Our stall at this year's Green Festival had a new addition – Eric Pickles in a bin bag. In April, Friends of the Earth gave the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government a national award for "talking rubbish". In Nottingham in May we invited people to throw wet sponges at him. And very popular it proved.

Around his neck was a poster which said "Wanted for crimes against local services and the environment". Graham Chapman, Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Council placed a consoling arm around our Eric's shoulder.

Nottingham City Council Deputy Leader Graham Chapman with Eric Pickles

(Graham Chapman and Eric Pickles debated the meaning of localism on a BBC Newsnight programme in April after Mr Pickles called Graham Chapman "a very naughty boy" and Coun Chapman suggested Eric Pickles is "a dictator who should calm down".)

Meanwhile, children of all ages enjoyed throwing wet sponges at Mr Pickles after he had been put in a black bin bag.

In August 2010 Nottingham Friends of the Earth wrote to all MPs in Greater Nottingham opposing Eric Pickles attempt to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies which contain a number of very important policies protecting the environment. The High Court subsequently forced Mr Pickles to back down. The government has now agreed to consult local authorities on the environmental impact before revoking each region's plan.