A SCOUT unit’s community garden is one of five projects to receive financial assistance from South Lakeland District Council (SLDC).

Green-fingered members of the Xenolith Explorer Scout Unit in Ulverston have helped to transform a dull and unloved patch of wasteland in the town centre into a bright and vibrant natural oasis of flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Scouts from the unit have led a team of 20 volunteers that put in more than 800 hours work to create the ‘Incredible Edible’ community garden, next to The Original Factory Shop which is situated in The Gill in the heart of Ulverston.

The garden was officially opened last year and aims to bring residents and groups together to share and sell the produce from the garden.

The project has been backed by various businesses and organisations in the town and volunteers have just found out they have been awarded £2,500 from the Environmental Partnership Scheme, a fund administered by SLDC aimed at supporting public realm improvements in town centres.

The money will be used to further improve the site layout and make it easier to manage, building more raised beds and erecting rails and a gate into the back garden, which will then become a community fruit garden.