Cut Your Carbon

The inaugural 'green extravaganza' is taking place at the Cornhill and Christchurch Park in Ipswich on Sunday 30 March 2008.

"It's a serious message, but we wanted to get the message out in a fun way and we hope people will get involved," says Ben Collins, Operations Manager of organisers Ipswich Central.

Suffolk Eco Trade, LEV, CRed, First Buses, Suffolk’s Master Composters, Greenest County and Alder Carr Farm will be amongst the stall holders.

Boycott the Bag

Ipswich Central, who provide management services for 900 businesses including the town's shopping centres, and Ipswich Borough Council will be handing out free fabric bags as part of a Boycott the Bag campaign - they say 500 billion plastic bags are used across the world every year.

Suffolk Action and BBC Suffolk pioneered a similar scheme last year and you can still find the pattern to make your own bags using the link on the right >>

Ben Collins explained an extra initiative for those taking a free bag: "There may be 'on the spot' prizes in the future to those seen using the bag. We want to continue the initiative after Sunday."

Suffolk Eco Trade owner Amy Drayson will be selling organic T shirts, and other textile products made from reused fabrics.

"Society is beginning to realise that mass consumption isn't making us happy," Amy says.

'Isla' in poppies at Alder Carr Farm

Alder Carr Farm owner Joan Hardingham used to be a teacher but decided on a change of career in 1981.

Keen to be self sufficient, Joan said: "We set up our farm shop in 1981 and established the first Farmers Market in England 10 years ago.

"We are preserving the green countryside by staying in control of it and using it to produce food for local people, at the same time not contributing to carbon emissions by selling our food outside of our locality."

Green transport

Transport that doesn't pollute the environment, but is easy on the legs, will also be on display.

LEV is offering a free test ride on its electric bicycle: "Used instead of a car, an electric bike reduces pollution and carbon emissions by under two grams per mile and helps tackle congestion too," says Dave Steward, Marketing Director.

Cox Saab are promoting their cars: "Saab were the first to produce a car that runs on a mixture of petrol and ethanol in 2005," says Andrew Cox, owner of Cox Saab.

"The Swedish government give 20 per cent off road tax, no congestion charge or car parking fees in some major cities in Sweden, to those who drive one."

First Buses are bringing a bus to promote the idea of leaving your car behind and taking a bus instead.

Spring cleaning

Greenest County will be there. As part of spring clean fortnight, they are planning to promote Stubbi day, which is on 4 April 2008.

It has been designed to reduce the cigarette butt litter on the streets of Ipswich. They have a 6' tall cigarette costume and have just purchased 500 Stubbi pouches (personal ashtrays for cigarette butts) to give out on Stubbi day.

BBC Look East is working in conjunction with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to help improve the environment.

And as part of the Don't be a Tosser campaign, the BBC Radio Suffolk team will be out and about in Spring Wood helping with the clean up during the Go Green event.

For the children

There will be green craft workshops taking place in a marquee on Lloyds Avenue.

Workshops will show how to make sun catchers from recycled plastics, windmills from old road maps and finger puppets from old envelopes.

Music will have a West African flavour, in the sound of Djansa Drum Group.