People with a creative flair who want to make their mark on the Island are invited to take part in a new competition.

Sheppey Tourism Alliance and Sheppey Matters have launched a contest to design a Sheerness War Memorial Garden.

It aims to revamp the 30 metres of space on either side of the Cenotaph in Bridge Road.

The £3,000 cost of creating the garden will come from Queenborough Fisheries Trust and Swale council.

Organisers have asked that only amateur garden designers get involved.

The winning designer will scoop £200 and a selection of prizes from local traders.

Plans put forward must be symbolic of a memorial garden, all-round seasonal planting and colour, drought resistant summer plants, low maintenance, sustainable and wildlife friendly.

The overall cost of the garden, including the construction, landscaping and plants, must not exceed £3,000.

Sheppey Matters will be responsible for the on-going maintenance of the garden once it has been created.

All entry forms must be returned by Friday, February 17.

A panel of experts from the local community will judge the entries and the winner will be notified on Monday, March 12, with construction to start in April.

Project coordinator Heather Thomas-Pugh says they came up with the idea for the competition after speaking with Peter MacDonald who organised to have bulbs planted there a while ago.

She said: “It’s just awful there and so tired – it needs something doing to it.

“Sheppey Tourism Alliance’s objective is to raise the visual attractiveness of all the gateways to the Island.

“We anticipate this will be the first phase of a project to regenerate the area and will commemorate the enduring dignity of our fallen heroes in conflicts throughout the world.”

Anyone interested in finding out more is welcome to go along to a meeting at the cafe in Sheppey Healthy Living Centre on Friday, December 9, at 2.30pm.

Entry forms are available from Sheppey Matters, based at the healthy living centre, by phone on 01795 583547 or by email on outreachsheppey@yahoo.co.uk – you will be asked to provide a break-down of the cost of your design.