Local artist's fast-selling t-shirts oppose South Macclesfield peatland development
By Charlie Coldwell
17th Jul 2022 | Local News
A Macclesfield artist has teamed up with a Macclesfield business to sell shirts opposing a controversial housing development.
Becca Smith is selling them from the Scoop and Scales shop, which is a plastic-free shop located in the Heritage Centre.
The Danes Moss Reserve is threatened by plans to build almost 1000 houses on the fringes of its 33 acres of walking trails and wildlife habitats.
The designs include a tote bag called 'FOR PEATS SAKE', highlighting the hundreds of thousands of peat stored in the site, which is a natural carbon sink.
Another features three legally-protected species threatened by the Cheshire East Council development, such as the Willow Tit, Common Toad and a dragonfly.
Becca believes these t-shirts and tote bags will help to raise awareness for the issue and be an iconic souvenir in the future.
"Hopefully when we win, it will be something you'll keep for the rest of your life and show to your grandkids, and have it as an iconic thing," said Becca.
"The money from the sales of the t-shirts goes straight back into me buying more t-shirts and inks for these.
"I'm really glad I can do it in this amazing part of our community.
"People have responded to it very well."
Scoop and Scales founder Matthew Todd believes that this collaboration with Becca can help to make a difference with the challenges facing Danes Moss.
"Initially it was because Becca was based in this building, so she used to work independently on her own stuff," he recalled.
"She is involved in IDST Arts [a group of artists that collaborate on community artworks] and she is also involved in Project Inc, which is a brilliant organisation in the Heritage Centre for neurodiverse young people in the arts and creative sector.
"She's one of our close friends so we were really pleased to hear that she was making stuff to do with 'SAVE DANES MOSS' as well."
Scoop and Scales has always aimed to help with environmental issues, and claims to be a zero waste co-operative.
"When we set up, we were an environmental organisation that happens to have a shop," he continued.
"The shop is a means to an end.
"We're making a difference to how people buy stuff and what they buy, but for us it's about sharing the wider stuff that's going on in the town. The wider green groups, the wider campaigns.
"So when something comes along like this, it's the perfect thing for us really."
Becca values print making's rich history of causing change, and thinks that it can help to fight for the future of Danes Moss.
"Print making has got a long history of social activism, going back to Hogarth," she explained.
"Print makers and print shops in the Russian revolution, they were the first to start producing stuff.
"I've been aware about what's happening at Danes Moss for years.
"Last September, my mate asked if I wanted to go to a protest in Henbury to stop the diggers.
"Because I couldn't go to the protests, I started making prints at home. That was my way of doing it.
"It's more about the fight, the actual campaign, than the t-shirts and bags themselves. It will be something to be proud of."
You can get to Scoop and Scales by going up the steps at the Exchange Street carpark.
If you would like to support this project, t-shirts are £10 and tote bags are £10.
They can be found in Scoop and Scales in Macclesfield's Heritage Centre.
Tom Eccles, who is co-running the 'SAVE DANES MOSS' petition, campaign and Facebook group had this to say on the new products.
"Sometimes art is the best way to say something," he said.
"These beautiful designs have been inspired by our last true wilderness in Macclesfield. We are lucky to have such a talented artist in Becca Smith and we're hugely grateful."
17,300 people have signed the petition against the development as of publication. A decision is set to me made later this year.
When contacted for comment about the t-shirts Cheshire East Council - who partially own the site and will decide its fate - had the following to state.
"We do not comment on a live planning application," a spokesperson said.
"We have nothing further to add to our last statement and we don't comment once an application once it is submitted for a decision."
Becca's recent Macclesfield art projects include a groovy piano inside Macclesfield Bus Station, and a four-walled mural in Churchill Way carpark.
You can also learn more about the planning proposal 19/1796M by clicking here or here.
The site has already been granted outline approval, but that hasn't stopped a crowdfunder to launch a legal challenge.
See Also: TV celebrity Chris Packham weighs in on under-threat Macclesfield Danes Moss Site
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