The Garey Glass community project to transform one of Douglas promenade’s sunken gardens is nearing completion, with a call to action for volunteers to help install mosaics in the ‘recycle, reuse’ design scheme aimed at encouraging environmental responsibility. Community arts specialist Debra Tracey is overseeing the scheme, one of a number of Marks and Spencer Greener Living Spaces being delivered across the UK by national charity Groundwork, an organisation working with partners to raise environmental awareness and promote greener lifestyle choices through community projects. The project is being co-funded by profits from Mark & Spencer’s 5p per carrier bag charging initiative launched in May 2008, Douglas Borough Council and Douglas Development Partnership. Garey Glass’s design is being interpreted largely in mosaics made out of recycled bottles. The mosaics were created in workshops led earlier this year by Ms Tracy who said: ‘I’m planning a series of on-site sessions for volunteers to install the mosaics on the rocks in the garden every day now until Thursday July 28 in preparation for the official launch of Garey Glass on Saturday July 30 by the Mayor of Douglas Councillor Ritchie McNicholl. Volunteers are asked to meet at the site - the southernmost garden – at 10am each day but first they must contact me to register their interest and confirm their availability.’ The launch event on July 30, which starts at 12noon and runs until 4pm, will also provide an opportunity for members of the public to meet the volunteers responsible for creating the garden’s mosaics and try their hand at some eco-themed craftwork, including making coasters out of mosaics, a kite out of a plastic carrier bag, knitting stripped carrier bags and decorating empty jam jars. Ms Tracy added that the installation sessions would also provide an opportunity for a side event to be mounted where local artists working on green/eco-friendly projects or using recycled materials would be invited to exhibit their work. Projects would include designing and producing two pieces of clothing using second-hand clothes, one of which must be a T-shirt, and creating two items of artwork from empty food and drink cans, one of which must be a functional lantern. Volunteers and artists are asked to contact Ms Tracy in the first instance at debraft@ntworld.com. Telephone 07774 920 292 or 01625 560748. ENDS