RESIDENTS in Patrick could soon be getting used to the good life of growing their own fruit and vegetables and eventually selling the produce to raise funds for a church.
Holy Trinity Church has come up with a plan to use their surrounding fields to benefit the church and residents.
Plans for 20 garden sheds and a polytunnel at Holy Trinity Church, Patrick, have been given the go-ahead.
The church has decided to use land surrounding the church to create community-based allotments.
Work is already underway to create the allotments and 10 allotments should be in use by the end of March.
The allotments have been so popular there is only three allotments remaining still to be rented.
Church warden Vicky Harrop, who applied for planning permission (12/01338/B) on behalf of the church, said: ‘Everybody is excited about it. It will be wonderful to see people creating things and growing things on the land. It is a very peaceful area, it will be wonderful to see life on it.
‘In this day and age you have got to look at what people want to do. It really seemed like a good idea and it is a beautiful place. It is a good way to reach out to people and they can get to use the land.
‘The big polytunnel is for the community to use, people can rent a section of that.’
Mrs Harrop explained that as well as allotments there will be 60 fruit trees planted on a field, which will allow members of the public to sponsor a tree, there are further plans to have a seating area and hopefully music events.
People can sponsor a tree for £30, they will be invited to help pick the fruit grown on the tree and will receive a certificate of participation for doing so.
Mrs Harrop, added that by sponsoring a tree it will not mean all the fruit is owned by that person. ‘The idea is that the community benefits as we sell jams but each person who sponsors a tree will be invited to all events we hold, such as picnics and fruit picking days and open air concerts.’
It could take a few years before the full extent of the plans are established, but it is hoped that jams and fruit grown in the grounds (not the privately rented allotments) will be sold.
The church has received a positive feedback from villagers, Mrs Harrop, said: ‘The reaction has been really positive not one person has said it was a bad idea. People in the village were delighted when we told them our plans. Some people who had a little garden that backs onto the fields have asked if they could have an allotment.’
Mrs Harrop added that the church is ‘blessed by wonderful people’ who have got on board to support the plans.
She thanked Steve Prescot who supplied his time, expertise and trees, Nick Maye for making the sheds and the forestry board for its help supplying the wood and friendly service and finally the local youth club for planting the productive fruit hedge.
If you would like to sponsor a tree, write to Mrs Harrop at 1 The Falls, Shore Road, Glen Maye, IM5 3BG. Cheques must be made payable to Patrick Church and should include your address, email and phone number.
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