A BAND of green warriors have joined forces to try to convince Suffolk residents to change their lives - and help save the environment in the process.The group of volunteers, who call themselves the Suffolk Regeneration Network or SEReNe, have formed a small group which is already having a big impact.

A BAND of green warriors have joined forces to try to convince Suffolk residents to change their lives - and help save the environment in the process.

The group of volunteers, who call themselves the Suffolk Regeneration Network or SEReNe, have formed a small group which is already having a big impact.

SEReNe has a website which advises people how to live more environmentally friendly lives, last week it held a discussion session on whether going green simply costs too much and it has secured £5,000 Lottery money to help fun two Green Living Days in Ipswich later this month.

Mark Dowling, an environment manager at BT's Adastral Park who is part of the group, said: “People think being green means eating soya beans and noodles and being a veggie and having a wind turbine in your garden.

“But you can do the simple things that are not going to effect your lifestyle. It involves turning your tap off when you brush your teeth or turning your thermostat down.

“It means changing to a more environmentally friendly lightbulb and doing other small things.”

The group's website aims to educate anyone visiting, living in or working in Suffolk on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Ultimately its aim is to establish a Green Living Centre of Excellence in Ipswich which would further encourage people to change the way they live.

John Welsh, the chairman of trustees of SEReNe who lives in Bell Lane, Kesgrave, said: “At the moment we're only a very, very small committee.

“I think a good percentage of people now have got the message and are doing something.

“Our idea was to become a network rather than us doing it on our own. We are looking at waste, we are looking at water, we are looking at wildlife.”

The Green Living family fun days, which are being organised by Ipswich Borough Council and SEReNe, are a two-day event to be held in Chantry Park on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 from 10am to 5pm.

Among the attraction will be a green circus, BMX and skate park, a garden show, music, Suffolk Samba Band, organic gardening display and information on eco-building.

For the full list of more than 80 exhibitors visit www.ipswich.gov.uk for more information contact Karen Kenny on 01473 718874 or e-mail Karen.Kenny@hotmail.co.uk.

Weblink: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk