Evening News joins Prince Charles in green campaign

THE Evening News is joining Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, to launch a major new campaign encouraging our readers to adopt a more environmentally sustainable way of life.

Project Start is an initiative backed by the prince's charity, The Mayday Network, in collaboration with Scottish Business in the Community and Essential Edinburgh.

In a series of articles over the coming weeks, we'll show you small steps to make life happier, cleaner and greener. They will lead up to a launch festival in St Andrew Square over the weekend of September 4-6 with the backing of the Mayday Network, which was set up by the Prince to bring together businesses which are committed to working towards a more sustainable future.

The Prince explained: "With Start our objective is to demonstrate an inspiring picture of a sustainable future. Through clear, positive advice and support, and by highlighting the very best examples of sustainable practice in Britain, Start aims to help make the shift towards more sustainable living as straightforward as possible."

The launch weekend will include fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, exhibits and events showing how everyone can make simple changes to their lifestyle to cut down on waste and conserve natural resources. The weekend will also see the opening of the Start Living space in the St James Centre providing information, advice, and interactive support.

The prince said: "I hope that the Start festival in St Andrew Square, the Start Living shop in the St James Shopping Centre and the advice and information carried in this newspaper will together help people in Edinburgh and beyond to make well-informed choices about how they could live more sustainably in the future."

Jane Wood, chief executive of Scottish Business in the Community, said: "Start in St Andrew Square will demonstrate the great work of organisations employing and promoting sustainable practice in Scotland and will help individuals to see the tangible benefits of becoming more sustainable.

"With a programme of events for the whole family, Start in St Andrew Square will provide fun, bite-sized information that can be acted upon by everyone.

"It is important individuals are aware of how we can all make positive changes right now to lower our impact on the environment and the Start Living shop in St James Centre will continue to support people looking to make that change."

Tom Campbell is chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, the organisation set up to boost business in the city centre, which is also backing the campaign. He said: "The business improvement district is already a member of the Mayday Network and we're pleased to be working with SBC on the Start initiative. St Andrew Square is a great place to launch Start and we're sure it will attract lots of people."

Click "Next page" to find out what you can do >>>>>>>>>>EARN YOUR GREEN CREDENTIALS AND WIN A WASHING MACHINE AND MORE

To celebrate the launch of project Start in Scotland, Scottish Business in the Community and Essential Edinburgh are looking for an Edinburgh family looking to make a Start!

Start is an initiative established by HRH The Prince of Wales to promote and celebrate sustainable living and there are hundreds of ways that families can get involved! From cycling to work to buying affordable, local produce, Start provides advice and support to ensure everyone can take simple steps to make better use of our natural resources.

So how will you Start? In no more than two hundred words, we would like to hear what you will start to make a positive difference to the environment.

The winning family will receive VIP tickets to Start in St Andrew Square, a triple A rated BEKO WMD78144 1400 spin 8kg washing machine, which has the ability to wash a 2kg load function in 14 mins at 30c courtesy of Scottish Hydro. And a one day family tour with Rabbie's Trail Burners, the Edinburgh based tour company committed to sustainable development and conservation of the world's natural resources.For more information on Start and how you can get involved, please visit www.startuk.org

HOW TO ENTER

Email your entry of no more than two hundred words to [email protected] to arrive no later than August 22.

Terms and conditions: The winner will be decided by our panel of judges and contacted by August 29. The winning family should be willing to take part in publicity. Usual Evening News rules apply.