PLANS are afoot to turn a forgotten corner of a York neighbourhood in to a community garden.

The Lanes Community Garden is a bid by a group in Clifton to transform a triangle of derelict land at the end of Pembroke Street in to a green oasis for people who live in the surrounding terraced streets, where outside space is at a premium.

A committee of seven people, including ward councillor Danny Myers, and headed by local artist Hatti McKenzie, have joined forces to help fundraise and make their idea become a reality.

Hatti said: "We have a chance to turn a piece of forgotten ground in to a garden with fruit trees and flowers.

"Many people around here live in brick terraces and we hope that this will inspire them to come out and become a part of a developing community. There are a lot of young families and the children have nowhere to play. The land we're looking at has alley gates at either end and people who join the friends of the garden will be given a code so that only they can have access and take ownership of this space."

The land is believed to be council owned and the group estimate it could take about £10,000 to clear it of concrete and rubble and build raised beds and planters to be filled with dwarf fruit trees and other plants.

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The group are holding an open event at 2pm on April 13 at the site for people to come along and share their ideas and Hatti is selling some of her own art - trompe l'ceil hanging baskets that can be used to brighten up back yards and windowsills to raise cash for the garden.

For information email hatti.mckenzie@gmail.com or call 07740188514 or go to www.facebook.com/groups/Thelanescommunitygarden