RESIDENTS in North Oxford are being asked to help tackle global warming at a three-day eco-festival starting today.

The Living Green festival was held in North Oxford two years ago, and now St Margaret’s Church and other community organisations are staging a second Green celebration.

The festival starts today with an eco-exhibition at SS Philip and James School in Navigation Way, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

The Rev Andrew Bunch, of St Margaret’s Church in St Margaret’s Road, has helped to co- ordinate the festival.

He said: “After the success of the festival in 2007 we wanted to stage it again to get people to take the issues of climate change seriously.

“Green Shoots is also an opportunity to remind people of the work that is already taking place in the community to tackle climate change.

“The church has helped to organise this because we want to play a big part in community life.”

The event has been sponsored by the St Margaret’s Institute, The Mid Counties Co-operative and Leckford Place School.

Mum-of-two Alex Cheetham, one of the organisers, added: “The purpose of the event is not just to bring to people’s attention the issue of climate change, but also to show there are ‘green shoots’ locally which are starting to address the issue.

“We also want to encourage people to find out ways to get involved and make a difference — with plenty of fun for children too.”

Fellow organiser Thalia Carr, 47, from Cutteslowe, added: “In 2007 we held the Living Green festival to alert people to the fact that climate change is happening.

“People are now aware of the issues, but they feel the problems are too big to tackle on their own.

“With Green Shoots we wanted to show people what is already happening in the community and how they can get involved.

“On Saturday, there will be a cycle workshop on Aristotle Lane recreation ground to get people back on their bikes, and a car club car will be on display in St Margaret’s Road.

“We will also be highlighting locally produced food, and we want to make the event fun for children — they will have the opportunity to build an enormous Noah’s Ark in the church.”

There will be also be an art display on the Trap Grounds near Port Meadow.

Updates on all the weekend’s events can be found on the website stmargaretsoxford.org affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk