Plastic bags turned into community gardens

Retail firm Marks and Spencer is to donate a small fortune towards the creation of a community garden.

The £25,000 grant, collected through charging 5p per carrier bag during May, will go towards a greenhouse, fencing, trails and a play area at Hawbush Community Gardens in Brierley Hill, near Birmingham.

Local councillor Rachel Harris said the cash will be a big help for gardens and that the fact that the cost was borne by shoppers who use plastic bags should help the environment in the long run.

“Any support we receive will be very welcome – it will be a big boost for the project which has considerable local backing,” she told the Express and Star.

“I’m very supportive of charging for carrier bags.

“People don’t realise that when they get carrier bags they are not free – there is an environmental cost.”

The grant is a share of a £200,000 pot which will be shared between eight gardens across the country.