A KEEN gardener postponed his 50th birthday celebrations to hold an eco-fun day to inspire people to save the world.

Michael Soth, who turns 50 today, has put off tomorrow’s party to instead run a 10-hour family day of green workshops and lectures.

The event – called Thriving Sustainably – takes place at the West Oxford Community Centre and West Oxford Primary School, and is designed to allow local residents to find out about environmental issues such as successful Oxford eco-projects, green energy and sustainable food production.

The self-employed psychotherapist, from Elms Rise in Botley, has managed to assemble such a large panel of environmental experts for the day, he has had to split the event across two sites.

Mr Soth, originally from the German city of Dusseldorf, said: “The idea for this came about because I wanted to do something meaningful for my birthday, having lived 50 years on the planet.

“The next 50 years are not looking so rosy, so I wanted to do something about it.

“As a father you wonder what kind of world you will hand over to your children.

“The theme of the day is about thriving sustainability and the fact that you can live a green, modern life without giving up on technology.

“The day isn’t going to be about doom and gloom – it’s about looking to take positive steps that we can take as a community to slow climate change.

Mr Soth said he was inspired to hold the day after becoming concerned about rising energy prices, oil extraction and the summer floods in Oxford in 2007.

Among the events taking place today are bike workshops, children’s craft sessions, composting demonstrations and more than 25 lectures and talks, including discussions on car clubs, and local sustainable food groups.

Mr Soth, who grows food on the Osney, St Thomas and New Botley Allotment, said: “I didn’t plan it to get so big, but suddenly all these people were willing to give their time for free.

“There is so much interest in the local community about sustainability that I hope it will be a success.

“All the experts we have are highly respected experts in their particular fields, but this is not an academic event.”

“Few people actually feel they can be proactive about green issues, but we have already proved you can take things into your own hands and make positive steps without being told what to do.”

The day runs from 9am to 7pm.