A community food project with green credentials has received glowing praise after a visit from a top council boss.

Braintree Council chairman Sue Wilson paid a visit to the members of the Incredible Edible community project in Earls Colne.

The group aims to bring the community closer together, boost health and well-being, help the environment and tackle climate change.

Residents in Earls Colne started a community garden along the High Street from an unused plot of land during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

Inspired by the international Incredible Edible movement, the community group work together to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits and flowers for the benefit of local people, wildlife and the environment.

A Braintree Council councillor community grant scheme provided £500 to enable them to buy compost, tools and seeds to progress the project.

The group has gone from strength to strength, and are now looking at how they can expand to create another garden in the village.

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Mrs Wilson said: “I was so pleased to be able to meet the people behind this fantastic project.

“It’s a project that is positive in every way – bringing the community closer together, producing locally-grown food, allowing people to learn more about gardening, make new friends and helping tackle climate change for our local environment.

“A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have brought this to life in our communities.”

Jayne Meleschko, one of the leaders of the Incredible Edible project, added: “It was great to meet with Braintree Council’s Chairman Sue Wilson, where we had the opportunity to talk about the aims of the gardening project and our plans for the future.

“It was a very useful and productive visit and we look forward to working more closely with the council on future projects.”

For more information, visit incredibleedible.org.uk.