A NEW community garden is being built in Corporation Park, Blackburn, with the aim of creating an accessible outdoor space and reducing levels of anti-social behaviour.

The garden is being built with the help of volunteers, members of the Corporation Park Supporters Group and Abilities Enterprise, a charity that supports children and young people with autism.

The garden is being built on an old bowling green which has been donated by the Corporation Park Bowling Club.

Supporters Group chairman Nicola Beswick said: “We have been looking for ways to improve the park, making little improvements all over the place to try and bring it up to modern-day standards in terms of what people are interested in.

“There has been a massive surge in gardening over lockdown, so we are hoping to create a community garden space where people who don’t have gardens in their own homes can come and enjoy a bit of gardening.”

Plans for the garden remain at an early stage, but it is hoped the space will include a diverse range of plants, a central water feature, a sensory garden, bug hotels and bird boxes, and fruit trees.

And while this finished product is important, it is the process of reconnecting the community with nature that is key to the project.

Mrs Beswick said: “Obviously, with lockdown, we have all been in sort-of social isolation, in some cases people haven’t been able to get out into nature and enjoy it.

“We have got plenty of space here, so you can all be socially distanced, but it is important to just start speaking to people again and being social," Mrs Beswick added.

It is hoped the garden will also help tackle the anti-social behaviour problems which have been reported in the park.

If you would like to volunteer with the Corporation Park Community Garden group or if you would like to donate used or recycled materials, email info@corporationparksupportersgroup.com