Backyard Food project is a community initiative funded by the Local Food fund, from the Big Lottery.  It has over recent months been promoting food growing at community events and workshops within the areas of Redruth and Camborne.

The project has been engaging local people in new horticultural activities and providing the opportunity to introduce the concept of container gardening, by teaching news skills to individuals not currently engaging in any food growing.

The neighbourhood areas for this project include a high percentage of homes with small backyards rather than gardens with little local allotment provision, as well as containing high levels of low income households.

Cornwall Waste Action have developed this project to encourage low cost gardening and support low-income households who do not currently participate in food growing due to a range of issues including a lack of gardening experience, horticultural confidence and low self-esteem.

Cornwall Waste Action Project Worker, Jacqueline Merrick says “ Everyone attending the workshops have been really enthusiastic about growing their own food.  We believe the project has given residents in the area the opportunity to establish new skills that will assist them become experienced food growers over the years.”

Throughout the project, local people have been invited to attend free community workshops, which support increased food growing knowledge and healthier lifestyles.