AN Essex village has set out on its own low carbon journey after COP26 kicked off.

A new community initiative held its first open day on Saturday, October 30.

The Tollesbury Climate Partnership invited residents to join the group and share their ideas for climate-focused projects in Tollesbury.

Ideas already being discussed by the group include home energy saving and promoting low carbon energy, encouraging cycling and reducing car use, tree planting, water saving and restoring threatened marine life.

The Open Day had fun activities for families including a quiz on marine species, a doll’s house demonstrating insulation, water-saving tips, seeds swaps for ‘grow your own’ and how to convert your bike to electric.

More than 180 drawings by pupils at the Tollesbury School were put on show at the event.

Read more: Open day aims to get villagers talking about ways to tackle climate change

These artworks were the inspiration for the group’s logo featuring a crab - a creature closely associated with the village which offers crabbing on the creek.

Youngsters were also invited to upcycle a t-shirt and 70 hand-printed with the special logo for collection on Saturday.

After the open day the group now has almost 100 members signed up with more to come.

Tollesbury Climate Partnership is now a Community Benefit Society and has six working groups developing projects on energy, food, transport, natural environment, marine environment and community engagement.

This winter the group will begin planting more than 400 trees as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

A village energy initiative is also planned to guide residents on how to improve their home’s energy efficiency and help low-income households access the government’s green homes grants.

Ian Marwood, marine group coordinator for Tollesbury Climate Partnership, said: "The coastal marshes around Tollesbury with their rich biodiversity are a unique resource for our planet, locking in carbon and providing habitats for scores of species of wildlife and plants.

"But this precious marine environment is highly vulnerable to climate change.

"Tollesbury Climate Partnership aims to improve knowledge about the issues and inspire imaginative local responses that could help reduce the impacts.

"The group will also work with key agencies helping protect and restore the environment including the Essex Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency and Natural England."

So far seed funding has come from the Parish Council and Community Energy South, who have also provided mentoring support.