TREDEGAR residents will be soon be able to enjoy fruit from trees in their own orchard after work started to transform wasteland into a community garden.

The idea is that they will be able to pick the fruit to cook with or eat.

The scheme, funded by Tai Calon Community Housing as part of its £14 million Your Neighbourhood, Your Choice programme, will see the plot of land in Ashvale planted with fruit trees tenants can pick.

Andrew MacDougall, Project Manager, said: “The Ashvale site is a plot of land that has been neglected for a very long time. We are transforming the area so the community can enjoy it once again. Initially the idea for the community garden came from tenants and residents of Ashvale and we developed the concept for the orchard from there.”

Besides the community garden, tenants and residents have also asked for a play area for children, better parking and new boundary fences.

They will have the chance to get involved by planting shrubs and fruit trees in their new orchard. Anyone who helps will be rewarded with 2 for1 Time Banking vouchers, which can be used at venues across Blaenau Gwent including the Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr.