Castlepoint’s Sustainable September initiative is coming to an end this weekend with a Sustainable Craft Fair.
It’s taking place on Saturday from 10am-4pm to encourage visitors to get involved in helping reduce their environmental impact while enjoying the various family-friendly activities on offer.
Held in conjunction with Buttons and Bows, it will see a variety of local retailers showcasing their handmade products.
Visitors to Castlepoint will also be able to join Wanda, the waste warrior fish’s mission to save the oceans by recycling their cans and plastic bottles in a fish-shaped bottle bank in a bid to minimise their waste footprint. The installation, while functional, serves as a symbol of Castlepoint’s commitment to sustainability and the team’s goal to reach 100% waste recycling, the company says.
This month, Castlepoint is also home to a 27ft tree created by local artist, Robert Marshall from over 700 plastic bottles that his family consumed in a year. To highlight the major crisis with plastic pollution in our oceans, Mr Marshall also created 13 jelly fish structures for Castlepoint, all made from plastic bottles.
Commenting, Mr Marshall said: ‘I want to encourage an adult conversation about not only plastic usage but all environmental issues’.
Visitors with children also have the opportunity to take part in a digital nature trail during their shop, completing the interactive trail with help from various retailers across Castlepoint. Those who complete the trail will be rewarded with free seeds in the hope that this will encourage them to cultivate their own gardens and green spaces.
Finally, Castlepoint is encouraging visitors to unleash their creativity and design their dream tote bag. Sketches can be emailed to info@castlepointshopping.co.uk or via direct message on Facebook or Instagram. The winning design will be transformed into a reusable tote bag.
The Castlepoint team hopes the initiative will encourage people to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a greener future. More information will be shared on the Castlepoint website and Facebook page, including key information about Castlepoint and its retailers’ sustainability efforts.
David Pickett, Centre Manager of Castlepoint said: “We are proud to be hosting Sustainable September at Castlepoint, bringing together the community with a host of creative and engaging activities that promote environmental responsibility. Sustainability is not just a focus for this event, but a year-round commitment for us.
“From a robust waste and recycling strategy to volunteering with local charities and organisations, we are constantly working to improve our impact on the environment. We hope this event inspires visitors to adopt more sustainable practices in their everyday lives.”