LUDLOW Greens come of age this year.

This year’s theme for the Ludlow Green Festival is ‘21 Years and counting’, inspired by the 21 years that the organising body has been in operation, Ludlow 21, and also will also consider what state the environment will be in, in 21 years’ time.

Ludlow 21 is hoping that the recent international press coverage that green issues is having will help local people grasp the realities of what is happening to the planet. Ludlow 21 has always been about sustainable action for the local community and has been involved in many initiatives over the years to help achieve this.

Their main achievements have been the setting up of the Local to Ludlow initiative that aims to increase consumption of local food and drink, thus reducing food miles and supporting local producers.

There is a regular farmers’ market every second and fourth Thursday of the month. Other activities include a programme of talks, activities with schools and events such as the Green Festival, highlighting green issues, such as fracking.

Also, the setting up of the Fairtrade group and achieving Fairtrade status for the town. There is also a sustainable transport group that campaign for electric car charging points and a reduction in speed in the town centre with their ‘20’s Plenty’ pledge, as well the ‘Incredible Edible’ group that have done community planting and seed and seedling swaps for the town. All these activities are taking place under the banner of ‘Ludlow 21.’

The annual Ludlow Green Festival, the biggest event of its type in the region is taking place on Sunday, July 14.

This year, the festival will be recognising 21 years of Ludlow 21’s community activity. The event has been inviting school and youth groups to get involved with their idea of what the world will look like, 21 years from now.

Other activities on the day include free swap shop of clothes and toys, fun craft activities, cookery demonstrations and workshops and an environmentally-conscious market with traders and community organisations, along with hot food, live music and local beer. Plus, also the highly inspiring Wrigley Field Allotments being open to members of the public from 11am until 4pm, just a short walk down Dinham and across the bridge.

Two years ago the Green Festival moved to July from the August Bank Holiday weekend gto attract more people.