Potatoes set off for island getaway

31 March 2008

Angus Rice, Centre Manager from Islay Disabled Endeavours and Action (IDEA) initially approached Tom Bramwell, a supervisor at the Lincoln site to find out more about growing potatoes. Tom was interested in learning more about the charity's work on the island and was keen to support them in growing more of their own fresh produce. IDEA asked Branston for seed potatoes for its Market Garden project, which aims to increase the amount of locally grown produce, helping to make the island more self sufficient and reducing its reliance on the mainland for groceries. So we responded with a generous donation of seed potatoes, with a range of varieties to last through the season. The seed potatoes were collected from our Abernethy site, and will be planted on the island of Islay, one of the southern-most islands of the Inner Hebrides.

"We are extremely grateful to Branston for this donation," said Angus Rice. "Without the support of community-spirited companies like Branston we wouldn't be able to carry out initiatives such as the Market Garden project, that promote social inclusion as well as securing an extra revenue stream to keep the group up and running."

IDEA supports adults of all ages with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems. It aims to promote social inclusion by actively engaging with the local community and empowering its members through educational and recreational activities. Once grown, some of the potatoes will be used for IDEA's twice-weekly lunches, with the majority of the crop being sold to local residents and businesses. The money raised will be used to support the group, which has been in existence for just over ten years and is in constant need of new revenue streams.

Eric Ritchie, General Manager at the Branston site in Abernethy, commented: "IDEA's Market Garden project is a really worthwhile cause that helps some of the most vulnerable people in an outlying area of Scotland. We're really pleased to be involved in such a positive project and we hope that the potatoes they grow will go some way in helping to support the group's aims and objectives."  

For more information about IDEA visit the website http://www.geocities.com/ideas_islay/index.htm.