A BOURNEMOUTH restaurant has signed up to a scheme to help poor communities across the world.

The Escoffier restaurant at Bournemouth and Poole College is the first eatery in the town to adopt the Food for Thought initiative, which also helps to reduce their carbon footprint.

Students and staff including chef and lecturer Mark Alderman were briefed about what the social responsibility scheme will entail recently, with Food for Thought founder Marvin Baker paying a visit to the restaurant.

Under the scheme 99 pence will be automatically added to every bill.

This small amount of money will guarantee that a single tree will be planted in the developing world – in this case Haiti – to help the struggling communities there, pictured right.

Diners can opt out from the scheme if they wish.

Mr Baker said: “This really is a positive situation for all involved.

“If you were to give these communities 50 fruit trees they could eat and provide themselves with an economy, which would have further far-reaching effects for all concerned.

“Our planting partner works with charities to provide education to communities and the materials to build nurseries and plant the trees.

“Participating in the scheme gives diners the chance to counterbalance the environmental impact of dining in a restaurant, while not costing the business any money.”

He added: “People say to me that when they first see the scheme, they think it’s too good to be true.

“Also, this does not cost the restaurant a single penny.

“This is something that is real and tangible.

“Everyone understands what it entails and the benefits involved. It doesn’t affect tips for serving staff because it is added to the bill.

“We’ve had a 98 per cent acceptance rate from customers dining at restaurants up and down the country.”

Anyone other dining facility interested in taking up the scheme should contact Green Earth on 0161 6842339 or go to greenearth appeal.org./ food