GREEN fingered residents of Okehampton are being called to a public meeting tonight (Thursday) to find out about new allotment opportunities.

The Okehampton United Charity is testing the water to see if there are enough residents interested in establishing a new allotment site near to the Fatherford Road Allotments.

At 7pm tonight, the charity will be hosting a meeting at the Gratton Hall, Fairplace Church, and is urging anyone with a passion for growing to come along.

The meeting, being held in association with Devon food project supporter HogCO (Home Grown Community Owned), will also be of interest to anyone who is finding food getting more expensive, does not have the land or the expertise to grow their own, wants their children to eat healthy, local food and wants to make new friends.

Clerk to the charity Karen Percival said there was some land near the Fatherford Road allotments that was currently being used for hay but some of it could be released for more allotments. The charity also has sites in North Road and Castle Road with 70 plots in total.

'We have 30 people on the waiting list for allotments at the moment but we want to see if there is more interest across the town,' she said.

'In the last ten years the interest in growing your own has increased and more sites have been set up. A few years ago we had plots lying empty but not anymore.

'We would love people to come along to the meeting and help shape plans for a new community garden in Okehampton.'