AN exciting initiative to provide Okehampton with a new outdoor community space is one step closer to fruition.

The lease for the new Okehampton Community Garden is due to be signed this week, after the Okehampton United Charity agreed to support the project earlier this year.

The team behind the project is now busy working on an application for full planning permission so that major work on the site can get underway as soon as possible.

On Sunday April 1, representatives from the Okehampton United Charity and the North and East Dartmoor Vintage Working Society were at the garden site to celebrate the imminent signing of the lease.

The following day, the vintage society used its machinery to plough a thick strip around the garden's edge for the planned perimeter path.

The garden steering group also met its planning consultant this week, Ed Persse of EJFP Planning. Mr Persse is working on the project free of charge.

Kay Bickley, treasurer for the project, said: 'It is an exciting time, and things are really starting to crack on.

'It has been very good to get together with the Okehampton United Charity and the vintage society, to visit the site and see what can be achieved here.

'The point of the project is gardening as a team, so people don't have their own individual allotment, and garden together on one open site — we can't wait for the project to really take off.'

The community garden on Fatherford Road will provide a new green space for the community to grow their own fruit and vegetables, compost food waste, and socialise.

All residents of the town from varying walks of life, including the elderly, the disabled, teenagers and families, are welcome to take part in the project. The steering group is also open

The team is looking for donations of plant pots, garden equipment, seeds, and anything else that could be useful as they set up the garden.

They are also looking for donations of tins, aluminium cans, jam and honey jars, and old newspaper. These can be dropped off at Upcott House on Upcott Hill.

If you wish to make a donation to the project, make donations payable to Okehampton Community Garden at Upcott House, Upcott Hill, Okehampton, EX20 1SQ.

If you are interested in becoming a gardener or friend of the project, can donate any items or wish to share your opinions on what the garden should include, please e-mail steering group member Fran Rickwood on [email protected]">[email protected]