.”
The theme of the day, on Saturday, is to encourage people to make a change to the way they live to benefit the long term future of the planet.
Eileen says: “The name this year is Be the Change. It is a chance to think about what changes you’d like to see in yourself and in the world.”
The group is spearheaded by keen environmentalist Eileen and meets each month to discuss health and environmental matters, as well as sharing skills and swapping practical tips.
Eileen says it was out of concern for her grandchildren she decided to set up the local group.
She says: “I’ve got grandchildren and find the state of the world at the moment is so scary.
“I wouldn’t like them to say to me ‘what did you do about it?’ and to have to turn around and say ‘well, nothing really’.”
As well as her role in the network, Eileen is also a member of Friends of the Earth and the Green Party.
She says: “I just think we need to wake up to what is going on and do something about it. You can’t rely on politicians to do it. They’re not doing enough.”
Although the official Earth Day took place in April the group decided the hold their own day on Saturday and also celebrate the achievements of their grow your own project.
This is based at the group’s allotment in Manchester Drive, Leigh. It is being led by the network’s vice chairman Carol Ferrett who says: “There is nothing better than the taste of home-grown veg and the satisfaction of growing it yourself is immense.” The group took over the allotment in December and since then have been busy clearing brambles and making way for planting.
The women hope, once the plot is fully established and productive, to hold community open days at the site and cook what they have grown.
At the celebration on Saturday, visitors will learn more about how to get involved with the allotment and as well as join the group’s new project to make funky cloth shopping bags.
A vegetarian and vegan lunch will be served during the day which takes place at Porters in Southchurch Road, Southend from 10am to 4pm.
Tickets cost £10 or £12 on the door.
For more information call Eileen on 01268 752264 or Carol on 01702 342148 For more information on the group visit www.wen.org.uk.
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