A NEW community gardening project has been launched in Prestonpans, with hopes it can teach people how to grow food and cook with what they grow.

Working in partnership, Prestonpans Community Council, Prestonpans Health Centre and the Pennypit Trust have formed a group, supported by others, to create the Pots and Pans project.

It aims to bring groups of all ages from across the town together to participate in the project.

It aims to not only improve people’s mental health and wellbeing but also be a place for people to socialise – in accordance with coronavirus regulations.

The Pots and Pans project is still in the early stages of development but it has secured some land at the health centre and community centre which has been laid out into growing beds.

There is also space for a community orchard, which has now been planted and is starting to grow successfully.

The project is also awaiting the creation of raised beds over the next few weeks and, once these are in place, they will be filled with plants and a search for people to look after, care for and help tend to them will begin.

Leanne Ward, secretary of Prestonpans Community Council, said: “I wanted to make Prestonpans bright with flowers and had started my end of Pots and Pans as a way forward to brighten up the town with planters, but at the same time Dr Anna Beedel was looking at green prescribing.

“She had the idea of allotment space. The surgery had spare land where we planted an orchard and we decided it would be more beneficial to combine the two projects and hope to engage more members of the public, both old and young.”

There will be a focus on growing fruit and vegetables but areas will also be set aside for wildflower meadows and native tree planting.

Those behind the project are also keen to increase biodiversity in the area and throughout the town, calling it “one step towards helping to combat climate change and be part of a positive green recovery from the Covid pandemic”.

A goal of the project is to hold seed to plate sessions, not just teaching people how to grow food but how to cook what is grown.

An appeal is being made for volunteers from the community willing to lend a hand and share gardening knowledge with beginners.

The project is also looking for a freelance gardener to oversee the project and maintain and co-ordinate the space and its growth.

The gardener would initially be needed for two four-hour sessions a week, or more if time permits or depending on the number of volunteers willing to help.

Those behind Pots and Pans are also looking for those with spare wheelbarrows or gardening tools who are willing to donate them to the cause.

The project will be holding an AGM for interested parties at the end of the month, allowing it to constitute the group and able to apply for extra funding.

Interested parties are asked to email Prestonpans Community Council at prestonpanscommunitycouncil@gmail.com – the community council is co-ordinating the project until the official group is formed.