VISITORS to a Rawtenstall park are now able to pick fruit, vegetables and herbs from a communal garden planted as part of a healthy eating project.

The garden next to Rossendale Museum has been created by Incredible Edible Rossendale (IER), an extension of an award-winning project launched in Todmorden.

People are encouraged to take advantage of the free onions, apples, cabbages, broccoli and lettuce being grown alongside the park’s traditional flower beds.

The aim of the community project is to get Valley residents to eat healthier.

IER co-founder Joanne Scott-Bates said: “We have been visited by the Royal Horticultural Society in bloom judges and they were impressed with the work we have done in the park.

“We are going to have signs specially made to explain to people exactly what is growing here and how to cook it.

“I was down here with my husband and children preparing the site and a number of youngsters were in the park and they were asking all about the project.

“They didn’t know about a lot of the veg so I took the opportunity to explain it to them.”

The Haslingden branch of Tesco donated £300 to help get the project off the ground.

Rossendale-based charity REAL is also supporting the scheme.

Community development worker Caroline Collins said: “This is all about building sustainable communities and about people helping each other.

“How marvellous to be able to have a fantastic day out in the local park and be able to pick fresh fruit and veg as you leave.”

Celebrity gardener Christine Walkden, Incredible Edible’s patron, will officially unveil the garden on Wednesday July 20 at 10am.