GREEN issues and initiatives were well and truly in the spotlight this week as a variety of events were held as part of a drive to get people to focus on the environment.

The Green Week campaign, which aims to educate residents across Basingstoke about the importance of environmental issues and small differences that can be made to live a more environmentally-friendly life, began with the Basingstoke Green Fair.

Green-minded residents across the borough flocked to The Malls last Saturday to enjoy the opening event of this year’s Green Week, which is backed by The Gazette as part of its Green Town, Green Borough campaign, and is also supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Stallholders on the day included Incredible Edible, Population Matters, whose members informed visitors about the impact of population increase on climate change, the Basingstoke Scrapstore, which provided free arts and crafts for children, and Northdown Orchard, which sold a variety of fresh produce, including sweetcorn, broccoli and tomatoes.

In addition, visitors had the opportunity to purchase home-grown vegetables such as tomatoes, marrows and potatoes from Kempshott-based charity Inspero.

Catherine Waters-Clark, chief executive of Inspero, told The Gazette: “We came to support the event, and to inform people about sustainability and local food.”

Members of Basingstoke Energy Services Co-operative were on hand to inform visitors about small changes they can make in their day-to-day lives to help the environment, as well as spreading the word about environmentally-friendly schemes such as solar panels.

Chairman Andy Molloy told The Gazette: “We have been doing really well. All of the stands have had lots of interest. I am here as the chairman of the co-op, trying to promote the Basingstoke Transition Network so people understand about little things that make a big difference.

“I have had conversations about electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller talked to stallholders at the event.

She said: “I think this is incredible that groups of people are coming together and giving residents the opportunity to think about how they can live more sustainably.”

Highlights of the week so far have also included a family fun day and junk percussion workshop at the Brookvale Community Hall, in Basingstoke, a network evening for community groups to discuss the steps they have taken to promote environmental issues, and a group litter pick in Chineham.

Green Week events still to take place include an open day at Northdown Orchard, in South Litchfield, today.

For more information about Basingstoke Green Week, visit facebook.com/transitionbasingstoke.