This below comes to us from Manchester Friends of the Earth.

As part of Climate Week, the Manchester Carbon Literacy Project [Winner of Best Community Initiative at the Climate Week 2013 awards] is presenting a series of interactive events called Carbon Active! in Manchester’s Arndale Centre.  The aim is to reach shoppers with a positive message and practical steps to reduce their carbon footprint, rather than the doom and gloom approach often related to climate change messaging.

There’s loads going on and it’s all interactive, including:

• an eco-build house designed and built by architect Ric Frankland from Dwelle, with electricity generated by pedal power from Bike Right
• a garden with raised beds, planting, and a bee hive
• a kitchen with an interactive recycling activity
• a giant carbon board game made and played by St Peter’s High School
• a Victorian Carbon Classroom taught by primary school children from eight Manchester schools.

There will also be our ‘carbon lounge’ with experts on climate change for the public to talk to and Charlie Baker our Carbon House Doctor will be on hand with practical advice for anyone with damp, condensation, mould and other house problems. He’s brilliant! And there will be “happenings” and more.

Everyone taking part in the event is giving their time, expertise and great displays for free.

If you would like to help out with this event, either representing Manchester Friends of the Earth as a volunteer talking about climate change in the Carbon Lounge, or just as a general event volunteer (it needs LOTS of volunteers even if it’s only for a few hours!), then please enter your name followed by “MFOE” (e.g. Jane Smith MFOE) and tick the timeslots you are available on this volunteer Doodle poll: http://doodle.com/z6f56nr7ftatg78s

When: 8am – 8pm, Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 March
Where: Halle Square, Arndale Centre, Manchester
More info: Email info@coolerprojects.com