Eco Team welcome local businesses to Food & Craft Fair

Open to the local community, St Mary’s Food and Craft Fair on Saturday 17 September brought together businesses from Essex and Suffolk who showcased and sold their locally produced food and craft goods.

Students from St Mary’s Eco Team spearheaded the event, welcoming a vast array of stalls. The products on offer ranged from local produced honey, hand-made soaps, candles, and ceramics through to clothing, artwork, locally made bread, cakes, chocolate and many more eco-related products. Mrs Sarah Wilding, St Mary’s Eco-Schools Co-ordinator explained the importance of these events: “As only one of five schools in the UK to achieve national Eco-Schools Ambassador status, we are always looking at ways to encourage sustainability at school and in the local community. The girls in the Eco Team were incredibly passionate about bringing these local suppliers, (many of whom are sole traders) together to reinforce the eco values we hold at St Mary’s. This was only the second of what we hope will be many Food and Craft Fairs. We have already extended into street food and look forward to a number of additional stalls attending our Christmas Fair in November.

Amongst the stall holders were Claire and Sarah from Suffolk-based Feathers & Fellows who have created a range of candles, melts, and diffusers. Claire is a former St Mary’s student and said “I relished the opportunity to bring my business back to my former school which holds such fond memories for me. We were delighted to be a part of this event which encouraged the community to shop small and support local businesses.” The Food and Craft Fair was attended by the local community, St Mary’s families and staff who had the opportunity to support small, local independent businesses by purchasing the best of local produce. An Eco Art Competition was also launched at the event to encourage school-aged children to create a piece of artwork made from recyclable materials or with an eco-message. Entries should be sent digitally to communications@stmaryscolchester.org.uk by 14 November, with the winners announced during St Mary’s Eco Week, 21-25 November. The next St Mary’s Food and Craft Fair is on Saturday 26 November, 10am – 2pm at St Mary’s Senior School in Lexden Road, Colchester. For further information, contact St Mary’s Eco-Schools Co-ordinator, Mrs Sarah Wilding wildings@stmaryscolchester.org.uk