WE ARE delighted to report that a closure-threatened scheme that helps persistent offenders grow their way out of trouble has been saved.

The Good Soil project was set up in Herefordshire by TV gardener Monty Don and moved to Top Barn Farm in Holt Heath three years ago.

The project gets offenders looking after animals and growing vegetables and has been a resounding success.

Good Soil was under threat of closure after the probation service pulled out of running it.

Thankfully, Top Barn Farm owner David Harper stepped in to take over the scheme.

That is good news indeed because innovative projects such as this are few and far between.

It is too easy for first-time offenders to become persistent law breakers.

The prison system often creates hardened criminals.

Anything that offers a different approach to getting offenders on to the straight and narrow is to be applauded. Punishment is necessary but rehabilitation is also absolutely vital.

Schemes such as Good Soil offer offenders a different view of life and an alternative path to follow.

There should be more projects like this but we recognise all public services are struggling to fund anything above and beyond frontline operations in the current economic and political climate.

David Harper deserves praise, therefore, for taking on Good Soil. He says it is brilliant to see offenders responding to the project. Let us hope the good work continues for many years to come.