A HEREFORD project whose vital community work is blazing a trail for sustainability has been singled out by The National Lottery to star in a special feature video with podcaster and author Rosie Ramsey.

The Big Skill, spearheaded by Clehonger resident Trevor Stringer, was hand-picked to film a workshop with Ramsey for its transformational exploits providing upcycling, gardening and crafting workshops for people in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.

Mr Stringer was chosen to appear in one of three DIY, talent-led videos with Rosie Ramsey, who presents the Sh*gged, Married, Annoyed podcast with husband Chris, that tell the stories of environmentally-friendly, Lottery-funded charities in light of shocking new research.

A whopping seven in ten Brits say they’re not doing enough to save the planet and Mr Stringer, who founded The Big Skill a decade ago, hopes the video can raise crucial awareness about the importance of being green.

The evergreen 74-year-old, whose project were meeting at Hereford’s Saxon Hall every week before lockdown, said: “Helping the environment, and being aware of how we can be environmentally-friendly, really is vital.

“We’re just so grateful for the opportunity to take part in the video, and I feel like we’ve really established a need from the community.

“Rosie was lovely and it was tremendous to meet her – she really made everyone feel at ease. She was enthusiastic about the project and everything The Big Skill – I think it’s a really good video.

“I hope people who watch the video are made to concentrate on the environmental, recycle and reuse theme.”

The National Lottery’s research reveals 73 per cent of Brits have used more electricity during the pandemic, while a third admit they have had the heating on more than ever before.

But almost half still reckon the world will be a greener place for future generations, with many admitting they will change their habits for the better after lockdown.

The National Lottery has contributed more than £2.2bn towards green projects and initiatives across heritage, art, community and sport since 201 – and TV naturalist and environmental campaigner Chris Packham is urging the public to be greener in light of its recent research.

Actor and presenter Ramsey, whose podcast discusses "life, relationships, arguments, annoyances, parenting, growing up and everything in between", stars in three of five videos to raise further awareness around the importance of saving the planet, with each workshop focusing on a different topic around sustainability and how to help the environment.

Mr Stringer and his team have had to adapt their recycling, repair and redesign crafts workshops during lockdown but a seamless transition to Zoom has been a booming success.

They’ve significantly expanded their participation and he reckons National Lottery funding has lay at the heart of their trailblazing exploits.

Mr Stringer, who volunteered three days a week at the National Star College up until October, added: “National Lottery funding has been vital and has kept a lot of our crafters going. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without it.

“The National Lottery helps projects who support and connect with the local community.

“It helps people who suffer with mental health issues and also gives a voice to those people. The National Lottery’s support has been vital.”

The National Lottery is encouraging the public to make a vital contribution to the future of our planet by making a #PlanetaryPromise on social media between April 19 and 23.

The #PlanetaryPromise is a chance for people to do their bit for the environment by making a conscious commitment to either start or stop something that could be helping or harming our planet.

To watch a video and find out more, visit https://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/stories/planetary-promise