Cockermouth volunteers dig deep to ensure project is blooming success

The town's Rotary Club launched Incredible Edibles last September - an initiative encouraging the community to produce and share fruit and veg.

President Julia Mather and Rotarian Philippa O'Callaghan (Image: Trevor Earthy)

Last week club members, supported by local Young Farmers and friends set to work in Harris Park.

They planted a range of apple, plum and pear trees in the park and lots of herbs in the old bandstand.

The idea is that, once they grow, people can help themselves.

Rotarians Pete Edwards and Andy Carter (Image: Trevor Earthy)

President Julia Mather said: "The bandstand is overflowing with all sorts of different herbs.

"We planted all the hardy herbs which grow well in our climate - rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano. When they are more established we shall put some laminated recipe suggestions alongside."

Hard at work in Harris Park (Image: Trevor Earthy)

The club is grateful to Cumberland Council, which has supported the project financially and given permission to use and maintain their land.

Members now have their eyes on a few more locations around town where they hope to plant herbs - including one area by Fairfield School, another near Aldi and one not far from Kirkgate.

"If people know of other places we can plant fruit trees and herbs we would love to hear from them," said Julia.

"The Young Farmers have offered to make big planters in which we can plant vegetables in summer, we're hoping to plant tomatoes, strawberries and lettuce."

They will also be contacting care homes to see if they can plant there.

"People living there could then maybe help maintain things, for example by watering, which is a big issue," said Julia."It's an ongoing project and a great thing for the town. Hopefully it will grow more and more and people will be picking fruit and herbs for years to come."