A COMMUNITY garden transformed in to an “oasis of peace” has been made even better by the opening of a new section dedicated quiet.

People gathered in Barracks Lane Community Garden, which is attached to the community centre, to celebrate how far the little patch of calm had come since it was first started.

To mark its seventh birthday, East Oxford MP Andrew Smith helped open a new spot at the end of the garden, which features a meditative and peace spot decorated with new flowers.

Oxford mayor Rae Humberstone, who was at the celebration, said: “It’s just a fantastic achievement when you think what this was seven years ago.

“It is a little oasis of peace and you have to admire that and you have a peaceful site and if it inspires people to do the same elsewhere, then it is a brilliant thing.”

Mr Humberstone was also given a jar of peppercorns by co-founder Annie Davy, as a way of thanking him for allowing her to use the area free of rent.

The peppercorns relate to the phrase “peppercorn rent”, used by Ms Davy to symbolise not paying rent in exchange for a contribution to the community.

The Community Garden was set up in 2008 by Kenilworth Avenue resident Ms Davy who posted leaflets around the neighbourhood because the spot was prone to crime.

Soon after, she and four others began to transform it into a new community centre surrounded by grass and flowers.

Ms Davy, a freelance teacher who works at various community centres around Oxfordshire with children and adults, said: “It is fantastic and for me it is particular great, so many people didn’t have a spot like this when we were talking about this.

“But now they’re proud to see it. To be a neighbour and to not hear all these noises has helped the community and that is what really makes it worthwhile.

“I set it up because I have kids and I did not want my kids growing up next to a toxic waste site.”

Ms Davy began the celebrations by reading a part of a book, Stories Of A Great Turning, which celebrates community action around the country and includes a section on Barracks Lane Community Garden.

She read: “Played and prayed, sung and sown, dug and hugged on the fertile dance floor of the garden.”

People who attended the unveiling were also treated to African and Caribbean food including jerk chicken and vegetable curry provided by youth group Name it, who use the garden every Saturday evening.

Outdoor kitchen facilities were also unveiled, including a stainless tell sink and new cupboards.

The community garden, set up through funding from WREN, Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment, was a former Oxford City Council garage site.

MP Andrew Smith, who was given the role of cutting the ribbon, added: “It’s absolutely wonderful to see this great thing going from strength to strength.

“It is people making a difference to their area, which is commendable, and I have so much support for it.”

Lucy Fletcher, 10, from East Oxford said: “I really liked it and the garden was much bigger than I thought it would be.

“I stayed until the very end and ate lots and lots of blackberries, almost all of them are gone.”

The community garden will now be open to the public to use for drop-in sessions at weekends and during the week providing they book ahead.

* Email barrackslanegarden@yahoo.co.uk or call 07729 655 543.