Allotments in Bradford took a step back in time yesterday when emergency helpers were called in to lend a hand.

Two Asian community groups in West Bowling, Bradford, hoping to grow their own herbs and vegetables, had been faced with digging up five plots of neglected land.

But shire horses from the district's Horses at Work programme came to the rescue and ploughed the area near West Bowling Park in a day.

The project, run jointly by the Countryside Service, health group Heartsmart and the Food Links Network (FLINT), aims to promote healthy eating and encourages Asian men and women to be physically active through gardening.

Countryside officer Neville Herron said it could have taken the groups up to a year to clear just one of the plots of land.

"It would have been soul destroying," he said. "They're not physically fit enough to prepare these five allotments and they don't have the time.

"This is the first time we've done this - the allotments have got good access so you can get in on horses. It's also reminiscent for these people of the countries that they come from, rather than bringing in a tractor or a JCB."

Ploughing did not compound the soil and was more environmentally friendly, he added.

Members of the Milan Group and Ryan Street groups are now ready for spring planting and will manage the land.

Traditional English vegetables such as carrots and potatoes will be planted as well as Asian foods like moolies (white carrot-like vegetables), colrabi (similar to beetroot) and pumpkin. Herbs often used in Asian cooking such as coriander and maithe will also be grown on the plots.

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