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| Hilary Benn visits Ideal for All |
| Ideal for All - News | |||
 Mr Benn, has a wide interest and responsibility for agriculture, the environment and food security. When planning a visit to the West Midlands region, Salop Drive Market Garden had attracted his attention as a flagship example of a local food scheme. Hilary Benn was greeted by Helen Stephens, the chair of Ideal for All and Roy Short, the company president, and the trustees. He viewed a short film showing the background of Ideal for All as a user led organisation of disabled people, describing the transition of derelict land at Salop Drive into a thriving market garden. Trustees spoke of the role freshly grown food had in their lives, and it’s importance culturally in family life and health promotion. Veronica Barry, Development Manager for Health and Well-Being said, “The adoption of ‘Growing Healthier communities, a community agriculture strategy for 2008-12’ had been a welcome development in Sandwell, and a pioneering step forward which highlighted the importance of projects like Salop Drive.” It is hoped to use the example of Salop Drive to develop further sites in the borough as local food schemes. Rosemary Kyle, Food Policy Advisor from Sandwell Primary Care Trust spoke about the way Salop Drive is integral to the wider Sandwell Food Policy work. While Richard Nugent, Chief Executive of Sandwell Primary Care Trust commented on the public health challenges facing Sandwell. He outlined the fruitful nature of partnership working with user led organisations like Ideal for All, and of the lessons learned from the Salop Drive project. Hilary Benn then made a visit to Salop Drive itself and was met by a gang of enthusiastic children, gardeners and local people. He toured the site, picking and tasting sweet corn, tomatoes, and pears, enjoying the company of the children and their obvious love and knowledge of the garden. Hilary Benn commented that Salop Drive showed what it was possible to achieve, and was impressed by the wider web of Food Policy Work in which Salop Drive is an integral part. His visit was enjoyed by all, and hopefully he enjoyed the bag of freshly harvested vegetables he took back home to London.
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 November 2009 12:06 ) |