THE South Lakeland Food Action Pack has a feast of ideas on local food, healthy eating, thoughtful food shopping and growing your own food.

Funded by Leader Plus, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seed Programme, the pack is the first major project of the South Lakeland Food Forum, which was launched a year ago in response to the 2000 Morecambe Bay Health Strategy.

The forum, which has counterparts in Barrow and Lancaster, promotes access to accordable food, particularly fruit and vegetables, and locally-grown food, especially for those who are rurally isolated. The forum holds regular networking meetings and co-ordinates practical projects.

The action pack was launched at the Cumbria Rural Forum by Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust food and health adviser, Vivien Prendiville. She said that local food wasn't just about premium products'.

"Since the launch of the Food Forum we have been supporting growing schemes and cooking schemes, and helping people set up community gardens. By giving small grants to local communities we have also been able to fund growing projects in schools, offer support for allotment organisations, and school cooking initiatives."

The action pack gives advice on why it is important to buy locally-produced food (to support the local economy, for animal welfare, for fresher produce); where to buy local food (the pack has directories of farm shops and local producers); where to eat local food; thoughtful shopping (fairtrade and organic); healthy eating; growing your own, growing as a group, and growing with children. The pack also includes a list of useful contacts.

For a copy of the South Lakeland Food Action Pack or for more information about South Lakeland Food Forum, call Voluntary Action Cumbria on 01768-242130.