THE BIG DAY – ST. TERNAN’S FAIR

Unfortunately, I had to miss the Fair but, as you can see, the team did a great job on setting-up our stall and had a wonderful day……….. until  a torrential storm hit Banchory!

Despite the weather, they managed to give away lots and lots of bags and had good responses from everyone they talked with about the campaign.

We do have some bags left, and plan to do a follow-up day after a few months when we think shoppers might need reminding to bring their bags with them when they go shopping.

I must add that I keep my new ‘Cleaner, Greener, Banchory’ bag folded in my handbag and have found it extremely useful.  It holds an amazing amount of shopping and sits very comfortably on my shoulder when full.  Well done to Go Green Bags for designing such a useful bag.

STICKERS FOR YOUR STEERING WHEEL

So many shoppers tell us that they have left their reusable bags in the car, we had 2,000 of these stickers produced and gave them away with the bags.  Hopefully, they will act as a reminder before shoppers leave their cars. 

They are 30×30mm, printed in up to full colour onto self-adhecisve vinyl and cut to the shape of a bag complete with handle cutout.  They came on approx A4 sheets with silicone backing for peel-and-stick application.

OUR BIG DAY REPORTED BY ABOLISHPLASTICBAGS

Thanks to the APB blog for the link, and for making us campaign of the week!

Campaign of the week is the Banchory bags Campaign up in Scotland.

On Saturday they had a day of anti-plastic bag promotion, with volunteers giving away free ‘Cleaner Greener Banchory’ bags at the St. Ternan’s Fair.

They’ve got 69 out of 73 shops to take part and many are displaying posters made by local primary school children.

SOMERFIELD ADD THEIR SUPPORT

Not only have Somerfield made a great display of some of the children’s posters, they have agreed to put our Notices of Support for the Banchory bags Campaign on EVERY check-out till both in the food store and in the adjacent petrol station.

Well done, Somerfield.

THE BIG DAY APPROACHES

The Banchory bags Campaign team will be giving away the 2,000 ‘Cleaner, Greener, Banchory’ bags at St. Ternan’s Fair next Saturday.

Unfortunately, I will not be with them.  However, I am sure that I have left it all in very good hands and that the event will be a huge success. 

We are all hoping that we will have a repeat of the glorious weather we have had in Banchory this weekend as that would ensure a good turn-out.

I will get someone to take some photos and will write a blog about it when I get back in a couple of weeks.

GOOD LUCK TEAM.

MCS

The Marine Conservation Society thought our Banchory Primary P2/3 children were so good, they gave them a special mention on their blog.

ABERDEENSHIRE WASTE AWARE COME TO BANCHORY

Three officers from the Aberdeenshire Council Waste Aware Department brought their BIG BUS to help members of the team raise the awareness of Banchory residents to the bags Campaign as well as broader environmental issues.  They were most impressed by the numbers of Banchory shoppers who were already carrying their own reusable bags.

Team members also stood in the High Street talking with the few shoppers who were still carrying plastic bags and gave away many of our bookmarks with Hints and Tips on how to remember your bags. 

We also told them that next Saturday, June 14, BbC will be giving away 2,000 ‘Cleaner, Greener, Banchory’ bags at St. Ternan’s Fair in the local Bellfield Park.  [Go Green assure me that the bags WILL have cleared Customs and be delivered to Banchory early that morning!  It's a bit nerve wracking, but we have gone ahead with articles in the local press, etc, on the assumption that they will arrive.  Fingers and toes crossed!]

The Waste Aware team kindly said that they would be happy to come along and help next Saturday, too, but without their bus as there would not be room with all the other stalls that will be gathering for the Fair.   That will be great.  Many thanks, they have been most helpful.

ALL THE WINNERS

I thought I would just show you a photo of all our happy Primary School Prize Winners, pictured after the prize giving ceremony at the Poster Exhibition.<a

POSTERS GO UP AROUND THE SHOPS

Having taken down all the children’s posters, we are now taking them around to the shops which, when we interviewed them earlier in the year, said they would be happy to display them.  We have given the shops a choice of the 230 posters received.  They have all been delighted by the engaging and eye-catching artwork, and have been more than happy to put the posters up.

We have also asked EVERY shop in the town [over 70] to display a notice which says

WE SUPPORT THE BANCHORY bags CAMPAIGN

ALONG WITH OTHER TRADERS IN BANCHORY,

WE RECOGNISE THAT WE LIVE AND WORK IN

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE

COUNTRY

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENVIRONMENTAL

DAMAGE THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY SINGLE-

USE PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS, AND WE ARE

COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE NUMBER

OF THESE BAGS WE GIVE AWAY

All the shops approached so far have been happy to display this notice on their counter by the till and we hope that it will act as a reminder to shoppers to SAY NO TO A PLASTIC BAG and BRING THEIR OWN.

WINNERS

Fergus was the winner from Durris School.  The other winners were -

Alec Sutton, Crathes Primary School, P1

Alba Strachan, Strachan Primary School, P5

Ruaraidh Mac Leod, Drumoak Primary, Aged 9

Adam Henry, Hill of Banchory Primary, Aged 10

WELL DONE, to all these children.