Buckland Food Growers Ltd (B.F.G.), based at the National Trust’s Buckland Abbey, near Yelverton, have been working hard since last spring. Now with just under a hectare of land, leased from the National Trust since January, the growing and rearing of produce is underway in earnest.

Great news has come to the group in the form of over £12k of funding granted by the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund.  Born out of an idea by Chair of the group, Lucy Wood, and encouraged by organisations GrowTavi, the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and HogCo in addition to the National Trust, the initial idea of growing vegetables has expanded.

Lucy says: “Over thirty local families and households across the Buckland Monachorum parish are now involved with the B.F.G., getting stuck in not just with growing vegetables but also with taking stewardship of an orchard with a view to cider production, bee husbandry and rearing pigs for pork. This is a project that’s come from a community need to grow our own local, fresh and environmentally sustainable produce”.

If you are interested in our work or wish to find you how you can join us, please visit www.bucklandfoodgrowers.co.uk or contact Lucy Wood on lucyjwood@googlemail.com. Alternatively come along to our special general meeting on 2 April at Buckland Abbey at 10.30am to see for yourself what the project’s activities are.