EVERYONE from Devizes festival organisers to churches and traders are doing their bit to make the town green this summer.

Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts is to combat climate change at the International Street Festival this Sunday and Monday.

Artistic director Loz Samuels said: "DOCA has declared Climate Emergency along with some of the largest and most prestigious cultural organisations in the country.

"The initiative kicks off with the prohibition of single use plastic by any of our market traders. DOCA is also encouraging everyone involved in the event – crew, volunteers, performers, and audience members to come with water bottles to refill and use local businesses to refill their bottles.

“We have spoken to the businesses signed up to the ReFill scheme in the town centre that will be open during our events to make them aware we will be promoting their services, it is a positive all round."

A stand pipe on the green will also be put to better use on Sunday with extra plumbing making it available to more people.

Ms Samuels said: "We are taking the supply to a better access point and splitting the supply into several taps with visible signage. People can bring their bottles and fill up for free with fresh mains water."

Organisers also want to plant trees in the town to offset its carbon footprint and is holding talks with the town council.

Justina Pettifer who runs the Healthy Life shop in The Little Brittox, Devizes, is celebrating its zero waste success after introducing refill shopping which does away with packaging.

Eco conscious shoppers have been visiting the store to use the refill service to buy household products and food.

With the help of a Crowdfunding appeal she has been able to expand the scheme. She said: "Now shoppers can choose from 45 containers of dried goods and ten liquid refill taps.

"The system has become such a huge success that we celebrated by inviting all of our sponsors in for a glass or two of bubbly."

She estimates the scheme has saved over 900 single use plastic containers from being used.

She will be passing on her expertise as part of a series of talks on the environment organised by St John's Church, Devizes.

Ms Pettifer will be at the church on September 4 at 7pm to give practical tips on reducing waste.

The season of talks will culminate in a live broadcast of the BBC Sunday Worship from St John’s on 29th September 29 with a keynote address by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Rev Nick Holtham, who is the environmental champion on Church of England’s General Synod.

On September 10 at 7.30pm John Schofield will talk about how to measure and reduce carbon footprints and September 18 at 7pm Dr Gary Mantle, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will talk about biodiversity.

On September 24 at 7.30pm it will be the turn of Shinya Imahashi and Colleen McDuling from Shumei Natural Agriculture, Yatesbury talking about a great agricultural revolution.