Michele Ingerslev is a working Mum who lives in Winchester with a passion for the environment.
Inspired through her work on ocean plastics with the 1851 Trust in Portsmouth, which offers free school visits, helping to inspire the next generation of young people in all things STEM-related, she launched Final Straw Winchester campaign at the end of January 2018.
Michele has been working with local businesses to get them to pledge to STOP using plastic straws with their drink offering and so far since launch, she’s reached 654 Facebook likes and 171 Twitter followers. Already, over 20 Winchester businesses are on board as well as having the support from our local MP, Steve Brine.
Businesses include: The King Charles pub, BIG LITTLE ME, Chococo Chocolates, Turtle Bay, The William Walker, Cabinet Rooms, Norton Park Hotel, Wonston Arms, The Goodlife Farm Shop, The Mucky Duck, The King Alfred, St. James’ Tavern, Green Man, Cornerhouse, Littleton Pre-school, Music with Mummy, The Swan Alresford, The Old Vine, University of Winchester, The Fulflood Ball, The Guildhall and Hampshire County Council.
Straws are used for an average time of 20 minutes before being thrown away ending up in landfill and ultimately our seas. Once in the sea, the plastic straws break down into micro-plastics causing harm to marine life who ingest them; the micro-plastics then enter the food chain. If businesses want to continue to provide straws, I’d like to encourage them to use a more re-usable/recyclable alternative such as paper.
Final Straw Winchester’s aim is to raise awareness in an attempt to eradicate the use of single-use plastic straws.
If you have already made the switch or if you’d like to be part of my campaign, please contact me:
Email: finalstrawwinchester@gmail.com
Twitter: @FinalStrawWinch
FaceBook: Final Straw Winchester
