NEW allotments, complete with 'growing space' have firmly taken root at Buckland Abbey near Buckland Monochorum.

The National Trust property is taking part in the trust's challenge to create 1,000 new growing spaces on its land.

At Buckland Abbey there are 40 fine allotments, but the bottom half of the field has been transformed into a community growing space for up to 40 local families and individuals‚ collectively named 'The Buckland Food Growers.'

Former nurse Lucy Wood is now caring for the land and admits the task is beginning to consume her life.

Not only is she chair of Buckland Food Growers but also a keen allotment holder at Buckland Abbey herself.

Lucy said: 'I was having relatively little success growing veg in the patio tubs at home, and we were nowhere near self-sufficient. But with the combined power of the growers we can really begin to feed our children fresh, local food. We're no longer forced into supermarkets!

'Together we're reviving rural skills and changing our relationship with food for the better.'

The National Trust allotments are listed on the Landshare website, where hundreds of new allotments have been made newly available. To search for allotments go to http://www.landshare.net">www.landshare.net