ONE of the key changes that is being encouraged by the government is the Big Society.

Wherever I go around Wyre Forest I hear people talking about this and embracing it with enthusiasm.

It is something that people recognise and understand immediately.

But whilst the Big Society is in part a reversal of the years of a Big Government centrist, top down approach to everything, it is also a formalisation of seeking ways to support communities in supporting themselves.

In the next few months and years there will be number of developments on a more formal basis and the Big Society Bank, and social impact bonds, are two ways that local communities and projects can be supported financially.

But in the meantime, the Big Society in Wyre Forest is alive and well and, it seems, flourishing.

In the last couple of weeks, two examples of local communities coming together have struck me as excellent examples of the Big Society.

I recently met with the Friends of the Woods to join them in tidying up and highlighting paths along the woods that run parallel to the Worcester Road in Kidderminster.

These woods are an amazing secret garden of wilderness in the heart of the town and are looked after by a group of local activists who have put up bird and bat boxes, regularly clear the woods of litter and, on the Saturday morning that I spent with them, painted lines on the steps to aid those who suffer from poor eyesight.

They do this for no other reason than they want to improve their local environment and they care. And, frankly, that is as good a reason as any.

I also went to Areley Kings village hall, where the local community were celebrating the completion of work done to install eco-friendly measures, including photovoltaic cells on the roof and fans for recycling heat.

The village hall was built a few years ago as a result of money raised by the local community and the cost of the recent installation was also raised locally.

So not only does Areley Kings have an important local resource for the community, but it also has a shining example of modern technology that is available to see in a working environment.

Irrespective of people’s views on climate change, the fact is we are running out of fossil fuels and in the not-too-distant future, these power generation and heat recycling measures will be the norm.

But in the meantime, the example set by the community in Areley Kings, and others, is crucial in saving our planet.

CONTACT YOUR MP

Email mark.garnier.mp@parliament.uk.

Telephone 020 7219 7198 or 01562 746771.

Write to 9a Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, DY11 6UU, or House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA.