A NEW community garden could soon be created in a Tynedale village.

The Nurture Project CIC has applied for planning permission from Northumberland County Council to create an outdoor community hub in Haydon Bridge.

The community garden, which would be located on unused land beside Haydon Bridge United Football Club, would include annual growing beds, a polytunnel, forest food garden, sensory garden, pond, wooden 'learning centre' shelter, a yurt acting as a wellbeing centre, and a composting toilet.

A design, access and heritage statement submitted alongside the planning application said: "The community garden is designed to meet the needs of the local community and the natural environment to address sustainability and climate change, to benefit health and wellbeing, tourism, employment and education."

The statement added that the garden will be open 8am-7pm on weekdays and from 9am-5pm on weekends, and would be available for use by the whole community via timetabled sessions.

The Nurture Project, which will manage the garden, is a not-for-profit social enterprise. 

Lydia Coulson, one of its founders, said the forest school programmes and community events they have run have engaged more than 1,200 people since last August.

"The opening of a community garden will enable us to benefit the wider community, and is designed for all ages and abilities," she said.

"Programmes will be led by a varied team of fully-qualified and experienced practitioners, providing a wide range of benefits including; enhanced health and wellbeing, life skills, educational development, skills development, training, work experience, volunteer and employment opportunities, and raising awareness of the climate crisis."

The community garden programme will include community gardening sessions, forest school sessions, environmental arts and crafts, and land/nature-based training courses.

Plans show a pedestrian entrance will be created, with wheelchair access to enable inclusive access to the site.

The application has received more than 20 comments of support, including from Haydon Bridge United Football Club.

They said: "We have been made aware of the plans for the community garden and the football club is fully supportive of their plans and we would be happy for the community garden to utilise the parking facilities at Haydon Bridge United Football Club.

"We feel this is a fantastic project and opportunity for the village and people of Haydon Bridge."

For more details, visit the county council's planning portal and search reference number 23/01459/FUL