AN environmentally-savvy running club are planning to make the Birchwood 10k a more green and sustainable event.

Spectrum Striders Running Club, who organise the annual race, will seek to reduce harm to the planet through a number of inventive and eco-friendly initiatives.

Runners will be encouraged to share car journeys to the event, and will be presented with celebratory recycled T-shirts and specially-certified wood medals upon completing the race.

The Birchwood 10k will take place on August 18, with entry open to anyone over the age of 15.

Graham Driver, race director, said: “The club is very proud of our efforts to create a greener race.

“We hope that runners who take part will get as much of a sense of achievement from knowing they are helping to reduce damage to the environment as they get from completing our fantastic race.”

The event is following the code of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and will also promote increased environmental awareness through using recycled plastic ribbons on medals.

Water tanks will also be provided along the course to allow participants to stay hydrated and refill their bottles, while the plastics given out on the day will be diligently collected at the end of the race.

Race organisers have teamed up with a car sharing website in order to reduce carbon emissions, and are encouraging those taking part from Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside to meet up prior to the event and travel together.

And the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), who promote responsible management of the world’s forests, have also been consulted so the laser-engraved wood medals will come from environmentally-responsible sources.

For more information about how to get involved, you can visit active.com.