community shops

Apparently, it is National Picnic Week and this article provides a useful overview of the changing nature of ‘picnicking’. And I have discovered that there seem to be a plethora of campaign/awareness raising weeks coming up. First up is ‘love your local market’, running between 23 June and 8 July to showcase all types of markets from across the UK.

Following Mary Portas review of the high street, Communities and Local Government (CLG) announced the campaign to promote markets and allow budding shopkeepers to try their hand at running a retail business.  Love your Local Market is also supported by Defra, the LGA, NALC and National Market Traders Federation. Second, and happening at the same time, is the Plunkett Foundation’s Community Shops Fortnight. This celebration is intended to mark the hard work, commitment and pride of 277 rural communities that have rallied round and saved their shop from closure.

Third, is the Prince’s Countryside Fund, which is supporting National Countryside Week from 9-16 July. Members of the public are being encouraged to look for the Countryside Fund logo on products when they go shopping.  For me, these events are important not merely in celebrating the importance of the countryside and showcasing all it has to offer but also in raising awareness of the real issues facing rural communities.