A fundraising campaign has been launched to create new allotment spaces in Shepton Mallet.

The Food Forest Project, which takes disused pockets of land and uses them to produce, free, fresh, organic food for the local community is now hoping to also create some allotments.

The Community Interest Company, which was founded back in June 2018, now has several food forest projects which are growing food for the local community to harvest and eat, as well as a food bank market garden which provides produce to the Shepton Mallet food bank.

Now The Food Forest Project founder, Tristan Faith, also has a vision to create some allotments at their very first food forest in Hillmead, but they need to raise funds to bring the plan to fruition so he has set up a Crowdfunder page, and is asking people to donate. He said: "In December 2021, in rain, wind, and snow, we worked with local people to plant Shepton's first Forest Garden. This is a small area on Meadow Rise where we've planted fruit trees, and shrubs, and built herb planters free for the community to use. We left one end as wild meadow, but since the cost of living crisis, and on request of some residents, we want to develop allotments in this area.

"The allotments will be for local people living around the site, so that cars are not required. We hope to build around 15 allotments. They will be free for residents to use, and grow some of their own food. We will build a series of large raised beds out of timber, and have a small shed with coded lock where tools, PPE, and other small equipment can be kept. The Food Forest Project will also keep the shed stocked with seeds each season, so the community has all it needs for successful allotments. We will have four water tanks against the cemetery wall so people can fill up watering cans and water their crops! There will be a fence and coded gate between the Forest Garden and the allotments to keep growers food secure. Then, when the Forest Garden has matured, local people can harvest fruits and herbs to supplement their allotment produce!

"We want to create a space like our food bank market garden, but where local people can grow some of their own organic food and reconnect with nature and each other.

"The money raised in this Crowdfunder will help us to set up an organic allotment space adjacent to the forest garden we planted in December 2021."

They have already achieved 75 per cent of the target, but only has a couple of weeks left to raise the remaining cash.

Anyone who would like to donate can visit the Crowdfunder page here.

The Food Forest Project is also keen to hear what residents think of the idea. Anyone who would like tho share their thoughts can email [email protected].