From 11th-18th March 2007

The 11th Real Nappy Week will highlight how cloth nappies are increasingly moving from being a niche to a mainstream choice. Many high street stores and an ever-growing number of local and online suppliers now offer a wide variety of stylish and easy to use real nappies.

During Real Nappy Week parents and carers will have numerous opportunities find out what cloth nappies are really like in events across the UK.

With nappuccinos from Dorset and the Isle of Anglesey to Bedfordshire and Perth and Kinross, parents can enjoy a coffee while finding out about real nappies in a relaxed environment. Roadshows in Devon, Hampshire and Argyll and Bute will take the ‘real nappy’ message to the streets. Real nappy fashion shows in Buckinghamshire, Newcastle and Camden, London will also demonstrate how real nappies have become a fashionable lifestyle choice.

Other events include a teddy bear’s picnic in Cambridgeshire, a baby show in Wiltshire where people can take part in the Design a Wiltshire Nappy competition, and a mountain of nappy waste in London.

Details of all activities are posted on Women’s Environmental Network’s website www.wen.org.uk. The list is updated regularly as new events are confirmed. Last year, Real Nappy Week attracted record support with the backing of over 90% of UK local authorities, and almost 600 worldwide events in the UK, Australia, China, Ireland, Mexico and New Zealand.

Eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK, mostly ending up in landfill sites. Real Nappy Week shows parents how they can save money, save waste and benefit the environment all at the same time.

Real Nappy Week is co-ordinated by Women's Environmental Network, supported by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) through its Real Nappy Campaign. To find out how you can celebrate Real Nappy Week's 11th anniversary or post details of activities log on to www.wen.org.uk/rnw

Women’s Environmental Network (WEN)

WEN is a registered charity that campaigns on issues which link women, health and the environment. WEN has been involved in Real Nappy Week since its inception and has coordinated the week in its current form since 2000. Support for the Week has grown year on year: from 116 organisations in 2000, to more than 850 supporters in 2006 - over 90% of all UK local authorities - and hundreds of other organisations, companies and political representatives. Other current WEN issues include food, toxic chemicals and climate change.

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The Nappy Finder service

Visit www.realnappycampaign.com/nappyfinder it allows parents to find all their local services including Local Authority incentive schemes simply by entering their postcode. It lists 1,100 different services across the country, including retailers, nappy agents (who demonstrate different types of nappy and answer parents’ questions), laundries and incentive schemes. These include 144 online services.

The Real Nappy Helpline

0845 850 0606 - gives callers details of their local cloth nappy contacts whether they want to buy them to wash at home or use a laundry service.

Nappy facts

Cost Home laundered nappies could save parents around £500 on the cost of keeping a baby in nappies.

Health Disposable nappies are made of superabsorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics, while real nappies are mostly made of natural fabrics. Organic cotton and hemp nappies and organic wool waterproof covers are available at a reasonable cost.

Photo credits to © WRAP/Graham Flack.