CLACKMANNANSHIRE received a visit from the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, MSP Roseanna Cunningham.

She officially announced a new funding package from Grow Your Own Scotland, which aims to support communities to allow them to produce their own food.

She did so during a trip to Tullibody Community Garden – a good example of how such projects operate – on Wednesday, May 10.

Ms Cunningham said: "We have increased our funding of Grow Your Own by nearly a third this year from £65,000 to £92,500 because we recognise the benefits it can bring, and because it can help improve access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food which is a key aspect of our aspiration to be a Good Food Nation."

The local spot, situated between Paterson Place and Carseview, is overseen by the Tullibody Healthy Living Initiative (THL) and tended to by community gardener Sarah Watts.

It provides space for people to enjoy and grows produce for sale at the fruit barra at Tron Court, along with providing opportunities for people in Clacks to get involved in.

Community development worker at THL, Tracy Gibson, said: "It was great having the cabinet secretary come to visit Tullibody Community Garden and she really appreciated what we are doing here and she is going to be singing our praises back in government."

The funding is earmarked for projects that recognise the important contribution this can make to public health and wellbeing, as well as to the environment.

Greenspace Scotland, Federation of City Farms and Gardens and Trellis – who had representatives at the garden on Wednesday – will receive a share of the £92,500.