CORNWALL'S first community-supported agriculture scheme, set up on land at St Kew Highway near Wadebridge, is going from strength to strength.

Camel Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) was established at the end of 2008. It is a co-operative that aims to promote local food, reduce food miles and connect people with the land where their food is grown.

The non-profit making community project was set up with advice from the Soil Association and its members, currently some 50 local families, are entitled to a weekly share of the harvest with vegetable boxes of seasonal produce.

Over the past two years it has also been able to take deliveries from other growers in the Wadebridge area.

Last week it received £47,984 from the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food Programme and £12,484 from the East Cornwall Local Action Group (ECLAG). ECLAG is part of the Local Action for Rural Communities Programme, a European Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs programme.

The money will help the group with its Growing Food, Growing People project which will offer volunteering, educational and social opportunities for disadvantaged and unemployed people through partnerships with schools, charities and other local groups.

Secretary Mike Sadler said: "Over the past two years we have learned a lot. The first growing season was a hard lesson; we had problems with the quality of the soil and predators such as birds and rabbits.

"The second growing year has been much more successful and we are looking forward to inviting local schools and organisations to come to the site and learn the importance of growing produce and introducing them to outside healthy living. Over the next three years we are also hoping to buy all the necessary equipment and machinery to become self-sustainable. We are continuing to grow but would like to increase our membership and would welcome new families and individuals from a ten-mile radius to join us."

To become a member, any schools that might be interested in taking part or to find more information visit www.camel-csa.org.uk