A PIONEERING £50,000 project for Bury to create the North West's first-ever horticulture training and resource centre is now firmly taking root.

For a massive 50ft by 24ft building, which will be the centrepiece of the innovative scheme, is now in place at the Walnut Avenue Allotments Association site in the town.

It will serve as the base for training the disabled and able-bodied to enable them to develop "green fingers."

And a community garden, to be established on the same site nearby, will be an additional focal point.

This will allow those taking part in the project, to undertake key practical work to put their horticultural skills to the test.

And general members of the public will also be able to make use of the facility.

Already, the Association has its full quota of trainee gardeners who will begin a 12-months training stint next year. This will ultimately lead to a National Vocational Qualification in horticulture.

The training and resource centre is the first in the region and is the culmination of three years of planning and hard work by allotment officials.

Their dream to establish the facility came true when they secured £50,000 worth of vital funding from the Pilsworth Environment Company and the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB).

The Association has been working closely with BADDAC (Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council) and CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) in providing horticulture training for their members.

Association secretary Mr Mel Smart and chairman Mr Kevin Flood have been actively involved in the ambitious project since day one.

And now that the large modular building has been put in place at the site, the initiative is moving into full swing.

The steel-framed base comprises a main classroom, disabled toilets, kitchen and office together with a shop selling produce.

And it has already proved popular with several outside groups and agencies expressing interest in using the building for meetings.

Gearing up for the launch of the scheme, Mel said: "The horticulture training itself won't begin until next April.

"Those taking part will do a few hours a week and at the end of a year can gain an NVQ in horticulture and hopefully get full-time employment."

The trainee gardeners will be assessed for their qualification by Mr Flood.

Mel is also currently liaising with Bury College to extend the range of services the Association will be able to offer, such as first aid in the home and possibly information technology.

And he has also applied to BT which operates a scheme to give Internet-ready computers to community groups.

Land at the allotments is being cleared and put into shape to provide an ideal site for the community garden.

Eventually, schools, BADDAC and others will be approached to help with the overall design of the facility.

"Letters are going out, asking people to come up with ideas on how they want it to look," added Mel.

The garden will be utilised by disabled, able-bodied and others drawn from the community.

Thanks to the seeds already sown by the Association, Walnut Avenue's bold initiative is certain to grow and grow.