Westbury went wild on Saturday 12th March with more than 214 people joining in the fun at, ‘Let’s Go Wild for Westbury!’
The event was organised to celebrate Recycle for Wiltshire, a joint venture funded by Wiltshire Council, spending the past year in Westbury.
Jessica Thimbleby, community engagement officer said, “The sun shone on Grassacres Park and those who came could choose from a variety of fun, waste-free activities. These included decorating tree cookies and making jam jar lanterns and paper beads with the waste team from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, to decorating pots and planting them up with spring bulbs and weaving willow crowns with the Trust’s wild connections team.
“The White Horse Children’s Centre helped children to reuse rubbish by planting cress in egg shells and seeds in used plastic milk bottles. The ‘Know Where to Throw’ game tested everyone’s knowledge on recycling and reducing the rubbish in their bins at home and the eye-catching wall-hanging, made up of individual squares created (from rubbish!) entirely by adults and children from Westbury, was unveiled.
“The ‘Design Your Bag’ competition, sponsored by Hills Waste Solutions, saw some fantastic entries illustrating the Recycle for Wiltshire environmental messages. The finalists of the competition were on display and winners, Oscar Grieve from Bitham Brook Primary School and Olivia Norris from Westbury Leigh Primary School were presented with their prizes, a year’s membership to the junior branch of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by Wiltshire councillor Jerry Wickham and Damian Haasjes from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Runners-up prizes will be presented to the other ten finalists in the coming weeks and all the shortlisted bags will feature in the window display of Westbury Visitor Centre for the next three weeks.
“The Repair Academy were selling upcycled and re-loved furniture rescued from Wiltshire’s Household Recycling Centres and promoting a ‘white goods maintenance’ course running in Westbury soon.
“Active Trowbridge provided the bounce with their popular bouncy castle, Leighton Recreation Centre tested goal skills with their football wall and the health trainers were on hand to encourage healthier living.
“Local charity Crosspoint were there too and ran a successful tombola to raise funds for their help and advice centre. Local businesses Elliott’s butchers supplied the burgers and sausages for a tasty barbecue, with the Bath Bakery supplying the buns and Mad Hatters Tea Rooms providing plenty of delicious cake. The day was also a chance to promote nearby Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserves, Green Lane Wood in West Ashton and Smallbrook Meadows in Warminster. Both offer a great opportunity to enjoy unspoilt nature and wildlife locally for free.
“During Recycle for Wiltshire’s year in Westbury, the waste team from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has so far educated and involved 1,350 Westbury schoolchildren and 1,756 residents to reduce, reuse and recycle their rubbish at home. The team has also knocked on 667 doors in the town to answer residents’ questions about recycling.
“It’s been a fantastic year, thanks Westbury!”
For more information about Recycle for Wiltshire, please contact Jessica Thimbleby on 01380 736077 or jessicat@wiltshirewildlife.org
