Going green . . . Back, from left: Hava Yacoobuli, Stella Harding, Trish Goodwin, Shala Holgeth with baby Rose Partington, Louise Alshatri and Margaret Partington. Front, from left: Aneela Ahmed with Zain Ahmed, Kath Baron with Edwin Boardman

A WOMEN'S group is hoping to take the healthy eating message a step further than the supermarket with members growing their own greens.

The Great Lever group Nai Zindagi or "New Life" are now planning to move into that traditionally male preserve of the allotment in a bid to sharpen up their organic gardening skills and pass them on to others.

Group organiser Shalah Holgeth, a home support worker with the Bolton Neighbourhood Economic Development Association, said the project was open to all women in Great Lever and beyond and she hoped as many as possible would sign up.

The group was recently given a boost by receiving a £1,000 grant from Bolton's Single Regeneration Budget to kit its allotment on Settle Street out with a greenhouse and other equipment.

Mrs Holgeth said the aims of Nai Zindagi included promoting mental and physical well-being among local women through diet, lifestyle, safety and fitness.

"The organic food plot is just one project we have in the pipeline and it is aimed at encouraging women to think about healthy diets," she said. "We hear so much about organic food but few people know exactly what it is.

"The idea of helping women to grow their own organic potatoes and other vegetables is also a good way of getting women out of the home and mix with others.

"Also the organic food you buy in supermarkets is still relatively expensive so what better than doing it for yourself."

The group have been taking guidance from Bolton Wildlife Trust and the Bolton Gathering of Organic Growers who will train the first crop of volunteers.

"After this it is hoped that the women can pass the skills they have learnt on to others who are interested," said Mrs Holgeth.

"The idea of the allotment is not to feed Great Lever. It will be more of a training ground from where the women can go away and try out the techniques in their own gardens."

Mrs Holgeth added that if the first organic food plot was a success they would like to see more across the town.

"The group will be holding its first meeting in November to discuss the project and while it is open to women only they do not have to come from Great Lever alone," said Mrs Holgeth. "If all goes well after that then we could see it up and running within months."

The first meeting of Nai Zindagi will be on Wednesday, November 1 at Great Lever Community Centre, Bradford Road between 1pm and 3pm.