AN EXCITING new project is set to make national fame this month and hopefully win thousands for a community garden in Ipswich.The town and bridge community garden project has gained a place in the finals of the Big Lottery Fund's 'People's Millions' awards and could win a staggering £86,000 if it wins.

AN EXCITING new project is set to make national fame this month and hopefully win thousands for a community garden in Ipswich.

The town and bridge community garden project has gained a place in the finals of the Big Lottery Fund's 'People's Millions' awards and could win a staggering £86,000 if it wins.

The project, to build a community garden in the Maidenhall area of Ipswich, has beaten off thousands of entries to become one of just eight projects in the eastern region to get as far as the final.

Julie Stokes, town and bridge project manager, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have got this far.

“It has been hard work, but worth every minute and if we win the award we will receive £82,000 to establish a community garden with a difference.”

The initiative aims to transform an overgrown piece of land into a thriving outdoor community resource with an undercover learning area at Maidenhall Allotment, off Halifax Road, in Maidenhall, Ipswich.

The community garden will include a sensory garden, raised beds for older people or people with disabilities to tend, vegetable plots, fruit trees, herb circle and a 'polytunnel' for all year round growing.

Mrs Stokes said: “In Ipswich one in four people are estimated to be obese, only one in five people are estimated to eat healthily and less than one in ten meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

“The Community Garden is one of many initiatives being developed by the town and bridge Project to help people improve their physical and emotional health.”

A short film of the project will be televised on ITV's Anglia News at 6pm on November 29 alongside another regional project.

Viewers will be asked to choose between the two projects and the project that receives the most votes will win the award.

The telephone number will be available from 9am on the day of the broadcast at www.ipswich-cvs.org.uk or by calling Julie Stokes on 01473 261112.

Telephone lines will be open from 9am until 12 midnight on November 29 to register votes.

Have you got an idea for the short film? What do you think about having a community garden in Maidenhall?

Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

>The town and bridge project was established in 2004 and aimed to work with the community, professionals, and local organisations to improve the health and well-being of people between the ages of 45 to 74 years, living in the town and Bridge areas of Ipswich.

>The project was established by Ipswich Borough Council after a report was produced by the Director of Public Health for Suffolk, Dr Brian Keeble, in 2002, which revealed the high death rates of people between the ages of people 45 to 74 living in these areas of the county.

Further research highlighted that the increase in death rates was due to people dying from heart disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease.

>The project aims to promote lifestyle changes, focusing on diet, smoking, drug abuse and alcohol consumption, improve employability, build self-esteem, confidence and skills.

>Just under 1,000 projects from across the UK were submitted to the People's Millions awards.

>Ninety grants of £80,000 will be given away by the Big Lottery Fund this year, helping to fund projects that aim to make a difference in their community.

>The contest will be screened on ITV from November 26 to 30.