A TASTY new initiative which provides a food source for people, encourages a healthy lifestyle, and promotes Gourock as a place to live, work and play is growing in momentum. 

Bruce Newlands and the team at Inverclyde Shed have launched an edible trail which highlights some of the town's most popular features. 

Bruce has planted an amazing array of herbs, fruits, and vegetables in designated growing areas positioned outside familiar sites across Gourock. 

The trail has been brought to life thanks to a cash boost from Inverclyde Community Fund. 

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Starting off at Gourock train station, the tour makes its way along to Kempock Gardens, passes by some of Kempock Street's independent shops which have planters outside, and takes in the outdoor pool. 

It then travels up Castle Brae to St John's Church and down through St John's Road, past Shore Street Community Garden and Gourock Health Centre, before returning to Gourock train station. 

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Some of the amazing produce on the journey, which will grow and evolve as the summer progresses, includes kale, fennel, sage, rosemary, cavolo nero, strawberries, blueberries, pinkberries, rhubarb and chives. 

People who want to get involved will be able to follow the trail around via a Google link which can be downloaded on a smartphone.  

Bruce says the project is anchored around Shore Street Community Garden and focuses on providing a free food source for locals and Inverclyde visitors. 

He added: "We were inspired by an edible trail in Rothesay and knew we could develop the idea and make it even better. 

"The overall idea is to encourage people to walk through the town and pick some food from hedgerows and from planters as they go. 

"The plants will be there as a food source for generations."

Bruce worked with Inverclyde Council and the team at Inverclyde Community Food Network to get the trail up and running. 

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He said curiosity about the plants found on the trail will motivate people to get out and about and keep healthy. 

Bruce added: "Hopefully people will be inspired as they walk around and it might ignite some ideas about different recipes. 

"People will get to see the evolution of the plants and find out more about them. 

"There's seems to be a growing number of food shops in Gourock and people are really interested in food provenance and creating things from scratch, so this taps into that."

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Bruce also hopes the trail will help people from Inverclyde and beyond find out more about Gourock as a town. 

He added: "As they're walking around, they'll get to see all of Gourock and take in the amazing views. 

"Everything has worked out really well and we can't wait for people to get involved."

More information on the trail can be found here.