Village urged to go green

A village group has produced a guide to help residents cut their carbon footprints.

Farndon Residents’ Environment Group (Freg) has published 200 copies of a booklet called Farndon’s Own Guide To Saving Money, Energy And Resources.

The 22-page booklet includes practical steps people can take to be more environmentally friendly.

It will be launched at Farndon Memorial Hall on Sunday.

The event, from 10am to 1pm, will include an exhibition of drawings by pupils at the village’s St Peter’s Primary School.

Each pupil has done a drawing based on eco-friendly actions residents are being encouraged to take. Some drawings feature in the booklet.

A competition is being held to choose the best in three age groups.

The winner will be announced at the launch.

The chairman of Freg, Mr Phil Holmes, said the idea for the guide came about after he attended a community champions course organised by the Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

“What I didn’t particularly like when I went on the course was that all the actions they identified were very glib and unqualified,” he said.

“They didn’t give exact statements of how you could go about it.”

The actions have been divided into five categories — saving energy, travelling wisely, shopping ethically, saving resources and caring for your area.

Members researched a category each and came up with their own practical tips about how best to fulfil the criteria for each category.

It took six months to complete the booklet.

Mr Holmes said: “We have put the whole thing together in one document.

“It includes everything people need to know about saving money and resources.”

Recommended actions include switching off radios, televisions, and other electrical items rather than leaving them on stand-by, and fitting low-energy lightbulbs that can save up to £12 a year compared with normal bulbs.

Other suggestions are car sharing or travelling to work by train or bus instead of driving; buying a bag for life rather than using plastic bags; buying locally-produced food; using a milkman instead of buying milk from a shop; and using a water meter.

Residents are urged to consider joining a group like Freg as part of the Care For Your Area category.

The group started in 1997. It was formed by Farndon Parish Council and has 24 members.

The group is calling on other towns and parishes to follow its lead and produce similar advice for residents.