The Bishop of Derby, Dr Alastair Redfern, is hoping soon to be known as the provider and supplier of six varieties of home grown organic lettuces following an initiative by his chaplain, the Revd Alan Harper, to produce home grown vegetables from the Bishop's garden in Duffield.

Alan Harper said: "The lettuces were planted out on Bank Holiday Monday. I grew them from organic seed, initially in modules to give them a good start, and without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilisers."

He added: "I'm growing six varieties of lettuce, all different colours on the green to dark red spectrum, in rows, including the Spanish heritage variety ‘Drunken Woman', Victorian varieties ‘Red and Green Salad Bowl', and the more modern  ‘Nyman's' and ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons', from France.  As well as being good to eat, they are very attractive in the garden."

The aim is to produce fresh salad from the garden as part of the meal for the annual retired clergy lunch at Ashbourne on Thursday, 18th June, when clergy and their spouses from all over Derbyshire will be gathered for a service and a chance to meet old friends and catch up with all the news.

 Over 150 people are expected at the lunch so Alan is ensuring that his new organic vegetable plot is well watered and protected.

Bishop Alastair said: "It's absolutely great to be involved in a project that is contributing fresh food, with the minimum carbon footprint and making use of church land."