A trio of businessmen are hoping to bring some “community spirit” back to Botley with a blast from the past.

More than one hundred years ago Botley Road was lined with olive trees outside homes and businesses.

Starting the tradition once more is architect Paul de Villiers, pharmacist Pupinder Gahtora and owner of Tuscan Pots, Robert Moy.

The businessmen planted their first olive tree on Friday outside Mr Gahtora’s Woodland Pharmacy.

Mr de Villiers, an architect with Allied Design Associates on Woodstock Road, said: “Botley Road from Binsey Lane to Ferry Hinksey Road used to be enhanced by street trees.

“But sadly the trees were lost over time due to street widening and modernisation but we have started this initiative to once again green this stretch of Botley Road.

“We really hope this is taken up by the rest of the businesses here to inject some new life into the street.”

Mr Moy, who has owned Tuscan Pots on Botley Road for 17 years donated the plants and soil for the project.

He said that each of the olive trees will be around six years old when they are planted.

The help of Ray Potgieter, a bespoke timber planter, has been enlisted to help make the planters for the trees.

He said: “The olive tree is a perfect symbol for Botley Road.

“Not only are we linking back to the past, but it is also a wonderful sign of peace and with the Organic Deli, Country Grains it also ties in perfectly with the types of businesses here.

“Ray was absolutely brilliant and has made the planter for the trees.

“This is a real community effort and we hope more people will come on board with us.”

Now the trio want to populate the whole road with olive trees, encouraging owners to come on board with their idea.

To keep the momentum of the planting going, each business would sponsor the next tree after one is planted outside their shop.

Mr Gahtora said: “The first one has been planted outside the pharmacy.

“I have already sponsored the next tree, we just need a business to come forward who would like it to be planted and for them to sponsor the next one.

“It will be like a domino effect until eventually every business will have one outside.

“All the businesses put so much effort into making the road look appealing and we hope this is something which can bring us even closer together and inject some community spirit.”