The group’s initial organisers are Anna McKellar from Kerri’s Farmhouse Pine, Hannah Springham from the Dial House, Lilly Dollman from the Reepham High School Allotment Project, Simon Chipperfield from Norfolk Farm Shop & Deli, Heidi Poynton from Koti Store and Sonia Burgess from Flower Folk.
 
The first project is a “bag for life”, which will cost £3. For each bag sold a tree will be planted in Reepham with help from the local schools and the Allotment Project.
 
The back of the “Shop Reepham” bag will feature a map and a list of retail businesses, shops and pubs in Reepham and will be on sale from April.
 
The group is currently gathering together all the stories of how each business makes responsible decisions. For example, Kerri’s Farmhouse Pine sources responsibly managed timber and manufactures on site, employing local craftsmen; the Allotment Project harvests its own rainwater and makes all its growing apparatus from recycled donations; and the Dial House is trialling plastic-free meat deliveries from Swannington Farm to Fork and has banned plastic straws and is using eco tea-lights.
 
The group is hosting quarterly meetings at Kerri’s Farmhouse Pine, The Old Railway Station, Station Road, Reepham, where local businesses are invited to get involved, suggest ideas and offer help or support. The first meeting will be on Monday 16 March at 5.30 pm.
 
The group also plans to hold wider audience meetings to engage the community with plans and ideas.
 
In the longer term it hopes to support and grow the weekly market and introduce at least one annual Shop Reepham shopping event in the Market Place, as well as offering discounts and incentives to attract shoppers.
 
According to a group spokesperson, both Broadland District Council and Reepham Town Council are keen to see this all happen and plan to attend the meetings.
 
For more information, search the hashtag #shopreepham on social media.