St Albans has gone all out to paint the town green as it kicks-off the annual Sustainability Festival 2019.

Herts Advertiser: St Stephen's with St Julian's Church Eco-Church display. Left to right: Catherine Ross, Phil Nalpanis (A Rocha), Rev'd Becky Leach, and Rachel who created the Eco Church display. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansSt Stephen's with St Julian's Church Eco-Church display. Left to right: Catherine Ross, Phil Nalpanis (A Rocha), Rev'd Becky Leach, and Rachel who created the Eco Church display. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

There are 160 events being hosted as part of the festival, including talks, tours, walks, bike rides, gardening, exhibitions, and activities for children.

Events which have already taken place include a litter pick, gardening sale, heron watching session, women-only cycle ride, vegan cookery lesson, storytelling tent for children, bat walk, and clothes swap.

There has also been tours of St Albans Cathedral, Redbournbury Watermill, and St Stephen's Church.

As part of the festival, a pre-school has been encouraging businesses to limit paper wasteage by donating used sheets for the pupil's art projects.

Herts Advertiser: Redbournbury Mill Open Day event - also part of National Mills Weekend. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansRedbournbury Mill Open Day event - also part of National Mills Weekend. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

Leader at Old London Road Pre-school, Janet Charles, said: "With over 70 children at the pre-school we get through a lot of paper each week so this is a win-win for us and the environment.

"We are encouraging the children to use both sides of a piece of paper and they will be learning a song 'Can I use the other side?'"

Old London Road Pre-School is one of nearly 40 youth groups and schools involved in the festival.

For example pupils at Alban City School will be Jazzing Up Junk, the youngsters at Killigrew Primary and Nursery School will build Bug Hotels, and older pupils at Townsend C of E School will be creating recycled art projects.

Herts Advertiser: Five Miles to Fabulous Women-Only Bike Ride. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansFive Miles to Fabulous Women-Only Bike Ride. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

Teacher and part of the Eco-Group at Crabtree Infants' School, Andrea Bootle, said they are focussing on the environment for the week: "With activities ranging from up-cycling old packaging to growing our own food there will be lots of fun while they learn about being green."

Children can also get involved at home, with the Blue Dot Art Trail around the district.

It asks keen-eyed participants to spot the dots in venues around St Albans, including at The Courtyard Café, Inn on the Park, Raft Furniture, The Refill Pantry, and Headcase Barbers, to find more than 30 pieces of artwork on the theme of single-use plastic.

Paper donations for Old London Road Pre-School should be brought to the Riverside Road Scout hut between 12pm and 2pm today.

Herts Advertiser: The Green Kitchen sustainable cooking event. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansThe Green Kitchen sustainable cooking event. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

See the Blue Dot Art Trail map at plasticfreestalbans.org.uk/sustfest19-art-trail/

Herts Advertiser: Plot 31 Community Garden Seedlings for sale. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansPlot 31 Community Garden Seedlings for sale. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: FoodSmiles St Albans gardeners picking spinach at FoodSmiles Open Day event. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansFoodSmiles St Albans gardeners picking spinach at FoodSmiles Open Day event. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Michelle Mackenzie is a tour guide for the Cottonmill Allotments Open Day. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St AlbansMichelle Mackenzie is a tour guide for the Cottonmill Allotments Open Day. Picture: Submitted by Sustainable St Albans (Image: Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)

Herts Advertiser: Story teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOOStory teller Kathryn Holt speaks to children about sustainability as part of the Sustainable St Albans Festival 2019. Picture: DANNY LOO (Image: ©2019 Archant)