A NORTHWICH supermarket is doing its bit to help keep the town in full bloom.

Each year, businesses in the UK create over 40 million tonnes of waste and Transition Northwich are keen to see local businesses lead the way in reducing waste, and in doing so, reduce pollution and support the community.

While most supermarkets share out surplus food, Asda has reduced another type of waste, by offering the team at Transition Northwich their unsold plants.

With outdoor plants wilting quickly in warm shops those that go beyond the point of sale usually head for landfill, but, Jenny Pinnington, community champion at Asda, contacted Transition Northwich, who were able to collect, nurture and distribute the plants to a variety of different groups.

"We first supported Transition Northwich in the summer after seeing their efforts to promote wild-flower meadows and we donated bags of flower seed," Jenny explained.

"At Asda we understand the importance of waste reduction and Transition have made the process of distributing these waste plants simple.

"It's no extra effort for us and it's wonderful to see the plants going to enhance the community, and not go to landfill."

Transition Northwich advertised the donation on its Facebook page and three local schools and groups got in touch and received crates of free plants, one of which was Rod's Secret Garden.

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Planting on the path into town

Volunteer Roy Pearce said: "We wanted to share these plants with local residents.

"It was a real pleasure to spend the afternoon working with a family who live on Oak Street.

"Together, we cleared the litter, swept up the leaves, cut the hedge and planted primroses and violas along the path leading to town."

Donna Burston, at St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School, Hartford, said, "The children loved planting the flowers in 'Maddie's Garden', our special area created in memory of one of our pupils, which the children care for and where they play and do some outdoor lessons.

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A team effort at St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School.

"The school love anything that helps to educate children on nature and sustainability and this has been a great opportunity to do this in our after-school care provision."

At Little Owls Preschool and Nursery, in Rudheath, the children were able to plant the donated flowers using their gardening tools and wheelbarrows.

Manager, Jeanette Catterall explained: "We are a nature inspired setting where we take nature as the starting point for our curriculum in early years."

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chAPS Learning 4 Life Natalie Catterall, ChAPS Business Manager.

Having recently moved to their new site on Navigation Road, ChAPS, who support children and adults with autism, picked up their donated plants from Rod's Secret Garden.

"The donation has come at a very opportune time for us as we are taming and tending our outside area," said Natalie Chatteral, ChAPS Business Manager.

"Our adult Learning4Life provision will enjoy planting these and looking after our new garden area."

Transition Northwich plan to build links with more supermarkets in the town.

"We would love to see a culture of sharing from all types of businesses," said coordinator, Alison Allum.

"Instead of businesses being covert by their waste we hope they'll reach out and offer surplus products and materials which can be reused in schools, community groups and gardens."