A town in the West Midlands has been transformed after volunteers transformed neglected areas and wastelands into stunning gardens to improve the town.

The Bridgnorth Community Garden Project has come together to create "beautiful gardens" around the Bridgnorth town in Shropshire.

"It has been difficult to create these beautiful gardens as only the plants that have been donated or ones that have been grown from seed or by propagation were initially available," group spokeswoman Helen Beevers said.

"Some areas were infested with bamboo, bramble and bindweed, others with nettles, docks and dandelions.

"These areas were cleared with hand tools and determination."

A market stall on Saturdays has been set up to raise funds "twice a year by collecting any saleable items".

"This fundraising allowed the group to buy specimen plants and trees to add focus to the borders," Beevers said.

The group transforming a garden

Bridgnorth Community Garden Project team

"On a shoestring budget and with the generosity of the Bridgnorth public, the right plant in the right place has been achieved in many cases."

Beevers said: "The philosophy of beauty and function that William Morris aspired to be can be achieved in a garden that grows edible produce along with dazzling blooms".

"As climate changes and weather systems alter, traditional patterns cannot be predicted," she said.

"So when there are several weeks without rain, plants need to be watered."

Group members place plants in the garden

Joyful volunteers

Beevers said that the group moved towards plants which "are adapted to that situation".

"We hope that in 10, 20, 50 or 100 years' time someone will smile on observing a blossom or the shape of a tree and silently thank the person who planted it. As we do today," she added.

The spokeswoman said that the Bridgnorth community can get involved by picking fruit trees when they are ripe.

"The blackcurrants and mint alongside the herbaceous perennials and fruit trees ... are yours," Beevers said.

"They belong to the community and the birds. Please pick them when they are ripe."

Community members have also been asked to water gardens "when they look dry".

"Try deadheading the roses, and trimming back the brambles in the hedge along the lane you walk down," Beevers said.

"Have a look around where you live, there will be areas untended, even if you just sprinkle some marigold seeds in a dull corner, if they grow, it will be pleasing to the eye.”

The overall goal is for the community to feel more connected despite "so many methods of communication" being available.

"Yet people feel disconnected and that they don't belong," Beever said.

"Through the activity of gardening, a sense of connection with and responsibility for each other and the space tends to develop.

"Along with a pride, we did that, it is ours."