A COMMUNITY has banded together to turn an area of wasteland into open space for use by local people.

Volunteers at Gayles, near Richmond, have cleared nettles, brambles and junk, including metal sheets, building rubble and rusting wheelbarrows, from the 3.5-acre site at Quarry Hill Common.

Local children have built and installed a hedgehog den, and a nature trail and other wildlife features are planned. The group also hopes to turn unwanted wood into rustic structures, seats and a tree platform for youngsters.

Other proposals include sowing a traditional flower meadow this summer, planting spring bulbs and native plants, including fruit trees, and creating a communal composting area.

The £31,500 project was launched in April last year, when villagers soundly backed the proposals in a parish ballot.

Fundraising began immediately and now grant applications have been submitted to Richmondshire District Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

The county council's Richmondshire area committee is due to discuss a bid for £1,600 funding for the scheme next week.

Bev Blackburn, project chairman, said: "We are a community group that wants to change a currently unused and inaccessible area into a communal area and safe place for the children."

Volunteers have worked twice a week to clear the site, but money is needed for a digger and other mechanical help to level the ground and rebuild boundary walls. Cash is also needed for grass seed, plants, weed killer, fuel for mowers and strimmers and composting bins.

The committee hopes to install a communal barbecue and sports and play equipment.

"In our village, we have no public house, no shop or village hall, and we have the overwhelming support of the villagers to make a community area where people of all ages can meet and hold outdoor events in the future," said Mrs Blackburn.

A raffle, which was drawn in December, started the community fundraising and a major event is planned for March.

Volunteers from the committee will manage the finished common, cutting back brambles, mowing the grass and carrying out maintenance work.