Great Yarmouth library officially opened its new garden at the weekend, which has been created for and by the community.

With a vegetable patch, compost bin and even a totem pole, the community garden has been created over several months and involved more than 100 people.

The garden project, called Growing Together, has been funded by �50,000 from the Working Neighbourhood Fund and aims to give local people the chance to learn new skills and gain confidence with a view to getting back into work. The garden is being developed to create a community space and at the same time have the chance to learn about, among other things, gardening, construction skills and healthy eating. Although much of the planting has been done, next month traditional Norfolk varieties of apple and cherry trees will also be put in.

Speeches were given by Tony Tomkinson, chairman of Norfolk County Council, Michael Blank, chairman of the Middlegate Community Association and Paul Cheeseman from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which was followed by a presentation on the benefits of composting by master composter Ayeshia Hammond. The ribbon was cut by the town’s mayor Michael Jeal.

There was also the first screening of a documentary film made about the creation of the garden.