Fairtrade Fortnight is in full swing - and a range of activities are going on in Dereham, Wells and Reepham to promote ethical shopping.Wells already has Fairtrade town status and it is something Dereham as a whole is looking to attain and the events should help raise the profile.

Fairtrade Fortnight is in full swing - and a range of activities are going on in Dereham, Wells and Reepham to promote ethical shopping.

Wells already has Fairtrade town status and it is something Dereham as a whole is looking to attain and the events should help raise the profile.

From now until March 7 there will be displays at Dereham Library on Fairtrade and tomorrow there is an open morning at the Assembly Rooms from 10am-noon including films, stalls, crafts people and experts on products and becoming Fairtrade businesses.

Dereham Baptist Church is celebrating its launch as a Fairtrade church by holding a Fairtrade Festival.

There will be a café serving Fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate, juice, cakes and biscuits. There will also be stalls and stands including Hatti handbags, Traidcraft, Stop The Traffik and Compassion. It is on Saturday at 10am-12.30pm in the church hall.

St Nicholas Church in Dereham is holding a Fairtrade evening on Saturday, March 8, at Church House, at 7.30pm. There will be Fairtrade stalls and guest speaker Frances Middleton will be talking about her experiences in India.

Tomorrow, a Fairtrade tea party is being held at 11 William Cowper Close, Toftwood, 3-6pm.

Kate Baldry, Traidcraft fair trader at St Nicholas Church in Dereham, said if the town is to get Fairtrade status there will need to be more businesses signed up and a higher profile.

“We have got to get moving and there is no excuse for people not to be involved. The Fairtrade products are good quality and this does make a big difference.”

Fairtrade products have greatly increased in number and now includes food, crafts, bags and furniture and is really helping those in third world countries.

For more information on Fairtrade ring Donna Minto at Dereham Town Council on 01362 693821 or e-mail d.minto@

derehamtowncouncil.org

Wells Action for Fair Trade is holding an exhibition throughout the fortnight at Wells library.

On Saturday at The Chapel, Station Road, Reepham, there is an event called The Fruits of Fairtrade, which includes Fairtrade goods for sale, quiz, Find out about Fairtrade in the Learning Zone, Make a Fairtrade Banner and book stall, 10am-4pm.

Visit www.fairtrade.

org.uk/fortnight