NEWLY created gardens have sown seeds of change in a once-rundown part of Barrow-in-Furness, says a firm of landscape architects.

Farrer Huxley Associates, of London, won a national competition to transform the landscape around Maritime Streets, home to several sandstone-built blocks of flats on Barrow Island, where BAE Systems is located.

Devonshire Estates has spent millions of pounds on refurbishing the apartments, which had been suffering from low occupancy rates. Meanwhile, the grounds around the flats have been revitalised, with a central square and two attractively planted garden spaces. A network of criss-crossing paths is said to hark back to fishing nets and ship masts, recalling Barrow's maritime history.

A garden party was held to celebrate the project, and local school children helped to plant bulbs.

Phil Huck, executive director of Barrow Borough Council, said: "Landscape may not seem like the obvious solution to a housing issue but this revitalisation of the landscape has transformed the place into a safe, attractive place where people once again want to live and work."

Farrer Huxley Associates said their aim was to "revitalise the public realm, regenerating what

was previously a rundown place and dying community".

Occupancy rates at the flats are up, they said, and life is returning to the historic area, with people feeling safer, children coming to play and neighbours lingering to chat.