A PIONEERING environmental scheme is looking for summer volunteers.

City Fruit Harvest will collect unwanted fruit from city gardens and redistribute it to where it is needed most.

The project is being developed by Harvest, a lottery funded project run by Exeter Community Initiatives.

Harvest team member Ellie Parker said: "The idea came to us at a launch event last year in which we invited people to come and use an apple press.

"We were worried that no-one would bring any fruit but in two afternoons we received so much that we realised there was scope for a full-scale project to take place."

City Fruit Harvest is based on similar award-winning projects in Sheffield and Leeds.

Tree owners are invited to donate their fruit, which will be picked by volunteers.

After the owner has taken their share, the best fruit will be delivered to community groups and organisations around the city, and the rest will be turned in to preserves and juices.

Volunteer Michelle Langridge said that the project is beneficial on many levels.

She said: "Many people have fruit trees in their garden but are unable to harvest or use the fruit – so it falls and makes a horrible mess.

"At the same time, fresh fruit is expensive and many people can't afford to buy it.

"This scheme is a really simple way of addressing both these problems, and having a lot of fun at the same time."

As 93 per cent of fruit in the UK is imported, local harvesting is also a way for the community to make the most of fresh produce grown on their doorstep and reap its many health benefits.

Ms Parker said she hopes it will be the first of many summer harvest projects in Exeter. She said: "If we have fruit and preserves left over after the distribution we can sell it on to create funding for next year's initiative.

"We are hoping that the scheme will take on a life of its own and continue to benefit the city for a long time."

The harvesting will not begin until late August but the team is looking to build a group of fruit-picking volunteers in preparation for this.

The project promises to be fun for all ages and Harvest would like to hear from anyone who wants to take part, whether on a one-off basis or more regularly during August and October.

The team is also looking for anyone who has excess fruit they would like picking or any organisations that would benefit from receiving the produce.

Anyone interested in taking part in the City Fruit Harvest should visit www.eci.org/HarvestHarvest.