A ROSS-on-Wye project will encourage residents to grow vegetables on their own strip of land.

The Sir Grow a Lot project at Model Farm, Hildersley, will enable people local to the area to hire a strip of land that is ploughed, fertlised and prepared for them, so they can plant seeds and look after their own crops.

Schools and local groups will be able to visit the site to learn all about organic gardening, wildlife habitats and where their food comes from.

An open day was held for people to see where their strip of land will be and have a look at the community orchard, which should be over flowing with apples later in the season, and visit the community cabin.

Sir Grow a Lot is a new project created and facilitated by EnviroAbility, which is funded by Local Food and supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

Dennis Humble, EnviroAbility general manager, said: “It was an amazing day with lots of people coming out even in the horrible conditions to see the site and find out about how they could get involved, with many signing up for a strip as well.”

For further information, email Alex Knight on alexknight86@google mail.com or call 01989 763388.

Local Food is a £57.5 million programme that distributes money from the Big Lottery Fund to a variety of food-related projects to help make locally grown food accessible and affordable.