A BARRY community garden hopes to dig it on the edible growing scene by joining more than 100 others for an open day this month.

Barry Community Garden & Allotment, next to Pencoedtre Park in Gibbonsdown, Barry, will line up alongside the UK’s community food-growing gardens opening their gates to the public for the Edible Gardens Open Day - now in its third year as a national event.

The day - on Saturday, September 20 - aims to raise awareness of community gardens and encourage more people to get involved in food growing, as a cheap way to get healthy and meet the neighbours.

The Edible Gardens Open Day is part of The Big Dig network, co-ordinated by Sustain - the alliance for better food and farming.

Funding from the Big Lottery’s Awards for All programme is helping the project to engage new places, new gardens and new people this year.

The project, accessed off Dyfnallt Road, was set up in 2010 with funding from Environment Wales.

It aims to provide a thriving space for local residents, schoolchildren and other groups to meet, learn new skills and gain valuable experience and knowledge about horticulture and the environment.

The project also provides a welcoming and safe place for families to meet and get involved in growing their own produce, which they can then take a share of.

Garden manager at Barry Community Garden, Lisa Williams said ‘We are very pleased to be partnering with Sustain and the Big Dig for this Edible Gardens Open Day. We hope that by working together, we can draw more people and attention to our garden and have a positive impact on the local community. The garden will also be running children’s activities on the day and refreshments will be available to purchase.”

Participants should wear wellies and gardening gloves if they have them, although some will be available on the day.

The event runs from 11am until 3pm.

Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

For details, visit www.bigdig.org.uk