Sheringham WI members show their love for the environment

Karen Bethell

Published: 9:57 AM February 14, 2017 Updated: 10:56 AM October 10, 2020

Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes chairman Wendy Adams (left) helping hand out green hearts with Sheringham WI members Jane Van Poortvliet, Liz Withington and Tricia Woods. Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant

Environmentally-minded Sheringham WI members marked Valentine's Day by handing out hand stitched hearts asking town centre shoppers to think about the things they would hate to lose as a result of climate change.

Sheringham WI member Trica Woods handing out green heart representing the things people would least like to lose as a result of climate change. Picture: KAREN BETHELL - Credit: Archant

More than half the group's 50 members spent hours cutting, knitting and stitching nearly 500 green hearts to distribute as part of Show the Love, an annual campaign run by the Climate Coalition, of which the National Federation of Women's Institutes is a founding member.

'The idea is that the hearts get passed on and shared on social media,' Sheringham WI president Liz Withington explained.

'Hopefully, at some point, they will get the attention of the people involved in decision-making, but it is also about starting a conversation about climate change with the general public.

Mrs Withington added that, in north Norfolk, the campaign had particular poignancy.

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'It is an area that will be affected by climate change and if we don't start taking some action, then there could be serious long-term implications for our children and our grandchildren,' she said.

After braving freezing weather to distribute hearts in front of Sheringham town clock at the weekend, the group travelled to Norwich to help other Norfolk WI members run a heart-making workshop at the Forum.