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Where one corner of the town's main car park abuts the Health Centre, right next to the bottle bank, a small plot of earth (perhaps intended as a decorative shrubbery) modestly displays a wealth of insect-attractive flowering plants and vegetable produce. Nasturtiums and evening primroses bloom cheek by jowl with cardoons, courgettes and tree spinach. The strawberries are over and the potatoes have been lifted but there are rich pickings for those confident enough to help themselves.
For that is the intention: a group in Fishguard hopes to join the town to the Incredible Edible network, a scheme supporting communities to get people growing fruit and vegetables in public spaces, to be shared by all. A retired GP has unilaterally put the idea into practice here in this neglected space.
It is after all a way to encourage both vigorous exercise and healthy eating, thereby reducing the work load for overstretched doctors and benefiting the community at large.
The pioneer in this initiative was Todmorden, a small town in West Yorkshire, which, since 2008, has become world-famous as the epicentre of community gardening. A film about it can be found here.
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