CONSERVATION volunteers joined forces with local scouts to create an orchard and foraging area at a campsite near Yelverton recently.

It is part of a project aimed at helping young people understand the origins of food and encourage them to get out into the countryside.

Funding of £6,000 has come from the Big Greenspace Challenge which supports planting and natural landscaping schemes with community benefit in the area.

The campsite at Callisham Cross in the Dartmoor village of Meavy is owned by the Plymouth Scouts Properties Trust and is used by scout groups along with other youth organisations, schools and community groups.

The scouts carried out the planting with the help of Plymouth-based, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).

Scout camp warden John Davies, who is co-ordinating the project, said: 'The orchard is being planted with a variety of local fruit trees as well as four raised beds to grow soft fruits and wild herbs.

'The overall aim is to allow groups a safe way of foraging for food. It is a chance for them to learn what to look for, enabling them to take these skills and use them elsewhere in life.

'We will also be naming the orchard in thanks to the previous warden, to mark his 30 plus years of service to the site.'

Up to 2,000 young people from the local area and across the UK use the campsite each year between April and November.

With its easy access to Dartmoor, the campsite offers a back-to-basics adventure at low-cost for groups who may have few opportunities to experience the outdoors.

Dean Price, community project officer at The Conservation Volunteers, said: 'We aim to make sure everyone can enjoy good quality green space and to have plenty of fun while doing it.

'Our work matters to our communities but it's important our volunteers get something out of it too.

'We want people to join in and feel good.'

The Scouts came up with the idea for an orchard and foraging area after consulting regular users of the campsite.

The Big Greenspace Challenge was created with money from the development of the Langage Energy Centre by Centrica and is being distributed by South Hams District Council.