CROW was a voluntary, not-for-profit community group founded in 2018 to free the local area from single-use plastic. Plastic pollution has sadly become synonymous with everything we do—from walking, running, and beach holidays to wildlife watching—making marine plastic pollution and tackling society’s throwaway culture a top priority for Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). Crowthorne was certified as a Plastic Free Community in January 2019 by SAS.
Over the years, CROW received incredible support from the community through its various initiatives, which focused on:
- engaging in issues that preserved and enhanced the village’s environment, including energy use, waste, and resource efficiency;
- sourcing reliable information, attracting involvement, and suggesting practical solutions as appropriate;
- combining education and awareness-raising with action and policy influence.
It operated within the framework of the Community Plan prepared by Wokingham Without Parish Council (WWPC) and Crowthorne Parish Council (CPC), aligning with SAS Plastic Free Communities to drive local governance, build resistance hubs with local businesses, work with plastic-free allies, and run plastic-free events.
What We Are Doing Now
Having simplified how we work, we now operate through the Committee of the Crowthorne Repair Cafe to continue efforts toward building a sustainable and environmentally sensitive community. Please visit the Crowthorne Repair Cafe pages to find out more.