WAYS to save energy, food, money and our planet will be showcased in Oxfordshire next week as the county marks the first national Climate Week.

Schools, charities, businesses, and councils will run events from Monday to next Sunday to help cut the county’s carbon footprint.

Oxford City Council will host an event in Templar’s Square shopping centre on Thursday to give out green tips and energy-saving devices.

Food project Oxford will be talking to residents about sustainable food production and The Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which aims to cut food bills and food waste. Free meal planners and cookbooks will be given out.

The council will also be competing against schools, businesses and other organisations across the country in the Climate Week Challenge on Monday. The test will be revealed at climateweek.com at 9am.

The Earth Trust, formerly Northmoor Trust, will tour the county to teach children to save food and energy.

The Wild Waste Show bus will be at Sainsbury’s in Witney from 10am-1pm on Tuesday, while in Chipping Norton, next Friday, there will be tours of the Agrivet Anaerobic Digester which recycles food waste.

Next Saturday will be Eco Bicester Day, with displays and giveaways in Sheep Street from 9am-4pm.

All this week a community festival called Conversations with the Earth, is taking place at the Old Bookbinders in East Oxford, which examines climate change through films and exhibitions.

Organiser Marlene Bovenmars said: “It will make a difference as it will make more people aware. It is important that people do not feel helpless and think there is nothing they can do.”