CHILDREN in Rosyth have been learning the importance of growing, sharing and gifting food for others.

The youngsters from Camdean Nursery even paid a visit to EATS Rosyth – a community hub set up to grow and share food while managing waste – where they swapped donations for fresh fruit and vegetables.

They then learned how to use these in recipes and took any left-overs home to turn into soup.

Rosalind Frame, headteacher, said: "The nursery children have enjoyed the opportunity to donate to EATS Rosyth and have learned across the curriculum, through this valuable learning opportunity and how to be responsible citizens".

Ethan Daish, food project manager at the hub, said: "We have a really good relationship with the schools, especially in our green spaces, and have regular visits from school groups and family groups.

"Our main aim is to improve the experience of living in Rosyth, improve greenspace, and improve access to food."

EATS Rosyth was founded in 2015 with the aim to grow and share food, reduce waste, help the environment and improve food education.

And while their aim was never – and still isn't – to provide a service specifically for those in food crisis, in recent years the team have found that to be a major factor for those deciding to use the hub.

"The pandemic changed things for us and we did find ourselves providing for people in crisis," Ethan explained.

"We've had a very busy year – the situation is that we are as busy as we possibly can be, when we have food on the shelves it goes but we do have a limited supply.

"We've seen a reduced amount coming in but an increase in footfall.

"We are open to anyone – usually it's people from Rosyth but also from other places in South West Fife, rural areas which maybe don't have as much available.

"Our emphasis is very much on community, we are there for everyone and operate with dignity at the forefront – we don't ask why people are there – we take donations but we don't have any fixed prices."

The Hub is currently undergoing a major expansion with work taking place to move into a larger building where the service will "change radically", creating the ability to increase social initiatives, provide kitchen training and have more people working in the gardens.

The main centre at 8 Aberlour Street is open from 10am until 3pm Monday to Wednesday, and 10am until 5pm on Fridays when they serve takeaways.

The Rosyth Centenary Orchard is open every day and the community garden is open Monday to Wednesday from 9am until 3pm and Sundays 11am until 2pm.