The organisers of a summer show planned for a village near Bridgnorth are aiming to make it the UK’s first carbon neutral event.

Volunteer organisers of the Chorley Show have called in the Marches Energy Agency to sort out practical ways of reducing carbon emissions.

As well as initiatives for this year’s show on Sunday, a carbon footprint will be calculated and addressed for the 2008 show. Afterwards, the blueprint will be available to every other country show or festival.

Initiatives for the show include:

• Visitors who arrive by bus will get an admission discount.
• Bio-fuel generators will power attractions.
• Food and drink, including real ales, will be Shropshire-produced to cut food miles.
• Every cup, plate and drinks container will be composted afterwards.
• Waste will be recycled.

Kris McGowan, Marches Energy Agency senior project manager, said of the show: “This year, the environment is at its heart as it seeks to provide a great Shropshire experience.”

Chris Tibbits, one of the co-ordinators, said: “Chorley Show has a good track record on the environment. Volunteers have diverted more than 11,500 plastic bottles from landfill since the community recycling project started at the 2006 show.”

Chorley is signposted off the B4363 Bridgnorth-Cleobury Mortimer road.