St Osmunds School in Dorchester hold first Eco-friendly Christmas fair
St Osmund's want to reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose as much as they can to help the planet
This year St Osmund's CE Middle School are holding their very first zero waste Christmas fair.
The students are making their annual Christmas event as environmentally-friendly as possible.
They want to reduce, reuse, recycle and repurpose as much as they can to make a difference to their school, community and the planet.
It is happening in the Middle School's sports hall today (10 December) between 5 - 7pm.
There will be raffles, educational stalls, community stalls and 'new-to-you-' stalls that include good quality, second hand, books, clothes, and gift items.
Teacher Hannah Mugridge and leader of Ossie's Climate Action Group is helping the students organise the event.
"All the food and sweets are all plant based and all of the stalls that we do which are going to be using recycled materials or using things that can be used, odds, bits and bobs from people’s homes that we have collected are all linked to our eco theme. So, every stall is linked.
"We have a repair café and we’ve got an ocean organisation who are going to look at some of the problems in the ocean.
"Six information stalls with outside stalls like a link to the vegan fair and soy wax candles where people can get gifts for Christmas.
"We are looking to change people’s attitudes to what they can do because people often don’t want to change their behaviour. Thinking about their consumer attitude."
The children involved in organising the eco friendly event say it's all about changing people's mindsets.
Eva says: "It is two hours peoples lives where they can try something new and it can be really enjoyable and it is all for a good cause and the money can go to other eco projects in the school and inspire other schools.
"It can encourage other people to be as eco-friendly as us because we are trying to produce as little waste as possible and all the food is going to be planted based.
"Minimal waste, and anything that is created from the Fair will be completely recyclable."
Mia is also involved, she gave Greatest Hits Radio Dorset some ideas on how to make small changes.
"Fast fashion and throw away fashion, buying new clothes all the time. We can save clothes for cousins and siblings. Even swapping with friends because clothes are in shops for about a month and then change so buying less generally.
"Think about what you’re buying, not just buying it straight away, think about the effects of it."
Eva also gave us some tips, she says cutting down on meat will help.
"It is one of the biggest causes of global warming as there is so much energy and resources used, the meat industry is really bad for the environment and the animals need to stop being harmed and treated badly."
COVID RULES
To keep everyone Covid safe the school are making sure the hall is well ventilated and stalls will be spaced out to minimise crowding.
There will be a one way system when entering the sports hall and it is recommended that people wear a mask.