A neglected area that has often been fly-tipped and abused is to be transformed into a community garden.

The patch of land between Woollett Street and Camden Street in the centre of Maidstone used to belong to Network Rail, but is now owned by The Arch Company.

Local ward councillor Richard Conyard (Lib Dem) has gained consent from the new owners for volunteers from Involve Kent to turn the area into a new community garden and pocket nature reserve.

Cllr Conyard said: “This patch of rough land has for years been a fly-tipping black spot.

“Now there is a chance to make something worthwhile of it.”

The first event will be a litter pick on Tuesday, April 9, between 10am and 1pm.

Residents are invited to come along and lend a hand and it will also be an opportunity for the community to make suggestions for its future use.

The current idea is for the top part of the site to become a community garden with fruit trees and herbs for residents to enjoy.

The bottom part is to be given over to nature, with bug hotels, shrubs and flowers chosen to encourage pollinators.

Cllr Conyard is hoping for a large turnout. He said: “This is a good endeavour and I'd love to get as many people as possible involved.”

Stuart Bourne is leading the project for Involve Kent.

He said: “We currently look after 29 such sites across Maidstone town centre, from the corner of a car park with a few shrubs, to areas around blocks of flats and housing estates.”

The project is being funded by a grant from the government’s Levelling Up fund.

Mr Bourne said: “Volunteers not only make a difference to the look of the town, but they also get a lot out of it.

“It is a chance to learn new skills, meet new people and make friends.”

Involve Kent has an ambition to identify 50 such open spaces in Maidstone to maintain.

For more information, visit their website.

They already hold regular work parties at the Amphitheatre in Maidstone on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10.30am to 1.30pm, and at the same time on Wednesdays, meeting inside Maidstone Museum, and Thursdays, meeting at the bandstand in Brenchley Gardens.