GROWING your own food is making a comeback, and nowhere more so than in Wirral.
A new project – called the West Kirby Garden Orchard – is aimed at helping householders plant a fruit or nut tree in their garden.
The hope is to have every garden producing food for the future.
“Growing food locally is better for us and for the environment,” says David Hammond, Groundwork project officer. “Fruit and nut trees and bushes keep producing year after year and need only a little looking after.
“The plan is that everyone who wants to get involved will join together this autumn and buy trees and bushes in bulk as a group, making it cheaper for everyone.
“We will also put people who want some help with planting and looking after fruit trees in touch with those who have some experience.”
The project is connected to Transition Town West Kirby, a group working to make Wirral more sustainable and better able to cope with future challenges such as rising energy prices.
“Growing more of our own food is a good place to start,” says David. And he’s keen to add: “Despite the name, this project is not just aimed at people in West Kirby – everyone in Wirral is welcome to join in.
“Most of our food is an end result of the oil and gas used to produce fertilisers and pesticides, as well as the diesel fuel used by tractors to plough and harvest, and then used for processing the raw materials before transporting the finished products all over the world.
“One solution is to grow more food locally. And, by reducing the food miles travelled, we are also reducing the carbon footprint of the food we eat.
“We’re working on a number of food-related projects, from increasing the number of allotments to strengthening relationships between local farmers and consumers.”
Patrick Holden, the Director of the Soil Association, will be coming to West Kirby in October to talk about local food.
IF ANYONE would like to register interest or find out more about the project, please email ttwk.food@googlemail.com or phone Dave on 0151 625 1163 (evenings) or, for more on the group, see www.transitiontown westkirby.org.uk
