Transition Town Forres rallies Covid-19 volunteer gardeners

TRANSITION Town Forres (TTF) is pulling together a community food project as part of the town's co-ordinated Covid-19 response.

Anne Owen, the manager said: "Forres is a wonderful town and it’s response to Covid-19 has been amazing, ensuring that vulnerable people are looked after during these extremely testing times.

"We wanted to contribute to that response and help by producing a little extra community food. We have over 50 gardeners looking after allotments at the centre.

"Some of them and some TTF members have volunteered to adopt a growing crate to grow extra food this year.

"At harvest time, the fruit and vegetables produced will be distributed to the community. If we are through lockdown by then, then folk are welcome at the centre, otherwise veggie boxes will be distributed to folk through the Forres Covid-19 response group.

Transition Town Forres is part of a worldwide network designed to improve the resilience of communities, through environmental, social and well-being projects.

Mrs Owen said: "The benefits of gardening and growing your own are immense -nourishing, heart, head and body. The allotments at TTF allow access to growing spaces for people who may not have gardens.

"Although the well-being centre is currently closed during the lockdown period, the gardens (at Bogton Road) are still accessible to existing gardeners."

TTF is looking forward to a time when it can welcome the community back to the centre and re-start its calendar of classes and events.

She added: "The resilience of our community is at the heart of everything we do at TTF. Now, more than ever, it’s important we contribute in whatever ways we can."