Budding horticulturalists are being offered a year of free advice and support on how to grow their own fruit and veg.

The Islington Master Gardeners programme, based in White Lion Street, Islington, is a network of local food growing enthusiasts who are passionate about spreading their green-fingered expertise.

Now, they are looking for new recruits to swell their ranks and have organised a free training weekend on October 8 and 9, which is followed by 12 months of help and advice.

Anita Gracie, 63, joined the Master Gardeners programme in March. Since then, she has spent Tuesday afternoons helping the Holloway Neighbourhood Group, who are aged between 55 and 85-years-old and often don’t have gardens, to produce home-grown produce which is used for the lunches organised by the group.

Mrs Gracie said: “It’s been great fun. If you enjoy getting out and about and meeting people, I would absolutely recommend it.”

Islington Master Gardeners, in partnership with the council’s Edible Islington campaign, have helped fund and support more than 100 projects across Islington to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

For more information, visit www.islington.mastergardeners.org.uk.