A patch of vegetables planted illegally on a vacant lot in a northern UK town has led to the transformation its community. When ‘guerilla gardeners’ planted veges outside a disused health centre in the middle of Todmorden, Yorkshire (sounds like Lord of the Rings to me) 3 years ago, it sparked the start of what locals now call the Incredible Edible Todmorden project, which has increased the amount of food grown and eaten locally in the town. The result is that one-third more locals grow their own veges, 7 in 10 people now buy local produce only, and 15 times more people are keeping backyard chickens.

There are now also numerous ‘help yourself’ vege gardens, and at all eight of the town’s schools, students and staff eat local meat and produce every lunchtime. Foraging courses, jam-making workshops and the woodwork shop supplies material to build chook pens and greenhouses. Pam Warhurst is the mastermind behind the project.

For more info visit www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk