Feeding frenzy as Royal sees how town grows food (Video)

He duly fell off a virtual bike and plunged into a computer generated river yesterday after agreeing to play on the game as he toured sustainable living projects in a market town.

The Prince was being shown some of the environmental awareness initiatives for children in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, when he had a try at the bike racing game on Nintendo Wii Sports Resort.

But he was defeated by one young girl as he failed to negotiate a bend and plunged into the water.

The Prince stopped off to see the project as part of a mile-long walking tour of Todmorden which took more than two hours.

The main focus of his visit was the Incredible Edible Todmorden scheme, which has seen public areas of the Pennine town taken over by community herb gardens and fruit and vegetable patches.

Set up two years ago, the initiative aims to increase the amount of local food grown and eaten in the area.

The Prince, who had earlier toured an inner-city farm in Newcastle, spent the afternoon looking at the project as part of his five-day national Start tour of Britain which is celebrating sustainable community living.

"The Incredible Edible Todmorden initiative is inspiring," he said. "I am thrilled the Start tour has highlighted it as a shining example of how individuals in communities can support one another to live more sustainable lives.

"I am delighted with the response of local businesses who have joined me on a Seeing Is Believing exercise during my visit to see how they could replicate these kinds of innovative projects elsewhere."

Hundreds of primary school children cheered the visiting Royal as he set off from Todmorden railway station in glorious sunshine.

Many of the youngsters had made their own banners and Union flags and Charles spent around half an hour chatting to the boys and girls as he made his way into the town centre.

During his tour, he stopped at the many vegetable patches which have sprung up in public areas around the town.

Outside, the volunteer-run Hippodrome Theatre, children from Ferney Lee Primary School proudly showed the Prince one of the beds as a work in progress.

Inside, he saw examples of the Eco Kids project, which is a Business in the Community initiative that aims to use the skills and experience of business volunteers to inspire environmental behavioural change in young people.

He then spent about half an hour in the Cooking Bus run by the Focus on Food project which aims to promote healthy living by encouraging children to cook.

Prince Charles left for Manchester after a stroll along the Rochdale Canal, where he chatted to narrow boat owners.

In his visit to Newcastle yesterday morning he met volunteers at Ouseburn Farm in the city centre, where he opened a new beehive.

Amateur beekeeper Ian Wallace, of Heaton, Newcastle, said the Prince complimented him on his honey. "City bees are so important as without the bees there is no pollination and without that no seeds and then no plants," he added.

"What people don't realise is there is often a greater variety of plant species in a city than in the countryside, so we hope these bees will thrive. I'm honoured he has taken time out to recognise the work we have done here."

The tour includes A Garden Party to Make a Difference at the royal gardens at Clarence House and those of his neighbours which began yesterday.

A food plan that can grow on you

So, what is Incredible Edible?

The project was set up two years ago and aims to increase the amount of local food grown and eaten in Todmorden, leading some to dub it the greenest town in the country.

Suitable land is found from businesses, schools and farmers who are encouraged to get involved.

A good example would be a scheme at Todmorden High School where it is hoped an aquaponics unit will be developed, incorporating a small fish farm and associated growing plots on land behind the school.

Departing headteacher Patrick Ottley-O'Connor has been an enthusiastic proponent of the group's work by growing within the school, wherever practical.