Chip and Bin! Free chips for littler pickers at top Scottish shop!
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ith growing recognition of the impact of tourism on the natural environment, one small independent business, the Real Food Café in Tyndrum, has taken matters into its own hands with a campaign of litter picking in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park - and the promise of free fish and chips for everyone taking part. The first litter pick took place on Sunday, 30 May and will take place on the last Sunday of each month until October, with The Real Food Café providing volunteers with all the equipment required. Volunteers will be rewarded with free tea, coffee and biscuits plus servings of the café’s award-winning fish and chips. 20 spaces are available for each monthly event for anyone from café staff and locals, to visitors, families and senior citizens. Spaces must be pre-booked and all equipment will be provided, including high vis jackets, litter pickers and bags. Café Manager, Colin McGeoch who is spearheading the project will weigh the litter collected each month and announce the results on social media. Colin, who lives locally, formulated the idea for the campaign as he saw the effects on the local beauty spot of increasing quantities of littering: Colin said:“It’s been gutting to see my local area being treated like this every day on my way to work. We are proud to welcome visitors from all over the world to the Real Food Café. They come to
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Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • August 2021
this area because of its natural beauty but the volume of rubbish is increasingly destroying our natural environment. Community is at the heart of everything we do in the café, so we’ve decided to take the matter into our own hands. We decided to launch it to coincide with the Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign because this organisation is trying hard to tackle climate change and reducing litter and waste.” The events are welcomed by Co-owner of The Real Food Café, Sarah Heward that come amidst her calls for improved infrastructure to support rural areas. Sarah has been at the centre of talks about the infrastructure of the local area for many years. Sarah said:“We absolutely love tourists visiting our café and the local areas, it’s our bread and butter and supports so many other rural businesses too. However, the areas are being degraded by litter and there are social issues that need to be addressed.As a family business, we work extremely hard to recycle our waste, ensure our customers are provided with plenty bins and that are packaging is biodegradable, but we’ve seen a huge raise in litter scattered all over Tyndrum. How are you addressing the problem of litter in your community? Email austen@ chippychat.co.uk
Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • August 2021
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