A CONTEST is being launched to design a new wall at a community garden in the heart of East Oxford.

Barracks Lane Community Garden is offering a £200 prize for the winning design for an innovative and interesting way to replace an existing retaining wall.

The wall, which is made of timber posts, is rotting and needs urgently replacing.

Annie Davy, one of the garden’s founders who is organising the competition, said: “The wall was put in place eight years ago and there was a bit of a design fault in terms of the material used so it is actually rotting.

“Also we need it for accessibility for disabled people to use the lower end of the garden, including the Parasol Project which meets here.”

In the past, the garden organisers worked with Oxford Brookes University architecture students on a design for a green roof shelter.

This time, it was decided to open the contest up to anyone who could come up with ideas on how to replace it.

Oxfordshire County Council has given the garden £3,500 to spend on the new wall, which must be in place by the end of August.

The garden will provide the prize money from its own funds, and has some extra budget to add to the grant if necessary.

Ms Davy said: “We don’t want to be too prescriptive about the design because we want to see what people will come up with.

“It could be a wall that could be added to with things growing on it or up it, or it could be a more artistic design with the community adding to it.

“We are looking for something in keeping with the garden’s objectives to encourage community involvement but also to encourage biodiversity and people diversity.”

While designs are welcomed from anyone, Ms Davy said the person would need to have technical understanding of landscape, design or architecture and would need to consider drainage.

She thought the contest might appeal to students building up their portfolio, or established architects or designers keen to have something in a prominent public location.

To get the criteria and design specification, email barrackslanegarden@yahoo.co.uk. Entries must be received by Monday, May 13.