The environmental charity PECT was pleased to host Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on his visit to Peterborough on Friday 1st February 2019.
Carly Leonard, CEO of the charity, said: “When we received news that Michael Gove, MP, was planning to visit the city, we were keen to share with him some of Peterborough’s most recent environmental and community projects, so he could see examples of the work being undertaken.”
The charity wanted to demonstrate recent sustainability initiatives taking place in the city. PECT aims to help protect and enhance the environment throughout Peterborough and beyond, so that residents can enjoy a better quality of life for themselves, their families and future generations.
PECT strives to tackle environmental issues through working together with communities, schools, businesses and voluntary organisations to deliver projects that make a real difference to the environment and people’s lives.
Carly continued: “We planned a visit to the WestRaven Big Local Café and Garden, a community-led project supported by the Big Lottery Fund that provides affordable, healthy and seasonal food to local residents in Westwood and Ravensthorpe.”
The café includes a wheelchair accessible training kitchen, community area and a youth space with recording equipment. The project focuses on using produce that might otherwise go to waste, and there is even a community fridge that provides residents with surplus food from supermarkets.
In addition to the Café visit, the MP enjoyed a tour of the accompanying Community Garden. In 2018 residents added to the garden space by planting apple trees there to create a new orchard area. The trees provide fruit for eating, improve biodiversity, provide a habitat for wildlife and mitigate the effects of climate change in a number of ways.
Carly explains: “We were pleased to have the opportunity to highlight the valuable work that is taking place in our city, and to share best practice so that nation-wide we are working together to improve the environment and ensure real and much-needed change is taking place.”