AN exciting new project aiming to empower the Okehampton community through food growing and lifelong learning is now in full swing at the town's college.

Growing Our Future, a community garden project located at the college, is aiming to inspire, stimulate and educate, not just the students, but the wider Okehampton community.

The project has been running for six months and is now operating out of a permanent base at the college.

Starting life as an art project, it has developed into a whole school and community project.

The scheme is the brainchild of Beth Hamer, who was born in Okehampton before studying at Glasgow School of Art and travelling widely through Europe, Africa and America.

Beth, who now wants to give something back to her community, said: 'The roots of Growing Our Future lie in local people gaining hands-on experiences with inspiring people.

'The heart of the project is focused on developing healthy and sustainable communities long into the future.

'By actively being part of the project, students and community members will gain first hand experience of working with land, people, climate, plants, animals and food.

'These experiences motivate and engage people in a process of self-development and an awareness of what is possible.'

The first gardens at the college are currently being established but the future will see community gardens being initiated throughout Okehampton.

Through this, the project will aim to reconnect people with the land as well as fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility within the community.

Beth added: 'The development of Growing Our Future will provide the local community with a sense of ownership and responsibility.

'By stimulating the community through a creative environment, a diverse and unlimited number of experiences can be realised.

'There will be gardens for the community, by the community, we want to see Growing Our Future all over the place.

'We really want to see what people want and what people need.'

The project is being run by Beth as well as Eleanor Hoad, Ysanne Friend and Ffion Farnell. Two students who have just left Okehampton College, Dominie Hooper and Ava Osbiston, are also heavily involved in implementing the project.

A dialogue has already been established with college students, who are now working hard on establishing the first community garden.

The students' input is already reaping its rewards with Naomi Rubbra in Year 9 designing the project's logo.

The first garden will be created using sustainable gardening techniques, including permaculture, agro forestry, community supported agriculture and organic gardening.

It is hoped these processes will promote ideas of living directly from the land — from spade to fork.

The garden will host a diverse range of organic, edible plants and fruit trees, alongside plants with medicinal properties, organic fertilisers and edible wild plant species.

The project is already garnering support throughout Okehampton.

Vice-principal at the college Derrick Brett said: 'We're very pleased to be involved in such a large project.

'We feel it's important to raise our students' awareness of the environment and issues of sustainability, especially through using a cross-curricular project of this nature.'

Okehampton county councillor Christine Marsh added: 'I'm over the moon for them and I'm hoping this project will be a huge success, not just for the college, but all of Okehampton.

'What they're doing is great and the enthusiasm they all have is as fantastic as it is infectious.'

Growing Our Future now needs support from the rest of the community. Anyone who is interested in the project and feels they could help, support or volunteer are being urged to contact Growing Our Future on 07534 598880 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]

A whole multitude of skills are required and the diversity of the project ensures it is open to all members of the community and what they have to offer.