RENEWABLES and recycling was the theme in Eastcott on Sunday as the second Swindon Eco Fest burst into life.

With a busy programme of speakers, stalls offering activities and even an artists' corner, the event, held at the Savernake Street Social Hall, was a roaring success.

After a promising debut outing last year, the Eastcott Community Organisation joined forces with the Swindon Climate Action Network to put on an even bigger day for 2016.

Simon Smith, from the Climate Action Network, said: “We’ve taken over the whole site. In the side hall we’ve got a programme of speakers running all day – everything from community wildlife, to gardens, to home energy conservation.

“In this hall is the hustle and bustle of the fayre – all the stall holders are local community organisations doing something environmental.

“I came along last year as a speaker and saw what a great event this was – I’m so pleased we got involved.

“I’m a big believer in building a movement and bringing all these groups together for events like this is a part of that.”

The hall where the event took place has been run by the Eastcott Community Organisation since May 2014, it has become a hub for local events and residents have really embraced the change since the takeover.

Caroline Davis-Khan, chairman of the organisation, said: “We organised the first Eco Fest last year on a smaller scale and since then we’ve been working with Swindon Climate Action Network to grow it.

“We’ve got more elements this year – there is storytelling, face painting and many other new ideas.

“Another important thing to mention is that it’s all free thanks to a grant from Swindon Borough Council.”

Seed bomb making, bike marking, plant pot creation and turning books into hedgehogs were just some of the activities that visitors could get involved in.

The Old Town Brewery was on hand to sell their increasingly popular home brewed beers and there were plenty of cakes and other sweet treats to go round.

For the first time, Eco Fest partnered with Swindon Open Studios and a table of recycled and repurposed art pieces was given pride of place in the hall.

Budding amateur artists Lynette Thomas and Bea Menier were among those showing their work.

Lynette had created decorative boxes from discarded children’s toys while Bea had put stones and shells she had collected to good use for her objet trouvé bowls.

On Sunday the pair turned their hand to passing their love of recycled work on to others as they put visitors through their paces in a series of workshops.