A SMALL patch of grass outside the mima art gallery in Middlesbrough will be transformed into a community garden filled with flowers and home-grown vegetables.

The Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art is looking for volunteers to help develop the garden, in the centre of town, into a space where different groups can come together to socialise and learn new skills.

It is being delivered by Middlesbrough Environment City, in partnership with refugee charity Investing in People and Culture (IPC) and is due to begin in April.

Food grown in the garden will then be used to prepare shared meals by mima's new cafe team, headed up by artist Luke Harding from The Waiting Room restaurant in Eaglescliffe.

mima senior curator Elinor Morgan said: “After working closely with IPC and listening to feedback from artists and community groups, we came to the conclusion that a communal space of this nature would be a great opportunity to bring often disenfranchised constituencies together in a friendly and welcoming setting. "Middlesbrough has been built on migration and is home to a huge range of people, and the community garden will be a space where we can share cultures and introduce each other to new concepts.

"Middlesbrough has higher proportions of asylum seekers and refugees than the UK average.

"The garden will offer opportunities for new communities to learn English in an informal setting and provide all with a context to reflect on the importance of healthy eating and the environment.”

It is hoped the garden will become a peaceful place for everyone to enjoy, and will host classes and social gatherings.

Volunteers are being sought to help with everything from sowing seeds and digging, to storing and donating equipment. To find out more contact mima@tees.ac.uk or call 01642-931232.