A FUNDAY highlighting the importance of the environment will be hosted by Sustainable Sidmouth tomorrow (Saturday). Organisers hope to encourage family participation during the event, which includes driftwood art and recycling beachwaste workshops as well

A FUNDAY highlighting the importance of the environment will be hosted by Sustainable Sidmouth tomorrow (Saturday).

Organisers hope to encourage family participation during the event, which includes driftwood art and recycling beachwaste workshops as well as bag and bunting making.

There will also be live music in the form of Roots Union, a well-known band which has performed at Sidmouth's FolkWeek several times. They will be playing an acoustic set to demonstrate the event's lower energy consumption theme.

Louise Woolley, of Sustainable Sidmouth, said: "The aim of the event is to raise awareness of environmental sustainability within the community including information on projects being undertaken such as the garden-share project, with free plants to give away, allotment project and information available about the Vision Group working groups.

"We intend to show that a lower energy lifestyle does not mean 'going without' and that it can bring fun and enjoyment through community activity and locally provided services."

People of all ages will have the opportunity to have a go on a bike powered generator which has been made by Sid Valley Energy Action Group and the public are also encouraged to bring along unwanted seeds to either donate or swap for something they would like.

Youth Futures, an environmentally-aware youth group, will be displaying three sustainable proposals which have been drawn up for the renewal of the Ham play area and they will be collecting public opinions.

And people's ideas on what changes they would like to see within the town will be strung up on a 'wish tree'.

The Vision Group for Sidmouth will be taking away the ideas at the end of the day and will be using them to identify which environmental issues are of priority to the local community.

The event is free and refreshments will be available, including a locally sourced barbecue, homemade cakes, biscuits and soup. There will also be a sustainable product based raffle.

It will be held on Saturday, March 18, in St John's Ambulance Hall, Blackmore Drive from 10am-4pm.