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On Sunday 30 September Norfolk County Council is hosting the special family day at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse to showcase environmentally friendly initiatives.

The County Council's environment and waste teams have joined up with Gressenhall to showcase what is being done in Norfolk to try and help combat global warming to reduce the county's carbon footprint, to raise awareness of what people in Norfolk can do to help this work.

Set in Norfolk's premier open-air museum with its traditional working farm, visitors will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of specialists in carbon reduction, recycling, composting, eco buildings and friendly fuels.

If you've not had chance to see it at the recent motor shows, why check out Tesla Motors' award winning zero emissions electric performance sports car, which will be on display at tha event. It can sprint from 0 to 60mph in around four seconds, achieve a top speed of 130 mph with a range of around 200 miles and an efficiency equivalent to 160 mpg!

Norfolk County Council's driver development staff will also be on hand with information about 'eco-driving' for fuel and diesel cars. Find out how to make the most efficient use of your car and cut your fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent.

The County Council's heritage and landscape team will be launching a new brochure and web service on the day, aimed at helping to make old houses more environmentally friendly. Why not have a go at wattle and daub, an ancient method of building houses?

An Eco House will be on display, packed with ideas for simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint in the home. Young visitors can enjoy various hands-on activities including helping artist Chris Jackson re-create Gressenhall from recycled cardboard.

With food production, processing and transportation taking up so much of the world's energy, did you know that you can make a real impact on your carbon footprint by buying locally or growing your own?

At this 'Go Green' event, East Anglian Food Link, Eostre Organics, The Green Grocers, Salle Organics, Farmers Link and the Norfolk Organic Group will not only be tempting you with a mouth-watering selection of fresh, healthy produce on the day, but will be showing you why buying Norfolk produce makes such good sense for the local economy and the environment. Eostre Organics also invites visitors to join them in their 'Conversation Café' and share tips for making packed lunches and picnics more environmentally friendly.

Environmental partner organisations such as the Broads Authority, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the RSPB will also be present at Go Green, demonstrating how everyone can also play a part in conservation to help maintain Norfolk unique environment.

There's plenty for young visitors to enjoy with 'Recycler' the rapping robot to educate about the benefits of recycling, environmentally friendly cart rides available around the farm, or why not see the sustainable working horses on the farm, or have fun on the woodland adventure playground.

Ian Monson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste at Norfolk County Council, said:
"Environmental concerns such as climate change and the need to recycle more are very high on everyone's agenda now more than ever, so why not 'Go Green'?

"This event brings together many examples of environmental good practice, such as recycling and composting and energy saving, as well as economic driving, sustainable living and the benefits of buying locally. I urge the people of Norfolk to come along and pledge to learn something they will take away with them, to help reduce their own carbon footprint."

John Gretton, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, added:
"Where better could host this Norfolk event than a historic example of sustainable living at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse? Visitors to this event will not only learn about sustainable living in the past, but can take part in environmentally friendly events on the day, and look at new technology and green ideas, such as the eco car and eco homes, working for the future benefit of our environment."

To encourage visitors to leave their cars behind Norfolk County Services are supporting the event by laying on a FREE biodiesel bus service from Norwich Bus Station via Mattishall and Dereham to Gressenhall. The service will run every half hour from Norwich between 9.30 and 11.30am starting at Norwich Bus Station, stopping en route at Mattishall Church (9.55, 10.25, 10.55, 11.25 and 11.55am) and Dereham Market Place (10.10, 10.40, 11.10, 11.40, 12.10pm) before heading to Gressenhall Farm and Work House. Return journeys will leave from Gressenhall half hourly between 2.30 and 4pm.

Go Green displays and interactive events will take place in marquees and around the Gressenhall site. Usual museum entry applies, adults £7.20, concessions £6.15 and children (4-16) £5. This includes entry to Gressenhall's workhouse museum and farm, as well as the on-site adventure playground. Opening hours for this event are 10am to 5pm.