A PROJECT to grow herbs and vegetables in sites around Darlington that can be taken home by members of the public is set to expand this year.

Incredible Edibles was launched by the Darlington Rotary Club last year, with 12 sites in the town centre planted out by gardeners.

The group, known locally as High Grow Darlo, are hoping to encourage more volunteers to take part in the project this year and expand the number of vegetable and herb plots to more than 60.

Funding for dozens of planters has been secured from the Street Eats programme, which will be dotted around the town at community centres, care homes, sheltered housing and schools, as well as the existing planters in the town centre.

The planting team, led by Rotary Club member Michael Hall, said: “We are looking for more volunteers for this year’s project. The vegetables are free for the public to eat and many local people benefited from the crops around town last year.

“We need a team of volunteers and enthusiastic gardeners or allotment holders who believe in the promotion of healthy, thrifty eating and the importance of local produce to assist us and come up with new ideas.”

A public meeting for potential volunteers will take place at Scholars Restaurant, in Bondgate, Darlington, on January 22, at 6.30pm.

The group is also hoping to organise a “vegetable car boot sale” with cookery demonstrations in Darlington Market Place in the summer to promote the scheme and hand out produce.

For more information contact Mr Hall at darlingtonrotary.org.uk or on 07756-999941.