A public garden is set for a revamp after offenders took over maintenance of the much-loved site.
The offenders have been working on the overgrown Garden of Hope, on Livingstone Road, in Accrington as part of a community payback scheme.
Volunteers who previously worked to maintain the garden have been unable to carry on and ward councillor Malcolm Pritchard said he was determined not to lose the public garden.
Coun Pritchard has arranged with the Lancashire Probation Trust for offenders convicted of minor offences to help with the upkeep of flowers and trees.
He contacted Lorraine Slater at the Trust, who arranged for the work to be carried out earlier this month and monitored regularly.
Coun Pritchard said: “There were two ladies who used to volunteer there but one has moved away and one has to work full time.
And Hyndburn Council couldn’t help because they’ve got limited resources now.
“Unfortunately it was getting neglected and I didn’t want to let it go back to how it was before.
“So I got in touch with Lancashire Probation Trust and the Community Payback Team and they were happy to help.
“They’ve already been down to the garden and it definitely looks a bit better.
“It is a lovely, peaceful area for people to sit, relax and just take it in. All you can hear while you’re there is the birds so it’s a very peaceful place.”
The Garden of Hope was opened in 2007, when volunteers cleared 30 skips of rubbish from the large site.
The community payback scheme – formerly known as community service – allows offenders to give something back to the community through activities such as graffiti removal, environmental projects, renovating communal areas, cleaning up children’s playgrounds and renovating buildings such as church halls and community centres.
As well as being a punishment, it allows offenders to learn new skills and gain experience in working as part of a team.
