A COMMUNITY garden is underway in Mickleton that will become a nature haven and a village meeting place.

It will feature wild meadow flowers and plants that attract butterflies and bees.

There will be bird boxes too, and benches and picnic tables for residents and visitors.

Mickleton Methodist Church is to create the garden from the lawn behind its premises.

It is hoped schoolchildren and young gardeners will help look after it as an educational project. Another aim is for farmers and allotment holders to hold produce markets there.

The plan came out of a brainstorming session between the Rev. Ros Murphy, the church’s minister, and Mark Boulton, a retired zoologist and international conservationist who is a member of the congregation.

“We asked ourselves, what can we do with our little piece of land?” said Mr Boulton, who was awarded the OBE in 2004 for conservation work.

“At first we thought of a vegetable plot, and then Ros said, why not a wildlife garden?” Mrs Murphy added: “All of us are stewards of the earth and need to take a great deal more care of it, and this is something a small village community can do. Support for the garden has grown amazingly.”

The first bulbs have just been planted at the site in Chapel Lane, in the village centre.

Standing opposite the Three Ways House Hotel, it has been named the Three Bees Wildlife Garden, with the slogan Bee Friendly, Bee Respectful, Bee Responsible. Bulbs, seeds and advice are being given by Cotswold Seeds of Moreton-in-Marsh.

The Greggs Foundation, is giving £2,000 worth of garden furniture, made from recycled agricultural plastic.

Another bench is being donated by an individual. There is scope for more items to be sponsored by people in memory of loved ones.