Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2017 | Page 72

Country life Countryside news By Tony Ridd Green shoots of food revolution Barton Green is a small patch of land, easily missed if you’re busy doing laps of Coppins Bridge, but next time you’re stuck at the lights twiddling your thumbs you might notice some lush vegetation. The Church on the Roundabout, is a distribution centre for Foodbank and are now leaseholders of the green. Tom Murphy a volunteer at the Foodbank is qualified in permaculture and came up with the idea of supplementing the Foodbank with fresh produce grown right next to the church.  “Now, as well as making Barton Green look nice for the public, we are also able to provide a sustainable supply of fresh and healthy food for the local community and Foodbank clients.” Since the first stubborn tangles of bindweed were pulled in June last year, there has already been a full bed of juicy raspberries, salty sea beet and robust Swiss chard. The emphasis this winter has been getting areas cleared and mulched in preparation for fruit tree planting and many more perennial food crops for this Spring. Tom has overseen the planting and care of the land using permaculture principles and is keen for the spirit of this project to grow using the skills and imagination of anyone interested. It is built respectfully on community and communication - you don’t have to be green fingered to get involved. The vision is to see areas of public land all over the Island being used to grow fresh, healthy food for the local community whilst also benefitting the wildlife through naturalistic friendly planting.  If you have ideas, want to get involved at Barton Green, or would like to find out what you might be able to do in an area near you contact Tom Murphy via email; [email protected] or visit the Coppins Community Food Forest page on Facebook. 72 www.visitilife.com Celebrating improved access to Chillerton Down The Ramblers Donate a Gate scheme continues to be very popular with some 157 gates already provided. Residents of Chillerton and Gatcombe celebrated the installation of four Ramblers gates with a walk across Chillerton Down. The gates have made the route far more accessible to walkers and this was shown by the variety of ages of the participants. 37 people, ranging from 13 months to 83 years old, completed the walk along with 10 dogs. Chillerton and Gatcombe Parish Council funded two of the gates and two were funded by local residents. Cllr Gillian Belben, Chairman of the Parish Council said ‘These gates will make a big difference to the community, both young and old. Our thanks go to the two donors, Jill Luscombe and Sally Cardew. www. iwramblers.com