A PIONEERING new scheme which aims to get people growing their own food in the Chagford area has got off to a tremendous start, with three offers of land.

The aim of the Chagford Garden and Land-Share project is to unite keen gardeners with unused or under-managed land with the result being plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables for all.

Susan Tappenden, who started up the scheme, said: 'We looked at what was happening in Totnes, where people with spare pieces of land have offered them up for vegetable growing, and now there are 30 gardeners reaping the benefits.

'We want to encourage people here in Chagford to do the same thing, because there are long allotment waiting lists.

'Many people have growing ambitions but lack the space.

'Others have the space, either an area in a garden or larger plot, but for a variety of reasons it is not being managed productively.'

Already one resident has offered several acres for community use and two others have come forward with smaller areas for vegetable growing within the parish.

'Sometimes there are elderly people who can no longer manage their garden and would be happy to be matched up with someone who enjoys gardening and wants to grow their own produce,' said Mrs Tappenden.

'In return they get a share of the produce and the garden is maintained.'

The scheme not only wants to attract more landowners but also keen gardeners who want to grow their own fruit, vegetables and maybe flowers.

'Whether it's because of rising prices, talk of food security, cutting food miles or just the sheer joy of growing your own produce, more people are growing their own,' said Mrs Tappenden.

'There is a real enthusiasm and surprisingly there are people out there who have land available.

'We would need to rent land for a peppercorn rent and then charge gardeners a small insurance fee of around £5 a year.'

Many successful garden share schemes are running nationally, said Mrs Tappenden.

'They are even talking about starting one on The Archers, so maybe its time for the digging for victory spirit again,' she added.

The Chagford scheme is linked to the the Hugh Fernley Whittingstall land-share project and is also supported by the South West Allotment Association.

For more information or to sign up please contact Susan Tappenden on 01647 432309 or email [email protected]">[email protected]