HUNDREDS of people with a passion for environmentally friendly ways of life got together to share ideas.

The Thrive Sustainably event was held at West Oxford Community Centre and West Oxford Primary School and saw experts on climate change, composting, renewable energy and other related areas giving talks and demonstrations and sharing information.

The all-day event yesterday was organised by keen gardener Michael Soth, from Elms Rise in Botley.

Among those exhibiting was master composter Robert Longstaff.

He said: “It has been very good.

“I have been to a couple of talks which has been hugely informative, and I am meeting up with people to find out a bit more about what they do – and to see if there is anything we can do together.”

Rebecca Huxley, 51, of Harley Road, Oxford, said she was investigating putting solar panels on her home.

She is a member of Low Carbon West Oxford and her house is one of the pilot properties for the scheme.

She said: “It has been fantastic to put all this stuff in one area.”

Student John Dusabe, 29, from Summertown, Oxford, came to the event with an interest in climate change.

He said: “I think it is a great idea.

“I attended a lecture on eco-housing and I thought there were some great ideas.”

Representatives included local journalist and climate change expert Mark Lynas, who wrote Six Degrees - Our Future on a Hotter Planet, and organisations such as Oxford’s Barracks Lane Community Garden.

There was also a chance to learn more about the car clubs recently set up in the city, to sign up for seasonal vegetable boxes and to network with like-minded people.