A BEAUTIFUL walled garden on the edge of Dartmoor is now home to some of the 300 new allotment plots created by the National Trust in the past year.

Last year the trust launched a campaign to create 1,000 plots for communities to grow their own fruit and veg, in partnership with the Landshare website.

The move came in response to demand for space for people to grow their own fruit and vegetables, meet like-minded people and to simply get some fresh air and exercise.

The allotments created by the National Trust have been built in restored kitchen gardens, on agricultural land owned by the trust or on vacant land close to trust properties.

The National Trust currently has more than 100 allotments in Devon and Cornwall, spread across eight sites. Over the last 12 months 26 new growing spaces have been created in the two counties, including new plots at Parke in Bovey Tracey.

The trust and Bovey Climate Action have formed a partnership which has turned the dilapidated walled garden into a community garden. A food group is running the scheme and is keen to get more people involved.

With help from Countryside Stewardship funding, the National Trust restored granite walls around the garden and around 20 fruit trees, including figs, peaches, almonds, cherries and apricots have been planted. An old well was discovered and has now been fitted with a solar powered water pump.

The garden is open to anyone who would like to have a go at growing their own food, whatever their age or gardening ability. The only cost is in giving up time to help with the gardening and there are three gardening sessions a week.

Alan and Linda Jackson, gardeners at Parke, said: "We are so proud of all the vegetables we have grown so far — the only problem is so many don't get to the kitchen because they are eaten straight away.

"We love the fresh air, healthy activity and the company of the other gardeners. It's great to experiment with new types of veg and to share all our experiences."

The Landshare website, set up by chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, acts as a 'match-making' database of keen growers and those who have land available.

The trust is also posting updates via a website blog as and when new sites become available. You can visit it at www.landshare.net