Prince Charles poked fun at his own campaigning image last night as he launched a ‘green living’ scheme in Manchester.

Charles told an audience at Gorton Monastery that he was aware of his reputation as a key commentator on the environment. He told a civic dinner: “You have been bombarded for years by increasingly strident and doom-laden messages from every direction – from scientists, from politicians, and yes, from me too.”

Charles was visiting Manchester as part of a week-long nationwide tour to promote a new scheme encouraging waste reduction and reducing everyday energy costs.

He also recounted how his early attempts at green living had been portrayed, telling the audience: “I well remember that the Manchester Guardian once wrote in a way that implied my eccentricity had gone one stage too far – that I had installed a ‘strange engine’ at Kensington Palace.

“It was in fact a prototype recycling bin for glass bottles.”

Before the civic dinner, Charles was shown around the 19th-century monastery, which was recently restored in a £7m revamp. He was told of plans to create vegetable and fruit gardens in the grounds of the building, which will be a hub for sustainable ventures.

He also met students from Manchester Metropolitan University, who staged a fashion show of garments made from recycled items.

The prince’s START scheme is backed by a number of leading businesses including Asda and United Utilities, which is providing advice on energy and water reduction to customers.

Among the 400 guests at the dinner were 10 winners of an M.E.N competition.

Guests were entertained by singers from the Gorton Voices Choir and enjoyed a menu sourced from local farms, dairies and fisheries.

The reception was organised by enterprise group Business in the Community.

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