FOURTEEN homes and gardens in the Crediton area will be open to the public on Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27 in an ambitious "green living" weekend.

Visitors will be able to see a variety of money-saving "green energy" systems and a wide range of fruit and vegetable gardens.

The open weekend is thought to be the only one of its type in the South West and will give visitors a real insight into how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Owners of renewable energy systems will show how you can save money on electricity and oil – and do your bit for the environment - with photovoltaic solar panels, wind turbines, wood burning stoves, systems for using heat from the air, wall and floor insulation systems and a thermal store.

The grounds and gardens will also be a delight for the green-fingered, with a wide variety of organic and country gardens, an organic farm and a smallholding on show. Innovative sewage systems will also be on display.

Entry to all the properties will be free, except for one, Beech Hill Community, where there will be a small entry fee for a larger open day.

Environmental group Sustainable Crediton is organising the weekend and spokesman Charles Mossman said: "Following on from last year's very successful event, the public will get the chance to see how practical it is for them to install renewable energy equipment, see the installations and ask about their costs, payback times, effectiveness, benefits and limitations.

He went on: "The Government's new Feed-in Tariff scheme means there is now potential to make even greater financial savings with such renewable energy systems."

Another Sustainable Crediton member, Linda Lever, commented: "The gardens featured during this weekend are ones where people grow some of their own food without recourse to chemicals or weedkillers."

She warned visitors: "Do not necessarily expect the usual pristine and manicured effect of gardens open to the public. These will be working gardens, where you can discuss problems and possible solutions with the owners.

"You may also find some interesting features to aid sustainability - in one you can find out about "German mounds". In another, there is a working wormery, for example. There will be lots of variety which will make visits even more interesting and worthwhile."

Properties on show include a 100-acre organic farm with solar panels at Hittisleigh, a smallholding with a wind turbine, solar hot water and a kitchen garden at Woolfardisworthy, a community co-operative with a wind turbine, solar panels, log boiler, 'green' sewage systems and walled garden at Morchard Bishop, a farm with a wind turbine, wood-fired heating/cooking and a heat store at Pennymoor, and a cottage with an organic garden, orchard, chickens, geese and bees at Yeoford.

Visitors can read all about the 14 properties and what they have to offer, together with maps, directions and opening times, by visiting http://tinyurl.com/sc-openweekend">http://tinyurl.com/sc-openweekend emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or simply call Charles Mossman on 01363 866106.

Leaflets will also be available in Crediton Library and The Green House shop in the Pannier Market adjoining the town square.

Not all the properties are open all weekend and visitors are advised to check the leaflet before making their journey.