News
HRH visits the Incredible Edible Todmorden scheme on START tour
7th September 2010
The Prince of Wales visited a number of sustainability initiatives in Todmorden, West Yorkshire today, looking at the Incredible Edible Todmorden scheme as part of the START tour.
Spending over two hours walking through the town, The Prince viewed a number of environmental awareness initiatives for the children in Todmorden, including the Eco Kids project.
The project is a Business in the Community initiative which aims to use the skills and experience of business volunteers to inspire environmental behavioural change in young people.
The Prince spent the afternoon looking around the Incredible Edible scheme, which was set up two years ago to increase the amount of food sourced and eaten locally in Todmorden.
The innovative scheme, which was identified by the Sustainable Development Commission as one of its ‘breakthrough’ projects, is a community project run by the whole town including businesses, schools, and farmers.
It has now grown into an array of vegetable patches, flower beds and herb gardens all of which are used by the people who live in the town.
The Prince also visited the community market where all the groceries for sale are grown or produced in the local area.
He said: "The Incredible Edible Todmorden initiative is inspiring.
"I am thrilled that the START tour has highlighted it as a shining example of how individuals in communities can support one another to live more sustainable lives.
"I am delighted with the response of local businesses who have joined me on a Seeing Is Believing exercise during my visit to see how they could replicate these kinds of innovative projects elsewhere."
Jean Hartley, who has run the Crumbly Cheese stall on the market for 25 years, gave The Prince some of her locally made Todmorden Pexommier to taste. She said: “This is the highlight of my life."
Mary Clear - the co-founder of Incredible Edible Todmorden, who accompanied The Prince around the town - said: "It has been an incredible turn out. It's like everyone in the town and the whole area has come.
"I think it shows how proud everyone is about what is going on here."
She added: "We're astounded by the support and hard work this community has put in to help make us sustainable."
His Royal Highness also boarded the Cooking Bus, run by the Focus on Food project, and spent around half an hour viewing the project, which aims to promote healthy living through encouraging children to learn to cook.
The Prince was cheered by hundreds of school children as he set off from Todmorden railway station in the sunshine. His Royal Highness is touring Britain in the Royal train, which runs on sustainable bio-fuel.
Many of the school children had made their own banners and flags. His Royal Highness spent around half an hour chatting to the boys and girls as he made his way into the town centre.
Further information
START: A Garden Party To Make A Difference
News: Follow the START tour