FAN of community gardening Peter Wightman is living proof that gardening is good for you!

He's known by his friends in the Blakeney Hill Growers as "our digger" because of his drive and enthusiasm for digging new plots and growing veg at the Forest of Dean community gardening project.

But three years ago the future wasn't quite so rosy for the 70-year-old when he had a heart attack. It made him re-evaluate his life.

"I knew I had to change my lifestyle, so I took up gardening and it has been a real life saver for me. I began with light jobs in my own garden and found digging brilliant – but I was running out of space.

"That's when I joined the Blakeney Hill Growers. I go down every Monday, when several of the volunteers are free, and we dig together. It's all part of a healthy regime that has restored me to fighting fit. That, visits to the gym, and eating all the veg we grow of course!" he said.

The Blakeney Growers started 18 months ago when 10 local families got together to lease a field on Blakeney Hill to grow vegetables and fruit.

Lisa Pollock, 41, a newcomer to the project, said community health and wellbeing was a one of the major benefits from the project.

One of the founders of the Growers, Beki Hoyland, 44, said: "It started off with us wanting to be more self-sufficient and it has developed a real sense of community. We all share ideas and expertise. It's great fun. This is about growing friendships too."

The project also delivers for the environment – getting people growing food locally and cutting down on the pollution caused by carting food hundreds of miles across the country to supermarkets.

"This is a model of how communities can cut their carbon footprint and help wildlife through environmentally minded gardening. Blakeney Growers links it all together – keeping individuals, the community and the planet healthy and happy," said Beki.

Blakeney Hill Growers will be open to the public as part of the Forest of Dean Eco Open Homes event during the second weekend in September.

The event has been organised by local volunteers to open up models of environmental living to provide an example for other local people who want to cut their energy bills, live healthier lives and help the environment.

In all 26 homes and businesses with ecological technologies, 14 with sustainable vegetable gardens, four of them farms, will be open to visitors over the weekend of September 8 and 9.

Eco Open Homes co-ordinator Andrew Worsley said healthy living was all about people's homes and lifestyles.

"Eco Open Homes isn't only about solar panels and energy efficiency, important though that is. Gardening is such a wonderful way to improve your health and provide great tasting fresh food for the kitchen table. It's an essential part of a high quality sustainable life­style," he said.

For further information on the Eco Open Homes Weekend visit the website forestecoopenhomes. org.uk. It contains details and pictures of all the homes and businesses that are opening.

Brochures, also with information on all the homes and businesses are available from Co-Operative stores in the Forest and Newent, as well as Wyedean Wholefood stores in the area and Hot Stuff in Lydney.