A LEADING restaurateur has been brought in to give youngsters food for thought at a ground-breaking growing initiative.

Madeline Hoyle has spent more than 16 years refining her skills at Todmorden Old Hall and latterly at Todmorden Vintners.

And now she has been selected as the ‘food inspirer’ for Incredible Edible’s aqua garden, based at the town’s high school.

The garden not only uses traditional growing methods but also soil-free hydroponics and underwater growing, or aquaponics.

Madeline said: “We have so many plans to bring people into the aqua garden and to go out to meet people in the community.

“We are running growing and cookery courses for families and school children and we want to put on special meals with food-inspired speakers.

“We will also be going out and talking to people on Todmorden Market.”

Young people can cook with ingredients they have created for themselves and family cookery courses are planned.

She added: “In the morning we’ll have a guided tour of the aqua garden and introduce them to aquaponics and hydroponics.

“Then we’ll pick some tomatoes and herbs and use them to make homemade pizzas.”