Incredible Edible fruit beds in the Tawd valley

The Friends of Tawd Valley (FoTV) are to build three large Incredible Edible beds in the valley made possible entirely by an award £2,000 from the Postcode Local Trust – a grant giving charity funded by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery. Once stocked the beds will provide fruit and vegetables for visitors to pick.

The beds will be located by the community orchard and wildflower area near to Summer Street. They will be wheelchair accessible and constructed from sleepers to give them a long life. Paths will be improved and there will be wheelchair accessible benches, a barbecue facility and a maintained grassed area to encourage families, groups and individuals to regularly use the area.

Incredible Edible Todmorden, who are trailblazers in this type of project aiming to encouraging communities to come together, are the inspiration for the project. Mary Clear, a founder of the Incredible Edible movement, was present at the project launch on 12th March and later gave an inspiring talk at the Ashurst centre on how growing food in unused spaces can be part of bringing communities together. There are now more than 100 Incredible Edible groups across the UK.

Terry Lake, Chairperson FoTV says ” We are grateful to the People’s Postcode Lottery for their support in providing the grant and the Countryside Rangers for guidance and support, as well as our volunteers for the work they do in the valley. Our joint aim is to encourage the use of the valley for recreation, education and relaxation particularly now access has been brilliantly improved.’’

The Friends have a wide range of activities, from clearing invasive undergrowth and waterways, helping with guided walks and maintaining pathways. New volunteers are welcome and we are also looking for help with publicity and admin. If you would like to know more and become more involved e-mail tawdvalleyfriends.soc@gmail.com