Kate Hooper from the Presteigne group has just set up a new Freecycle ® group for this area. Though named Presteigne Freecycle ®, it will be covering the Welsh borders, including Knighton, Bishops Castle, Kington, Hay-on-Wye and their surrounding villages.
The idea behind Freecycle ® is that we recycle our unwanted items locally and for FREE. The Freecycle ® Network is an international organization that’s aim is to cut down on the landfill. It is run on a voluntary basis and Kate will be overseeing the local group. Membership is FREE, and you can join the group by going to  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/presteignefreecycle/join .

So how does it work? If you have something to get rid of , you leave a message on the site describing the item. Others in the group read the message, and if someone wants it, they contact you and make arrangements to collect it . No money changes hands - you've got rid of something in the way and someone else has made use of it.  Similarly, if there's something you need, you can post a wanted message and see if anyone reading the list can offer it to you. When the item has been given away or received, a message is put up to announce that the item is no longer available (or required).  The group moderator (Kate) has a responsibility to remove old or irrelevant post that may be put there, and to see that a sense of fair play prevails.

So, next time you clear out your cupboards and find things too good to throw away, post it up on your Presteigne Freecycle group as OFFERED in your subject. Or if your looking for something specific, there’s a chance someone might just have it lurking disused somewhere

If you live nearer Shrewsbury or Welshpool, both of these areas have their own Freecycle boards, so you are free to join them if it's more appropriate. Links are:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shrewsbury_freecycle/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WNM_Freecycle/