Nynehead Court kitchen gardens have beaten the vegetable crisis thanks to forward thinking and hard work by the gardening team.

The Nyenhead Court retirement has been growing more vegetables year on year to improve the estate's carbon footprint. The work of head gardener Justin Colen, chef Kevin Aldridge and the team has seen off the shortage of imported goods with a bumper crop.

Now the team is busily preparing for the sowing season, when they will plant beetroot, courgettes, cucumbers, parsnips, pumpkins, onions, leeks, tomatoes and many more fruits and vegetables besides.

The garden also hosts raised beds solely for resident's use, allowing them to get stuck in with weeding, planting and pruning.

Home Manager Joanne Fenn said, “There is nothing better than homegrown vegetables, not only for the taste but also the lack of carbon footprint.

"Our residents love watching the progress of the kitchen gardens throughout the seasons, which reminds them of growing fruits and vegetables in their own gardens. The fact that they can also participate in the growing operation is a bonus for them.”