AN overgrown piece of land in Fernhill Heath has been transformed into a thriving garden thanks to the efforts of a local pre-school.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has officially opened the second phase of Chatterbox Pre-school's garden project.

Work on the garden started a couple of years ago when the committee at Fernhill Heath War Memorial Hall made a piece of disused land available for the pre-school to use.

The land was overgrown and full of rubbish but the staff and parents raised the funds to have the site cleared and grass and bark chips laid so the children could playing outside during the day.

Maria Jackson, Chatterbox manager, said: "It was lovely that the children could play outside but the garden was still a blank canvas and not very exciting.

"So, in August 2006, Chatterbox submitted a bid to the Local Network Fund for a grant of £7,000 to develop the area further and create a healthy living project."

Chatterbox was delighted when it was told that its bid had been successful. With the funding it has been able to bring the garden to life. The children have built a covered area with benches and tables and have also created a sensory area with plants that the children can touch and smell, planted fruit trees and are encouraging wildlife back into the garden with bird feeders.

The pre-school is also working in partnership with the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, to grow fruit and vegetables in allotment boxes, plant flowers and learn about nature.

Mrs Jackson added: "The whole ethos around this project is to encourage healthy living from a very early age. It not only gives the children plenty of opportunity to play outside, it also looks at healthy eating and how important it is to have fruit and vegetables daily.

"Many children are not aware that fruit and vegetables grow in the ground and on trees and they are so excited watching them grow. We hope that, by the summer, we can offer the children snacks which they have grown from the allotment. For the children to learn while they play can only give them the best start on the road to a healthier lifestyle."