Launch of the Abergavenny Bag
Welcome to the Abergavenny Bag, launched on Thursday November 26th 2009 at the Farmers' Market, the result of a two year campaign by members of Abergavenny & Crickhowell Friends of the Earth to reduce the number of plastic carrier bags being used in the town and to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags. The bag design was created by Ffion Thompson, aged 13, winner of the competition organised in King Henry VIII School by Friends of the Earth. Her striking design has been expertly adapted for printing by Jayne Goodwin of Art Matters, Gilwern. The result is a stunning representation of our town with the words Think Green cleverly incorporated into the design.
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| Ffion Thompson, bag designer, Cllr Douglas Edwards, Mayor of Abergavenny with the bag project team. | Close up of the bag design |
Ffion's message is clear: we must all radically change the way we think about the environment. One of the most valuable aspects of this project has been the way it has engaged and inspired the pupils in the local schools. The Year 8 pupils at King Henry VIII School produced such an excellent range of bag designs it is a shame they could not all be winners. The delightful posters designed by the primary school pupils will soon be on display in shops around the town.
The Abergavenny Bag has been jointly funded by a Community Environmental grant from Monmouthshire County Council and a Community grant from Abergavenny Town Council. An earlier grant from Rural Community Action Monmouthshire plus donations from the Town Council, the Abergavenny Chamber of Trade and Friends of the Earth funded the first stage of the project and the school competitions. The project team wishes to express its thanks to everyone involved in the development and sponsorship of the bag.
The bags, made from Fairtrade organic cotton to reflect the Fairtrade status of the town will initially be available for purchase at the fortnightly Farmers' Market and at the Christmas Fairs at Cantref and Our Lady & St. Michael's Schools on Dec 4th 2009. We anticipate that independent traders in the town will also wish to offer them for sale in the near future.
The Abergavenny Bag focuses attention on the need to reduce waste but it also seeks to celebrate and promote the vision of a Green Abergavenny, an environmentally aware community that values its landscape, heritage, people and wildlife and is planning for a more sustainable future.