A WEST Devon community has rallied to support one of Okehampton's leading environmental organisations, which was hit by vandalism.

The attacks on the Growing Our Future gardens earlier this month saw plants in the greenhouse thrown about and seedlings, which had taken weeks of careful planting, ripped out and ruined.

Support for the project from the community has seen students giving up their lunch hours and working after school, to help salvage the wrecked gardens.

Now members of St Bridget's Church in Bridestowe, who were saddened to hear about the attacks, aim to use their annual bring and buy plant sale to help raise money for the project.

Member of the church Jenny Reynolds said they were happy to support a team who did so much for the community.

She said: 'We were horrified and sickened when we read the account of the vandalism carried out on the Growing Our Future garden and wanted to do something to help its restoration.'

Mrs Reynolds said she hoped the sale would help the team.

'It is a way of making something positive come out of something negative.

'I hope that we can increase the support and awareness of Beth and her team, particularly with all the good they do for the schools.

'As a church group we just wanted to support what we feel is a thoroughly worthwhile endeavour.'

Mrs Reynolds said church members have been running plant sales for the last ten years in Bridestowe.

'We always do it half for the church and half for the Children's Society.

'It's very much a community thing, so we try to help people in the community.

'When I met the project organiser Beth Hamer and her team recently, I was so impressed with all the fantastic work that they have been doing.

'The bring and buy sale is a way of giving back that support to a team of people who are really helping to make a difference to Okehampton and its residents.'

Beth Hamer said the team was touched by the large scale of support from the community since the attacks.

'We have had a strong reaction and are really overwhelmed by the dedication of the students and the community who have offered their help.

'A lot of people have given us free plants and helped repair the damage which was done.

'There has been a lot of knowledge and concern for the work we have been doing and there has been no more damage since the attacks a few weeks ago.'

Beth said the team will be setting up a stall at the sale to collect donations of plants and containers for the project.

'We are always looking for donations and so the bring and buy sale is a great way for us to do that.

'We are just so appreciative to the members of St Bridget's Church and everyone, for all the support they have shown.

'We really have been touched by all the help.'

The Growing Our Future team are also forming a partnership with Send a Cow, a charity which supports African farmers who are looking at community growing and small scale growing throughout Africa.

'All the support we get helps us continue to grow globally with a wider network.

'We are also always looking for volunteers to help out, so if anyone is interested I would urge them to get in touch.'

The Growing Our Future team works closely with Okehampton College and primary school, encouraging students to get involved in the project, which focuses on involving the community members to help create a safe and enjoyable environment in which to learn and share ideas and skills.

Everyone is welcome at the bring and buy sale, which will be held on Saturday, May 30 from 10am to noon at Leawood in Bridestowe — see Letters, page 4.

For more information on Growing Our Future or becoming a volunteer, phone Beth Hamer on 07903 121146.