Green garden wins national award

The project has a sensory garden and composting scheme

An organic gardening project in Lancashire has won a national award for its community and environmental work.

The Offshoots Permaculture Project, based at Towneley Hall in Burnley, is used by therapy groups, horticultural training and volunteer groups.

It has a sensory garden, straw bale toilet and composting scheme.

The project has scooped the Sustainable Communities Award, sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, for building a "modern neighbourhood".

Offshoots is a charity and is dependant on external funding such as SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) funding, which is cash from the government to help regenerate run-down areas.

It employs several people including two beekeepers, who look after the hives which in turn integrate into the garden's ecology and enhance the sustainable community.