Prince Charles’s garden party to teach us to be green... and take short showers

Prince Charles is using his new green campaign to urge everyone in Britain to take shorter showers.

Start, an initiative from the Prince's Charities Foundation, has published 20 easy ways to go green as part of his 12-day festival of imaginative ways to promote a sustainable future.

The list of instructions includes: "Start having shorter showers."

They will be promoted at the Garden Party to Make a Difference, a festival of music, talks and installations showing how small steps can help save the planet. A sculpture of sheep climbing a ladder to encourage home insulation with sheep wool will be one eye-catching feature.

Another exhibit will be a giant B&Q showerhead. Visitors can text a word and see it projected in a cascade of water — but the serious point is to save water.

The gardens of the Prince's home at Clarence House — as well as those of neighbouring Lancaster and Marlborough Houses — are being opened to the public for the first time to host the event. In his own households, the Prince cut carbon emissions by four per cent in the past year and increased use of renewable energy forms to 22 per cent.

Ian Byrne, deputy director of the National Energy Foundation, said: "If we're going to move towards a low-carbon economy we're going to have to do a lot more. But these housekeeping things are important."

Ben Elton is the latest addition to the garden party line-up alongside Brian Blessed, Armando Iannucci, Rory Bremner and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

Elton said: "I was thrilled that the Prince of Wales has broadened his recycling efforts to include old comics. It's such a great idea — have a terrific time while picking up a few hints on leading a more sustainable life."

A Garden Party to Make a Difference, September 8-19, adult tickets £15. startgardenparty.co.uk