a store is born (PR3)

A STORE IS BORN
 
FOR EARTH’S SAKE - Where shoppers put our planet first
 
Jenny Seagrove, actress, animal rights campaigner and founding trustee of charity Mane Chance opened the doors of For Earth’s Sake in Cranleigh on Friday 5th April 2019.  To mark the opening Jenny and Vanessa Ford-Robbins (owner) also planted an apple tree, symbolising good health, fruitfulness and future happiness for not just the shop but for all individuals who take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.  The shop, which puts the planet, people and provenance before profit, is a significant addition to Surrey’s zero waste, zero single-use plastics shopping experience
Vanessa Ford-Robbins, owner of For Earth’s Sake, said: “My partner Nik and I, in our own lives over the past twenty to thirty years have both been concerned about wastage of the amazing precious resources of the earth, and have also been appalled by the spread of plastic.  Today, I find myself wanting to try and help people, young and old, on a journey with me; to try and work out how we can help in our own individual ways and endeavour not to continue to muck up our planet.  So, what we've done is we've tried to say no one will leave with any single-use plastic, and this endeavour will continue.  We want people to reuse containers and bring them back for refilling, thereby using our earth’s precious resources in the right way.  Our ethos at For Earth’s Sake is to re-use, recycle, repurpose and revisit ways of doing things.”
Jenny and Vanessa were joined by The Mayor of Waverley, Cllr Denise Le Gal, Cllr Liz Townsend, Leader Cranleigh Parish Council (personal capacity), Cllr Angela Richardson, Deputy Leader of Cranleigh Parish council (personal capacity) and Cllr Jim Edwards, Waverley BC Portfolio Holder for the Economy.  In addition, over 60 residents of Cranleigh and the locality joined the celebration of the opening of For Earth’s Sake.
Opening the shop, Jenny Seagrove said “Plastic free means everything to me.  For years I have been discussing with people the issues around single-use plastics and making others aware of the damage we are causing to our precious planet.  I have also been following my own words and making changes where I can to reduce my carbon footprint.  I have known Vanessa and Nik for many years, and they have helped me enormously at our horse sanctuary Mane Chance in Compton near Guildford.  When I was asked by them to open such an exciting venture, a venture that helps people change the way they shop and think about what they buy and how they use things, I just had to say yes.  To mark the opening of For Earth’s Sake, we also planted an apple tree which is a symbol of fertility, and growth and giving back.  I am here at For Earth’s Sake, for our planet’s sake, and for my sake.  What a better thing to do.”
Vanessa continued “We are passionate about trying to do our bit as an individual on saving the planet, saving our environment, and saving animals.  As far as humans are concerned, yes, I am concerned for them too though we got us into this mess and it is us, as an individual, that can make the changes to halt the damage we as humans do daily.  I'm also very aware that myself, and I'm sure everybody can have double standards, knowingly or unknowingly, so we're asking everyone to think positively about whether things we buy and use are absolutely necessary, and whether we can actually all shop without plastic.  It's going to be an experiment as I know it is not easy, though as people become more aware things will change.  As an individual and as a community we can make Cranleigh plastic free, Surrey plastic free and eventually the whole country and world plastic free.”
Once the shop was open, Vanessa commented on how she thought the opening had gone.
“I am a bit overwhelmed by the response to our opening of For Earth’s Sake.  I think the shop is great; I love it, and fortunately this is what our customers are saying too.  If we can help to show people that life can be lived without plastic, and stop single-use plastic continuously going down drains, going down loos, going into the sea then we are doing our job.  For Earth’s Sake is a tiny drop in the ocean, I know, but we as individuals can take action and make a difference.  One of our rules is that we don’t moan in the shop.  If we moan about things that we can’t do anything about, then we should not be moaning.  When there is something we can do again we should not moan about it, we should get up and do something about it.  That is my message.  If I can make changes, everybody can.  This is just the start for us.  We are planning much more, both in the shop and in our community, and our customers will help us in achieving our plans, and more importantly be with us on this journey.”

Press:
For further information and interview requests contact Paul Savident by email to [email protected] or by calling 07966 014911
 
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For Earth’s Sake is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) that reflects its commitment to both local people and the wider society in general. The not-for-profit structure has been chosen so that For Earth’s Sake and its owners can reinvest any financial surplus back into the business, promote educational involvement and projects, and help it grow and provide a greater service to the local community.
For Earth’s Sake is a significant addition to Surrey’s zero waste, zero single-use plastics shopping experience.  Its continuing aim is to provide shoppers with the opportunity to purchase local produce, dried goods, chilled foods, and everyday household items using the most environmentally-friendly methods possible, with strong provenance and without costing the earth. Every aspect of the business is dedicated to reducing our footprint on the environment and shifting the way we consume products in a more sustainable direction.

For Earth’s Sake is the shared vision of Vanessa Ford-Robbins, Nik Huddy and Charlie Edwards who all live in Cranleigh and are well known in the area.  Vanessa and Nik were featured on George Clarke’s Restoration Man (2013 & 2015).  Longhurst Lodge on Horsham Road, Surrey which had been left abandoned for almost fifty years, was painstakingly restored over six years, with Vanessa and Nik learning many new crafts in the process; Vanessa is now a glass and leaded-window maker and restorer and Nik (BSc Hons BioTechnology) is rather good at making terracotta dragons!  Charlie Edwards, Nik’s nephew, will manage the store daily. Fluent in Mandarin and having been in China teaching and translating for six years, Charlie has been developing their venture of realising this eco-friendly shopping experience, with plastic-reduction, the elimination of single-use plastics and the reduction of carbon footprint at its heart.

For Earth’s Sake:
 Address:  73 High Street, Cranleigh, GU6 8AU
 Website:  ForEarthsSake.uk
 Opening Hours:        Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
                                    Saturday, 8.30am to 5.30pm
                                    Sunday 12th April, 10.30am to 4.30pm
 Refreshments:          Tea, coffee, cake, soup and cold drinks will be available to buy from one hour after opening until 30 minutes prior to closing.
 Facebook:  @ForEarthsSakeUK - facebook.com/ForEarthsSakeUK/
 Instagram:   @ForEarthsSakeUK - instagram.com/ForEarthsSakeUK/