Residents of the Devon town of Okehampton could be forgiven for thinking the Dartmoor pixies have come down off the moor for a bit of mischief.
All over the town plots of derelict land are being transformed into thriving gardens, and there are apple trees growing on a roundabout.
But the real cause is far from supernatural. A local group, Growing Our Future, has acquired 16 sites in the town and is using them to inspire locals to become more self-sufficient by growing their own food – and enjoying themselves in the process.
The group, based at the town's college, was founded by local artist Beth Hamer, who says she wanted to give something back to her community: "I think it's fair to say there wasn't much of a spark here. There's quite a low socio-economic background and high unemployment.
"Once it was a thriving market town, but now it's a supermarket town, with very few independent traders. It still has the frontage of a high street, with a butcher's shop on it. But behind it are three massive supermarkets."
Inspired by similar community projects such as the one at Todmorden, Beth wants to inspire the town and help it engage with the looming issues of the 21st century: climate change, sustainability and peak oil.
So far Growing our Future have a half-acre garden with raised beds and a polytunnel. They're planning a greenhouse made from recycled bottles. Another site is a forest garden with a large fire pit that people can gather around to socialise.
Recently the group printed a diagram of one plot, the Gateway Garden, in the local paper, inviting readers to submit their own designs.
But as well as reaching out to local people, Beth also works in the town's schools.
"One of the most exciting things for me is not what's happening now, but the kids I'm working with and thinking about what they will be doing," she says. "Some say to me they only come to school for gardening: they love it; they love digging. It's an obvious analogy, but Growing our Future has planted a seed in them, and who knows what that will grow into?"
Some school leavers have already become key organisers.
"It's been a lot of fun; it's inspiring," says recent graduate Dominie Hooper. "At careers day there is always the option to join the army or be a nurse. But there was never any encouragement to do something like this… the project adds another dimension, it really is what kids here need."
Dominie believes that her generation struggles with the weight of issues such as climate change, but that Growing our Future makes it easier to engage with solutions.
"People find it hard to be optimistic, but it's not about restricting yourself, it's just about shifting how you live."
Paul - the last two postings connect well. Transcending the conventional definitions of school is indeed the challenge of our time. First step I reckon - make it non compulsory. Sure it would be chaos at first but soon the shift from coercion to motivated attendance would follow...if the conditions were right. So I believe it would help if at were a requirement that all schools had growing spaces. Gardening is as good for you as any sport so lets dig up some of the playing fields that so many kids loathe and make at least one or two days a week dedicated to learning out of doors. There is no element of the curriculum that cannot be imaginatively explored through horticulture and the products of young people's efforts would contribute to the enterprise culture of any school, diminish its carbon footprint and draw in community members to learn and teach alongside the school community.This is one aspect of schools that define themselves as cultural spaces, enabling children, young people and their communities to create cultural capital collectively - learning all the time in the process.
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