MEMBERS of a community project in Swaffham can E.S.C.A.P.E down to the allotment for a spot of gardening, thanks to help from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society.

MEMBERS of a community project in Swaffham can E.S.C.A.P.E down to the allotment for a spot of gardening, thanks to help from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society.

Don Saunders is a community involvement worker, at Enjoy Swaffham Community Allotment Project Enterprise (E.S.C.A.P.E). As it is a non-profit-making organisation, Don approached his local N&P branch to see if it was possible to have a donation of some much needed equipment.

Charley McIlwhan, duty manager at the Swaffham branch in the Market Place, was happy to help. She donated various garden tools including forks, spades, trowels, a rake, hoe, as well as a wall mounted reel and hose, watering can and some junior tools.

E.S.C.A.P.E is an organisation which was established in 2009. It is based at Tumbler Hill and has been set up and is managed by local charity Family Action Swaffham, The Garden Science Trust and MIND.

The idea behind it is to get local people interested in growing food, learning about the environment, composting and other sustainable issues. There are many local groups involved, including Swaffham Town Council, Swaffham Scouts, Swaffham Junior School and local families. The project also works alongside the Joy of Food programme, which teaches people the healthy and nutritional value of their food, and how to cook it too.

Mr Saunders said: 'We are so pleased that N&P has donated all of this wonderful gardening equipment. It will help no end in keeping on top of all of the plants and vegetables we have in this project.

'We have so many different people involved, so it's brilliant that we have all of these tools to keep everyone busy! We think that as a community project, it's great to have our local building society involved too.'

Miss McIlwhan added: 'What a wonderful project! Isn't it great that there are so many different areas of the community involved already, and now they can add N&P to the list.

'As a carbon neutral building society, we are particularly keen in helping with projects such as this. It's brilliant that not only is everyone learning to grow their own food, but they are also getting advice on how to cook it too.'