GREEN BUILD

The sky was blue but the thousands of visitors to Sheringham Park over the weekend of 29th-30th April were positively green.  The annual Green Build event run by North Norfolk District Council, in association with the National Trust this year, attracted visitors from as far away as New Mexico.  Many people who were looking to make home improvements or build their own houses came to the exhibition for inspiration and advice on how to do so in a more environmentally friendly way.  The event brought together suppliers and contractors in the fields of sustainable construction, renovation, DIY and green living, to show the public how they can build greener homes.  Popular exhibitors included Richard Hyde from Eartha who made a pizza oven from clay lump and demonstrated it in full working order with supplies of sausages and bacon.

The exhibition was designed to show how environmentally-friendly innovations around the home can save energy, and therefore money.  On offer were many ideas on how to limit the environmental impact of twenty-first century lifestyles.   This is particular pertinent to us in North Norfolk as we all live in close contact to the beautiful countryside that attracts the tourists and sustains the agriculture that are the economic mainstays our local communities.

There was also a popular selection of talks and presentations throughout both days, all of which played to a capacity audience. These covered the interaction of trees and plants with building techniques, space heating options, an investigation into the impact of conservatories, and a debate, "Sustainable design: Lightweight v. Heavyweight," led by local MP Norman Lamb, who officially opened the exhibition and collected some of the free soil conditioner which is made from the contents of the brown bins collected by NNDC.  The MOMO theatre company provided family entertainment thoroughly in the spirit of the event with their show "Climate Changing Rooms."  Millfield primary school's eco-club won the school category in the competition run by the National Trust to build a model of a green dwelling, and Sam Starsmore and Tobias Parke won the individual category.

READERS LETTER

Dear Editor,
Pam Blyth asked readers to 'get away from personal attacks' in commenting on whether Tesco would be good or bad for our small town (issue 59, page 2).  Yet in it's national report on this supermarket's methods to get it's own way, The Guardian has now quoted her describing opponents of Tesco as 'snobs'. Whether working folk, students or pensioners, we resent this personal attack.  There are good reasons for opposing a multi-commodity Tesco store along Cromer Road in that prime monopoly position.  Waitrose might be better because it prioritises grocery supplies and would look better, but the site is wrong for any supermarket.  Is it 'snobbish' to oppose the demolition of flint cottages and the Methodist manse, social housing on the Lockerbie site, and the eviction of all tenants?  Is it 'snobbish' to keep our convenient community centre used by all ages for diverse purposes?  Is it 'snobbish' to object to old people in St Andrews Close being surrounded by noisy 24/7 traffic, until Tesco forces the Housing Trust to sell them that property too?  Just look at what Tesco have been doing to other towns.   How would the 'un-snobbish' Mrs Blyth like it, if she herself were a victim of superstore imperialism?
Marianna Robinson
Holway Road, Sheringham.

TRADING FAIRLY IN THE UK

Trading fairly can work locally.  It is not only producers in developing countries whose livelihoods depend on fair prices for their produce.   Local producers also suffer from competition with cheap imports, the downward presure of prices from supermarket purchasing practices and the buying patterns of consumers.  By looking out for local products and buying at local shops you can support fairer trade in the UK.

East Anglia Food Link and Eostre Organics are not-for-profit co-operatives working in East Anglia and collaborating with other co-operatives across the UK. Both aim to promote environmentally and socially responsible food production.  Eostre supplies organic locally grown crops through small shops, box schemes and at markets, including a daily stall on Norwich market. Other places to buy local products are the Farmers' Markets.   You can also help by supporting your local neighbourhood shops like bakeries and greengrocers.