A PIONEERING new green scheme which is getting gardeners off the allotment waiting list in three Lake District communities is in danger of folding.

Gardenshare matches over-stretched gardeners with people who do not have a plot of land to cultivate in Windermere, Bowness and Troutbeck Bridge.

But the South Lakes Development Trust (SLDT) scheme could come to an end when the organisation folds tomorrow (Friday) due to a lack of money.

Organiser Paul Holdsworth is hoping that another group can now pick take over and continue to add to the three matches the initiative has already made.

“The scheme is a great way of matching people who have a need for a place to grow with people who are concerned about having a garden that they can’t manage,” said Mr Holdsworth.

“It’s a great way of developing community strength and encouraging friendships to blossom. This isn’t just about growing stuff, people can make friends with neighbours and make Windermere a happier place to live.

“It would be a real shame if the project had to fold.”

Mick Ledger was the 83rd person to be added to the Windermere allotment waiting list when he moved to the town from Doncaster 18 months ago. He lives on Alexandra Court, but does not have enough space to be able to plant his potatoes and vegetables.

So when he heard of the Gardenshare scheme, he immediately applied for it.

Mr Holdsworth then put Mr Ledger and four other people in contact with Helen and Gwyn Jones, who live on Oldfield Road, Windermere. After speaking to the interested gardeners, the Jones’s chose Mr Ledger because he lived the closest out of all the applicants.

The couple, who own three plots in their back garden, signed up for the project because they wanted to spend more time fell walking. Mr Ledger now looks after one of the plots, while the other two are still planted by the couple.

“The Gardenshare scheme makes a lot of sense,” said Mrs Jones. “The garden was taking up too much time so this was just a win-win situation for everybody to let someone look after one of the plots.”

Mr Ledger and the Jones’s have agreed to share what they grow, which will include potatoes, rhubarb, corgettes and beans.

Any organisations who would be able to take the scheme on should contact Windermere council town clerk Tracy Fletcher on 015242 72678, or email clerkwtc@live.co.uk.