THEY have a greenhouse they didn't have to pay for, and a duck called Boysie who lays eggs on a regular basis.

The Davey family from Wroughton are well on their way to living the good life with a range of green innovations.

Ann, Steve and daughter Emily often run down to the bottom of the garden to pick vegetables for the family meal, and they are passionate about recycling.

The length of their narrow garden is packed with marrows, courgettes and potatoes, to save on unnecessary trips to the supermarket.

Ann, 46, said: "As a family we try to do everything we can to avoid waste.

"We have several boxes in our kitchen for the different recycling items and we are in the queue for an allotment."

The Daveys' lifestyle will probably have older readers casting their minds back to the popular 1970s TV sitcom The Good Life, in which Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal played Tom and Barbara, a couple who turned their suburban home into a self-sufficient farm-cum-allotment.

The Daveys are members of the Freecycle system, where residents offer to give away items they no longer need.

Steve, 43, said: "We picked up a little greenhouse from a lady in Penhill. She didn't need it so we took it off her hands, and we have plenty of vegetables growing in there now."

Since 12-year-old Emily was a toddler Ann has wanted to develop the idea of organic living.

She said: "Growing my own produce is something I have always wanted to do and we have at least one portion of vegetables a day from the garden.

"I wanted Emily to know how much better it tastes to put on some hot water, run into the garden and collect a sweetcorn to go with a meal.

"You can almost eat it raw because it is so fresh."

The family complement their greens with eggs they gather from four hens and a duck.

Ann said: "We read a story in the Advertiser about John Warwick trying to give away some chickens, and we collected some from him.

"They keep Boysie company and provide us with beautiful eggs on most days."

Inside the house the Daveys have tried to do their bit for the environment, and their holidays reflect a strong green commitment.

Ann said: "I wouldn't say we were ardent activists, but we have tried to do little things to change our attitudes.

"We have installed energy-efficient light bulbs, and our recent holidays have been camping at various places in Wiltshire.

"We aren't perfect, we have a people mover because Steve has another two children he gives lifts to.

"But we have tried to make a range of minor changes, which will hopefully have a larger cumulative effect in the long run."