Meet one of the UK's first smart communities

Ashton Hayes could soon be England's first carbon-neutral village thanks to local initiatives

- 

A rural Cheshire village is on its way to becoming England's first carbon-neutral community, two decades after locals embraced climate action.

Long before it became a national priority, the residents of Ashton Hayes set up a 'carbon clinic', offering advice on living more sustainably. The community has since reduced its carbon emissions by an impressive 40%, driven by pioneering initiatives.

Garry Charnock, founder of the Going Carbon Neutral project, said: "We started the project in 2005 - we held a meeting at the school, and 400 people turned up. There was huge enthusiasm. That's where it started, encouraging people to explore lower carbon lifestyles."