A GROUP of environmentalists have been presented with an award for turning unused space into a beautiful and productive garden.

The Alt Group, based in Blackhill, near Consett, has been renovating empty space around Blackhill Comrades Club in order to provide a space for people and wildlife.

The group has now been awarded a Caring for Your Environment award by Liz Charles, chairman of the Environment in Your Community group, to highlight the valuable work the group has carried out.

When the garden is fully productive, the vegetables will be used in the free community meal in the club, which The Alt Group runs every Thursday, and which anyone from the surrounding community can attend.

The group has built and planted herb and flower beds, planted fruit trees, created compost bins and converted an old shipping container into a tool shed.

Liz Charles said: “Green shoots are showing and in a few weeks’ time it will start to burst into colour.

“The members have great plans for the future.”