Children Grow Fruit and Veg to Stay Healthy

20 April 2010, 10:52 | Updated: 20 April 2010, 11:30

A group of children in Medway are being given the chance to grow their own fruit and vegetables as part of a project to keep them healthy.

It's being run by MEND, which stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do It!

They run courses for families to try and get them to be more active and eat better food.

Later in the summer, the families will be able to use the produce from the allotment in Woodlands Road in Gillingham as part of a healthy cooking course and to take home.

Julie Coleman from Cliffe Woods is mum to 9 year-old Alexandra who's taking part in the programme: "The allotment is a great opportunity for young people to learn about where their food comes from and that eating healthily really can be fun.

"The scheme will also give them the chance to get out in the fresh air, get active and spend time with their friends and family."

Sally-Ann Ironmonger, Medway's Head of Health Improvement, said: "The MEND scheme has already really helped over 200 Medway families become fitter, healthier and happier so the allotment will not be short of a few helping hands.

"We're very pleased to be able to offer our graduates and their families the chance to grow their own produce, which will help them continue to lead healthier and more active lives. In the future we hope more people in Medway will have the chance to use the allotment."