Guerilla gardeners clean up at plots

Beautiful blooms are flowering in a neighbourhood with the help of a group of volunteer gardeners determined to transform neglect in public spaces.

Caldmore Guerilla Gardeners have helped to transform two plots of land in Arundel Street, Walsall, which were in a state and had become a magnet for flytippers.

Resident Anna Rogozinska took up the call and flagged the issue up to the gardeners, who have cleared up the land and recruited traders to help along the way.

The project has been adopted by Caldmore Neighbourhood Watch.

Chairman of the Walsall South Area Partnership have praised the initiative. Chairman Councillor Khazir Hussain said: "Residents and traders have been giving the project their full support and it is making a real difference to the appeal of Caldmore.

"The fact that local people would take time out of their daily lives and busy schedule to help make the community a cleaner and more attractive place to live, work and visit says a lot about the spirit we have here.

"I have got to praise Anna for her commitment and enthusiasm. She has taken up the call, raised the profile of guerilla gardening in this area and is making a really positive long-term contribution to the Caldmore community."

Miss Rogozinska said she wanted to help restore the beauty of Caldmore.

"Guerilla gardening means taking care of a site which has become abused," she said.

"It is often done in reaction to issues which affect the landscape of a community. Guerilla Gardening is about making positive change.

"Really it is community art and while many people would shy away from calling themselves artists, there is a lot of creativity in what is being achieved at these sites in Caldmore."