A FORMER eyesore has been transformed into a blooming community garden.

Residents in Garden City are celebrating after a derelict piece of land has been overhauled with shrubs, flowers and seating and is now open to the public.

The garden is a joint initiative between Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and Groundwork North Wales and has now had its official launch.

Students from Deeside College also got their hands dirty and planted flowers as part of their Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.

Sealand councillor Christine Jones, who approached Clwyd Alyn housing officer Neil Moffatt with the plan, said the new garden was going to be an asset to the community.

She said: “It is something we have never had. It looks amazing and it is so nice. It was a derelict site and was a total eyesore and now it looks like a park.

“When the flowers and shrubs come into bloom it is going to be amazing. It is nice to have this little bit of green.

“The residents are thrilled to bits. This is for everybody, it is not just for the people who live nearby.”

The Clwyd Alyn-owned site on Bridge View is located next to a set of allotments which have been cleared and are now ready to be replanted.

Cllr Jones said: “They were there before but a lot of them had become overgrown, now they have all been cleared and are ready to plant again.”

Groundwork works in partnership with the private, public and voluntary sectors, to enable people to change the physical environment in their areas.

Lisa Jones, housing officer for Clwyd Alyn, said: “It’s a real community effort and by working together, we hope to have a project that Garden City can be really proud of.”

Cllr Jones added: “I’d like to thank Groundwork. They have worked so hard. They are a credit. I hope everyone respects it. There is some lovely fencing and seating. I hope it is respected, I am sure it will be.”