PART of a museum’s overgrown nursery garden untouched in more than a decade is to be transformed by a community project.

The nursery garden at the rear of The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, was once brimming with fruit and vegetables sold to local people and soldiers stationed in the nearby Army bases The garden’s glass house, built in 1911, was full of tomato plants, as pictures taken at the time illustrate.

But for more than ten years the walled nursery gardens have remained closed and become overgrown.

Now Teesdale Conservation Volunteers (TCV) want to restore a large section of the plot to use as a community garden.

The idea is part of TCV’s From Plot to Pot scheme, which encourages people to grow their own fruit and vegetables and sell whatever they do not use from a bus that will tour the isolated villages in Teesdale.

The existing south-facing cold frames will be transformed into raised beds and dozens of other vegetable patches will be created.

The regeneration of the area is part of a long-term plan by The Bowes Museum to restore it to its former glory.

The large glass house will, for the time being, remain closed.

TCV is encouraging volunteers to come forward to help clear the site and plant fruit and vegetables in time for spring.

“There is a lot of clearing and planting to do, but with a bit of work it will be very nice and should produce a lot of vegetables,” said Katrina Appleyard, community liaison officer for the From Plot to Pot scheme.

Matt Leng, head of business and operations at the museum, said: “We were happy to join in and help with TCV’s scheme.

“We are currently undergoing a review of the gardens and this is a community project that we wanted to get involved in.

“We see it as an ideal use of the area and good partnership working.”

Sheila Dixon, media and PR officer for the museum and a Barnard Castle town councillor, said: “The town council has a long waiting list for allotments and a community project like this would give people a taster to see if allotments are for them.”

Anyone who is interested in helping with the garden is asked to call TCV on 01833-690022.