SEVERAL local businesses have seen their donated products being creatively 're-used' by imaginative volunteers in Transition Northwich.

Transition Northwich is a community group of local people, working together to share ideas and create positive changes in Northwich to combat the climate and ecology emergency.

Geoff Treasure, one of the group's volunteers, is a carpenter by trade and re-uses scrap wood to create bespoke furniture.

He said: "One way to combat waste is to reuse it in creative ways.

"Waste disposal and recycling use huge amounts of energy and clog up our landfills, so if we can find ways to reuse waste we can reduce pollution and save energy.

"If we think innovatively and build links between businesses and community groups we can close the 'waste loop' and everyone benefits."

Northwich Guardian: Geoff Treasure installs his artwork on the new fence.

Geoff Treasure installs his artwork on the new fence.

In January of this year, Ringwood Fencing kindly provided surplus fencing panels and posts to Transition Northwich, which enabled the group to improve access to their community garden, Rod's Secret Garden.

"These panels weren't good enough to be sold," explained coordinator, Alison Allum.

"But were ideal for our use.

"Simply by checking their yard, Ringwood Fencing were able to save these materials from going to waste and support our project.

"The fence was constructed by volunteers, who shared and developed their skills and formed new friendships."

Transition Northwich is also helping to restore the Dane Valley Community Orchard, where volunteers have already pruned trees, cleared paths and improved access.

Orchard founder Cynthia Moore said: "We needed pallets to build our compost bins, so we reached out to local businesses.

"Eveque Leisure Equipment welcomed us to their yard and were very generous.

"They offered us lots of different materials which were waste to them but hugely valuable to us.

"It's amazing how a quick conversation can support the community and reduce business waste."

Northwich Guardian: Completed compost bin at Dane Valley Community Orchard.

Completed compost bin at Dane Valley Community Orchard.

Another great example of the group upcycling unwanted items was when Northwich Library were clearing out some old shelving pieces from a storage area.

Emma Adcocks, team leader at the Library, didn't want the wood to go to waste, so she contacted Transition Northwich.

"We found a creative use for these shelves," explained Pam French, who volunteers in the 'Seed Team' maintaining Rod's Secret Garden.

"We desperately needed new shelving in the green house and these long pieces of wood proved to be perfect.

"Instead of holding books, these old shelves will now support trays of seedlings, before they go into the vegetable garden."

Pam worked with fellow Seed Team volunteers, Alison Chew and Vange Shrub.

Northwich Guardian: Ali Chew with the new greenhouse shelving.

Ali Chew with the new greenhouse shelving.

"We really enjoyed working together to make the greenhouse staging," she added.

"Small projects like this help us to get to know each other better and this leads to new friendships.

"That's what’s important in life."

Businesses and new volunteers can contact Transition Northwich via their website http://transitionnorthwich.weebly.com