THESE two nursing sisters were sampling strawberries from the thriving market garden at Townleys branch of the Bolton and District General Hospital.

Jacci Brown, left, and Clairie Cannizaro decided to tuck in for the photograph taken in August 1973 in the grounds of the hospital.

The strawberries were truly the fruits of their labour since the hospital’s self-supporting market garden is tended by the staff.

Also 23 long-stay patients from the mental health wards got involved in the project back in the 1970s.

Senior nursing officer Mr John O’Neil said at the time that the enthusiastic gardening team worked outside every day from 9.30 in the morning until 3.45 in the afternoon ensuring fresh produce was available for the hospital.

It seems like a tremendous idea but we wonder just how successful it was as we do not believe it continued for very much longer.

What a fabulous way to get fresh produce for the hospital staff — we are assuming the patients were able to enjoy it too but are not sure if this was the case.