THOUSANDS of people helped launch a ‘green’ month of activities for Oxford starting with the Big Green Day Out on Saturday.

Everything from electric buses and taxis to homemade goods and wonky veg filled the stalls in Broad Street for the annual event.

Returning for its fifth year, the green-themed day hoped to celebrate all the city projects and initiatives promoting sustainability in the county.

Crowds flooded Broad Street which was packed with local traders, charities, community groups all pushing for a more sustainable lifestyle.

Mairi Brookes, sustainable city manager for Oxford City Council which partly organised everything, said: “We have been absolutely thrilled with the day’s event.

“We are out here to help launch Oxford Green Week running from Saturday, June 16, and filling up Broad Street with everything that is green and sustainable from around the county.

“We had everything from recycling and wonky veg, to fancy electric cars.

“It is really to showcase and celebrate the contribution of all these groups and initiatives who are working to address climate change.

“But to also encourage people to keep going and help make that difference.”

The free market-style event featured arts and crafts, music, hands-on workshops to make homes for your gnomes or to write poetry, plus a host of tasty food and drink.

As well as the city council, it was put together with partners Community Action Groups Project- CAG Oxfordshire, Good Food Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, University of Oxford, and Oxford Festival of the Arts.

Friends of the Earth Oxford were also part of the event and on hand to tell people about the new Oxfordshire Clean Air Charter it is calling for.

The group’s col-leader of the air pollution campaign Jacky Penning-Rowsell said: “Since last year’s event we have delivered a petition with more than 14,000 signatures to the county council and we are keeping the pressure on.

“This event we have launched the Oxfordshire Clean Air Charter as we are very concerned that polluting transport is having a very detrimental impact on health in the county and we are looking for change.”

The event marks the first of many in the county over the coming month including treasure hunts at University Parks, campfire cooking training, wild flower walks, workshops and more.

For more details, dates and timings see oxfordgreenweek.org