Residents from the Wish Park area in Hove got together in the January 2012 sunshine to plant their own orchard.

Six varieties of Sussex apple trees and two plum trees, provided at a reduced cost by Brighton Permaculture Trust and Action in Rural Sussex were planted, while local children created a 'stag mansion' to shelter stag beetles and other mini-beasts and Community Chef, Robin van Creveld, rustled up a delicious three-course meal using fresh produce.

This is a great example of how some local communities in Brighton & Hove are working together to develop a more sustainable lifestyle.

The orchard marks a second stage in Wish Park Residents' hands-on approach to growing fresh food in the park, as they have also been cultivating a community vegetable patch, on raised beds built on scaffold boards with initial help from Council gardeners. The plots have become a focal point for the local community to meet up and learn about growing food.

Working as organically as possible, the group have planted, tended, watered and harvested a variety of crops including potatoes, beetroot, spinach, herbs, courgettes and runner beans, salad items, rhubarb, raspberries and strawberries.

Wildflowers planted by local children are also there to attract bees and other pollinators to the environment.

Regular gardening sessions take place at weekends, with all those who pitch in with the work getting a share of the produce. As well as having lovely fresh food to cook, these happy grafters have made a great contribution to improving their local environment.

How can you be involved in growing your own food?

See our food tips and, if possible, grow your own healthy and sustainable food in your garden or window box. If you've no space of your own, try a garden share scheme.

Get together with neighbours to form a local group or go to  for ideas about becoming a volunteer in your community ?

Anybody who would like to be involved with the Wish Park Residents orchard and garden is invited to get in touch via their  website.