Look up if you walk along Market Street in Lancaster between now and mid-March and you will see a banner advertising the Spring Market on Friday, 14 March. The markets are organised by the Closing Loops project, and the banner sums up how the project works: It was originally printed on plastic, but thinking ahead some space was left blank for the date, and for the last two years the new dates have been painted over by hand so the same banner could go up again and again. It looks as good as new, saving the project hundreds of pounds and avoiding a lot of plastic waste going to landfill. In the process, our team has learned the best way to make this work well, and painting skills have been promoted.
Each of Lancaster’s Seasonal Markets brings together organisations and traders who think in terms of closing local loops. You can talk to people at the repair and recycle tent about keeping your bike, jacket or computer going, or about learning woodworking skills. You can buy gifts made with local honey, willow and herbs. You can visit the local food hub, Gather, for produce ranging from Kendal bread to Silverdale beef.
All of them are local businesses and organisations using local raw materials. Together, we are closing economic and social loops by recirculating money and energy within the district on a small scale and in a fairer way.
I’ve been lucky to help organise the seasonal markets since 2022. We’ve got great support from the regular stallholders and a good number of new enquiries to keep things fresh. Organisations know they’ll meet lots of people who are interested in their projects. Stallholders tell me they’re seeing more and more regular customers who make a point of coming to the markets.
The big question this year is how we can build on this success to make the markets even better and ensure they keep going for years to come.
Among the Closing Loops project team, the wider FoodFutures network, and the traders and organisations who make the markets what they are, there is a strong feeling that we’re on the right track with both the direction and feel of the market. Expect more of a community feel at this year’s events, more of a handmade aesthetic to the stalls and signage, and more chances to get involved in what is happening. If you have ideas about what you would like to see or how you would like to get involved, please get in touch with me at andi_CL@lessuk.org.
See you at the Spring Market!
Andi Chapple works for LESS and coordinates Lancaster’s seasonal markets.
