AN overgrown area of a cemetery is to be transformed into a new wildlife garden.

The neglected corner, near the baby memorial area of Linthorpe Cemetery, Middlesbrough, is to be revamped with a new wildlife feeding and woodland area.

The make-over will begin in August, with clearing of the overgrown brambles and a scheduled planting of the seeds to take place, allowing for the first flowers to bloom by next spring.

The garden will have a hedgehog house, a ‘Gourmet bird restaurant’, minibeast homes and a summer wild flower meadow border.

Panels with explanations of what plants are being grown and how wildlife are benefitting from them will be installed, to give inspiration to local gardeners.

The revamp is being bankrolled by the Newcastle Building Society’s Community Fund after Rachel Murtagh, a customer at the Yarm branch, nominated it for funds.

Dr Sue Antrobus, of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, said: “The flowers that we’re planting will form a beautiful display in the spring while also offering a habitat in which local wildlife can make their homes, while the berry border will provide an ample supply of food that will hopefully attract lots of different species of birds.”

Ms Murtagh, who also works for the Trust, said: “This project is helping to empower local people towards doing something practical to improve part of their community.”

The garden will be accessible in all weathers and for those with mobility issues or using pushchairs.

The cemetery was awarded £1,330 by Newcastle Building Society to make the project happen.

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, which is working with the Friends of Linthorpe Cemetery on the project, is a charity that has worked for more than 30 years to protect wildlife and wild places across the region.

Dr Antrobus added: “Linthorpe Cemetery is already home to a wonderful array of flora and fauna, but this area is the one part of it that wasn’t fulfilling its potential and we wanted to do something about that.

“The garden’s location means that were confident it will be very well used, and we hope visitors will take away ideas that they can use in their own gardens.”

Kim Saunders, the manager at the Yarm building society branch, said: “The Linthorpe Cemetery project will give so much enjoyment to so many local people, and we’re already looking forward to seeing the flowers bloom next spring.”

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust currently manages 15 nature reserves, while helping other organisations to manage their sites.