Project finds new home after 'incredible' support

Volunteers help clear the space next to the United Reformed Church in Glastonbury

A community group which appealed for help to find a new place to meet and grow vegetables says the support from the public "has been nothing short of incredible”.

The Growing Happiness Project feeds the homeless, provides mental health support and teaches gardening skills to all ages.

It had been using land by Glastonbury Abbey's vegetable gardens, but had to clear the site as the Abbey needed the land back.

Glastonbury Town Council has now offered two allotment plots and the United Reformed Church has also given the group space near the High Street.

Scott McMillan says the land near the High Street will be user-friendly with wheelchair access

The founder of the volunteer network behind the project, Scott McMillan said: "We put out a public appeal and lots of people came forward. Our social media went from about 3,000 hits a month to 35,000."

He added: "It was too good a project to lose."

With the two new locations, the group says they can now divide their activities to meet everyone’s needs.

The allotments will serve as the primary growing space for more physically active sessions, while the church garden will offer a setting for those needing a more accessible environment.

The group will now spend the next few months building the new allotments.

Mr McMillan added: "We hope to make this a real part of the community in Glastonbury. We have access from a path alongside the church and people can come and see what we're doing."

Pete Munday volunteers with the group and says it has given him new skills

The Growing Happiness Project has been running for three years and helps up to 100 people a month.

It holds weekly sessions, including a men's group.

One of the volunteers, Pete Munday, who joined the project two years ago, said: "Finding a place like this where we can start from scratch and build it how we want it is going to be quite exciting."

Mr Munday added: "This project gives me a purpose and I have made some new friends."