Eco award for music made in Marsden

IT was formed on the dry, dusty fields of Tanzania, dozens of years ago.

Now a piece of African Blackwood has been turned into a unique object in a small workshop in Marsden.

Hanson Clarinets has just been honoured for launching the world’s first “green” clarinet.

The woodwind instrument lovingly crafted by musician Alastair Hanson and his team in his village workshop has been awarded a Forest Stewardship Council award.

It means the African Blackwood that is favoured by woodwind instrument-makers across the world is being sustainably sourced, with the local growers paid proper rates for the work they do in growing the trees.

Hanson, based in Warehouse Hill, have started manufacturing the clarinet, which is made from African Blackwood from responsibly managed forests in Tanzania.

And it will be formally launched in style on Monday, when one of the world’s top clarinetists, Lynsey Marsh, will play the new instrument.

Marsh, principal clarinetist with the Hallé Orchestra, will give a short performance with pianist Darius Battiwalla at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Hanson, co-founder of the company in 1989, said: “We are proud to be making the world’s first FSC-certified woodwind instruments right here in Yorkshire.