IN THE wake of Stroud’s Potato Day, Down to Earth’s Amanda Godber has been out giving leftover seed potatoes to two sheltered housing schemes for their residents to grow.

Amanda Godber said: "Potato day was a great success for Down to Earth Stroud and Transition Stroud, but even so we had some potatoes left at the end of it, and it’s an important part of our ethos not to let anything go to waste if we can avoid it."

Down to Earth supports people in Stroud District in growing and harvesting their own fruit and vegetables.

This includes selling affordable fruit bushes, supporting people in learning to garden, and providing gardening services.

Council tenants who cannot manage their gardens due to ill health or old age can get help from Down to Earth, subsidised by the council.

Down to Earth are keen to raise awareness of the many benefits gardening has to offer.

Amanda Godber explained:

"For people in sheltered housing, being given plants to grow can make a real difference, helping people keep fit, giving the pleasure of growing food and the reduced cost of producing you own. Shared gardening also helps to strengthen community connections.”