COMMUNITY-minded Worcester residents have transformed a disused city centre land plot into 60 allotments.

Retired Park Street resident Nigel Leech set up the Worcestershire Community Land Co-operative last August with friends Wayne Gibbons and Jim Lott.

Using their own money, they bought a 10-year lease on a 10-acre piece of land off the Bath Road and have created up to 60 allotments and a side orchard for the community to use.

The trio also plan to host activities for children from nearby primary schools so they can learn about the wildlife and are hoping to install bird and bat boxes over time.

They have already planted about 35 trees in the orchard, 25 of which are for cider, and a further 63 will be planted this winter.

Mr Leech said they decided to transform the land into a community asset after his friend Wayne realised it was unused.

“We saw it as an opportunity," he said. "We are trying to enhance the biodiversity of the area – to establish new allotments which are more communal than some other allotments are.

“We also welcome beekeepers. The site is meant to be somewhere that’s very active, not just a passive place that people come and dig their crops.

“People can also sponsor trees in memory of animals or people they are fond of. They don’t need an allotment to be a member of the co-operative.

“We hope local people will just join to help maintain the site and make it a place that’s an asset to the community.”

Allotments are available now and anyone can become a member of the co-operative for a one-off payment of £10.

For details or to take on an allotment, call 01905 352848 or visit wclcoop.org