A group of local volunteers who are committed to growing food for the benefit of the Saddleworth community have been hit by vandals twice within a matter of weeks.
Incredible Edible Saddleworth is made up of around eight local volunteers who plant and grow produce for all to enjoy.
The group joined the now nationwide ‘incredible edible’ movement during lockdown in a bid to give back to the community that they love and to encourage homegrown produce, healthy eating and sustainability.
Their efforts are arguably needed now more than ever with climate change threatening crops and the rate of inflation ramping up the cost of food.
However, the group which has five planting sites scattered across Saddleworth has now faced vandalism on two separate occasions, both times on a Wednesday, but just weeks apart in their secluded nature garden.
The group found rhubarb ripped up and discarded on the floor, potato beds trampled on and their newly installed water butts drained and thrown into the river.
Lydia Thorp, a volunteer for the group, said they also spend time making signage for the crops out of donated wood and pallets to identify produce and label when the food is ready to be picked.
One large sign that she had made in her garage had been embedded deep into the soil of a large planter containing rhubarb, potatoes, kale and lettuce, which had been completely ripped out.
For this to happen, she said the vandal would have needed to get up and stand on the bed in order to yank the sign out.
However, the mother of two said the team remain as committed as ever to their project – and won’t let the vandals get them down.
She said: “We’re not angry about it.
“It is disappointing, but I just hope whoever is doing it realises that we’re just volunteers.
“We just want to continue with it.
“It won’t deter us – we’re determined to make good and continue our work around the area and to grow food for the community.
“In the grand scheme of things, it’s ok.
“We replanted everything yesterday and so yes, it is sad, but we won’t let that stop us”.
Ms Thorp joked that she wouldn’t have minded if the rhubarb had been taken for a crumble instead and said the vandal ought to come and join the group to get a taste of what they get up to.
“And perhaps do a bit of weeding next time, that would be helpful”, she added.
Ms Thorp said there is at least some good news that’s come out of the vandalism – and that is the community spirit and response the group has received from concerned locals.
She said: “This will let more people know about us now and what we do.
“Hopefully it will show children, the young and old, what we’re doing and we might get a bit more respect for it as it’s all for the community to enjoy as well”.
The group are constantly on the lookout for more hands to help them with their community project and they occasionally host open days for children to get involved in planting.
At their last event, youngsters were invited to St Chads Parish Centre Community Garden to plant kidney beans and onions.
Ms Thorp said: “It’s a lovely thing to see children getting involved.
“And we want to welcome people to come and pick”.
In addition to the nature garden at Brownhill Countryside Centre where the vandalism took place, Incredible Edible also has sites at St Chad's Parish Centre Community Garden, Uppermill, St Mary’s Church, Greenfield, Saddleworth Cemetery and even some planters along the canal in collaboration with the Canal and Rivers Trust and four huge planters outside Saddleworth leisure centre which is full of herbs.
Incredible Edible Saddleworth can be contacted and joined via their Facebook group.
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