HOMEGROWN fruit and veg could be sold in the heart of an Oxford estate, if one resident’s idea becomes a reality.

Families in Blackbird Leys are being invited to show their support for the idea of a new community market.

Freelance teacher Leah Owens’ scheme would see gardeners sell their extra produce, so shoppers could pick up locally grown food.

Miss Owens, who lives in Blackbird Leys, said: “I think there are a lot of people on the estate who care passionately about putting good food on the table and who care a lot about the types of food that they eat, but they are not being catered for.

“I want to get people interested in growing their own food and hopefully it will pull the community together. It’s about creating more of a buzz in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.”

Miss Owens envisages holding the monthly market on the grassy area near Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road during the summer, and in the community centre in the winter.

Her idea is to encourage people who grow their own produce to sell their excess at the monthly market and also bring in local producers to sell their food on the estate.

Blackbird Leys has two allotments in Kestrel Crescent and Watlington Road.

Ideally, Miss Owens would also like to launch a land share scheme, inspired by television chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, so people who do not have gardens can grow produce on their neighbours’ land.

She said: “I would like to try and get producers and people who already have a presence at farmers’ markets.

“Also, people on the estate who produce food, for example people who make samosas, the Women’s Institute and other stallholders.”

She added: “It’s quite soulless going around a supermarket. There is a sense of anonymity.

“There is something so much nicer about going to a market and chatting to people who know exactly where the food has come from.”

The only food shops in the area are Deltey’s Supermarket in Blackbird Leys Road, Spar in Dunnock Way and butchers JE Pill & Sons.

The nearest major supermarket is Tesco at the Oxford Retail Park in Cowley.

Miss Owens is planning a residents’ meeting at The Barn in Greater Leys next month to gauge interest in the idea, but has not yet fixed a date. She has also set up a Leys Community Market page on Facebook.