BRIDGWATER hosted its first Seed The Day eco-friendly fair on Saturday.

Castle Street was closed off to traffic, with dozens of stall holders and live music along the road and inside Bridgwater Arts Centre.

Bridgwater Town Council is one of many local and national authorities which has declared a climate emergency in wake of the increasing threat human civilization is posing to the environment.

“However we didn’t just want to declare a climate emergency and then forget about and continue on as normal,” says Bridgwater Town Council portfolio holder for climate change, and main organiser of the Seed The Day event, Cllr Li Gibson.

“I feel the day has been a success and sets a good base for us to build on for next year,” she said.

“It was quiet to start with and I was starting to have some doubts but it soon picked up and we’ve had a steady stream of people coming through.

“With so many different organisations and environmentally-friendly traders here we are really hoping to give people a taster of the sort of steps they can be taking, because we really do all need to our bit.

“I am pleased how it has gone, especially given the short amount of time we had to put it all together, and I am definitely keen for it to become an annual event and bring it back bigger and better next year.”

At the event there was live folk and choir music, delicious environmentally-friendly food including Indian food, sweet treats, vegan cheese and even a ‘hogless roast’.

There were also many sustainable craft and trade stalls selling plants, soaps, clothes, books and more.

Elsewhere organisations including Seed Of Hope, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Greenpeace had stalls with representatives talking to people about their work.

Mayor of Bridgwater Cllr Tony Heywood said: “I am 100 per cent behind this event and I hope it will become a regular fixture on the Bridgwater calendar.

“I think it is the sort of thing Bridgwater really needs and if it helps people consider ways the merits of vegetarian and vegan food then I think that is a good thing.”

Kris Scotting, from Seed Of Hope, said: “It is really good to see an event like this in Bridgwater.

“Glastonbury does events similar to this but I think it is really good for Bridgwater to have its own one.”

Seed of Hope, which has bases in Cannington, Watchet and Glastonbury, is a recovery-based ‘social and therapeutic horticulture programme’ for people with mental health problems.

Their work gets people with mental health issues getting exercise and being exposed to nature and the outdoors, working in teams and socialising, and growing and eating seasonal produce.